Things to do and see on your travel to Brasilia

Probably the most interesting thing about this city is that it was built in less than five years. Inaugurated in 1960, Brasilia was designed to be the capital of Brazil. And as a result, today it is one of the country’s most modern cities, as well as being recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its incredible urban planning project. But its origins are not all, Brasilia has much more to offer. We invite you to read on to discover what things to do in Brasilia.

Imprescindible things to do in Brasilia

Although Brasilia is not known for being one of the liveliest cities in Brazil, the truth is that it has a wide range of tourist attractions and an architecture that will not leave you indifferent. Most of the administrative buildings and tourist attractions are designs of the renowned architect Oscar Niemeyer, whose work makes it well worth a visit.

1. The TV Tower

Did you know that the city is shaped like an aeroplane? It is precisely at the junction of the wings where the TV Tower is located. It was inspired by the Eiffel Tower and from where we can see the panoramic view of the city. Unfortunately, its 75-metre height is not enough to appreciate the peculiar shape of the city. The tower is located in the Plaza de las Fuentes, a pleasant place to stroll around. We recommend you to go there on Sundays, as it is full of craft stalls and street vendors.

2. The Square of the Three Powers

The city’s main tourist attractions are located on the Eixo Monumental (or Monumental Axis), which is one of the widest avenues in the world (400m). At one end is the Plaza de los Tres Poderes, which brings together all the government buildings; senate, congress, government and ministries. It is an impressive square that is home to architectural masterpieces.

3. National Museum Honestino Guimarães

On the same Monumental Axis is the Honestino Guimarães National Museum, one of the emblems of the city for its simplistic architecture and artistic richness. Next door we will see the national library, and a few steps away, the Metropolitan Cathedral of Brasilia.

4. Metropolitan Cathedral of Brasília

The cathedral, in line with Oscar Niemeyer’s architectural style, has a shape of a crown. While it may appear small on the outside, inside the stained-glass windows produce the opposite effect. And speaking of stained glass, don’t miss the Sanctuary of Don Bosco.

5. Sanctuary of Don Bosco

The Sanctuary of Don Bosco is the chapel of the Salesian school and a place of unparalleled beauty. Light streams in through its blue stained glass windows creating an atmosphere of tranquillity and peace. The sanctuary is a twenty-minute walk from the TV Tower.

6. The Buriti Square

Another point of interest, and at the opposite end of the Monumental Axis, is Buriti Square and Park. There we can visit the JK Memorial, the Indigenous Peoples’ Memorial and the Buriti Palace.

7. Lake Paranoá

And if you’re tired of walking on tarmac, no problem, because the city is home to numerous parks where you can relax for a while, such as the Sarah Kubitschek Park or the Olhos D’agua Park. Brasilia is also surrounded by Lake Paranoá (also an artificial lake), which offers a world of possibilities: walks along the shore, water sports, beach… The seaport is located in an area called Pantalan do Lago Sul. There we can enjoy the local gastronomy or the sunset from the Don Bosco chapel, which, although it is nothing more than a window with a virgin, offers privileged views of the lake with the Juscelino bridge in the background.

We’ve probably already given you some ideas of what to see in Brasilia, but just in case that’s not enough, read on to find out what to do in the surrounding area.

To organise your travel route we recommend using Passporter, totally free, easy and functional. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travellers and choose the places that interest you the most by adding them to the route map.

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

What things to do around Brasilia?

We’ve already talked about the city’s most famous sights, but there’s still plenty more to see in Brasilia. Situated on a high plateau with a savannah-like ecosystem, Brasilia is surrounded by nature. To the north of the city is the National Park of Brasília, famous mainly for its pools, which are results of sand mining to build the city. If you like walking, there are also a couple of short, easy trails. Perfect for young children. And don’t forget that in the city you can hire multi-adventure sports activities to do in the natural parks as well as in the lake. What do you prefer, cycling or kayaking?

To the south you can visit the Botanical Gardens, a very pleasant place to stroll around and learn more about the flora of the region or enjoy a spectacular brunch in their restaurant.

Times and prices:

Most of the city’s tourist attractions are free or very cheap. Timetables, on the other hand, are more complicated and will need to be checked carefully to organise your trip. There’s a lot to see in Brasilia, and we don’t want you to miss anything.

• TV Tower: the tower can be visited every day of the week from 9:00h to 18:00h and admission is free.
• Honestino Guimarães National Museum: admission is also free, but the museum is only open from Friday to Sunday from 10:00h to 16:00h and does not offer guided tours.
• Brasilia Metropolitan Cathedral: is open daily at 8:00h in the morning except for Tuesdays and Fridays, when it opens at 10:30h. Entry is also free.
• Tours to the National Congress Palace: entry is free and guided tours take place every 30 minutes from 9:00h to 17:30h on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, weekends and public holidays. Pre-booking is only necessary for groups of more than 15 people. Please note, however, that certain items of clothing such as shorts, shorts, mini-skirts, flip-flops or T-shirts are not allowed. In addition, you must bring your passport or identity card.
• Memorial of Indigenous Peoples: admission is free, and you can visit from Tuesday to Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and on weekends and public holidays from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
• Memorial JK: the price is R$10 (€1.7) and visiting hours are Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 6pm.
• Botanical Garden: the park is open Tuesday to Sunday and public holidays from 9am to 5pm, but gates close at 4.40pm. Admission is free between 7:30am and 8:50am for those willing to get up early

What things to do in Brasilia in 1 day or 2?

