Exercise Increased Caution
“Exercise increased cautionin Brazil due to crime and kidnapping. Some areas have increased risk.”
Updated Mon, 31 Aug 2026
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Is Recife safe? 🇧🇷
Brazil · Safety report last updated
As of October 2026, Recife scores 55/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: mostly — take normal precautions. Yes. Recife is moderately safe for visitors who stick to well-patrolled tourist zones and avoid high-risk areas after dark. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (high risk) and robbery (high risk). The U.S. State Department rates it Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution).
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Recife 🇧🇷
Brazil · Assessed 9 October 2026
55
/ 100
What drives this score
Crime50/100CautionCrime index 63.6 / 100
Sentiment44/100CautionModerate concern
Advisories75Good
Stability64Fair
Health79Good
01 · Official Guidance
Advisories
Good
Advises against all travel to parts of the country
“Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Areas where FCDO advises against all but essential travel Amazonas State FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the following river areas towards the west of Amazonas State: along the Amazonas (Amazon) River and its tributaries west of the town of Codajás and east of the town of Belém do Solimões in Amazonas State along any part of the Itaquaí River in Amazonas State along any part of the Japurá River or its tributaries in Amazonas State along the Rio Negro (Black River) and its tributaries north or west of the town of Barcelos in Amazonas State Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel.”
Updated 2026-10-07T10:46:57Z
Full advisory →Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)
“Canada's official risk level for Brazil: exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories).”
Updated 2026-10-05T12:27:24.6816575-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Crime
Caution
Urban scale factor
1.7M residents
62
City SignalCity Geocoding
Homicide rate
19.3 / 100kHomicide rate · per 100kJapan0.2Switzerland0.6World avg5.2United States5.8Brazil19.3South Africa43.7
27
Robbery / mugging
HighArmed robberies and muggings occur frequently in downtown Recife and on public buses, especially after dark and on weekends
Pickpocketing
HighPickpocketing and bag-snatching are common in busy markets, on public transport, and during festivals like Carnival
▸ 4 more indicators▾ Hide extra indicators
03 · Environment
Health & Air
Good
04 · Institutions
Stability
Fair
05 · Field Research
Current Situation
Caution
Traveller sentiment score
Moderate concern
44/100
Reported feel48Moderate concern
Robbery risk34High risk
Pickpocket risk58High risk
Recent traveler reports indicate mixed feelings of safety; visitors report feeling secure in hotel zones like Boa Viagem during the day but express anxiety about nighttime movement and isolated areas.
Yes. Recife is moderately safe for visitors who stick to well-patrolled tourist zones and avoid high-risk areas after dark.
Recife's homicide rate remains high at 19.3 per 100k, but most violent crime is concentrated in specific neighborhoods away from the main tourist corridors. Visitors who stay in areas like Boa Viagem and Recife Antigo during daylight hours and use app-based transport at night face risks comparable to other large Brazilian cities.
Recent developments
- Jun 2026UNODC pilot program launched in Recife to strengthen drug use prevention and international cooperation— United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
- Apr 2026Brazil safety guide updated with current U.S. Embassy advisories and beach-water warnings for Boa Viagem— Brazil Safe Travel
Common scams
- Beach vendors offering drugs followed by fake police demanding cash to avoid arrest
- Taxi drivers claiming no change for large bills and overcharging
- Pickpocketing and phone snatching in crowded markets and on public buses
Full briefing
Recife presents a layered safety picture for travelers. The city's homicide rate of 19.3 per 100k reflects serious violent crime, but this is heavily concentrated in specific neighborhoods distant from the main tourist areas. Visitors who confine their activities to well-patrolled zones like Boa Viagem beach and the historic Recife Antigo during daylight hours generally experience fewer incidents, as these areas benefit from stronger police presence and tourist infrastructure.
