Known worldwide for its beautiful harbour, Rio de Janeiro is Brazil’s second largest city and one of its most fun destinations, with parts of the city designated as a World Heritage Site. The city’s many attractions draw people to Rio all year round, with Samba Carnival taking place across Brazil from mid-February to early March, and Rio de Janeiro’s ‘Rio Carnival’ being the most famous. Rio Carnival is considered one of the largest and most colourful music parades and festive events in the world. It attracts visitors from all over the world.
1. Brazil Quick Facts
Language Portuguese
Religion Christian/ Catholicism
Currency REAL(R$)
Visa Free 90 day visa for 60 nationalities
Power Plugs 127 V , 220 V 60 Hz (C/N Type)
Capital Brasilia
ATM It can be withdrawn and used at ATMs of Visa or Master affiliated banks, such as Citibank. It is important to note that card duplication
incidents are frequent in Brazil.
Use card Since card duplication incidents occur not only in stores, restaurants, shopping malls, and hotels, but also through private
ATM machines, it is best not to use the card in Brazil.
Useful APP
Google Maps
2. Packing for your trip
Air plain Ticket
Dollar Flight Club has made it easier and cheaper to buy flights to the Airport.
SIM card
Airalo is the world’s first eSIM store that solves the pain of high roaming bills by giving you access to 200+ eSIMs (digital SIM cards) globally at affordable prices.
New member one-time use 15% discount coupon
10% discount coupon for multiple use by all members.
Pacsafe Pro safe 800 Luggage Lock
Good protection against snatchers or impulse thieves.
Universal Power Adapter
One of the most essential but most forgotten items in your travel gear? A power adapter!
Travel insurance
Prepare for risky situations Travel insurance can be a big help in the event of an emergency
GoPro HERO11
If you want to capture your own memories of your travels, GoPro is the way to go. It’s small, has great image quality, and is easy to carry around
3. Transportation
There are several ways to get from the airport to downtown Rio de Janeiro.
Premium Bus
The Premium Bus operates from 05:30 to 23:00 with a frequency of every 30 minutes. Fare R$8.2
Regular bus fare R$4.05
BRT Transcarioca buses operate from 04:00 to 00:00 A RioCard, a transport card, is required to board the buses (bus card costs R$3). Bus fare R$4.05
Taxi
Uber Taxi Airport to downtown/Copacabana, Ipanema: 52-62/58-65 R$
Yellow Taxi Airport to Copacabana, Ipanema: 60-90 R$
Radio Taxi from airport to Copacabana, Ipanema : 130 R$.
Transport in Rio de Janeiro city centre
Metro
The metro is safe, comfortable, air-conditioned and well signposted.
There is line 1 on the Orange Line, line 2 on the Green Line and line 4 on the Yellow Line, and some stations offer connecting buses to neighbouring areas. Carriages with pink window stickers are reserved for women during rush hour.
Metro fare is R$6.9, with tickets transferable to buses for R$7.85 and BRT for R$8.65.
Taxi 3 km base fare from R$ 20.4
Single bus/tram ticket: R$4.3
One-day metro ticket: R$6.9
4. Safety
The security situation in Brazil varies depending on the region, with some areas being relatively safe and others having high crime. Among major cities, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo are known to have relatively high crime rates. Although Brazil has a strong police force, crime can still occur in some areas.
Travelers should choose safe areas and be cautious, especially at night. It is important to follow general precautions and be vigilant in public places. It is also important to check travel safety information from your local government and follow local laws.
Emergency Numbers
190: Military Police
192: Public Paramedics (SAMU)
193: Fire Department
191: Federal Highway Police
6. Climate
Brazil’s climate is diverse and varies greatly by region. In general, Brazil is characterized by a tropical climate with relatively warm temperatures in most parts of the country. However, Brazil is also known for its large amount of localized climate variability.
The central region of Brazil has a tropical climate, characterized by high temperatures and humidity. The southern region has a dry forest climate with relatively low temperatures, and in some areas, rainfall is evenly distributed. The northeast region is dominated by a tropical climate and is characterized by strong summer rains.
The Amazon rainforest is also known for its hot and humid climate, and the region is one of the largest tropical rainforest areas on Earth. The Amazon rainforest is a major contributor to Earth’s ecological diversity.
6. price
Food prices are relatively cheap, but other living expenses are expensive.
McDonald’s Combo Meal: 33-40 R$
Coffee latte/cappuccino: 5 to 16 R$
Water (1.5 litres): 2 to 4 R$
7. Travel precautions
Smoking is banned in public places, and alcohol is often restricted.
Most people who solicit at airports are likely to be scammers. Avoid them at all costs.
Even if you are Googling on your smartphone on the street, be aware that this means anyone can take your phone.
Avoid the favelas (slums), where even locals don’t go, unless you have a specific reason to be there – in fact, there have been a number of cases of foreign tourists going missing.
8. Etiquette & Service Tip
When offered coffee in Brazil, it is recommended not to refuse as it carries the connotation of hospitality.
A tap on the shoulder or a grab on the arm from a stranger is a sign of friendliness. Brazilians are comfortable talking to strangers, so don’t be surprised if someone you don’t know strikes up a conversation in public.
Even when holding a bowl, it is polite to hold the bowl with food in the right hand and the empty bowl in the left, as the right hand represents a blessing and the left hand a curse.
Black and purple are considered bad luck in Brazil, so it’s best to wear primary colours and bright clothing when travelling rather than darker shades.
no tip
A 10% service charge is included in the bill at restaurants, hotels, etc., so there is no need to pay a separate tip, but it is recommended to tip about US$1 (2 reais) to the boy who carries your luggage at the hotel or the housekeeper in your room. It’s polite.
9. Holidays
Brazil Public Holidays in 2024 inclusive Holidays
1.1(Mon) New Year’s Day
2.12(Mon)-2.14(Wed) 14:00 Carnival Festival
3.29 (Fri) St. Friday( good Friday)
4.21 (Sun) Day of Remembrance of Independence Activist Ziradenzis
5.1 (Wed) Labour Day
5.30 (Thu) Eucharist Day
9.7 (Sat) Independence Day
10.12 (Sat) Virgin Mary’s Day
11.2 (Sat) Day of the Dead
11.15 (Fri) Republic Day
11.20 (Wed) Black Consciousness Day
24 Dec (Tue) 14:00 – 25 Dec (Wed) Christmas Day
31 December (Tue) 14:00 – New Year’s Eve
2025 National Public Holidays:
Wednesday, 1 January : New Year’s Day
Monday, 3 March : Carnival
Tuesday, March : Carnival
Friday, 18 April : Good Friday
Monday, 21 April : Tiradentes Day
Thursday, 1 May : Labour Day
Thursday, 19 June : Corpus Christi
Sunday, 7 September : Independence Day
Sunday, 12 October : Our Lady of Aparecida
Sunday, 2 November : All Souls’ Day
Saturday, 15 November : Republic Day
Thursday, 20 November : Black Consciousness Day
Thursday, 25 December: Christmas Day