Things to do in Brazil

25 things to do in Brazil

Listed in full below. The running order is set by votes and loads with the page.

• Witness the sunrise at Christ the Redeemer

  Take the cog railway up Corcovado mountain before dawn and watch the sun illuminate Rio de Janeiro's iconic 30-metre Art Deco statue with sweeping views over Guanabara Bay.

  Rio de Janeiro

• Hike to the Devil's Throat at Iguazu Falls

  Walk the catwalks out over the thundering 82-metre Devil's Throat, where 14 falls converge in a permanent wall of mist on the Argentine–Brazilian border.

  Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná

• Dance samba at Pedra do Sal in Rio

  Join the Monday and Friday night roda de samba beneath the historic salt stone in the port neighborhood of Saúde, birthplace of Brazilian samba.

  Rio de Janeiro

• Explore the Amazon rainforest from Manaus

  Take a riverboat from Manaus into the world's largest tropical rainforest, spotting pink river dolphins, caimans and howler monkeys on guided jungle treks.

  Manaus, Amazonas

• Visit the Meeting of the Waters

  Watch the dark Rio Negro and sandy Amazon River flow side by side without mixing for nearly six kilometres, a striking natural phenomenon visible by boat from Manaus.

  Manaus, Amazonas

• Attend a performance at Teatro Amazonas

  Marvel at the pink Renaissance Revival opera house built during the 1890s rubber boom, with its dome covered in 36,000 ceramic tiles in the colours of the Brazilian flag.

  Manaus, Amazonas

• Climb Sugarloaf Mountain at sunset

  Ride the glass-walled cable car up Pão de Açúcar for panoramic views of Copacabana, Niterói and the setting sun behind Rio's jagged peaks.

  Rio de Janeiro

• Eat acarajé at the Mercado Modelo in Salvador

  Try the deep-fried black-eyed-pea fritter stuffed with vatapá and dried shrimp, prepared by Baiana cooks in traditional white lace costumes.

  Salvador, Bahia

• Wander the cobblestone streets of Pelourinho

  Stroll through Salvador's UNESCO-listed historic centre, past pastel-coloured colonial buildings, baroque churches and street musicians playing Afro-Brazilian rhythms.

  Salvador, Bahia

• Ride a hang gliding over São Conrado

  Launch from Pedra Bonita and soar over the Atlantic forest canopy, landing on the sands of Pepino Beach with views of Tijuca Forest and the coastline.

  Rio de Janeiro

• Visit the Inhotim art museum

  Wander 140 hectares of botanical gardens dotted with large-scale contemporary art installations by artists like Yayoi Kusama, Olafur Eliasson and Hélio Oiticica.

  Brumadinho, Minas Gerais

• Tour the colonial churches of Ouro Preto

  Admire the baroque masterpieces of Aleijadinho carved in soapstone at São Francisco de Assis and other 18th-century churches in this hillside mining town.

  Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais

• Party during Carnival on Avenida Marquês de Sapucaí

  Watch elite samba schools parade their elaborate floats and thousands of dancers in sequined costumes down the purpose-built Sambadrome in central Rio.

  Rio de Janeiro

• Sandboard the dunes of Lençóis Maranhenses

  Glide down towering white sand dunes and then cool off in the turquoise freshwater lagoons that form between them during the rainy season.

  Barreirinhas, Maranhão

• Drink a caipirinha at a kiosk on Copacabana Beach

  Sit at a beachside kiosk with your feet in the sand and sip the classic cocktail of cachaça, lime, sugar and ice while watching volleyball and footvolley games.

  Rio de Janeiro

• Explore the São Paulo Museum of Art (MASP)

  Stand under the iconic suspended concrete and glass box on Paulista Avenue, housing one of Latin America's finest collections of European and Brazilian art.

  São Paulo

• Sample feijoada at Bar do Mineiro in Santa Teresa

  Order the weekend black-bean-and-pork stew served with rice, farofa, couve and orange slices at this beloved neighbourhood bar in Rio's hilltop arts district.

  Rio de Janeiro

• Snorkel the crystal rivers of Bonito

  Float face-down in the impossibly clear Rio da Prata or Rio Sucuri, drifting over schools of golden dorado fish in water with 50-metre visibility.

  Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul

• Visit the Afro-Brazilian Museum in São Paulo

  Learn about the history and cultural contributions of African-descended Brazilians through artifacts, religious objects and contemporary art in this São Paulo museum.

  São Paulo

• See the street art of Vila Madalena

  Wander Beco do Batman (Batman Alley) and surrounding lanes where every wall and staircase is covered in vibrant murals and graffiti by top Brazilian street artists.

  São Paulo

• Explore the Pantanal wetlands

  Take a horseback or boat safari through the world's largest tropical wetland to spot jaguars, giant anteaters, hyacinth macaws and capybaras in the wild.

  Poconé, Mato Grosso

• Take the tram over the Arcos da Lapa at night

  Ride the historic Santa Teresa tram across the 18th-century Carioca Aqueduct and into the bohemian hilltop neighbourhood, passing pastel mansions and lively bars.

  Rio de Janeiro

• Eat pão de queijo at a bakery in Belo Horizonte

  Start the morning with the addictive, crispy-on-the-outside, chewy-on-the-inside cheese bread made from cassava flour and Minas cheese at a padaria counter.

  Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais

• Discover the Walled City of São Luís

  Walk through the crumbling but gorgeous azulejo-tiled Portuguese colonial facades of the UNESCO-listed historic centre on this island capital of Maranhão.

  São Luís, Maranhão

• Paraglide over Olímpia water park region

  Soar above the rolling agricultural landscape of northwestern São Paulo state, then visit the massive hot-spring-powered Thermas dos Laranjais water park.

  Olímpia, São Paulo