Rio de Janeiro
77 hostels · dorms from €21
Beaches, mountains and favelas in one city. Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf and Carnival.
Rio is great! Unforgettable!
A traveller, on Hostelworld
Brazil country guide
Things to do in Brazil
Half a continent, 7,400km of coast, the Amazon, and a carnival that stops the country for five days. Too big to see in one trip, which is the only real planning rule.
€10
Dorm bed, from
7,400km
Of coastline
€4
A prato feito lunch
4h
Rio to Salvador by air
Bigger than the continental United States
Brazil is larger than the contiguous United States and trying to cover it in a fortnight is the mistake everyone makes. Rio to Manaus is a four-hour flight; Rio to Iguaçu is two. Pick a region.
The southeast is the standard first trip: Rio de Janeiro, with beaches inside a city of mountains, and São Paulo, which is not beautiful and has the best food, art and nightlife in South America. Paraty and Ilha Grande sit between them on a green coast.
The northeast is beaches, capoeira and the strongest Afro-Brazilian culture, centred on Salvador. The south has Florianópolis and the Iguaçu falls. The Amazon and the Pantanal wetlands are their own expeditions entirely.
Three weeks does one region well. The language matters more here than elsewhere on the continent — Brazil speaks Portuguese, and Spanish gets you less far than people assume.
Where to go
Domestic flights on Gol, Latam and Azul do the distances. Buses are excellent but very long.
São Paulo
58 hostels
Twelve million people, the best food and nightlife on the continent, and not remotely pretty.
Sao Paulo is an enormous city but all you really need to see is the old town, Villa Madalena and Pinheiros. It’s really vibey when football matches are on so go out to a bar to watch one with the locals! The free walking tours are definitely worth doing, as well as the big Park.
A traveller, on Hostelworld
Florianópolis
48 hostels
An island in the south with forty-two beaches, surf and a summer party season.
Florianopolis and the surrounding island is a perfect and safe place to enjoy seaside activities.
A traveller, on Hostelworld
Salvador
20 hostels
The heart of Afro-Brazilian culture: Pelourinho's colonial streets, capoeira and drumming.
Salvador is a cultural epicentre, where the celebration of Afro-Brazilian culture is seeping out of every part of the city. The walking tour was fabulous, the city is gorgeous, the people are so kind, welcoming, and hospitable, and my only regret is not staying longer.
A traveller, on Hostelworld
Ilha Grande
12 hostels · dorms from €7
A car-free island of jungle and beaches, four hours from Rio.
Paraty
26 hostels
A colonial port between Rio and São Paulo, with waterfalls and boat trips.
Foz do Iguaçu
11 hostels
The Brazilian base for the Iguaçu Falls, 275 waterfalls on the border with Argentina.
We stayed 2days and visited waterfalls as well as the Bird park. At night we went out. People were extremelly friendly.
A traveller, on Hostelworld
Jericoacoara
4 hostels
A village of sand streets in the dunes, with kitesurfing, lagoons and a sunset everyone climbs a dune for.
Ouro Preto
5 hostels
A baroque gold-rush town of steep cobbled streets and golden churches in Minas Gerais.
Manaus
4 hostels
A city in the middle of the rainforest, with a rubber-boom opera house and jungle lodges up the rivers.
Make sure you spend at least a day or two in Manaus itself. You could easily spend 3-4 too though if you want a very non-touristy experience.
A traveller, on Hostelworld
What kind of trip is this?
Brazil does beaches and nightlife better than almost anywhere, and the nature is on a different scale.
Beach in Brazil
Seven thousand kilometres of it, and the culture is built around it.
What to do
- A day on Ipanema
- Lopes Mendes on Ilha Grande
- Surf in Floripa
Spots to visit
- Ipanema
- Lopes Mendes
- Jericoacoara
Best cities for it
Nightlife in Brazil
Samba, forró and a country that treats going out as a birthright.
What to do
- A samba night in Lapa
- São Paulo until sunrise
- A beach party in Floripa
Spots to visit
- Lapa, Rio
- Vila Madalena, São Paulo
- Pelourinho
Best cities for it
Reading on nightlife in Brazil
Adventure in Brazil
Amazon, Pantanal, waterfalls and jungle islands.
