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Is Salvador safe? 🇧🇷

Brazil · Safety report last updated

As of October 2026, Salvador scores 56/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: mostly — take normal precautions. Salvador presents a moderate safety risk for travelers, requiring significant caution. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (moderate risk) and robbery (high risk).

Safety Report

IsMyTripSafe.com

Salvador 🇧🇷

Brazil · Assessed 13 October 2026

56

/ 100

Mostly — take normal precautions

Safer than ~50% of countries

District map

What drives this score

Crime50/100CautionHomicide 19.3 / 100k
Sentiment47/100CautionCautious
Advisories75Good
Stability64Fair
Health77Good

01 · Official Guidance

Advisories

Good

UK Foreign Office (FCDO)

Level 3

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 →

Government of Canada

Level 2

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 2026-10-09T09:44:53.990198-04:00

Full advisory →

02 · Evidence Signals

Crime

Caution

Mugging & robbery risk

High risk
34

City SignalCity Web Research

Pickpocketing & theft risk

Moderate risk
78

City SignalCity Web Research

Visitor safety sentiment

45 / 100 (Cautious)
45

City SignalCity Web Research

Urban scale factor

2.7M residents
55

City SignalCity Geocoding

Homicide rate

19.3 / 100kHomicide rate · per 100kJapan0.2Switzerland0.6World avg5.2United States5.8Brazil19.3South Africa43.7
27

Country BaselineWorld Bank Open Data · 2023

Feel safe walking alone after dark

48.3%
46

Country BaselineUN SDG Global Database · 2021

Physical assault (past year)

4.1%
80

Country BaselineUN SDG Global Database · 2019

Robbery / mugging

High

High risk of mugging and armed robbery, particularly in less-touristed areas and at night. The homicide rate in Bahia is significantly above the global average.

Pickpocketing

Moderate

Moderate risk of pickpocketing and bag-snatching, especially in crowded tourist spots like the Pelourinho and public transport.

▸ 4 more indicators

Sexual violence (past year)

0.8%
91

Country BaselineUN SDG Global Database · 2019

Detected human-trafficking victims

0.01 / 100k
92

Country BaselineUN SDG Global Database · 2024

Bribery during public-official contact

11.0%
74

Country BaselineUN SDG Global Database · 2019

Crime seen as a major business constraint

6.6%
81

Country BaselineWorld Bank Enterprise Surveys · 2009

03 · Environment

Health & Air

Good

Air quality

US AQI 54 · Moderate

Open-Meteo Air Quality

Hospitals

25 beds / 10k · country avg

WHO Global Health Observatory

Weather

October: highs ~31°C · no weather extremes

Open-Meteo

Road safety

15.7 / 100k

WHO Global Health Observatory

Natural hazards

No active alerts
100

Country BaselineGDACS / USGS

CDC travel health notices · none for this destination

Worldwide notices (not specific to this trip): Polio, Dengue, Measles

04 · Institutions

Stability

Fair

Political stability & no terrorism

59/100
59

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

Terrorism deaths (latest year)

0.00 / million
99

Country BaselineGlobal Terrorism Database · 2021

Rule of law

51/100
51

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

Control of corruption

40/100
40

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

▸ 3 more indicators

Government effectiveness

52/100
52

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

Regulatory quality

48/100
48

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

Voice & accountability

65/100
65

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

05 · Field Research

Current Situation

Caution

Traveller sentiment score

Cautious

47/100

Reported feel45Cautious
Robbery risk34High risk
Pickpocket risk78Moderate risk

While some historical and cultural aspects are appealing, reports indicate a general sense of caution due to ongoing crime concerns.

Salvador presents a moderate safety risk for travelers, requiring significant caution.

While not inherently dangerous for tourists, Salvador experiences high rates of violent crime, particularly in certain areas. Travelers should be aware of their surroundings and take precautions against petty theft and more serious offenses.

