Brazil
Between Rio's rhythms, the deep Amazon, and dream beaches: your complete guide to Brazil.
Our Guide to Brazil
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Flair
Wild, enormous, and bursting with energy and nature.
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Travel Season
Sept. to Mar. (South) or May to Sept. (Amazon).
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Travel Duration
At least three weeks to get a real feel for the country.
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Currency
Real (cards accepted almost everywhere).
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Tipping
Usually 10% "Serviço" added to the bill — it's optional.
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Transport
Domestic flights are a must given the sheer size of the country. In cities, Uber works great.
Where is Brazil located?
Brazil is located in South America on the Atlantic Ocean — and it’s by far the largest country on the continent.
To the south, Brazil borders Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay, to the west Bolivia and Peru. To the north, the country borders Colombia, Venezuela, Suriname, Guyana and French Guiana.
Brazil has a population of around 215 million and covers an area of 8,516,000 km².
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brazil dangerous?
Brazil is generally a somewhat dangerous travel destination.
That said, you don’t need to worry too much. It’s not as bad as some travel guides make it out to be.
There are definitely areas you’ll want to avoid — but as a tourist, that’s easy enough to do. In the “Safety” section, we go into more detail about what the risks actually look like and how to stay smart on the ground.
What currency is used in Brazil?
The currency in Brazil is the Real (plural: Reais). 1 euro gets you between 5 and 6 Reais.
You can pay by card almost everywhere — even at most beach vendors. Still, it’s worth keeping some cash on you just in case.
One thing worth knowing: Brazil has gone all-in on PIX, a mobile payment system similar to PayPal. As a tourist, you probably won’t have access to it — but you’ll see it mentioned everywhere, so it’s good to know what it is before you arrive.
Is Brazil expensive?
Not at all — Brazil is a seriously affordable travel destination.
A double room in a solid hotel in Rio can cost as little as 50 euros — and in most other states, prices are even lower.
Dinner at a restaurant runs around 7 euros. A Caipirinha? Usually about 2 euros.
What language do they speak in Brazil?
The official language is Portuguese.
Honestly, English won’t get you very far in Brazil — very few people speak it well outside of major tourist spots.
Spanish fares better, since it’s quite similar to Portuguese and most Brazilians can follow it reasonably well.
Either way, learning a few basics in Portuguese before your trip will really pay off — Brazilians genuinely appreciate the effort.
What time zones are there in Brazil?
Brazil spans a total of four time zones.
Most popular destinations — including Rio de Janeiro — fall in the UTC−3 time zone.
The Amazon region is on UTC−4, and the state of Acre, on the border with Peru, runs on UTC−5.
The island of Fernando de Noronha is actually ahead of the mainland at UTC−2.
Note that Brazil does not observe daylight saving time, so the offset from your home time zone may shift depending on the season.
