I'm headed to Rio de Janeiro in just over a week....young solo traveller....and I had a couple quick questions.

1.) I know the area around the Lagoa has a couple nice areas with a lot of open air bars and kiosks to sit down and enjoy some beers and food, especially the area near the Jockey Club. My question is is this area safe to be in at night and are the cabs in the area plentiful?

2.) Is it safe to walk around Centro at any time? (I suspect weekdays are ok?)

3.) Are the taxis plentiful in Rio and will I have any trouble getting one? I don't want to be walking the streets searching for one, especially solo, especially at night

Thanks a bunch for your help!

We found taxis in Rio to be plentiful and cheap but we didn't take any after midnight. Centro was fine during the day on weekdays, don't know about nights and weekends, although I did read that Centro should be avoided on weekends.

Have a great time in Rio!

Centro is fine on weekdays and week day evenings. There's a lot of people about early evening leaving work, eating and drinking and the shops stay open quite late.

The Lagoa area I have only been to during the day and early evening, it was fine then. If you feel nervous ask the bar to call a cab for you. Brazilians are often overly soliticious on tourists behalf about safety, and they will often let you know what they think you should do in an area if you ask for directions or help. As a solo traveller this is even more likely to happen, take their counsel if you are unsure.

Cabs are indeed cheap and plentiful.

Thanks.

Any other insights on the Lagoa area from anybody out there?

When in Rio I'll be staying in Ipanema, I decided it was definitely a better place to base myself than Copacabana.

You definitely want to stay in Ipanema. You can ask at your hotel about Lagoa.

If you want to stay at the beach, which is the main tourist area, Ipanema is generally cited as the safer location. We stayed at Botafogo, which is on the metro line and makes getting about a lot easier.

Another possibility is St Teresa accessible from Centro by the bonde or tram, there's a network called Cama e Café (literally bed and breakfast) which has places to stay with locals in the neighbourhood.

I meant to add, also try Trip Advisor for advice about the Lagoa area, there are a lot more Brazil enthusiasts on that forum.

Taxis are quite plentiful; only go in ones that are metered, and make sure that the driver has it (the meter on) once you begin your journey.

Since I can't speak the language (Brazilian Portugese), I always had the place where I was going already written; thus I just handed it to the driver once I discerned that he could not speak English.

Many times though the drivers try to be most helpful in spite of the langjuage barrier.

Tipping is not required unless the driver has done something special.

Try to have the exact amount for the fare.

If you are receiving a little change, just let the driver keep it.

Carry small bills while traveling in taxis; the drivers don't break $R50 bills, sometimes not R$20. This sometimes happens in supermarkets, too.

Board your taxis a few doors down from the hotels; some times money is saved that way.

Travel by taxis at night.

Walk in the Centre or Central area during the day, and don't have maps out. Familiarize yourself as much as possible while you're in the hotel.

Keep cameras out of sight when not in use. I carried mine in a plain plastic grocery bag that I'd obtained from a supermarket.

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I've always stayed in Copacabana and have taken taxis to the other neighborhoods: Leme, Leblon, Ipanema, but I took a bus during the day to get to Barra which is way out and is considered the Miami of Rio. The shopping center is almost two in one and is very, very expansive, but I'd suggest that you go to the new upscale shopping center to take in its architecture and initial ambience even if you don't buy anything. It is one beautiful place.

I went on a rainy day and just walked and used the escalators and viewed how the shops have their goods on display, etc. Overall this was a refreshing day for me since the weatehr outside was rainy, and this was in October.

I hope you haven't begun your trip. I have another website for consultation: www.Ipanema.com. You'll find a variety of helpful, helpful information.

Logoa is an upscale area and for the most part safe but I would not risk doing much walking anywhere in Rio late at night.

Centro is dead on the weekend, it's a business district, be especially careful in centro if you go on the weekend. During the week during the day no problem, during the week at night always use taxis in centro.

During the day you should be able to walk all over Rio no problem. At night best to use a taxi when possible, no strolling, I know people who take taxis just a few blocks at night, especially late at night.

The new and beautiful and artistically and architectually designed gem to which I alluded without mentioning where is located in Leblon.

On a rainy day in November in 2007, I went there-- did not purchase 1 thing-- but enjoyed this venue for its architecture, the design, the scope of its intent....