What to do
- Iguaçu falls from both sides
- Wildlife in the Pantanal
- Hike Pedra Bonita above Rio
Spots to visit
- Iguaçu
- Pantanal
- Chapada Diamantina
Best cities for it
Reading on adventure in Brazil
Culture in Brazil
Afro-Brazilian traditions, colonial towns and modernist architecture.
What to do
- Capoeira and drumming in Salvador
- Pelourinho's streets
- Niemeyer's buildings
Spots to visit
- Pelourinho
- Paraty
- Ouro Preto
Reading on culture in Brazil
Food in Brazil
Feijoada, churrasco and the best restaurant city in South America.
What to do
- Feijoada on a Saturday
- A por quilo buffet lunch
- Açaí the Brazilian way, unsweetened
Spots to visit
- São Paulo restaurants
- Rio markets
- Salvador street food
Best cities for it
City break in Brazil
Rio over five days, and it will not be enough.
What to do
- Sugarloaf at sunset
- A Maracanã match
- Sunday on the closed beachfront road
Spots to visit
- Santa Teresa
- Ipanema
- Vila Madalena
Best cities for it
Things to do
Things to do in Brazil
Rio is the one city that deserves its reputation on sight. Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf are the obvious pair, and both are better at sunset; the beaches are genuinely the social centre of the city rather than a tourist strip; and Santa Teresa's hillside streets and the Sunday closure of the beachfront road are the local version.
Favela tours require care. Go with an operator working with residents and community projects rather than a bus that drives through — the difference is obvious and it matters.
Beyond Rio, Iguaçu falls are best seen from both the Brazilian and Argentine sides over two days. The Pantanal beats the Amazon for wildlife because the terrain is open. Salvador is the cultural heart of Afro-Brazilian Brazil, and Florianópolis is where the country goes to surf and party in January.
More on things to do in Brazil
The best places to visit in Brazil – from incredible nature to world-famous museums and festivals
What to do in Recife and how to live the concept “My Country Pernambuco!”
What to do in Jericoacoara – tips from a local
The 10 best things to do in São Paulo on a backpacker’s budget
Rio de Janeiro Highlights – Insider Tips on How to Experience the City
10 places not to miss in Brazil
Food and drink
Eating in Brazil
The prato feito or por quilo buffet is the everyday meal: rice, beans, salad, meat and farofa for €4 to €8, either as a set plate or charged by weight. Por quilo places are everywhere at lunch and are the best value in the country.
Feijoada, the black bean and pork stew, is a Saturday institution and enormous. Churrasco is the all-you-can-eat grilled meat format, and pão de queijo is the cheese bread you will end up eating daily.
Açaí in Brazil is served as a thick frozen bowl, often unsweetened, and bears little resemblance to the export version. São Paulo has the best restaurant scene on the continent, with Japanese-Brazilian food that exists nowhere else thanks to the largest Japanese diaspora outside Japan.
Nightlife
Going out in Brazil
Brazil takes going out seriously and it starts late — midnight is early. Rio's Lapa has samba under the arches on Friday and Saturday, with street crowds spilling between venues, and Santa Teresa above it is the smaller, artier version.
São Paulo has the best nightlife in South America by a wide margin: Vila Madalena, Baixo Augusta and a club scene that runs to breakfast, with more variety than Rio in every direction.
Beach towns run their own version — Floripa in January is a party island, and Salvador's street carnival is the largest in the world by participation. Beer is €1.50 to €3 and caipirinhas €3 to €6, made with cachaça rather than rum.
More on nightlife in Brazil
Getting around
Getting around Brazil
Fly. Gol, Latam and Azul connect everything, fares are often €40 to €100 booked ahead, and the alternative is a bus journey measured in days — Rio to Salvador is 28 hours by road and two by air.
Buses are genuinely comfortable for shorter legs, with leito services offering near-flat seats, and they are the sensible choice for Rio to Paraty or São Paulo.
