Brazil attractions

Ceará Tourism Center used to be Fortaleza’s jailhouse, but where criminals once languished, there are now art displays and local crafts exhibited within the walls of this fortified building. There are stalls throughout where you can buy pieces and chat to the artists who made them. It's an ideal place to learn about local art.

Itaipu Beach (Praia de Itaipu) was once a paradise for travelers looking to escape the hustle and bustle of Rio de Janeiro. Unfortunately, pollution has made swimming conditions less than ideal and now the sandy strips of coast, although still picturesque, are often crowded. However, on a quiet day, Itaipu Beach still epitomizes the beauty of Brazilian beach life.

There's rarely snow in Brazil, but you can still ski or snowboard the dry slopes at São Roque’s Ski Mountain Park, set in the hills overlooking the wild landscapes of the Atlantic Forest. With two dry slopes made of polyethylene mats, plus an ice skating rink, ropes course, and archery, it’s an ideal destination for a family day out.

Just 30 minutes from downtown Sao Paulo, Wet 'n’ Wild is one of Brazil’s largest water parks. With more than 25 slides, pools, and activities, the park has plenty to appeal to kids and adults; attractions range from super-fast water slides to a lazy-river cruise.

Within the city limits of Rio de Janeiro, Marapendi Natural Park offers 380 acres (155 hectares) of peaceful escape from the bustling city. Its lush landscapes, diverse wildlife, and well-preserved ecosystems make it a guaranteed hit for anyone looking to connect with the natural beauty of Brazil.

This elegant example of neo-Gothic architecture-- easily Brazil's finest-- might seem more at home in Medieval France than the rainforests of the New World. The graceful symphony of peaked arches and delicately rendered towers, built between 1928 and 1932, overlook Getúlio Vargas Square in Santa Cruz do Sul.

At the heart of Unipraias Park, Aguada Hill (Morro da Aguada) affords a spectacular view from its 787-foot (240-meter) summit. The Bondinho cable car orteleférico links the hilltop viewpoint with the park’s two beaches—the only beach-to-beach cable car in the world.

In the heart of the historic part of Curitiba, Garibaldi Square is a great place to get your bearings or take a break between sightseeing visits. The square also has a "flower clock," a fully functional, 26-foot (8-meter) timepiece made of shrubs and flowers, complete with fiberglass hands.

Dutch colonists built the historic fort of Nossa Senhora de Assuncao in the 17th century, but it was only kept by them for five years until it was captured and taken over by the Portuguese. It was then renamed after the patron saint of Fortaleza. Now an imposing example of Dutch architecture and a public museum, the fortress is dedicated to exhibits detailing the lives of local war heroes and notable persons.

Zooparque Itatiba in São Paulo is the largest private zoo in Brazil. More than 1,200 animals of 180 different species live in spacious enclosures designed to recreate their natural habitats. Zooparque Itatiba introduces you to the world’s varied ecosystems and emphasizes the importance of preserving fauna and flora.

Home to heated and freshwater pools fed by natural springs, Thermas Hot World is one of the most popular resorts along Brazil’s Circuito das Águasa, a series of towns renowned for their mineral-enriched waters. Half spa, half water park, the complex offers everything from super-fast water slides to relaxing hot tubs.

Visit the home of the city of Fortaleza—the Museum of Ceara is housed within the former Legislative Assembly and represents Brazil’s culture and history in the region of Ceara. Here, you can learn about the indigenous cultures of the people of Brazil and the history of Portuguese colonization up until the city’s present day.

Designed by French landscaper Auguste Glazio in 1808, Quinta da Boa Vista Park is one of Rio’s largest urban parks. Once the imperial gardens of São Cristóvão Palace, it’s now home to the National Museum of Brazil (housed in the former palace) and RioZoo. Visit to walk its palm-lined paths and check out the boating lake.

A scenic green space, an open-air museum that commemorates the Polish immigrants that have helped shape Curitiba for more than 150 years, and a memorial to Pope John Paul II, the Pope’s Woods and Polish Immigration Memorial (Bosque do Papa Joao Paulo II) is a multi-part attraction. Known for its cultural festivals, it’s also peaceful and tranquil.

The Federal University of Paraná (UFPR) is one of the oldest educational institutions in Brazil. The school occupies an entire block of Curitiba’s town center on one end of Santos Andrade Square (Praça Santos Andrade). Originally a private institution that began in the early 1900s, it became a federal, tuition-free university in 1950. It’s also home to two museums.

Founded by a group of oceanographers in 1994, Ubatuba Aquarium is hailed as one of the best in Brazil. The aquarium features 20 different enclosures—including the largest saltwater tank in Brazil—that house everything from crabs and octopuses to sharks and Magellianic penguins, which are native to Patagonia.

