Think of the most dangerous city in the world. What city do you think it is? Where is it? Is it in Brazil?
If you said ‘yes,’ you’re wrong, and by a lot. By murder rate, the most dangerous city is Celaya, Mexico. In fact, out of the top ten most dangerous cities in the world, according to World Atlas, seven are in Mexico. No other country appears on the list until the 7th spot, which is occupied by St. Louis.
This doesn’t mean that Brazil isn’t dangerous. It can be, and some of the most dangerous cities are Brazilian, but there are safe cities in Brazil, too. We’ll talk about a few of them here.
1. Florianopolis
Florianopolis is one of the safest cities in Brazil. Located partly on an island and with several great beaches, this city has become a tourist hub. It’s home to plenty of natural spaces and mountains. The population is just below 1.3 million, and most of them live on the island.
The crime rate in Florianopolis is low and has been falling for a few years. Keep in mind that tourist hubs do have their fair share of crime. Be on the lookout for thieves and swindlers, just in case.
2. Belo Horizonte
Another city in the Southeast, Belo Horizonte is known for its art deco architecture and abundance of bars. People have called it the bar capital of the country. We recommend going there if you want to visit Brazil.
The city is situated between two mountain ranges and boasts a population of 2.7 million people. A city that size is bound to have plenty of sites to see, and Belo Horizonte is no exception. One such wonder is the church of St. Francis of Assisi, a building designed by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer and modeled after an airplane hangar. Niemeyer’s name will come up a few times in this article and during your average vacation in Brazil. He’s a noteworthy part of Brazil’s history.
3. Brasilia
If you want a safe city to visit, look no further than the country’s capital of Brasilia. This city was declared a World Heritage Site in the late 1980s and has one of the most unique layouts in the world.
Brasilia is also the center for much of Brazil’s government, including its new Minister for Indigenous Peoples. An interview with Patricia Caring of the Caring Family Foundation, revealed that indigenous communities were under fire these past few years, when far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro canceled laws protecting the rainforest and openly opposed indigenous communities.
Brasilia is home to a myriad of government structures, many of them designed by Oscar Niemeyer. There’s also a National Theater and a major cultural center.
Safe Cities in Brazil
You have a lot of options when looking for safe cities in Brazil. The majority of the country is relatively friendly to tourists. There is a fair bit of theft and other petty crimes, so you should watch your wallet at all times.
The violent issues that Brazil got its bad reputation for are mostly confined to the favellas, highly impoverished neighborhoods in the inner cities. Violence is a tragic problem in Brazil, but mostly for native Brazilians.
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