Brazil attractions

Since its opening in 2016, the AquaRio Aquarium has been South America’s largest aquarium. Spread over five floors and featuring 28 tanks, the aquarium is home to some 8,000 fish and marine creatures, with more than 350 different species represented.

Once a residence of 18th-century governors, the Rio de Janeiro Royal Palace (Paco Imperial) witnessed pivotal moments in Brazil's history. Today, it thrives as a vibrant public center, bridging the gap between history and contemporary culture, presenting guests with art seminars, revolving exhibits, and a library with rare works.

São Paulo’s first skyscraper—and the first building of its stature in South America—the Martinelli Building (Edifício Martinelli) stands 345 feet (105 meters) tall. While the building was originally designed to have 12 floors, the construction process, which stretched from 1924 to 1928, saw more than a dozen more floors added, plus a mansion on top.

A storied soccer stadium and performance venue in São Paulo, the Estádio Municipal Paulo Machado de Carvalho (Pacaembu Stadium) is celebrated for its art deco design and its role in the sport’s history. Having hosted landmark games, including the 1950 World Cup, the stadium today hosts a soccer museum and fitness club.

Within day-tripping distance of Salvador, the silken sands and palm-studded shores of Praia do Forte make it one of Bahia’s most idyllic beaches. The former fishing village isn’t only celebrated for its photo-worthy scenery—it’s also an important marine life conservation area known for its sea turtles. Set around a high reef, the coast is dotted with tide pools, rocky coves, and mangroves, affording plenty of options for outdoor activities.

Every February, the world’s largest party takes place on the streets of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. At Samba City (Cidade do Samba) in the city’s port district, you’ll find that the Carnival spirit isn’t just limited to one week, but actually lasts the entire year, as you explore warehouses filled with enormous floats and experience other colorful traditions of the festival.

The incredible Cachoeira Toboga waterfall in the heart of the rainforest doubles as a natural waterslide that sends travelers shooting down slippery rocks into a swimming pool surrounded by Brazil’s Atlantic rainforest. Just upstream, a swinging rope bridge leads to Bar do Tarzan, a popular spot for a cold beer or caipirinha.

Located in the west of Rio de Janeiro, Recreio dos Bandeirantes is serene and secluded—other visitors rarely stray this far from the city, leaving this beach to surfers and locals. Less busy and crowded than the South Zone beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana, the beach offers a wealth of activities, from waterfront running and beach volleyball to paddleboarding and surfing. Plus, it’s one of the few Rio beaches where waves are consistently small and gentle, ideal for beginning surfers.

Rio de Janeiro’s Museum of Modern Art (Museu de Arte Moderna) offers one of Brazil's foremost collections of modern and contemporary art, with roughly 12,000 works housed within its concrete and glass-fronted facade. Highlights of the permanent collection include works by Di Cavalcanti, Maria Martins, and Bruno Giorgi.

Founded in 1905, the Art Gallery of the State of Sao Paulo (Pinacoteca do Estado) is one of Brazil’s most important art museums. Dedicated to 19th and 20th century Brazilian art, the Pinacoteca collection features more than 8,000 pieces, including works by Almeida Júnior, Pedro Alexandrino, and Oscar Pereira da Silva.

Under decorative Art Nouveau ironwork rafters is Manaus’ municipal market, a central point for foodies, locals, chefs, and travelers alike. Vendors and market stalls selling all varieties of food and produce—including tropical and exotic fruits, fresh fish, and meat—fill the interior, along with craft and art stalls and souvenir shops.

Nestled in the heart of Rio de Janeiro, Cosme Velho offers a blend of history and beauty. Best known for the Cosmo Vehlo Railway Station, this vibrant neighborhood is often overlooked by visitors eager to get to the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue, but those seeking a slower-paced experience will find it in Cosmo Vehlo.

If you’re looking for a Brazilian island getaway just a boat ride away from Salvador da Bahia, Frades Island (Ilha dos Frades) might be just the place. At the heart of the Bay of All Saints, the mostly undeveloped island is swathed in Atlantic Forest with great hiking opportunities. Trails aside, it’s the pristine, white-sand beaches along the south and east shores that really pull in the crowds.

Rio de Janeiro’s Santa Cruz da Barra Fortress, once a crucial coastal defense in Brazil’s colonial era, is now a popular tourist destination for those with an existing interest in military history and casual visitors alike. Within the grounds you can explore the fortress’s military relics, the Chapel of Santa Barbara, watchtowers, and dungeon cells.

