Brazil
Brazil works on a continental scale: Amazon rainforest, the Pantanal wetland and more than 7,000 km of Atlantic coast. Rio's granite peaks and beaches, the 275 cascades of Iguaçu and the Pantanal's jaguars headline, while Salvador and the north-east add Afro-Brazilian music, food and a Carnival tradition found nowhere else.
Overview
Brazil covers nearly half of South America, so a first trip of two or three weeks means choosing. The classic loop starts in Rio de Janeiro, with a few days between Copacabana, Santa Teresa and Corcovado, then flies south-west to Foz do Iguaçu for the falls. Wildlife lovers add the Pantanal via Cuiabá or Campo Grande, or an Amazon lodge from Manaus; beach and culture seekers head north-east to Salvador, the dunes and lagoons of Lençóis Maranhenses or the protected island of Fernando de Noronha. The coast road from Rio to Paraty and Ilha Grande suits overland travel.
Brazil feels big, sociable and loud, with music spilling out of bars and beach kiosks late into the night. Day-to-day costs are moderate — a cold beer and petiscos at a botequim is cheap — but Amazon lodges, Noronha and Rio hotels over New Year and Carnival are not. English is less widely spoken than many visitors expect, even in tourist areas, so a few phrases of Portuguese go far. It suits travellers who want cities, beaches and wildlife in one trip and are comfortable keeping valuables discreet. Many are surprised by how much of daily life, from booking tables to tours, runs on WhatsApp.
Map of Brazil
Top 5 highlights
- 1Nature
Iguaçu Falls
Around 275 cascades thunder along a 2.7 km horseshoe on the Argentine border. The Brazilian side gives the grand panorama and a walkway into the spray below the Devil's Throat; most visitors cross to Argentina for a second, closer day.
- 2Culture
Christ the Redeemer
The 30-metre Art Deco statue, completed in 1931, stands on the 700-metre Corcovado above Tijuca Forest. Take the cog train up early, before tour groups arrive, for views across Guanabara Bay to Sugarloaf.
- 3Wildlife
The Pantanal
The world's largest tropical wetland is South America's best place to see wildlife in the open: capybaras, caimans, hyacinth macaws and, from July to October, jaguars hunting along the rivers near Porto Jofre at the end of the Transpantaneira.
- 4Nature
Amazon lodges and the Meeting of the Waters
Manaus is the gateway to jungle lodges on the Rio Negro and Amazon. Just downstream, the dark Negro and sandy Solimões flow side by side without mixing for several kilometres at the Meeting of the Waters.
- 5History
Pelourinho, Salvador
Salvador's hilltop old town is a UNESCO-listed tangle of pastel colonial houses and gilded Baroque churches, notably São Francisco, and the heart of Afro-Brazilian culture, from capoeira schools to Olodum's drum rehearsals.
Biggest cities
São Paulo
South America's largest city is a food and art capital rather than a beauty: eat at the Mercado Municipal, see MASP and the Pinacoteca, and spend an evening in Vila Madalena's bars.
Rio de Janeiro
Granite peaks, rainforest and beaches crammed into one city: Sugarloaf, Corcovado, sunset at Ipanema and samba in Lapa make three or four days feel short.
Belo Horizonte
Minas Gerais's capital is known for its botecos and comida mineira; most visitors use it as a springboard to Inhotim's vast art park and the Baroque gold town of Ouro Preto.
Ranked by urban-area population where available. Figures are rounded estimates, and sources define city limits differently, so rankings of similar-sized cities can vary.
When to go to Brazil
Best time: Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov.
Average climate in Rio de Janeiro
Festivals & events
- Feb–MarCarnival
Rio's samba-school parades in the Sambódromo headline, but street blocos in Rio, Salvador's trio elétrico trucks and Olinda's giant puppets make Carnival nationwide; book accommodation months ahead.
- JunFesta Junina (São João)
North-eastern towns, especially Caruaru and Campina Grande, celebrate St John through June with forró music, bonfires, square dancing and maize-based food.
- DecRéveillon in Copacabana
New Year's Eve on Copacabana beach draws around two million people dressed in white for fireworks over the sea, with flowers thrown to the sea goddess Iemanjá.
How much does Brazil cost?
Estimates per person per day, excluding flights. Prices vary by season and city.
Food to try
Feijoada
Black beans stewed with salted and smoked pork cuts, served with rice, farofa, sautéed couve greens and orange slices — traditionally a long Saturday lunch.
Moqueca baiana
Bahia's fish or prawn stew simmered in coconut milk, dendê palm oil, peppers and coriander, brought bubbling to the table in a clay pot.
Churrasco
At a churrascaria rodízio, waiters circulate with skewers of picanha and other cuts, carving at your table until you flip your card to red.
Getting around
Distances are vast, so most visitors fly: LATAM, Gol and Azul link every state capital, and fares drop when booked early. Long-distance buses are comfortable and frequent — Rio to São Paulo takes about six hours — with reclining leito seats on overnight routes. Passenger trains are almost non-existent. Rio and São Paulo have cheap, efficient metros; elsewhere, Uber and the local 99 app are widely used and usually cheaper than street taxis.
