Country guide

Brazil

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.

São Paulo
Photograph · Thomas Hobbs · CC BY-SA 2.0

São Paulo 10,967 places
Rio de Janeiro
Photograph · Rafael Rabello de Barros · CC BY-SA 3.0

Rio de Janeiro 5,359 places

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

January: no seasonality data recorded
February: no seasonality data recorded
March: no seasonality data recorded
April: no seasonality data recorded
May: no seasonality data recorded
June: no seasonality data recorded
July: no seasonality data recorded
August: no seasonality data recorded — this month
September: no seasonality data recorded
October: no seasonality data recorded
November: no seasonality data recorded
December: no seasonality data recorded

Top things to see

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

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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.

🇧🇷Brazil