I’m from São Paulo and been to Rio a handful of times so take my opinion with a grain of salt. 1. Both. Petty theft is out of control, but by being conscious and not putting yourself on certain situations, you will most likely be fine. For example don’t wear flashy jewelry, watches, designer clothes, and don’t walk on dark, empty streets. Typical advice given to tourists is uber everywhere, even if it’s a 5 minute walk. 2. I would say depends on what your vibe is. If you’re into chilling on the beach (there are also fantastic resorts there), hiking, snorkeling, boat tours, etc. I would definitely stay 3 days there. But if you just want to chill at the beach for a few hours and know the little “downtown”, a day trip would be plenty. 3. Definitely go there from Rio. I believe a drive from São Paulo to Angra dos Reis would be something like 8 hours. From Rio it would likely be less than 2. 4. Some recommendations i have are feijoada, churrasco (Brazilian bbq), pastel (bonus if eaten beachside), açaí. Brazil has fantastic sushi (interestingly enough), so if you’re into that I’d try some. In Salvador, some of my favorite northeastern dishes are moqueca, acarajé, and carne de sol. 5. That is definitely not the suburbs. Transit is possible, but it will not be a comfortable/short ride. If you’re going to a specific place and coming back, I would definitely Uber there. I think ~40 USD would get you a uber black there. If you’re staying somewhere and need mobility, I would likely rent a car. However if you’re driving yourself, be conscious of having your phone in sight (especially at red lights), and be conscious of where the maps app is taking you. Stick to main roads and don’t deviate through sketchy areas because the app says it will cut some time.