The 6 Best and Safest Areas to Stay in Rio de Janeiro
Rio is a very large city, with lots of neighborhoods with different attractions and levels of safety!
I’m Braziliand and I’ve spent years exploring Rio de Janeiro, staying in different neighborhoods across more than ten trips. Based on my personal experience, here are my honest tips and expert insights on the safest areas to stay in Rio.
TL;DR? The 6 Safest Areas to Stay in Rio de Janeiro (and the best luxury hotels!)
1. Barra da Tijuca (Grand Hyatt Rio)
2. Copacabana (Copacabana Palace)
3. Ipanema (Hotel Fasano Rio)
4. Santa Teresa (MGallery Santa Teresa)
5. Leblon (JANEIRO Hotel)
6. Urca
1. Barra da Tijuca
Barra da Tijuca (AKA Barra) is stands out as the best area to stay in Rio de Janeiro because of its stunning beachfront and more secluded location.
I worry a lot about safety in Rio, and having visited all major neighborhoods in town, I can confidently say that I feel the safest at Barra da Tijuca!
Staying in Barra brings many perks, such as extra safety, little to no international tourists, and local upscale experiences – such as:
- The best mall in town (Barra Shopping), where you’ll find a huge variety of Brazilian brands to shop!
- The best beach clubs, including the Classico Downwind, which is my #1 favorite way to spend a beach day in Rio!
- A local’s-favorite bar street, called Olegario Maciel, that has amazing restaurants where you can experience authentic Brazilian food! At night, there’s typically really good live samba. Once, I went there on a random Thursday night and came across the Brazilian soccer legend Romário!
Though Rio’s main attractions are a bit further away from Barra than from other neighborhoods, they’re still accessible. The trade-offs of the more remote location very much make up for it and still make Barra one of the best regions to stay in Rio!
Book the best hotels in Barra!
✅ Luxury/Resort-style: Grand Hyatt Rio
✅ Accessible beachfront luxury: Windsor Marapendi
✅ Affordable & near the beach: Ribalta Hotel Barra da Tijuca
Any questions?
Ask all your questions in our Brazil travel Facebook group — we’ll be happy to help!
2. Copacabana
Copacabana is world-famous and the area where most tourists visiting Rio choose to stay in. Is it the safest? No, but it is still relatively safe in the context of Rio!
Because most foreign visitors worship Copacabana, the area is a common target for different kinds of illegal activities – from prostitution to robbery. Copacabana is not Gotham City, but it also isn’t a quiet beach retreat!
Copacabana is a lively and incredibly well-located neighborhood, where people from all over the world congregate. It is a very convenient location to stay during big events such as Carnival (“carnaval” in Portuguese), New Year’s Eve, and large scale concerts.
If you choose to stay in Copacabana, just make sure to familiarize yourself with the safety best practices for traveling in Brazil!
Book the best hotels in Copacabana!
✅ Classic Luxury: Copacabana Palace
✅ Boutique Luxury: Emiliano Rio
✅ Accessible and comfortable: Miramar by Windsor
3. Ipanema
Ipanema is the second most popular area to stay in Rio!
Ipanema is home to amazing bars (including the famous Boteco Belmonde), a lively beach culture (with tons of food vendors), and what I consider to be the most beautiful beach in Rio!
Just like Copacabana, Ipanema has a high concentration of tourists, which attracts drug dealers, prostitutes, and robbers.
Despite that, Ipanema is still one of the safest areas to stay in Rio, with lots of luxury hotels and fun cultural activities available!
Book the best hotels in Ipanema!
✅ Luxury: Hotel Fasano Rio
✅ Mid-range comfort: Hotel Arpoador
✅ Budget-friendly (Hostel): Ipanema Beach House
4. Santa Teresa (depending on the area)
I find Santa Teresa to be the most fun neighborhood to stay in Rio!
The area has a very unique and lively culture, the absolute best views in Rio, and an incredibly convenient central location!
There you’ll find local street fairs, affectionate restaurants (like Aprazível), old school bars (like Bar do Mineiro), a charming cablecar, and lots of historic buildings.
