5 Best Places to Visit in Brazil for Your First Trip

Brazil had always been such a dream destination for me. Even back when I didn’t know much about it, I just knew that it seemed beautiful, and that I had to visit.

When I decided that it was time to finally make it happen and start planning an itinerary, a couple roadblocks quickly became clear: 1) Brazil is huge and 2) there are a ton of amazing places to visit.

For context, it’s similar in size to the United States, and it’s the largest country in Latin America. So as you can imagine, narrowing down my final itinerary was no easy feat.

I’ve since visited several times, and not only have I fallen more and more in love with Brazil, but I’ve also been able to knock quite a few destinations off my Brazil bucket list.

Since I’m guessing you’re in a similar boat that I was, and can’t possibly visit everywhere in one trip due to limited time and funds, I’ve narrowed down some of the best places to visit in Brazil, including a mix of incredible nature, interesting cultural destinations, and amazing cities. 

So if you’re dreaming of visiting Brazil but don’t know where to start, here’s some travel inspiration to get you started. 

1. Rio de Janeiro

When most people think of Brazil, Rio is the first place that comes to mind, and for good reason. When I was planning my very first trip to Brazil, before doing any research, Rio was the one place I was sure I wanted to visit. 

It’s not only outrageously gorgeous (not to mention its iconic landmarks like Sugarloaf Mountain and the Christ the Redeemer statue), but it’s also an epicenter of Brazilian culture and traditions.

It’s also the Brazilian city that I’ve spent the most time in total. I actually ended up meeting my now-husband during my first trip here, so I then returned a few more times to visit him, but personal connections aside, it’s where I’d recommend any traveler dreaming of visiting Brazil go, because it’s just that amazing.

If you want to maximize your beach time while here, stay in Ipanema or Leblon, but there are a bunch of gorgeous beaches well worth visiting, from more well-known spots like Ipanema and Copacabana, to hidden gems tucked away in Western Rio. 

Don’t forget to pack your athletic clothing, either. There’s also lots of great hiking in Tijuca Forest, a giant urban park filled with waterfalls, wildlife, and more amazing views. 

Since Rio is so beautiful, a highlight is really just soaking in the view and the atmosphere, whether it’s watching the sunset with a beer or enjoying a fresh coconut water from some other viewpoint of the city. 

Popular sightseeing such as going to the top of the iconic Sugarloaf Mountain or the Cristo Redentor statue are also really worthwhile just because of the view. From the top, you get an amazing look at Rio, from its ocean, to the mountains, and rainforest. 

As I mentioned, Rio is such an important place when it comes to Brazilian culture, which includes a unique blend of Portuguese, African, and Indigenous influences. 

This has left its mark on everything from the food to music, especially samba, which was born in Rio.

If you have time to travel beyond just the city of Rio too, the state has a ton to offer as well, from gorgeous colonial towns like Paraty to even more stunning beaches in the Lakes Region.

2. Iguazu Falls

Iguazu Falls is one of the natural wonders of the world, and it really lives up to that title. 

It’s one of the coolest places I’ve ever been, and I would 100% recommend it if you’re looking for an amazing nature experience. 

You really only need two full days here, to experience both the Brazilian side and the Argentinian side. 

On that note — definitely visit both sides. 

Lots of people ask if it’s worth it to visit both, and the answer is yes!! It’s also super easy to visit both if you’re already in Brazil. 

You already came all this way, so why not see all that Iguazu has to offer?

But also, both sides were totally different experiences, in my opinion. The Brazilian side was much smaller, but it felt like you could get way closer to some of the falls just by walking.

The Argentinian side is much more extensive and calls for at least a few hours. 

I stayed in Foz do Iguaçu and was able to easily visit the Brazilian side on my own. 

For the Argentinian side, I went through a tour, which coordinated transportation. 

The tour guide even got everyone’s passports stamped at the border, so we didn’t have to wait in line. Again, it was really easy, and both sides were very different, so I would not skip either. 

