Brazil travel guide
Brazil is large enough to feel like several countries in one. In a single trip you can see Christ the Redeemer above Rio de Janeiro, walk the baroque streets of Salvador, take a boat into the Amazon from Manaus and stand before the cascades of Iguaçu Falls, with beaches and music never far away. Choosing between regions is part of the pleasure. Rio and São Paulo bring the big-city sights, food and culture, while the northeast coast of Fortaleza, Natal, Maceió and Recife offers sun, dunes and reefs. Florianópolis and Porto Alegre represent the south, Brasília is a modernist landmark, and Bonito and Fernando de Noronha appeal to nature lovers. Brazil is a year-round destination, but the Amazon, the northeast and the south each have their own seasons, so match the month to the region. It suits beach lovers, culture seekers and wildlife fans. Plan your Brazil itinerary city by city with Zippy Trips.
Capital: Brasília.
Visa for Indian passport holders
Visa required, apply before you fly.
Before you go to Brazil
- Currency
- BRL R$
- Emergency number
- 190
- Plug type
- Type N
- Tap water
- Drink bottled water
- Tipping
- Optional
- Bargaining
- Not expected
- eSIM
- Available
- Card networks
- Visa, Mastercard, Amex (limited)
- ATM fees
- R$12-30 per withdrawal plus your bank foreign ATM fee
Cities in Brazil
- Rio de Janeiro Brazil's most iconic city — dramatic granite peaks collide with Atlantic beaches. Christ the Redeemer crowns the skyline, Sugarloaf offers…
- São Paulo South America's largest metropolis. An extraordinary restaurant scene spanning every cuisine, world-class museums (MASP, Pinacoteca), Vila…
- Foz do Iguaçu Home to Iguaçu Falls — the world's widest waterfall system (UNESCO). Up to 275 cascades spanning 2.7 km in subtropical rainforest on the…
- Salvador Cradle of Afro-Brazilian culture. The Pelourinho UNESCO district bursts with baroque churches and capoeira circles; candomblé rhythms fill…
- Manaus Gateway to the Amazon rainforest. A gilded opera house rises from the jungle; the Meeting of the Waters flows nearby; jungle lodges begin…
- Fortaleza 300+ sunny days per year. Beira Mar promenade, Meireles beachfront, forró dancing at Iracema, and gateway to Jericoacoara dunes make it…
- Fernando de Noronha Brazil's most exclusive island paradise — a volcanic UNESCO World Heritage archipelago 354 km off Recife. Baía do Sancho ranks among the…
- Florianópolis Brazil's "Magic Island" — 42 beaches from surf-mecca Praia Mole to glamorous Jurerê Internacional. One of Brazil's safest and wealthiest…
- Bonito Brazil's ecotourism crown jewel in Mato Grosso do Sul. Crystal rivers with 40 m visibility for snorkelling; Abismo Anhumas drops you by…
- Curitiba Brazil's model sustainable city: pioneering BRT, 30+ parks per capita, the greenhouse-domed Jardim Botânico, and the Largo da Ordem…
- Natal "City of the Sun" — 300+ sunny days, giant dunes at Genipabu, spectacular cliffside beaches of Pipa, and some of Brazil's clearest Atlantic…
- Brasília Brazil's modernist capital — UNESCO World Heritage. Niemeyer's National Congress, Metropolitan Cathedral, and Palácio da Alvorada form an…
- Recife The "Venice of Brazil" — rivers and bridges, Recife Antigo's colonial quarter, UNESCO-listed Olinda, world-famous Frevo Carnaval, and 20 km…
- Maceió Natural tidal pools (piscinas naturais) glow electric blue 1 km offshore at Pajuçara. The Maragogi coast to the north features Brazil's…
- Porto Alegre Capital of Rio Grande do Sul and heart of gaúcho culture. European immigrant heritage, Brazil's finest churrascos, thriving Cidade Baixa…
- São Luís UNESCO World Heritage city famed for 18th-century Portuguese azulejo tile-decorated colonial architecture. Gateway to the Lençóis…
Frequently asked questions about Brazil
- Do Indian citizens need a visa for Brazil?
- Visa required, apply before you fly.
- What currency is used in Brazil?
- The currency in Brazil is the Brazilian Real (R$). R$1 is about ₹19.
- Can I use cards and ATMs in Brazil?
- Accepted card networks: Visa, Mastercard, Amex (limited). Typical ATM fees: R$12-30 per withdrawal plus your bank foreign ATM fee. Decline dynamic currency conversion at ATMs and card machines.
- Should I tip in Brazil?
- Tipping in Brazil: optional. Typically about 10% in restaurants.
- Is tap water safe to drink in Brazil?
- Drink bottled water.
- What plug type does Brazil use?
- Brazil uses Type N plugs.
- What is the emergency number in Brazil?
- Emergency: 190. Police: 190. Ambulance: 192. Tourist helpline: 156.
- Can I get a SIM or eSIM in Brazil?
- SIM and eSIM available in Brazil.
- What is the capital of Brazil?
- The capital of Brazil is Brasília. Time there: IST - 8 h 30 min.