In cities, use Uber or 99 rather than street taxis — both are cheap, widespread and the standard advice for safety as well as price. Rio's metro covers the main beach areas and the centre.
Costs
What Brazil costs
Brazil is mid-priced for the continent and better value than it was, because the real has been weak against the euro. Dorms start around €10, a por quilo lunch is €4 to €8, and a beer is €1.50 to €3.
A comfortable day is €30 to €50. Rio and São Paulo run higher than the northeast, and Carnival week roughly triples accommodation in Rio and Salvador — it needs booking six months ahead or avoiding deliberately.
Domestic flights are the structural cost of a Brazilian trip. Budget €40 to €100 per leg and accept that you cannot see the country without them.
Safety
Staying safe in Brazil
Brazil requires more street awareness than most of this guide, and the honest framing is that robbery is common in the big cities while violence against tourists who hand things over is not.
The practical rules: carry little, keep phones out of sight in the street, use Uber or 99 rather than walking at night, do not wear jewellery or a watch on the beach, and take only what you need to the sand. Many locals carry a cheap second phone for exactly this reason.
If robbed, hand everything over immediately and do not resist. Avoid favelas except with a reputable community-based operator, and do not wander into them independently regardless of what a map suggests.
Beyond crime, the sea is the underestimated risk: Brazilian beaches have strong rip currents and drownings are common, and Rio's waves are heavier than they look.
Entry and documents
Entry and documents
Brazil's visa position for US, Canadian and Australian citizens has changed more than once in recent years — an e-visa requirement was reinstated and then delayed repeatedly. EU and UK citizens generally enter visa-free for 90 days.
Check the official Brazilian government position for your nationality before booking, because this is one of the more changeable entry situations in this guide.
Passports need six months' validity. A yellow fever certificate is required if arriving from certain countries, and vaccination is recommended for the Amazon and Pantanal regardless.
More on entry and documents in Brazil
Complete travel guide to Fortaleza: beaches, transport, nightlife and many other tips
What to do in Jericoacoara – tips from a local
10 paradisiacal beaches in northern Brazil that you need to know about
10 Things You Need To Know About Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro Highlights – Insider Tips on How to Experience the City
Carnival in Rio de Janeiro – everything you need to know
When to go
Seasons are southern hemisphere and the country spans enough latitude that they mean different things. December to March is summer, hot and the peak.
Jan
Peak summer. Beaches full, Floripa at its busiest
Feb
Carnival. The whole country stops and prices triple
Mar
Summer ending. Still hot, crowds thinning
Apr
Autumn. Good value and comfortable in the southeast
May
Cooler and drier in the southeast. Dry season in the Amazon
Jun
Winter in the south, and Festa Junina nationwide
Jul
School holidays fill the beaches. Dry in the Pantanal
Aug
Best wildlife viewing in the Pantanal. Cool in the south
Sep
Spring. Good all round and quieter
Oct
Warming. Rain returning to the southeast
Nov
Hot and humid, with fewer crowds before December
Dec
Summer and Réveillon on Copacabana. Prices climbing
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs for Rio. The northeast around Salvador is hot year-round, the south around Florianópolis has a genuine winter, and the Amazon and Pantanal run on wet and dry seasons rather than temperature.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel and how long for. Per night, for one person, in euro equivalents of reais.
Domestic flights at €40–100 a leg sit outside these figures and are unavoidable. Carnival week in Rio roughly triples the bed line.
—
- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
What's on
What is on while you are there
Carnival is the largest party on earth and it shapes the entire Brazilian calendar.