Practical information
- Plugs & voltage
- CN127V — bring a UK-to-C/N adapter
- Emergency numbers
Source: FCDO “Getting help”
- Dialling code
- +55
- Time zones
- UTC-3, UTC-4, UTC-5 (standard time)
- Tap water
- Varies — bottled or filtered is safer
- Driving
- On the right
- Tipping
- Restaurants add a 10% service charge (serviço) to the bill, which is optional but normally paid; elsewhere, round up taxi fares and tip guides modestly.
- Etiquette
- Brazilians greet warmly with a handshake or cheek kisses, depending on the region. Avoid the 'OK' hand sign, which is rude here — use a thumbs up instead — and keep beachwear for the beach.
- Main airports
- São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport (GRU), São Paulo; Rio de Janeiro/Galeão International Airport (GIG), Rio de Janeiro
Visas & entry for Brazil
Shown for a British passport.
No visa needed
You can visit Brazil without a visa for up to 90 days for tourism.
If you want to extend your tourist visa, contact the Federal Police (in Portuguese) before your visa expires.
From the UK government's FCDO entry requirements for British passport holders — read the full page for passport validity, permits and exceptions.
Health & vaccinations
- Recommended for most travellers
- Hepatitis ATetanusTyphoid
- Sometimes advised — depends on your trip, activities and health
- ChikungunyaDengueHepatitis BRabiesTuberculosisYellow fever
- Yellow fever certificate
- No yellow fever certificate is required to enter. There is a risk of yellow fever in parts of the country — vaccination may be advised.
- Malaria
- Low risk of malaria
- There is a low risk of malaria in the Amazon basin of Brazil, including in the city of Manaus: awareness of risk and bite avoidance recommended.
- There is a very low risk of malaria in the rest of Brazil: awareness of risk and bite avoidance recommended.
- There is no risk of malaria in Iguaçu Falls: bite avoidance recommended.
Source: TravelHealthPro (National Travel Health Network and Centre), checked 21 October 2026. This is a summary, not medical advice.
Public holidays in Brazil
The next 12 months. Banks, offices and some sights may close, and transport and hotels get busy around these dates.
| Mon 2 Nov 2026 | All Souls' Day |
| Sun 15 Nov 2026 | Republic Proclamation Day |
| Fri 20 Nov 2026 | National Day of Zumbi and Black Awareness |
| Fri 25 Dec 2026 | Christmas Day |
| Fri 1 Jan 2027 | Universal Fraternization Day |
| Fri 26 Mar 2027 | Good Friday |
| Wed 21 Apr 2027 | Tiradentes' Day |
| Sat 1 May 2027 | Worker's Day |
| Tue 7 Sep 2027 | Independence Day |
| Tue 12 Oct 2027 | Our Lady of Aparecida |
National holidays only. Dates based on lunar calendars can move by a day or two depending on official announcements.
Useful phrases in Portuguese
| English | Portuguese | Say it |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Oi | oy |
| Thank you | Obrigado / Obrigada | oh-bree-GAH-doo / oh-bree-GAH-dah |
| Please | Por favor | poor fah-VOR |
| Excuse me | Com licença | kohn lee-SEN-sah |
| How much is this? | Quanto custa isso? | KWAN-too KOOS-tah EE-soo |
Know before you go
- Keep phones and cameras out of sight on busy streets and beaches, carry only the cash you need, and use ATMs inside banks or shopping centres during the day.
- Book early for Christmas, New Year, Carnival and the July school holidays, when Brazilians travel en masse and domestic fares and beach hotel prices climb steeply.
- Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for much of Brazil, including Iguaçu and the Amazon; check TravelHealthPro and get the jab at least ten days before travel.
Brazil travel FAQs
When is the best time to visit Brazil?
The best time to visit Brazil is generally Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov. Peak months are April, May, June, September, October and November. Average highs in Rio de Janeiro range from 25°C to 31°C across the year.
How much does a trip to Brazil cost per day?
Roughly £40 a day on a tight budget, £95 mid-range and £210+ for comfortable travel, per person including accommodation, food and local transport. Flights are extra.
What currency is used in Brazil?
Brazilian real (BRL).
What plug type does Brazil use?
Type C and N sockets at 127V. UK visitors need a travel adapter — UK Type G plugs will not fit.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Brazil?
Traffic drives on the right in Brazil, unlike the UK.
Is tap water safe to drink in Brazil?
Varies — bottled or filtered is safer.
Do I need a visa for Brazil?
For British passport holders, the FCDO says: You can visit Brazil without a visa for up to 90 days for tourism. Entry rules change, so check the official FCDO entry requirements for Brazil before you travel: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/brazil/entry-requirements
What vaccinations do I need for Brazil?
TravelHealthPro recommends Hepatitis A, Tetanus and Typhoid for most travellers, with Chikungunya, Dengue, Hepatitis B, Rabies, Tuberculosis and Yellow fever sometimes advised depending on your trip. Make sure routine UK vaccinations are up to date and see a travel health professional 6–8 weeks before you go.
