Brazil : Safety by City
- Belo Horizonte
- Brasilia
- Campinas
- Curitiba
- Florianopolis
- Fortaleza
- Porto Alegre
- Recife
- Rio de Janeiro
- Sao Paulo
Florianopolis is the capital of the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina.
Half of the city is on the mainland of Brazil while the other half is on the Santa Catarina Island.
It has some of Brazil’s most beautiful beaches.
The city attracts tourists with a beach holiday and a relaxed atmosphere.
For a beach holiday, you can choose a beach to your liking, because there are as many as 42 in Florianopolis!
On the beaches, you can find entertainment such as snorkeling, scuba diving, surfing, windsurfing.
Many people come here to look at local attractions, such as Catedral Metropolitana, Municipal Market, Hercílio Luz Bridge.
Warnings & Dangers in Florianopolis
OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
The city has an average crime rate, which rises during the tourist season and moments of tourist influx. It is especially worthwhile to beware of robberies and not to leave personal items in the car. If you are traveling in a rented car, take care of additional insurance.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
Using public transportation in Florianopolis is safe, but you should use the usual precautions against pickpockets. Taxis are reliable and recommended if you return to the hotel late at night. Do not catch the car from the street; use licensed taxi services.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
There are many pickpockets, especially in the high tourist season. Be vigilant, and always keep an eye on your belongings and your surroundings. Do not leave things unattended, and do not wear a lot of precious jewelry on yourself.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
Due to the spill of rivers and the sea, the region is prone to flooding. However, this does not happen so often here. Explore the weather conditions of Florianopolis before your trip here.
MUGGING RISK: HIGH
The risk of armed robbery is high enough. And it is often linked to drug trafficking. Do not get involved in the showdown of drug dealers and avoid drunken fights. Try not to walk around the city late at night and in low-lit areas.
TERRORISM RISK: LOW
Even though in the history of Brasilia, there were no terrorist attacks, the proximity to Venezuela and its conflicts makes it possible to attack cities in Brazil. Be on the alert and avoid political demonstrations and rallies.
SCAMS RISK: HIGH
The most prevalent fraud in Florianopolis is ATM card fraud. It is recommended to withdraw money only at ATMs inside banks. Also, tourists can often be deceived, trying to sell trinkets or fake brands at a high price. Be careful.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM
In the daytime, women are quite safe to be in this city alone. However, at night it is recommended to walk accompanied. Especially avoid beaches and bars at night if you are walking alone. If you are followed by whistling or releasing obscene words - it is better to ignore and go further.
So... How Safe Is Florianopolis Really?
Despite all the tourist attractions, Florianopolis is considered not the safest city in Brazil.
The crime rate is medium to high.
Most crimes involve hacking and stealing things from a car, vandalism, armed robberies, and drug problems.
The city is safe enough during the off-season.
However, during the influx of tourists and especially on holidays in Florianopolis, an increase in crime is observed.
The most common crime is ATM scamming.
Most tourists find themselves robbed in this way – when unique readers are installed on the ATM, and fraudsters get all the data on your card after you withdraw money, for example.
It is recommended to use only ATM in banks and under reliable protection.
On the other hand, in the daytime, in most cases, you may feel safe.
It is recommended to have common sense and not to leave your things unattended.
Also, keep an eye on your backpacks and bags when walking in crowds or bazaars.
Do not carry jewelry and a lot of cash with you.
Be careful with those who try to distract you or ask questions.
Most likely, his accomplice at this time will try to empty your pockets.
How Does Florianopolis Compare?
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Florianopolis | 68 |
| Rio de Janeiro | 43 |
| Sao Paulo | 45 |
| Porto Alegre | 21 |
| Brasilia | 62 |
| Belo Horizonte | 48 |
| Campinas | 57 |
| Sofia (Bulgaria) | 73 |
| Siem Reap (Cambodia) | 63 |
| Phnom Penh (Cambodia) | 61 |
| Niagara Falls (Canada) | 87 |
| Calgary (Canada) | 82 |
| Vancouver (Canada) | 82 |
Useful Information
Visas
Visitors to Brazil must obtain a visa from one of the Brazilian diplomatic missions unless they come from one of the visa-exempt countries. Visas are not required for airport transit, from any nationality, as long as the traveler does not leave the international transit area. A valid passport is a must.
Currency
The Brazilian real is the official currency of Brazil since 1994. It is subdivided into 100 centavos. It has a sign: R$ and code: BRL. The Brazilian real is the nineteenth most traded currency in the world by value.
Weather
The best times to visit Florianopolis for ideal weather are April to December. Average temperatures in Florianopolis vary somewhat and the weather feels nice most of the year, excluding some hot weeks in the summer, with a chance of rain throughout most of the year.
Airports
Florianópolis-Hercílio Luz International Airport branded Floripa Airport, is the airport serving Florianópolis, Brazil. It located 15 km from the city center. The airport serves international and domestics flights.
Travel Insurance
The travel insurance policy is a must when visiting a foreign country. Make sure you got it before starting your journey, the customs officer may ask for it.
Florianopolis Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 29 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 24 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 26 | 28 |
| Low °C | 22 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 21 |
| High °F | 84 | 86 | 84 | 81 | 75 | 72 | 70 | 72 | 73 | 75 | 79 | 82 |
| Low °F | 72 | 72 | 70 | 66 | 61 | 57 | 55 | 57 | 59 | 63 | 66 | 70 |
Brazil - Safety by City
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Belo Horizonte | 48 |
| Brasilia | 62 |
| Campinas | 57 |
| Curitiba | 51 |
| Florianopolis | 68 |
| Fortaleza | 37 |
| Porto Alegre | 21 |
| Recife | 48 |
| Rio de Janeiro | 43 |
| Sao Paulo | 45 |
Avoid “São João do Rio Vermelho” neighborhood which is known for drug trafficking, and you won’t have any reason to worry about anything in the rest of the city.
I wasn’t aware of that is that the only bad area on the island part
Very nice
I have felt very safe in Florianópolis… I’m very grateful for the opportunity to be accepted here so easily. I have been here for over a month now and feel totally comfortable. I haven’t been downtown at night.
It's OK if you pay attention to some details
Nice beach, pleasant, quite safe (for Brazilian standards) just be careful with scammers they have a whole industry of making a copy of your card and stealing passports here.
Try to hang out with Argentineans and Uruguayans tourists – they are the best!
Really?
Such a ugly attitude
And if you got scammed, I’m really sorry, but don’t generalize.
Be carefoul if you are a young woman, it may be better than Rio or other trashy cities but it’s still is very very dangerous for girls, even in groups. They like saying is a developed city but I guarantee you IT’S NOT.
I am Brazilian and I already lived abroad in a developed country. Brazil is definitely not a developed country. But in some specific areas within a city are great as a developed country.
Best city in Brazil
Florianopolis is safe. Very safe. So safe you
can walk at night. It’s the best.
I’ve been to Brazil at least 13 times Which were 4 times in Florionapolis. I never felt unsafe as a solo woman traveler. I’ve taken buses, taxis, uber and rented cars too. I usually stay on Barra de Lagoa and no issues. I love it and wish to return.
It’s the most safety capital in Brazil. Just avoid “Rio Vermelho” area.
Safe and developed city.
It is a developed city, safest than many Americans and Europeans city, never seem any issues here and have met a lot of tourists here. Since 2010 I come every year, never seem any issues! I am from New York lol.
I’m a Canadian and travel to Florianópolis for vacation every year. It’s a safe place, and you need to use good judgement as in any other city, even in Canada.
Use the same precautions you do in a city at home and have a great trip!