Smart Self-Managed Tours

Country guide

Brazil

A photograph of Brazil
Photograph · Tet · CC BY 4.0

Brazil is the largest country in South America and the fifth largest on earth, with over 213 million people, 26 states and a Federal District built to hold the capital, Brasília. Its Atlantic coastline runs 7,491 kilometres and it borders every country on the continent except Ecuador and Chile. Most of the Amazon basin is Brazilian, including the world's largest river system and the most extensive virgin tropical forest left standing; the same country also holds wetlands, savanna, plateau and low mountains. São Paulo is the most populous city and Rio de Janeiro the second. The distance between any two of these is the planning problem.

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information

Language spoken
Portuguese
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+55
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Brazilian real (BRL)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
190 police · 192 ambulance · 193 fire
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type N · 127 or 220 V by location
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Not recorded
Voltage and water guidance must be checked for the destination

Planning a visit

  1. January: no seasonality data recorded
  2. February: no seasonality data recorded
  3. March: no seasonality data recorded
  4. April: no seasonality data recorded
  5. May: no seasonality data recorded
  6. June: no seasonality data recorded
  7. July: no seasonality data recorded
  8. August: no seasonality data recorded — this month
  9. September: no seasonality data recorded
  10. October: no seasonality data recorded
  11. November: no seasonality data recorded
  12. December: no seasonality data recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

  1. Circo Voador
    02 2 hours

    Circo Voador

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Rio de Janeiro
  2. 00 (Zero Zero)
    05 2 hours

    00 (Zero Zero)

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Rio de Janeiro
  3. 021
    06 2 hours

    021

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Rio de Janeiro
  4. 1020
    07 2 hours

    1020

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Rio de Janeiro
  5. 1/2 Porta
    08 2 hours

    1/2 Porta

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Rio de Janeiro
  6. 3o Milênio
    10 2 hours

    3o Milênio

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Rio de Janeiro
  7. 57 House Club
    11 2 hours

    57 House Club

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • São Paulo
  8. 7 Queens
    13 2 hours

    7 Queens

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • São Paulo
  9. ABC Bailão
    15 2 hours

    ABC Bailão

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • São Paulo
  10. Açai
    17 2 hours

    Açai

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Rio de Janeiro
  11. Ace of Spades
    19 2 hours

    Ace of Spades

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • São Paulo
  12. Acervo
    20 2 hours

    Acervo

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Rio de Janeiro
  13. Adega
    22 2 hours

    Adega

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • São Paulo
  14. Adega 18+ bar
    23 2 hours

    Adega 18+ bar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • São Paulo
  15. Adega33
    24 2 hours

    Adega33

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • São Paulo
  16. Adega da Velha
    26 2 hours

    Adega da Velha

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Rio de Janeiro
  17. Adega do Vinho
    28 2 hours

    Adega do Vinho

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Rio de Janeiro
  18. A Garagem
    33 2 hours

    A Garagem

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Rio de Janeiro
  19. A Gruta
    35 2 hours

    A Gruta

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • São Paulo
  20. Águia de Ouro
    36 2 hours

    Águia de Ouro

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Rio de Janeiro
  21. Agyto
    37 2 hours

    Agyto

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Rio de Janeiro
  22. Aimbeer 850
    39 2 hours

    Aimbeer 850

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • São Paulo
  23. Alfa
    41 2 hours

    Alfa

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Rio de Janeiro
  24. Alice Bar
    43 2 hours

    Alice Bar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Rio de Janeiro
  25. Al Janiah
    44 2 hours

    Al Janiah

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • São Paulo
  26. Alo Barraca
    45 2 hours

    Alo Barraca

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Rio de Janeiro
  27. Aloka
    46 2 hours

    Aloka

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • São Paulo
  28. Amendoeira
    51 2 hours

    Amendoeira

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Rio de Janeiro
  29. América
    52 2 hours

    América

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • São Paulo
  30. Amusa
    54 2 hours

    Amusa

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • São Paulo
  31. Anastacio Bar
    55 2 hours

    Anastacio Bar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • São Paulo
  32. Andre's Bar
    56 2 hours

    Andre's Bar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • São Paulo
  33. Andrômeda
    57 2 hours

    Andrômeda

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • São Paulo
  34. Antônio's Bar
    61 2 hours

    Antônio's Bar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Rio de Janeiro
  35. Aoka
    62 2 hours

    Aoka

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • São Paulo
  36. Arena
    67 2 hours

    Arena

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • São Paulo
  37. Arena Park
    68 2 hours

    Arena Park

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Rio de Janeiro
  38. Armazem 18
    69 2 hours

    Armazem 18

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • São Paulo
  39. Armazém 269
    70 2 hours

    Armazém 269

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Rio de Janeiro
  40. Armazém 7
    71 2 hours

    Armazém 7

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Rio de Janeiro
  41. Armazém 77
    72 2 hours

    Armazém 77

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • São Paulo
  42. Asa Branca
    82 2 hours

    Asa Branca

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Rio de Janeiro
  43. Assambleia
    84 2 hours

    Assambleia

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • São Paulo
  44. Asterix
    86 2 hours

    Asterix

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • São Paulo
  45. A Taberna
    87 2 hours

    A Taberna

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Rio de Janeiro
  46. At Nine
    89 2 hours

    At Nine

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • São Paulo
  47. Atrevido
    90 2 hours

    Atrevido

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Rio de Janeiro
  48. Audio Club SP
    91 2 hours

    Audio Club SP

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • São Paulo
  49. Aurora Club
    92 2 hours

    Aurora Club

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • São Paulo
  50. Bada
    94 2 hours

    Bada

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Rio de Janeiro
  51. Badejo
    95 2 hours

    Badejo

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • São Paulo
  52. Bahamas Club
    96 2 hours

    Bahamas Club

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • São Paulo
  53. Baixo Bebê
    98 2 hours

    Baixo Bebê

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Rio de Janeiro
  54. Baixo Gago
    99 2 hours

    Baixo Gago

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Rio de Janeiro
  55. Baladaoke SBC
    100 2 hours

    Baladaoke SBC

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • São Paulo

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to Brazil be?

Brazil’s scale makes 10–16 days appropriate for one region rather than a national circuit. Build around a single gateway such as Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo, then add one coherent coastal, nature or cultural extension.

What entry documents are needed for Brazil?

Visa information is maintained by Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs through its consular portal. Eligibility depends on nationality and visit purpose; use the ministry’s current table instead of relying on a past visa waiver.

What is the best way to travel around Brazil?

São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro handle major international and domestic connections. Flights bridge the country’s long distances, coaches cover many regional corridors, and national passenger rail is not a general substitute for either.

When is a practical time to visit Brazil?

Brazil has no single best month because Amazon, northeast-coast, Pantanal and southern conditions differ. April–June and August–October are broad shoulder periods, but the chosen region’s rainfall and access cycle should decide the dates.

What money and payment basics apply in Brazil?

The Brazilian real (BRL) is the unit used for prices. This guide does not record current bank fees or acceptance patterns; check the displayed total and conversion currency before authorising a card or cash transaction.

What practical safety details should I save for Brazil?

Brazil separates emergency services: 190 police, 192 ambulance and 193 fire. Type N sockets operate at either 127 or 220 V depending on location, and national tap-water suitability is Not recorded.