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. Rio de Janeiro Cathedral Rio de Janeiro Cathedral
    02 30 min

    Rio de Janeiro Cathedral

    Catedral de São Sebastião

    The Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian, known locally as Catedral Metropolitana de São Sebastião, is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Rio de Janeiro.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Rio de Janeiro
  2. Convent of Santo Antônio
    07 30 min

    Convent of Santo Antônio

    Igreja e Convento de Santo Antônio

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Rio de Janeiro
  3. Teatro Carlos Gomes
    08 1 hour

    Teatro Carlos Gomes

    Teatro Municipal Carlos Gomes

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Rio de Janeiro
  4. Teatro São Pedro
    09 1 hour

    Teatro São Pedro

    Theatro São Pedro

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • São Paulo
  5. Church of Saint Lucy
    17 30 min

    Church of Saint Lucy

    Igreja de Santa Luzia

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Rio de Janeiro
  6. Mão
    21 1 hour

    Mão

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • São Paulo
  7. Marco Padrão
    22 1 hour

    Marco Padrão

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • São Paulo
  8. Pedro Álvares Cabral
    25 1 hour

    Pedro Álvares Cabral

    Monumento a Pedro Álvares Cabral

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • São Paulo
  9. Protestant Cemetery
    37 30 min

    Protestant Cemetery

    Cemitério dos Protestantes

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • São Paulo
  10. Perus Cemetery
    41 30 min

    Perus Cemetery

    Cemitério Dom Bosco

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • São Paulo
  11. Arariboia
    42 1 hour

    Arariboia

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Rio de Janeiro
  12. Acoplamento
    49 1 hour

    Acoplamento

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Rio de Janeiro
  13. Brasil
    51 1 hour

    Brasil

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Rio de Janeiro
  14. Cosmo I
    52 1 hour

    Cosmo I

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Rio de Janeiro
  15. Drault Ernanny
    53 1 hour

    Drault Ernanny

    Busto de Drault Ernanny

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Rio de Janeiro
  16. Iansã
    56 1 hour

    Iansã

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Rio de Janeiro
  17. Juventude
    57 1 hour

    Juventude

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Rio de Janeiro
  18. O Passante
    58 1 hour

    O Passante

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Rio de Janeiro
  19. São Charbel
    61 1 hour

    São Charbel

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Rio de Janeiro
  20. São Sebastião
    62 1 hour

    São Sebastião

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Rio de Janeiro
  21. Tartaruga
    63 1 hour

    Tartaruga

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Rio de Janeiro
  22. Axé Ilê Obá
    65 30 min

    Axé Ilê Obá

    Axé Ilé Obá

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • São Paulo
  23. St. Ignatius College
    84 30 min

    St. Ignatius College

    Colégio Santo Inácio

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Rio de Janeiro
  24. São Paulo Cemetery
    87 30 min

    São Paulo Cemetery

    Cemitério São Paulo

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • São Paulo
  25. Gazeta Theatre
    88 1 hour

    Gazeta Theatre

    Teatro Gazeta

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • São Paulo
  26. Laje do Michael Jackson
    89 1 hour

    Laje do Michael Jackson

    Estátua do Michael Jackson

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Rio de Janeiro
  27. Teatro Augusta
    92 1 hour

    Teatro Augusta

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • São Paulo
  28. Federação Espírita Brasileira
    97 30 min

    Federação Espírita Brasileira

    Sede Histórica/Seccional da Federação Espírita Brasileira (FEB)

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Rio de Janeiro

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.