In fact, some of the best places to stay in Santa Teresa are in historic buildings that have been restored to perfection!
Though Santa Teresa is not by the beach, it is very close to Copacabana! Nearby is also the Sapucaí, which is the venue where carnival parades are held, and Christ the Redeemer.
Though the safe areas of Santa Teresa are absolutely amazing, the tougher areas have very violent favelas. Don’t let that fact discourage you – I’ve stayed in Santa Teresa multiple times and have never passed through such a slum!
Book the best hotels in Santa Teresa!
✅ Luxury: MGallery Santa Teresa
✅ Cozy B&B: Gerthrudes
✅ Budget: Armazém São Joquim
5. Leblon
Leblon is one of the most expensive neighborhoods to live in Rio, and its location is conveniently close to Ipanema.
Leblon hosts a lot less tourists and has a much calmer vibe than the nearby neighborhoods of Copacabana and Ipanema.
The neighborhood is so nice that lots of Brazil’s most famous celebrities choose to live there!
One thing to be careful about when booking a hotel in Leblon is the location. Leblon is incredibly close to two big slums (AKA favelas) called Vidigal and Rocinha.
Sometimes Airbnb/homestay hosts list the location of their space as Leblon, when in reality it is inside one of the slums, which are usually very unsafe areas to stay!
If you’re booking a stay in Leblon, make sure to check the address and customer reviews to have a better sense of the local safety.
Book the best hotels in Leblon!
✅ Modern Luxury: JANEIRO Hotel
✅ Accessible Luxury: Ritz
❌ Avoid: Sheraton Grand Rio (subpar experience and terrible location)
6. Urca
It would be unfair to talk about the safest areas in Rio without mentioning Urca – the neighborhood where the famous Sugarloaf Mountain is located!
Urca is an area where many military men live – which makes it one of the safest neighborhoods in Rio!
The region does not have any major hotel chains, but it is still a well-located and safe area to stay in Rio!
FAQs about the safest areas to stay in Rio
Where is safest to stay in Rio?
In my opinion, Barra da Tijuca is the safest area to stay in Rio.
If you’d like to be in a central area with more tourists, good options are Copacabana, Ipanema, and Santa Teresa.
How to avoid crime in Rio?
Staying in a safe neighborhood is the best way to avoid crime in Rio – though it is not a 100% guarantee!
Other tips to avoid crime in Rio (and Brazil more broadly) include:
- Not walking around at night
- Avoiding crowded spaces (like the famous Pedra do Sal)
- Not carrying valuables (including cellphones and photographic equipment)
- Using Uber for transportation
- Not leaving items unattended on the beach
- Asking hotel staff about regional safety and best practices
What is the best area to stay in Rio de Janeiro?
The best area to stay in Rio depends on what style of travel you have in mind! My top recommendations are:
- Barra da Tijuca for a calming beach getaway
- Copacabana or Ipanema for a multicultural experience
- Santa Teresa for an authentic and lively taste of Brazilian culture
What is the best way to get around Rio safely?
Uber is a reliable transportation method in Rio – no matter what neighborhood you’re staying in!
For foreign visitors, Uber in Rio is incredibly affordable, so I recommend using Uber Black to get around.
Any questions?
Ask all your questions in our Brazil travel Facebook group — we’ll be happy to help!
The wrap-up: Best and safest areas to stay in Rio de Janeiro
No matter what kind of trip you’re planning, Rio has a neighborhood that will make you fall in love with the city’s vibrant energy while still letting you rest easy at night.
So pick the neighborhood with style that fits you best, follow the basic safety tips for traveling Brazil, and get ready to experience one of the most fun cities on Earth!
Rio might have its safety challenges, but it also has a relaxed vibe that’s impossible not to fall for. Once you visit, you’ll probably understand why I keep coming back!
Planning a trip to Rio? Don’t miss our other helpful guides:
✅ Payments and Cash in Brazil: A Complete Guide for Travelers
✅ Is Brazil safe? A travel safety guide
✅ 5 Best Places to Stay in Santa Teresa, Rio de Janeiro
✅ The best luxury hotels in Rio de Janeiro
✅ Best books about Brazil: top 3 books to read before traveling
