Is Rio de Janeiro safe or dangerous? Urban or wild? Luxurious or impoverished? It’s all of these things — and it’s a place you’ll never forget.

This sprawling coastal city is famous for samba dancers, colorful favela communities, lush forests, lively beaches and of course, Carnival. In this quick guide, we’ll tell you what to do, where to stay and what to eat — and why you definitely need travel insurance for your Rio de Janeiro vacation.

3 Reasons to Buy Travel Insurance for Brazil

1. Travel insurance can ensure you receive appropriate medical care in a covered emergency. Several diseases are prevalent in various areas of Brazil, including Chagas, chikungunya, dengue, Zika, tuberculosis and schistosomiasis.¹ If you fall seriously ill while traveling and you don’t have travel insurance, you’ll likely have to pay for your care out of pocket. The best travel insurance for Brazil protects you with emergency medical and dental benefits and emergency transportation benefits.
2. Travel insurance can help you in an emergency. In Brazil, “violent crime, such as murder, armed robbery, and carjacking, is common in urban areas, day and night. Gang activity and organized crime is widespread,” the State Department warns.² You can protect yourself by avoiding isolated areas at night, staying inconspicuous, and staying out of the favelas, even on a guided tour. If you’re the victim of theft or another crime, call our 24-hour assistance hotline. Our experts can help you deal with police, get money sent from home and obtain replacement travel documents.
3. Travel insurance can protect the money you’ve spent. Imagine you score cheap plane tickets and a great hotel in Rio during Carnival. You’re so excited — and then, the day before your departure, you slip on some ice and shatter your knee. Travel insurance with trip cancellation benefits can reimburse you for your prepaid, non-refundable trip costs if you must cancel a trip for a covered reason.

What’s the best travel insurance plan for Brazil? For international travel, our most popular option is the OneTrip Prime Plan, which includes a wide range of essential benefits. Plus, kids 17 and under are covered for free when traveling with a parent or grandparent (not available on policies issued to Pennsylvania residents). Get a quote for your next trip.

3 of the Best Things to Do in Rio

1. Ascend Corcovado Mountain. Rio de Janeiro’s best-known landmark is the figure of Christ the Redeemer, perched atop Corcovado. Take a train or van to the top of the mountain to stand at the feet of the statue, where you can view all of Rio over the treetops of luscious Tijuca National Park. (You can also hike the eight-mile trail, but criminals sometimes target tourists there.³)
2. Browse one of Rio’s street fairs. You can find handmade artwork, antiques, local fashions, and fun souvenirs at lively markets like Feira Hippie de Ipanema or Babilônia Feira Hype.⁴ These fairs are all over Rio — just listen for the music and look for the tents.
3. Join the bronzed throngs. Wondering which is Rio’s best beach? Let the vibe be your guide. Copacabana is a popular party destination, while Ipanema is its more refined counterpart. A few hours away are quieter, unspoiled beaches, like Cabo Frio and Búzios.

3 of the Best Hotels in Rio

If you love luxury and history, you must stay at the legendary Belmond Copacabana Palace. Built in 1923, this Art Deco masterpiece stands on the edge of the beach. Lounge by the pool, enjoy an Amazonian clay treatment in the spa, and then dine at MEE, the hotel’s Michelin-starred pan-Asian restaurant.

The Villa Rio is one of the best boutique hotels in Rio because it offers both intimate seclusion (there are only 11 rooms) and access to Santa Teresa, a bohemian neighborhood filled with shops, cafés and galleries. Relax on your terrace and take it all in.

Traveling on a budget? The Da Lapa Design Hotel has nightly rates as low as $15 for a shared room. Plus, breakfast is free! This hotel is only for night owls, however — the surrounding neighborhood of Lapa is known for nightclubs and revelry, and the hotel itself hosts concerts on weekends.

3 of the Best Restaurants in Rio

In a city of more than 6 million, the dining options are endless — but we’ll do our best to pick out just three of the best places to eat in Rio. Number one is the Churrascaria Palace. Founded in 1951, it’s one of the most famous traditional Brazilian steakhouses, where waiters visit your table to shave meats off hand-held skewers.

If a plate full of meat just isn’t your thing, consider lunch at Lilia, a restaurant that serves elegant and creative dishes (many are organic/vegetarian). The menu changes daily, but you can expect everything to be fresh and beautifully presented.

Searching for fine dining restaurants in Rio de Janeiro? The gold star goes to Oro, which has won worldwide acclaim for chef Felipe Bronze’s new takes on Brazilian cuisine. On the menu you might find duck with okra and xinxim (curry) sauce or persimmon moqueca (a traditional fish stew).

Whether you’re headed to Rio de Janeiro or anywhere else in the world, Allianz Global Assistance can protect you with wide-ranging and affordable travel insurance products. Get a quote before you go!

What Do I Need to Travel to Rio de Janeiro?

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