Despite being the capital of Brazil, Brasilia is not one of the most touristy cities in the country, in fact, in a day or two (well organised, of course) you can visit almost all the sights. If you’re a lover of architecture, you’ll probably need an extra day to lose yourself in its neighbourhoods. Or if you’re a nature lover, we recommend spending a couple of days visiting the surrounding parks.

First day

For those short on time, here’s how to organise an express trip with the essentials. Our recommendation is to start your tour at one end of the Eje Monumental, either on the Plaza de los Tres Poderes or on the Plaza de Buriti. On the Plaza de los Tres Poderes you can visit the congress and the rest of the state buildings. And in Buriti Square are the JK Memorial, the Indigenous Peoples Memorial and the Buriti Palace.

In between, and still on the same avenue, are the TV Tower, the cathedral and the Honestino Guimarães National Museum. It’s about an hour’s walk from one end of the Momumental Axis to the other, but if you visit all the buildings, you’ll probably have to stop for lunch at some point. From the TV Tower you can walk to the Don Bosco Sanctuary, which is about 20 minutes away, and if you want to go to Sarah Kubitschek’s park you’ll have to take the bus.

At the end of the day, the best thing to do is to go to Pantalán sur for a stroll along the lake shore, cool off or enjoy the local cuisine in one of its restaurants. There is no better way to end the day than with the views offered by this little corner of the city. It is definitely one of the best things to see in Brasilia.

Second day

And if you’re still hungry for more, you can spend the next day seeing the natural parks, the botanical gardens, take a bike tour or sign up for a water activity at the lake.

Where to stay in Brasilia

As in any big city, in Brasilia you can also choose from a variety of accommodation options. From budget youth hostels and guest houses to luxury hotels. We’ve got our own selection of charming hotels and more affordable hostels:

• Hotel Brasil 21 Suites
• Royal Tulip Brasília Alvorada
• Manhattan Plaza Hotel
• Joy Hostel
• Casa do Lago Hostel

Gastronomy in Brasília

Brazilian gastronomy is known worldwide for its fish, roasts or dishes based on beans and manioc flour. It’s a varied cuisine that mixes ancient indigenous preparations with dishes of Portuguese origin. In Brasilia you will find restaurants serving typical dishes such as feijoada, vatapá or acarajé, as well as international restaurants from all over the world. We also recommend you try the delicious tropical juices made from exotic fruits such as acajú, passion fruit or tamarind. Here is a list of our favourite restaurants in the city, although their prices are not for all budgets. If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative, you can find fast-food stalls with Brazilian specialities at a more affordable price all over the city.  

• Coco Bambu: restaurant specialising in seafood.
• Mangai: typical Brazilian cuisine restaurant.
• Don Francisco: one of the city’s most famous and highly acclaimed traditional cuisine restaurants.

How to get to Brasilia?

The most logical way to get to the city is by plane. The distances within the country are very long, and as flight prices have come down, air travel has become the most convenient way. On the other hand, Brazil’s bus network is very good and allows us to move between cities cheaply, even if the journey time is much longer. From Brasilia to São Paulo is 15 hours, 10 to Belo Horizonte and 3 to Goiânia.

How to get from the airport

From Brasilia airport (Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek International Airport) you can reach the city by one of the executive buses, lines 113,113.1, 113,2. The bus service is daily, with departures every 30 minutes, from Monday to Friday from 6:30am to 00:00am and on weekends and public holidays from 6:30am to 23:00pm. The price is R$12 per person (€1.9).

For getting around the city, there are several options. Walking is out of the question because of the long distances between points of interest. A car is a good option as the city doesn’t tend to have much traffic except during rush hour. You will have to pay for parking. Since 2021, Brasília has had two metro lines, but they don’t reach the Monumental Axis where most of the sights are located. The best option is the bus, which goes everywhere. All public transport costs R$4.7 (€0.7) per trip. Taxis are another possibility, and are also easy to find at points of interest, but the disadvantage is that they are more expensive.

Travel tips for Brasilia

• The best time to travel to Brasilia is during the cool, dry season, from April to September. The temperature is more pleasant and the skies are clearer at this time of year.
• Be sure to exchange money before you start your trip. The Brazilian real is the currency used in Brazil.
• We recommend you take out health insurance to avoid any problems.
• We encourage you to try Brazilian cuisine, but beware of unlabelled products and products of dubious origin.
• Be aware that most tourist attractions close early in the afternoon. We recommend getting up early to make sure you don’t miss anything. There’s a lot to see in Brasilia!
• In Brazil, you’ll need adapters to plug in your electronics. They use a three-prong, cylindrical, N-type plug.
• Write down the contact details of your accommodation, and a map is never a bad idea, lest your mobile phone run out of juice. If you want to have internet on your mobile phone, you will have to contract it with your mobile phone company before setting off on your trip. In any case, Google Maps gives you the option of downloading city maps.

How to organise your trip to Brasilia

• Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers
• Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions to it
• Add the stops that interest you most, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
• Organise your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can take inspiration from the routes featured in the post)
• Check the opening times of the main tourist attractions.
• Check the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
• Make any modifications you need and you’ll be all set for your trip.
• Share your experience. Upload photos of each of the places you’ve visited on your trip to the app.

If you have doubts about how to organise your trip, you can check our post: How to create a travel itinerary in Passporter.

Frequently asked questions about a trip to Brasilia