This tour picks you up from Foz do Iguaçu (the town in Brazil where the falls are and where you’ll stay) and will take you to the Argentinian side. You can choose to add on a visit to the Brazilian side as well, if you’d like to do it all in one day. But personally, I prefer taking it at a more relaxed pace and would rather dedicate two full days to exploring the falls. Check it out here.

3. Salvador

Salvador, in the Northeast of Brazil, is another one of Brazil’s most special places. 

It’s similar to Rio in that it’s full of history and culture, but, it definitely has a charm and identity all of its own. 

While Brazil as a whole is known for having the largest population of people with African descent outside of the African continent, in Salvador, over 80% of the population identifies as Black.

For that reason, it’s the best possible place to learn about Afro-Brazilian heritage and culture.

Throughout Salvador, there are lots of interesting museums, beautiful churches and colorful colonial buildings, and in true Brazil fashion, gorgeous beaches.

The Pelourinho neighborhood, an UNESCO World Heritage Site and Salvador’s historic core is a must. 

It’s really picturesque, colorful, and colonial-style, and so fun to just walk around and explore. I’d recommend staying in this neighborhood to have easy access to lots of food options, and to really maximize your time here.

The Praça da Sé is the main square, while Terreiro de Jesus is another square with beautiful churches and colonial buildings. 

Just walking around Pelourinho, you’ll see street musicians playing the drums, people practicing capoeira, a Brazilian martial art/dance, and women wearing traditional clothing who are known as baianas. 

Beyond Pelourinho, there are areas like Praça Municipal, one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods, and Rio Vermelho, known for its nightlife and many restaurants.

The Barra Lighthouse (Farol Da Barra) is another main landmark in Salvador worth visiting for its beauty.

At some point, take the Elevador Lacerda, a historic elevator that connects the upper and lower levels of the city. It’s really affordable (it costs like 4 cents) and is a unique experience that I’ve only had here and in Valparaiso, Chile.

Must-visit museums include Casa do Carnaval da Bahia, a museum dedicated to Carnival, Museu Afro-Brasileiro, and the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology.  

The food in Salvador (and the state of Bahia) is also super flavorful and delicious. In my opinion, it’s home to some of the best food I’ve had in Brazil.

Try acarajé, a street food made of black-eyed-pea fritters and usually stuffed with spicy shrimp, and moqueca, a coconut milk-based seafood stew. I ate this pretty much every day I was there, that’s how good it is.

Like Rio, Salvador is also one of the best places to celebrate Carnival. I visited a few weeks before Carnival officially started (it’s usually some time in February), and there were already a lot of parades going on, where you could see the musicians rehearsing. 

But regardless of when you visit, Salvador is lively, music-filled, and absolutely worth visiting.

As an added bonus, I think it’s also even more budget-friendly than cities like Rio and São Paulo, too.

Check out this budget breakdown to find out how much things like accommodations, food, sightseeing, and more, costs across Brazil. (It’s doable on a budget!)

4. Recife

Also in the Northeast but in the state of Pernambuco, Recife is one of the most beautiful places in Brazil to visit.

Throughout Brazil, Recife is revered for its gorgeous beaches, Northeastern Brazilian culture, and all-around beauty. But, for some reason, it seems to be lesser-known among foreign tourists.

But listen to me when I say, don’t overlook it! I didn’t visit it until my third time in Brazil, and I would love to return.

You’ll definitely want to check out Recife Antigo, or Recife’s Old Town. Start in Praça Barão do Rio Branco, the main square, and go from there. 

Walk along Rua do Bom Jesus, which is known as one of the world’s prettiest streets thanks to its colorful buildings, and as home to the the first synagogue in the Americas, Kahal Zur Israel. You can also find Embaixada dos Bonecos Gigantes, which is where you can see giant dolls used in Recife’s Carnival.

For souvenirs, head to Centro de Artesanato de Pernambuco Unidade Recife, which is also in this area. It’s a pretty extensive handicraft market filled with unique local goods and is worth a look even if you’re not looking to shop.

While in Recife, also stop in the neighboring town Olinda, rightfully named for how picturesque it is. 

Think cobblestone streets and colorful buildings, with street performers, cafes, shops, nightlife, etc. and of course, some awesome views (go to Alto Da Se for a look at both Recife and Olinda).