Recent developments

  • Sep 2026Increasing violence in Brazil’s Bahia state challenges Lula in his election stronghold.— AP News
  • Jun 2026Brazilian right courts crime-weary voters with 'Bukele model' crackdown.— Reuters
  • Oct 2023Bahia, Brazil’s fourth largest state, faces rash of violence.— Brazil Reports
  • Dec 2023What Is Behind Rising Violence in Bahia, Brazil?— InSight Crime

Common scams

  • Distraction theft, often involving accomplices, to steal valuables.
  • Overcharging by taxi drivers, especially from the airport or tourist areas.
Which areas are safe? District-by-district ratings are on the Safety Map→

Full briefing

Salvador's safety profile indicates a high risk of violent crime, necessitating a high degree of caution for travelers. The state of Bahia, where Salvador is located, has seen a significant increase in violence, as reported by AP News in September 2026. This surge in crime is a key concern for local authorities and voters, according to Reuters in June 2026.

While official advisories from Canada and the UK suggest exercising a high degree of caution, the dossier highlights specific concerns. Robbery and mugging are considered high risks, particularly in less frequented areas and after dark. Pickpocketing and bag-snatching are moderate risks, especially in crowded tourist hubs like the Pelourinho and on public transport.

Travelers should be vigilant and avoid displaying wealth. Stick to reputable transportation and be aware of your surroundings at all times. The health advisories from the CDC, including alerts for Polio, Dengue, and Measles, also warrant attention; ensure you are up-to-date on vaccinations and take precautions against mosquito-borne illnesses.

Was this Salvador, Brazil report helpful?

IsMyTripSafe.com

Not legal or medical advice

Report generated 13 October 2026

Sources: U.S. State Dept · UK FCDO · World Bank · WGI · UNODC · WHO · UN SDG · Global Terrorism Database · Numbeo · OpenStreetMap · Open-Meteo · CDC. Composite index recomputed at request time.

Links:

06 · Neighbourhoods

Safest areas and areas to avoid

7 districts

Our field research rated 7 Salvador districts for visitors: 2 safer, 4 needing caution and 1 best avoided. See them plotted on the Salvador safety map.

Centro Histórico (outside Pelourinho)avoidAreas immediately surrounding Pelourinho can be less safe, especially at night, with higher risks of robbery.

PelourinhocautionHistoric center, popular with tourists, but petty crime and pickpocketing are common, especially after dark.

Rio VermelhocautionKnown for its nightlife and restaurants, can be busy and attract petty crime; exercise caution at night.

Boca do RiocautionArea with a convention center and shopping malls, can experience opportunistic crime; stay aware of surroundings.

ItapuãcautionFamous beach neighborhood, generally safe during the day, but can become riskier after dark due to petty crime.

BarrasaferCoastal neighborhood with a lighthouse and beaches, generally considered safer and popular with locals and tourists.

PitubasaferA more modern, residential and business district, generally considered safe with good infrastructure.

2 safer4 caution1 avoidOpen the district map

07 · After Dark

Is Salvador safe at night?

48% of people in Brazil say they feel safe walking alone at night in their area (UN SDG survey, 2021).

High risk of mugging and armed robbery, particularly in less-touristed areas and at night. The homicide rate in Bahia is significantly above the global average.

After dark, be most careful around Centro Histórico (outside Pelourinho), Pelourinho, Rio Vermelho, Boca do Rio. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.

08 · Questions

Salvador safety FAQ (2026)

Is Salvador safe right now (2026)?

Salvador presents a moderate safety risk for travelers, requiring significant caution. While not inherently dangerous for tourists, Salvador experiences high rates of violent crime, particularly in certain areas. Travelers should be aware of their surroundings and take precautions against petty theft and more serious offenses. (Assessed 13 October 2026.)

Is Salvador safe for women, families and solo travelers?

Safety is not one number, and this Salvador 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 Salvador should tourists avoid?

Field research flags Centro Histórico (outside Pelourinho) as best avoided. See the district-by-district safety map.

What are the most common scams in Salvador (2026)?

  • Distraction theft, often involving accomplices, to steal valuables.
  • Overcharging by taxi drivers, especially from the airport or tourist areas.

How does Salvador compare with other places in Brazil (2026)?

Salvador ranks #9 of 9 Brazil destinations we've assessed, scoring 56/100. See the Brazil safety overview for the full list.

How is this salvador safety score calculated (2026)?

The score blends 12+ 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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