Surrounded by pink sand dunes, sandstone cliffs, and a winding river, Canoa Quebrada is a laid-back beach town blessed with a stunning natural environment. While the town has grown with the times, it hasn’t lost that mystical feel that earned its reputation as a ‘hippie town’ in the 1970s.

A symbol of São Paulo’s race to modernity, this skyscraper, formerly known as Edifício Altino Arantes (as well as the Banespa Tower or Banespão), remains one of the most notable landmarks on the city’s evolving skyline, and recently underwent a renovation and rebranding—now known as the Farol Santander. It was originally built as the headquarters of the State Bank of São Paulo and named for one of the bank’s first presidents.

Aptly nicknamed the “Land of Waterfalls,” Brazil’s Presidente Figueiredo municipality claims over 100 waterfalls, with Iracema Waterfall (Cachoeira de Iracema) chief among them. Tucked away in the Amazon rainforest, its cool, clear waters attract birds endemic to the area and offer a refreshing place to swim.

Part of the revitalized Porto Maravilha waterfront, the Rio Art Museum (Museu de Arte do Rio, or MAR) is a recent addition to Rio’s art scene. With its eclectic architecture—a pair of 20th-century structures linked by a futuristic rooftop terrace—and innovative multimedia displays, it houses one of Brazil’s coolest contemporary-art collections.

Perched on the stunning coast of Salvador, Forte de Santo Antonio da Barra is a historic sentinel overlooking the Atlantic. Home to the Nautical Museum of Bahia, the stories etched into the walls and cannons of this well-preserved fort make it a must-visit for history enthusiasts and travelers seeking a picturesque setting.

Fortaleza is blessed with many spectacular beaches, and Cumbuco Beach ranks among the best. A popular spot for kitesurfing, sandboarding and buggy tours, Cumbuco (both the beach and neighboring fishing village) is distinguished by its rolling dunes and long expanses of white sand lined with coconut trees.

This massive stadium, which seats some 55,000 sports fans, was built in 2013 to host the World Cup in 2014. Teams from Spain, Nigeria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands have all graced the green of this iconic field. In 2016, Fonte Nova Stadium again posed as a global soccer stage during the Summer Olympics.

Morro Branco’s seaside cliffs appear strikingly red from a distance, but up close you can see they have a number of pink, cream, and beige hues that together form their distinctive overall color. These eroded sand cliffs, known as the Labyrinth, have served as a filming location in several productions.

The second-tallest building in São Paulo—and one of the city’s most celebrated architectural landmarks—the Italian Building (Edifício Itália) soars 541 feet (165 meters) above street level. Striking when viewed from the outside, the 1965 skyscraper also hosts a rooftop observation deck as well as the sky-high Terraço Itália restaurant and bar.

About 36,000 people call the Portuguese colonial town of Paraty home. Its quiet streets, colorful homes, European influence, and historic roots attract visitors from across the globe. But it’s Paraty’s easy access to the untouched coastlines of Paraty Bay and its 65 islands that make it a true travel destination.

One of Rio de Janeiro’s most important buildings, the opulent Tiradentes Palace (Palácio Tiradentes) was inaugurated in May 1926. Instantly recognizable for its grand columns and allegorical rooftop statues, the building’s grandeur continues inside with its huge stained-glass dome. It houses the Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro.

If neighboring Copacabana feels a little too hectic, head northeast along the promenade until you reach the wonderfully relaxed Leme Beach (Praia do Leme), which offers a calmer experience of Rio de Janeiro’s iconic seafront—and no less impressive views. It boasts soft sands, big waves, and views of Morro do Leme mountain.

Credited with kick-starting the now-legendary music scene of Rio’s Lapa district, Rio Scenarium is one of the city’s most popular venues. Join the locals who come to hear some of the best samba, forró, baião, bossa nova, and gafieira music performed by established local acts and up-and-coming bands.

What do you do when you’re in rural Argentina? Feast on churrasco and enjoy a lively dance show, of course. Just across the Brazilian border in Foz do Iguaçu, the Rafain Churrascaria dinner show gives a flamboyant introduction to Central and South American music, dress, and dance, alongside an all-you-can-eat churrasco buffet.

Brazil’s most famous landscape architect, Roberto Burle Marx, left his legacy all over the country, and his own estate is undoubtedly one of his masterpieces. The former banana plantation, which Marx bought together with his brother in 1949, was transformed into intricately designed gardens that take 18 gardeners to care for.

Manaus, the largest urban area in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest, is also the most important port in the state of Amazonas. The Port of Manaus is as far up the Amazon River as oceangoing cruises can get, and it serves as a gateway to adventures in the rainforest.