Staff pick
1–11 October
Festival do Rio: Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival
Rio de Janeiro
The Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival is a cinematic extravaganza that attracts film enthusiasts from around the world. With a diverse selection of…
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6–8 November
Formula 1 Brazilian Grand Prix
Sao Paulo
The F1® Brazilian Grand Prix at São Paulo’s Autódromo José Carlos Pace, often called Interlagos, is a thrilling race known for its dramatic overtakes…
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28 November
Noite dos Museus
Porto Alegre
Noite dos Museus in Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil, invites the public to explore the city’s museums and cultural spaces after dark, all with free…
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5–6 December
Primavera Sound Brazil
Sao Paulo
Primavera Sound Brazil is a vibrant music festival that brings together world-renowned artists and passionate fans in the heart of São Paulo. Guests can…
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27–31 December
Festival Virada Salvador
Salvador
Festival Virada Salvador is a renowned multi-day New Year's Eve celebration in Salvador, Brazil, drawing massive crowds to Arena Canto da Cidade for an…
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16–18 October
Festival Moto Brasil
Rio de Janeiro
Festival Moto Brasil in Rio de Janeiro is a major gathering for motorcycle enthusiasts, bringing together fans, riders, and industry leaders from across Brazil.…
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24 October
Anime Festival
Belo Horizonte
Anime Festival is a major gathering for anime and manga fans, drawing over 20,000 attendees in a single edition. Hosted at BeFly Minascentro, the…
Staff pick
19–22 November
RootsSul
Campo Largo
RootsSul (DeLáPraCá) is a lively festival in Curitiba, Brazil, celebrating the rich traditions of forró pé de serra with performances by renowned bands, trios,…
Hostels
Where to stay in Brazil
The highest-rated hostels in the country, live from Hostelworld. Rio, São Paulo and Florianópolis have the most, and Carnival requires booking months ahead.
Books Hostel
Rio de Janeiro
Dorms from €21 a night
See dates and book
Villa Hostel
Sao Paulo
Dorms from €18 a night
See dates and book
HI Holandes
Ilha Grande
Dorms from €18 a night
See dates and book
The Search House Beachfront Hostel
Florianopolis
Dorms from €19 a night
See dates and book
CabanaCopa Hostel
Rio de Janeiro
Dorms from €22 a night
See dates and book
Hobi Hostel Boutique - Bela Vista / Av. Paulista
Sao Paulo
Dorms from €20 a night
See dates and book
Lila Limao Hostel
Ilha Grande
Dorms from €7 a night
See dates and book
Floripa Surf Hostel
Florianopolis
Dorms from €12 a night
See dates and book
Tapera Hostel
Sao Paulo
Dorms from €18 a night
See dates and book
Balaio Hostel Ilha Grande
Ilha Grande
Dorms from €7 a night
See dates and book
Sea Wolf Surf Hostel - Barra da Lagoa
Florianopolis
Dorms from €7 a night
See dates and book
MEO! Hostel
Sao Paulo
Dorms from €14 a night
See dates and book
Brazil travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
How long do you need in Brazil?
Three weeks for one region. The country is larger than the contiguous United States — Rio to Manaus is a four-hour flight — so trying to combine the southeast, northeast and Amazon in a fortnight means living in airports.
Is Brazil safe?
It requires more street awareness than most destinations here. Robbery is common in big cities, violence against people who hand things over is not. Carry little, keep phones out of sight, use Uber or 99 at night, and take almost nothing to the beach. If robbed, hand it over.
Do I need a visa for Brazil?
EU and UK citizens generally enter visa-free for 90 days. Requirements for US, Canadian and Australian citizens have changed more than once recently, with an e-visa reinstated and delayed repeatedly — check the official Brazilian position before booking.
When is Carnival and should I plan around it?
February or March, and deliberately in one direction or the other. Rio and Salvador triple in price and book out six months ahead. Salvador's street carnival is the largest in the world by participation; Rio's Sambadrome is the televised one.
Is Brazil expensive?
Mid-priced and better value than it was, with the real weak against the euro. Dorms from €10, a por quilo lunch at €4 to €8, and a day around €30 to €50. Domestic flights at €40 to €100 a leg are the structural cost.
Do I need Portuguese?
More than you would like. Spanish helps less than people assume and English is limited outside hostels. Even a small amount of Portuguese changes the trip noticeably.
Amazon or Pantanal for wildlife?
Pantanal, for most people. The terrain is open wetland rather than dense forest, which means you actually see jaguars, capybara and birds. The Amazon is more about the scale and the river than the sightings.
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