Brazil : Safety by City
- Belo Horizonte
- Brasilia
- Campinas
- Curitiba
- Florianopolis
- Fortaleza
- Porto Alegre
- Recife
- Rio de Janeiro
- Sao Paulo
Curitiba is the capital of Paraná, Brazil.
It’s an excellent place to stop for a day or two if you’re heading for Iguaçu Falls from Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo.
The city is known to urban planners worldwide for its innovative public transit system.
There is an excellent Cidade Velha (old city) in the center, which was restored very well for its 319 years.
There is a huge arts and crafts fair every Sunday in the old city that travelers very like to visit.
The city has many attractions worth visiting: Jerusalem Fountain, Curitiba Memorial, Ópera de Arame / Pedreiras Park, Japan Square, Botanical Garden of Curitiba, and many others.
Please note that on Mondays, most places are closed and tour buses do not operate either.
Warnings & Dangers in Curitiba
OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
It’s quite safe to walk in the city during the day, but at night it’s better not to appear on the streets. Groups of drug dealers are traded here, and tourists should never be contacted for their safety. Some regions of the city should be avoided altogether.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
Curitiba has a well-developed public transportation system. Public transportation is probably the best option for those visiting the city. However, you should remember that during rush hours the transport is full and unsafe. Taxi is a safe mode of transportation if you call a licensed service and have pre-negotiated the cost of the trip.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH
The risk of picketing is quite high. Be vigilant in tourist places, train stations, and crowded places. Always watch your pockets. Don't digress on the streets or if someone wants to distract you.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
The region is prone to droughts - and as a result - to forest fires. But the likelihood of this is low. Floods and landslides are also possible here. Examine the weather and the current situation for natural disasters before you travel here.
MUGGING RISK: HIGH
Unfortunately, the risk of being robbed on the streets of Curitiba is quite high. Armed robberies are not uncommon here. Tourists are advised to travel in groups, not to visit dangerous areas and avoid walking in the city at night. For your safety, do not carry valuables with you.
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 the capital of Brazil. Besides, like any capital, the city is especially attractive to terrorists. Be on the alert and avoid political demonstrations.
SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
Fraud is not uncommon in this city. Most often, tourists remain cheated - wry or too gullible people. Do not buy services and goods on the street - even if the price is tempting, all this can be fake. Beware of street barkers and watch your pockets in crowded places.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM
Women traveling alone in Curitiba can be safe if they follow some rules: do not appear on the streets at night, do not stay up late in bars, take a taxis at night and wear modest clothes.
So... How Safe Is Curitiba Really?
Curitiba is not a safe city.
The crime index here is quite high.
Most of the problems are related to armed robberies, car thefts, drugs, and corruption.
Don’t walk in the city center after 8 pm, especially near Largo da Ordem.
Do not show your valuables in public.
The city center is very safe during the daytime.
Take particular care at pedestrian crossings – drivers do not always stop to let pedestrians pass.
Stay away, or move fast and cautiously, from streets where there are few or no people in the sidewalks, especially in the areas near the Historical Center, anytime.
At night, tourists are advised to be especially vigilant in the area of the bus station, central square, historical center, and Batel neighborhood.
At night, it is best to get around by taxi.
The public transport is almost entirely off after midnight.
In Curitiba, there is a big problem with drug trafficking, so it is worth applying special security measures for yourself and your property.
If you rent a car, always park it only in secure parking lots and never leave valuables inside the vehicle.
Do not carry a lot of cash and jewelry.
In the event of an armed attack, give the criminals everything they require and then contact the police.
How Does Curitiba Compare?
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Curitiba | 51 |
| 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 Curitiba for ideal weather are from April to June or from August to October. The average temperatures in Curitiba vary somewhat. All year temperatures feel very enjoyable with a chance of rain or snow throughout most of the year.
Airports
Afonso Pena International Airport is the main airport serving Curitiba, Brazil, located in the adjoining municipality of São José dos Pinhais in 17 km from the city center. The airport complex includes a small museum, a play center, and a mall with 60 stores inside the main terminal. According to AirHelp, it was listed as the 4th best airport in the world in 2019.
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.
Curitiba Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 26 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 26 |
| Low °C | 18 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 17 |
| High °F | 79 | 79 | 77 | 75 | 70 | 66 | 68 | 72 | 70 | 73 | 75 | 79 |
| Low °F | 64 | 64 | 63 | 59 | 54 | 50 | 50 | 52 | 54 | 57 | 59 | 63 |
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 |
Dangerous, but visitable
The author’s review is very accurate about the current situation of Curitiba. Being mugged is an issue and it can happens at anytime on the streets. Anyone needs to exercise caution in the whole city because criminals wander around and do not target any specific area, although the Historical District is a focal point of problems of this nature.
My only observation about the author’s article is that the city center is not necessarily safe during daylight. Contrary to most places of the world, locals do not have tradition to help people who are being mugged, tending to hide themselves, run away or even pretending they are not witnessing anything, so sometimes one can face problems in an apparently peaceful place.
Squares located on the city center have to be avoided and they should be bypassed at their extremes by visitors and residents alike. These places register high levels of muggings and drug trafficking.
The Historical District by night has been turned to an unpleasant and dangerous site, with lots of homeless people and drug-addicted ones circulating on. Fights and violent police actions happens quite frequently in the main street so it is not an advised place. The neighboring Trajano Reis Street has seen a rise of a somewhat hipster culture and is also a hotspot of nightlife, but precisely the same situation applies there.
In the recent years, there are a increasing popularity of some open-air ventures comprised of a row of bars and restaurants, such as “Shopping Hauer” and “Hike Itupava”. These places have a good reputation to spare a time and see a nightlife from a local perspective, so it’s safe to stay wherever most people are and relax. One block away from the main site, however, things tend to be much grimmier. When leaving, ask for a taxi or Uber at the very site you are and do not stroll around.
The city parks, at the moment, are a pretty safe place to go and have a walk or a picnic. Outside the Botanical Garden, however, the streets pose danger (as revealed by the quantity of electrical fencing in almost every house or building).
In summary: it is a beautiful city with interesting things and places to go. By night: avoid random walks. By daylight: walk while exercising some level of situation awareness
Dangerous, not that ugly, not worth it
Dangerous, nicer than other brazilians cities but not worth the travel.
safer than most Brazilian cities
I was a bit surprised that Sao Paulo is deemed safer than Curitiba, which is not the case, or at least, not anymore.
Curitiba is way safer than any other big Brazilian city. Yes, you always need to have eyes on your back but it’s made out way worse than it is.
Avoid Largo De Ordem, it used to be nice but now it’s a bunch of crackheads. Tiradentes and Rui Barbosa are also better to be avoided because they have so many drug addicts. They are a lot less aggressive and annoying than in Sao Paulo though.
Plenty of neighbourhoods are very safe; Alto Da XV, Juveve, Hugo Lange, Agua Verde, Cabral, Centro Civico, Merces, Batel, Ecoville, Champagnat, Bigorillo, Seminario… a few are in between like Barrio Alto, Hauer, Taruma, Vila Fany, Portao, Fazendinha…a few are better avoided at all; Cajuru, Parolin, CIC, at night, avoid the historical centre too. Surrounding cities Colombo and Almirante Tamandare are also to be avoided.
I’ve been coming for over 10 years, been walking around a lot at night, and have gotten (unsuccessfully) mugged once in Largo De Ordem.
Also, there is nearly no risk of pickpocketing. Especially if you give SP a medium, then Curitiba should be very, very low.
Concordo com você. Curitiba is much safer than São Paulo.