With its gigantic manmade lake, sandy beaches, and multiple swimming areas, Marina Park is a great place to cool off during Brazil’s notoriously hot summers. Water slides, boat cruises, and play areas offer fun for all ages, while swim-up bars and thermal pools ensure adults can relax too.

The lush and diverse Atlantic Forest (Mata Atlantica) stretches along the Atlantic coast of Brazil from the state of Rio Grande do Norte in the northeast to Rio Grande do Sul and into Paraguay and Argentina. As one of the world's top global biodiversity hot spots, it’s a haven for nature enthusiasts in Brazil seeking an eco-adventure.

Hailed as one of the most important museums in São Paulo, the Museum of Image and Sound (Museu da Imagem e do Som, or MIS) exhibits more than 200,000 audio-visual works, including photographs, films, and posters that relate to art, cinema, theater, and music.

A paradise-like island off the coast of southern Brazil’s Paraná state, Ilha do Mel (Honey Island) has been a protected nature reserve since 1982. Closed to vehicles and accessible to limited numbers of visitors each day, it preserves a wild stretch of the coastal Atlantic Forest. The reserve’s highlights range from beaches and historic lighthouses to rocky caves.

A cultural legacy from one of Brazil’s elite families, the Moreira Salles Institute(Instituto Moreira Salles) is a modernist mansion set in the jungle, the former home of the Moreira Salles family. It has been transformed into a museum and educational space, celebrating Brazilian culture and arts. The Institute focuses on four artistic areas: photography, music, literature and iconography. The main focus is on photography, with rotating exhibits featuring the works of top visual artists from Brazil and worldwide. Exhibits range from old, historic photos, to contemporary photo-essays to abstract photography. They also scheduled screenings of films and documentaries from around the world. The structure is a perfect example of 1950s modernism in South America, with an angular design and some geometric patterns. Semi-open air rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows incorporate the natural beauty of the property, set on the border of the Tijuca National Forest. In the surrounding garden, tall trees tower up toward the sky and paths weave among the tropical, green garden. Streams, fountains, and a pond surrounded by a modern mosaic design also add to the property’s serene, modern design.

Home to some 3,000 marine creatures and 170 different species—including penguins, fur seals, sharks, and stingrays—the beachside Acqua Mundo Aquarium offers an introduction to Brazil’s underwater wonders. Visit to observe fish and marine life in a variety of habitats.

Dating back to the 17th century, Fazenda Bananal (formerly known as Fazenda Murycana or Murycana Farm) is a restored colonial-era farm that now functions as a nature reserve and historic site. Visitors can explore the farm’s 180 hectares (445 acres) of lush grounds, learn about its sustainable practices, and dine on farm-to-table food in the restaurant.

Set amid the lush greenery of the Atlantic Forest, the leisure complex of Magic City has attractions that range from daring water slides and amusement rides to palm-fringed swimming pools. Within day trip distance of Sao Paulo, Magic City is suitable for kids of all ages and has an on-site hotel.

A beachfront public park located between Copacabana Fort (Forte de Copacabana) and Arpoador Rock (Pedra do Arpoador), Parque Garota de Ipanema takes its name from the bossa nova hit “Garota de Ipanema” (“The Girl From Ipanema”). It’s a tranquil green space with features including a skate park and playground, as well as scenic viewpoints overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

Museu de Cera de Petrópolis (Petropolis Wax Museum) showcases wax replicas of Brazilian and global celebrities, historical figures, and fictional characters. The figures displayed in the museum—which is the only one of its kind in the state of Rio de Janeiro—exhibit a high standard of realism.

Set on 3 acres (1.2 hectares) of lush gardens in Campos do Jordão, Enchanted Forest Park is a fantasyland for young children, inspired by classic fairy-tales. Kids explore the gardens, step inside a giant doll-house, visit miniature houses belonging to well-known children's story characters, and let their imaginations run wild.

The Rio do Peixe, or Peixe River, is a wildlife lover’s dream. Set in the heart of the lush rainforest of Brazil’s central region, there are dense canopies of trees, trails that follow fast-moving rivers, and waterfalls that rain down into crystal clear pools full of colorful fish. After all, Peixe’s name literally means “river of fish.”

Run by the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), the PUCRS Museum of Science and Technology is Latin America’s only interactive museum of natural sciences. The space offers exhibits on the universe, the earth, the environment, and humankind as well as hands-on activities for visitors of all ages.

The gateway through which immigrants historically entered São Paulo, the central Bom Retiro neighborhood today represents the city at its most eclectic. Originally home to Jewish and Arabic communities—and now boasting a vibrant Koreatown—the area is a great place for cultural (and culinary) discovery. It’s also home to several major museums, cultural venues, historic buildings, green spaces, and shopping streets.