Recent reports confirm that petty crime remains a persistent issue, particularly pickpocketing on crowded buses and in markets such as São José, and armed robberies affecting both locals and visitors in downtown Recife after dark and on weekends. The dossier highlights a documented scam where beach vendors on Boa Viagem offer marijuana or cocaine to tourists, followed by accomplices posing as plain-clothes police demanding cash to avoid arrest; real police in Brazil issue written citations and do not collect fines on the street. Travelers should refuse all street drug offers and, if confronted, walk to the nearest tourist police post or call 190.
Practical safety measures include staying in well-reviewed accommodation within the Boa Viagem or Recife Antigo corridors, using registered taxis or ride-share apps like Uber instead of public buses after dark, and avoiding isolated areas or wandering alone at night. While shark warnings at Boa Viagem beach require attention for swimmers, the primary risks for visitors stem from street crime rather than natural hazards. By maintaining situational awareness and sticking to established tourist zones, most visits to Recife remain trouble free despite the city's broader crime challenges.
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06 · Neighbourhoods
Safest areas and areas to avoid
Our field research rated 8 Recife districts for visitors: 3 safer, 3 needing caution and 2 best avoided. See them plotted on the Recife safety map.
Santo AmaroavoidHigh robbery and mugging reports; avoid entirely, especially after dark.
CoqueavoidFrequent violent crime and carjackings; not recommended for visitors.
Recife Antigo (Historic Centre)cautionUNESCO site; safe in groups by day, avoid alone after dusk due to pickpocketing and ambush risk.
DerbycautionCommercial area; petty theft common on buses and in markets; stay alert, avoid flashing valuables.
Ilha do LeitecautionIsland neighbourhood; mixed reports—daytime okay with caution, avoid isolated paths at night.
Boa ViagemsaferMain tourist beach corridor with hotel density and visible police; daytime safe, avoid isolated stretches after dark.
Casa FortesaferResidential zone near UFPE; well-lit, lower crime, safe for daytime exploration.
PinasaferBeachfront with condos and patrols; safe by day, avoid beach alone after dark.
07 · After Dark
Is Recife safe at night?
48% of people in Brazil say they feel safe walking alone at night in their area (UN SDG survey, 2021).
Armed robberies and muggings occur frequently in downtown Recife and on public buses, especially after dark and on weekends
After dark, be most careful around Santo Amaro, Coque, Recife Antigo (Historic Centre), Derby. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Questions
Recife safety FAQ (2026)
Is Recife safe right now (2026)?
Yes. Recife is moderately safe for visitors who stick to well-patrolled tourist zones and avoid high-risk areas after dark. Recife's homicide rate remains high at 19.3 per 100k, but most violent crime is concentrated in specific neighborhoods away from the main tourist corridors. Visitors who stay in areas like Boa Viagem and Recife Antigo during daylight hours and use app-based transport at night face risks comparable to other large Brazilian cities. (Assessed 9 October 2026.)
Is Recife safe for women, families and solo travelers?
Safety is not one number, and this Recife report does not pretend it is: the score is re-weighted for who is travelling. A woman travelling alone, a family with children and a solo backpacker face different street-level risks, so the headline score shifts and the report leads with the findings that matter for that group. Personalize this report in one click to see the 2026 score and safety briefing for your specific travellers.
Which areas of Recife should tourists avoid?
Field research flags Santo Amaro, Coque as best avoided. See the district-by-district safety map.
What are the most common scams in Recife (2026)?
- Beach vendors offering drugs followed by fake police demanding cash to avoid arrest
- Taxi drivers claiming no change for large bills and overcharging
- Pickpocketing and phone snatching in crowded markets and on public buses
How does Recife compare with other places in Brazil (2026)?
Recife ranks #9 of 9 Brazil destinations we've assessed, scoring 55/100. See the Brazil safety overview for the full list.
How is this recife safety score calculated (2026)?
The score blends 14+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, FBI crime data for U.S. cities, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry the bulk of the weight; the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries the rest. Full methodology.
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Raw data: recife.json (CC BY 4.0).