Brazil attractions

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.

Cidade da Criança (Children's City) amusement park is an ideal choice for visitors with active children. Located in the center of São Bernardo do Campo—in the metropolitan region of São Paulo—it was the first theme park to open in both Brazil and Latin America.

Nestled in the heart of São Paulo, Estação Pinacoteca (Pina Estação) stands as a testament to the city's vibrant art scene, showcasing a diverse collection of contemporary Brazilian art. Housed in a historic train station, this cultural gem seamlessly blends the old and the new.

While not as well known as Ponta Negra, crescent-shaped Praia da Lua is arguably Manaus’ best beach, with white sand and the warm, black waters of the Rio Negro. It’s a popular beach for swimming or watching an Amazon sunset.

Home to thrilling rollercoasters, water slides, and a huge variety of outdoor activities, Acqua Lokos has something to entertain all ages. As the largest leisure complex in Rio Grande do Sul, it’s a popular choice for a family day out and the on-site hotel is ideal for those who want to stay longer.

As the centrepiece of the Felicia Leirnar sculpture park, Claudio Santoro Auditorium serves as both an architectural landmark and a concert venue. Named after Manaus-born musician Claudio Franco de Sá Santoro, it’s the main stage of the Campos do Jordão International Festival, one of the largest classical music events in Latin America.

The Church of Our Lady of the Rosary and St. Benedict (Igreja do Rosário) is an important landmark in Paraty. Built by enslaved people in the mid-1700s, the church sits in the heart of Paraty Historic Center and remains central in local religious and social life.

A wonder of nature tucked into the city, Dunas Park (Parque das Dunas) is a lush and leafy place to explore or to simply relax among trees and plants native to the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Golden sand dunes stretch into clear ocean, and trails through the natural environment are ideal for trekking, and they attract active travelers.

Surrounded by sand dunes and lush greenery, Lagoa de Jacumã serves as both a scenic body of water and an adventure playground. Along with swimming in its clear waters, you can enjoy an aerial view of it as you soar over the surface on a zipline that ends with a plunge into the lagoon.

In the heart of Curitiba, Santos Andrade Square (Praça Santos Andrade) is a central hub for transportation, culture, and just hanging out. Brazil's first university—the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR)—is right by the square, which means you're likely to run into students, as is the celebrated Guaira Theatre.

One of several zoos in or near the Brazilian megalopolis of São Paulo, the Guarulhos Zoo (Zoológico de Guarulhos) offers a welcome dose of nature and wildlife amid the urban sprawl. Free for all to visit, this zoo and nature park focuses on Brazilian flora and fauna, and its conservation efforts help to protect native species.

With its simple cream and white façade and unassuming central dome, the Malakoff Tower (Torre Malakoff) isn’t Recife’s most striking landmark, but it’s nonetheless an important historical monument. Built in the 19th century as an astronomic observatory and arsenal storage for the military, it’s now been converted into an exhibition space and public observatory.

Developed in the late 1970s as an off-price alternative to the sky-high rents along Avenida Paulista, Avenida Berrini (pronounced be-HEE-nee) houses a growing number of shopping and entertainment areas, including American-style malls Shopping Morumbi and Shopping Market Place, as well as the D&D Decoration and Design Center.

Chave-Mestra is an escape room experience that offers a variety of themed games and puzzles. Pick from a variety of thrilling, magical, or macabre themes, and spend part of an afternoon or evening solving riddles and puzzles that will allow you to escape a locked room.

Three hours driving from São Paulo, Thermas Water Park is one of Brazil’s most modern water parks and offers tons to do for kids and adults of any age. The main attraction is, of course, the pools and waterslides. The grounds are home to 11 pools, 10 waterslides and the adrenaline-pumping Free Fall slide, which drops over 30 feet (10 meters). A highlight is the warm pools, where heated swimming holes are set among an artificial white sand beach and several waterfalls and grottos. The children’s area features a massive shallow swimming pool, dotted with colorful animal decorations, toys and small waterslides. Beyond the aquatic attractions and wild slides of the park, Thermas also offers the pre-historic world, an exhibit of 30 massive dinosaur replicas, and smaller exhibits with replicas of marine life and insects. Visitors can also experience living animals at the Vô Bráulio Ranch, which is home to farm animals like horses, ostrich, rabbits and pheasants as well as some of Brazil’s tropical creatures like toucans, macaws and monkeys — many of which visitors are allowed to hold and touch.