A highlight of the Recife area is definitely its beaches, and Boa Viagem is the most well-known area. 

Here, you can find a beach boardwalk lined with restaurants and great views along the way. 

As beautiful as it is, it’s not a great area for swimming — you’ll see lots of signs warning you about sharks here.

To get into the water, instead head to Porto de Galinhas, a small fishing village about an hour away from Recife. 

You could easily make it a day trip, but I stayed here for around three days or so, and I think it’s worth a longer stay if you’re looking for a relaxing beach destination away from the city. Of the places I’ve visited in Brazil, it felt the safest here.

Plus, the beaches here are protected by a reef, so no worries about any shark run-ins here.

I notoriously almost never go on the water (I love going to the beach, but being a bad swimmer while having curly hair isn’t a great combination), but even I made an exception here.

There are places where you can swim to a reef, giving you the experience of standing in the middle of the ocean. It’s one of my most memorable experiences, ever.

This is also a popular place for snorkeling and scuba diving, but I can’t attest to that for the aforementioned reasons.

What I can confirm, however, are that there are also a lot of other stunning beaches in the area well worth exploring, such as Praia dos Carneiros. Imagine turquoise water and coconut palm trees — that’s Praia dos Carneiros.

Maracaipe Beach is another stunning one, too.

5. São Paulo 

We’ve talked about a bunch of places that have out-of-this-world nature, so far, and I’ll be honest, Sao Paulo isn’t at all like that. (There are some nice parks, I’ll give it that. Head to Ibirapuera Park if you’re in need of some greenery while here). 

But Sao Paulo is all about the big city life — literally, it’s the biggest city in the country, and it’s an awesome place for soaking up Brazilian culture in a different, but also fun way, like museum-hopping and trying some of the country’s best restaurants. If that’s up your alley, then you’ll find tons of stuff to do here.

One of its highlights is also its street art, which is particularly prominent along Beco do Batman in the Vila Madalena neighborhood, but you’ll find lots of art throughout the city. This is where I stayed, and I loved just wandering around, checking out the colorful buildings and murals.

On that note, art-lovers will find a ton to do here.

I loved visiting the Museum of Contemporary Art (MAC), along with the São Paulo Art Museum (MASP), and the Museu de Arte Moderna (MAM). 

I’d also highly recommend stopping at the Museum of Image and Sound of São Paulo. When I went, there was a really interesting exhibit about the history of musicals, which I loved.

I unfortunately didn’t get to make it to this one, but Pinacoteca is also a well-known museum, and the oldest art museum in Sao Paulo. 

Apart from visiting museums, Avenida Paulista is a major street and one of the most well-known destinations in the city. It’s especially worth visiting on Sundays, when it closes to cars and becomes pedestrian-only.

Sao Paulo also has a unique cultural fabric of its own, which can be explored especially within Liberdade, the city’s Little Tokyo. (Fun fact, Brazil is home to the largest Japanese population outside of Japan, with a large concentration in São Paulo.) There’s a street fair on weekend mornings, and as you can imagine, tons of Japanese restaurants. 

Sao Paulo also has its very own Koreatown, Bom Retiro. 

If you have limited time during your Brazil vacation, I’d only dedicate a couple days or so to São Paulo. 

It doesn’t offer the same diversity of activities and amazing nature that lots of other places in Brazil do.

But if you love big cities and arts and culture, there’s plenty you can get out of your time here, and I personally loved my visit here.

This group tour packs in a ton of Sao Paulo’s highlights in just a few hours. There are a ton of high ratings, and it is a great way to see the city’s major sites in limited time. Find out more here.

Final thoughts

Brazil is such a magical place, and while there’s a ton more to explore than what I could possibly cover here, these are some of the best places to visit in Brazil if you’re a first-timer.

And trust me, after your first trip, you’ll definitely be wanting to plan a return visit!

So, ready to make your Brazil dreams a reality? This itinerary covers all these spots in more detail, with all the best things to do, places to stay, and other key info. 

Happy travels,

Tess

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