Skip to content
wheretotravel.info
Christ the Redeemer statue atop misty mountain at sunset

Brazil travel guide

Big cities, a long Atlantic coast and inland Amazon cities, spread across a vast country

Best: May, Jun

Photo: heibe / Pixabay

Capital
Brasília
Language
Portuguese
Currency
Brazilian real
Time zone
UTC-05:00, UTC-04:00 +2
Plugs
Type C, N · 220 V / 127 V
Driving
On the right
Emergency
188 / 190 / 192

Why visit Brazil

Brazil suits travellers who want big cities, beach time and room to explore. You can pair São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro with coastal cities such as Recife, Fortaleza and Florianópolis, or head inland to Manaus and Belém. The best months to go are May and June. The honest limitation is size. At 8515767 km², Brazil spans several time zones, and one trip will only cover a small part of it. Pick one or two regions and skip the rest.

  • A country the size of a continent

    Brazil covers 8515767 km² and has 214211951 people. One trip can take you from Atlantic beach cities to large inland cities far from the sea. Plan fewer places and more time, because distances between them are long.

  • Beach cities along the Atlantic

    Several big cities sit on the coast. Rio de Janeiro has 6211223 people, Fortaleza 2578483 and Recife 1488920. Florianópolis is much smaller at 587486, which suits travellers who want the sea without a huge city around them.

  • São Paulo, the largest city

    São Paulo is Brazil's biggest city, with 11451999 people. It is inland, not on the coast, so come for city life rather than beaches. It is a common starting point for trips around the country.

  • Inland cities in the north

    Manaus, with 2303732 people, and Belém, with 1303403, are large cities away from the Atlantic coast. They show a very different side of Brazil from Rio de Janeiro or Florianópolis. Allow extra travel time to reach them.

  • May and June are the best months

    Our data rates May and June as the best months to visit Brazil. If your dates are flexible, aim for these 2 months. Outside them, check local conditions for each region before you book, as the country is very large.

Is Brazil right for you?

Great for

  • Dry-season travellers in June and July, with about 1 and 0.5 rain days
  • Sun seekers: May to August averages 10.5 to 11 sun hours a day
  • City lovers choosing between São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and the inland capital Brasília
  • Coastal city trips to Rio de Janeiro, Fortaleza, Recife or Florianópolis
  • Long, slow trips across a very large country with several time zones

Less ideal for

  • Anyone who dislikes rain: January brings about 28 rain days and 275 mm
  • Heat-sensitive travellers in August and September, when highs reach about 35°C
  • Short trips hoping to see a lot, as distances are very large
  • Travellers wanting cool nights: average lows stay above 20°C all year

Brazil right now: October

1.1/10
Avg high
33°C
Avg low
23°C
Rain days
17

Averages for Brazil.

Weather by month

This 2015–2024 climate data is labelled only as Brazil, not a named city, and it shows June and May as the best months: June has about 1 rain day, 7 mm of rain, 10.8 hours of sun and highs of 32.6°C. Avoid August to November, when highs reach 35.5°C and October brings 17 rain days and 131 mm of rain.

Average highs and lows in Brazil by month January: high 30°C, low 22°C , 28 rain days . February: high 30°C, low 22°C , 25 rain days . March: high 30°C, low 22°C , 27 rain days . April: high 30°C, low 22°C , 23 rain days . May: high 31°C, low 22°C , 7 rain days . June: high 33°C, low 21°C , 1 rain days . July: high 34°C, low 20°C , 1 rain days . August: high 36°C, low 22°C , 1 rain days . September: high 35°C, low 23°C , 9 rain days . October: high 33°C, low 23°C , 17 rain days . November: high 31°C, low 23°C , 23 rain days . December: high 30°C, low 23°C , 27 rain days . 30°C 22°C JAN 28d 30°C 22°C FEB 25d 30°C 22°C MAR 27d 30°C 22°C APR 23d 31°C 22°C MAY 7d 33°C 21°C JUN 1d 34°C 20°C JUL 1d 36°C 22°C AUG 1d 35°C 23°C SEP 9d 33°C 23°C OCT 17d 31°C 23°C NOV 23d 30°C 23°C DEC 27d
Best months Other months (low–high) Nd = rain days

Brazil (country average) · averages 2015–2024

Best time to visit Brazil: month-by-month weather →

Sample itineraries

7 days

Rio, Florianópolis and São Paulo

  1. Day 1–3

    Rio de Janeiro

    Start on the coast in Rio de Janeiro. Split your time between the beach and the city's neighbourhoods, and take the first days slowly to adjust.

  2. Day 4–5

    Florianópolis

    Head south to Florianópolis, the smallest city on this route. It is also on the coast, so plan quiet beach days and relaxed evenings.

  3. Day 6–7

    São Paulo

    Finish inland in São Paulo, the largest city in Brazil. Spend your last days on food, museums and city life before flying home.