Home to its own private beach and less than an hour from downtown Natal, Manoa Park is a one-stop-shop for family entertainment. From ziplining and beach volleyball to water slides and boat cruises, there’s something for all ages here.

Baia Formosa (Beautiful Bay) is a quaint fishing village in Brazil’s Rio Grande do Norte state that boasts colorful architecture and excellent surfing. Discover the storybook views and healing waters of Coca Cola Lagoon (Lagoa da Coca-Cola), and travel to hidden beaches, lush Atlantic forests, and mangroves.

An engaging, exciting indoor attraction, Chave-Mestra is an escape game in the Brazilian city of Porto Alegre. Locked inside a themed room of your choice, you and your friends must solve puzzles and mysteries in order to free yourselves.

With its steep cobblestone lanes and brightly painted colonial buildings, the Historic Centre of the Town of Olinda (Centro Historico de Olinda) is one of Pernambuco’s most colorful neighborhoods. Preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s the city’s cultural epicenter and home to many of its most notable landmarks.

As the largest private butterfly park in Brazil, Borboletário Águias da Serra is home to thousands of butterflies that span 17 different species. The venue was designed to allow you to come into close contact with the butterflies, while also ensuring the protection of the winged insects.

A major draw of visiting the Amazonas region is the incredible variety of living creatures that are unique to the river and rainforest. Anyone who might be a bit hesitant to go trekking into the jungle to meet them in their natural habitat can get a peek at the Amazon Natural Science Museum (Museo De Ciencias Naturais Da Amazonia).

One of the best places for outdoor recreation in all of São Paulo, Villa Lobos Park (Parque Villa Lobos)—located next to the Pinheiros River, west of the city center—combines areas of natural beauty, sporting facilities, and cultural programming. Named for Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos, the green space has peaceful trails, a library, an amphitheater, and even an orchidarium.

Located at Itaipu Dam (Barragem de Itaipu), one of the largest providers of hydroelectric energy on the planet, Itaipu Biological Refuge is dedicated to rescuing and researching the wildlife of this tropical region. Animals inhabiting the area include jaguars, harpy eagles, marsh deer, monkeys, snakes, anteaters, and skunks.

Nestled in the heart of Brazil, Rio Quente’s Hot Park is the country’s largest water park—and the world’s only hydrothermal water park. Here, nature’s warm wonders meet exhilarating man-made adventures. This aquatic wonderland offers a blend of relaxation and excitement, making it an ideal destination for families, thrill-seekers, and nature enthusiasts alike.

One of the largest open-air museums in Brazil, Carambei Historical Park (Parque Historico de Carambei) explores the story of the Dutch people who immigrated to Brazil. Highlights include a recreation of Zaanse Schans in the Netherlands, a Memory Museum that explores Dutch history and culture, and some tranquil ponds and lakes to wander.

With more than 55 attractions—which include gravity-defying water slides, a water rollercoaster, and a 180° surf pool—it’s easy to see why Thermas dos Laranjais is Brazil’s most-visited water park. The family-friendly park has something to entertain all ages and draws huge crowds year-round.

The Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil (CCBB) is a leading art and cultural institution with multiple branches around the country. The location in Brasilia is housed in one of artist Oscar Niemeyer’s many modernist buildings, and behind its sweeping concrete facade, you’ll find art galleries, film and theater venues, and a café.

If you want to escape Florianopolis’ more developed side, the stripped-back shores of Praia do Matadeiro are the place for you. Free of hotels and city noise, the pristine sand and crystal-clear waters of this locale are the ideal place to relax. The trees backing the beach provide some welcome shade.

Just south of Salvador de Bahia, the rural villages and tranquil sandy beaches of Tinharé Island (Ilha de Tinharé) are an idyllic retreat from the city. Reachable only by boat, the small, car-free island is home to some of Bahia’s most beautiful beaches and spectacular snorkeling spots.

Set in a colonial farmhouse, Botucatu’s Coffee Museum showcases São Paulo state’s coffee trade from its 19th-century origins to its emergence as one of Brazil’s biggest exports. Exhibits include traditional machinery and original records, as well as various beans and brews, making this a must-see for any engineer or historian.