10 days

From São Paulo to the northeast coast

  1. Day 1–2

    São Paulo

    Begin in São Paulo, Brazil's largest city. Use these days to recover from the flight, eat well and explore a few districts on foot.

  2. Day 3–5

    Rio de Janeiro

    Move to Rio de Janeiro on the coast. Mix beach time with walks through the city, and keep one day free in case of bad weather.

  3. Day 6–7

    Brasília

    Fly inland to Brasília, the capital. It is a planned city, so it is worth seeing if you are interested in architecture and urban design.

  4. Day 8–10

    Recife

    End on the northeast coast in Recife. Spend your final days by the sea and in the older parts of the city before heading home.

Food to try in Brazil

Feijoada

A slow-cooked stew of black beans and pork, served with rice, farofa, greens and orange slices. It is heavy, so locals often eat it as a long weekend lunch.

Pão de queijo

Small, chewy cheese breads made with cassava flour, first from Minas Gerais. You find them across Brazil in bakeries and cafés, usually eaten with coffee at breakfast or as a snack.

Moqueca

A fish or seafood stew cooked with tomatoes, onions and coriander. The Bahia version adds coconut milk and dendê (palm) oil. The Espírito Santo version leaves them out.

Acarajé

Black-eyed pea fritters fried in dendê oil and filled with shrimp and spicy pastes. They are street food in Bahia, especially Salvador, where women in traditional white dress sell them from stalls.

Açaí

Frozen purée of a palm berry from the Amazon, often served in a bowl with granola and banana. It is a popular snack at beach kiosks and juice bars, especially in hot weather.

Caipirinha

Brazil's national cocktail, made with cachaça (a spirit distilled from sugarcane), lime and sugar over crushed ice. You can order it in almost any bar or beach kiosk.

Know before you go

  • Plugs: Brazil uses plug types C and N. Type N is less common worldwide, so bring a suitable adapter or buy one when you arrive.
  • Voltage: Brazil uses both 220 V and 127 V, depending on where you are. Check the socket or ask your host before plugging in. Chargers marked for dual voltage are the safest choice.
  • Driving side: Traffic drives on the right. If you come from a country that drives on the left, take extra care at junctions and roundabouts for the first few days.
  • Emergency numbers: Brazil has several emergency numbers: 188, 190 and 192. Each connects to a different service. Save all three in your phone and check which one to call for police or medical help.
  • Currency: The currency is the Brazilian real. Tell your bank before you travel so your cards are not blocked.
  • Language: Portuguese is the official language, not Spanish. Learning a few basic Portuguese phrases will help, and a translation app is worth having offline.
  • Time zones: Brazil is large, at about 8515767 km², and spans 4 time zones, from UTC-05:00 to UTC-02:00. Check local time when you book domestic flights or buses.
  • Calling code: The country calling code is +55. Use it when you save local numbers, such as your accommodation, in your phone.

Brazil: frequently asked questions

What is the best month to visit Brazil?

June is the best month, with May close behind. In June it rains on about 1.1 days and only 7 mm falls. You get 10.8 hours of sun a day, highs near 32.6°C and lows near 20.7°C. May scores 4.9 out of 5, with 7.4 rain days. Note that our climate figures are one average for a very large country, so check your region too.

When is the rainy season in Brazil?

The wettest months are December to March. Each has 25.2 to 27.9 rain days and 271 to 283 mm of rain. January is the wettest by rain days, with 27.9. Rain starts to return in October and builds through November. You still get around 8.5 to 8.7 hours of sun a day, so travel is possible, but plan for daily showers.

Is Brazil good in August?

Not really. August scores 3.5 and we mark it 'avoid'. It is very dry, with only 1.3 rain days and 8 mm of rain. The problem is heat. Highs average 35.5°C, the hottest of the year. If you handle heat badly, choose June or July instead. Both are dry but cooler, with highs of 32.6°C and 33.9°C.

Is October a good time to visit Brazil?

No. October is the worst month in our data, with a score of 1.1 out of 5. It is still hot, with highs of 32.8°C and lows of 23.2°C. At the same time, the rain comes back. There are 17.4 rain days and 131 mm of rain. You get hot, humid and wet weather together.

What plugs and voltage does Brazil use?

Brazil uses plug types C and N. The voltage is 220 V in some places and 127 V in others. Bring a travel adapter for type N sockets. Check that your chargers and devices accept both voltages before you plug them in.

What practical basics should I know before going to Brazil?

The currency is the Brazilian real and the language is Portuguese. Cars drive on the right. The country calling code is +55. Emergency numbers are 188, 190 and 192. Brazil covers several time zones, from UTC-05:00 to UTC-02:00, so check local time when you book flights between regions.

Similar destinations

Countries with a year of weather much like Brazil.