Things to do and where to stay in Brazil
Where to stay · Brazil

Brazil — find the right stay, from deciding to booking

“Rio's Christ, Copacabana Beach, and Iguazu Falls”

Brazil is a land of color, rhythm and grand nature — the statue of Christ the Redeemer over Rio de Janeiro, Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, the immense Iguazu Falls, the Amazon rainforest, Carnival, and football and samba running through the blood, plus the metropolis of São Paulo and beaches stretching as far as the eye can see.

⛰️Rio's Christ🏖️Copacabana💦Iguazu Falls🌳Amazon🎭CarnivalFootball & samba
5Cities reviewed
3Ranked guides
30Hotels reviewed
🤝 Curated by the TopOfHotel team · 📅 Updated 2026 · based on real reviews · 3-site price comparison · affiliate links openly disclosed How we review →

Brazil at a glance

💵
CurrencyBrazilian Real (BRL)
🔌
Power plugType N/C · 127/220V
✈️
Getting aroundDomestic flights · metro · Uber · buses
🗣️
LanguagePortuguese (little English)
💰
Daily budget~$55–130 (excl. hotel)

Choose a city in Brazil

Each city has its own things-to-do and food guides plus in-depth ranked hotel reviews with real photos and price comparison — start with the city that fits your trip.

1

Decide — is Brazil right for you?

Why people love Brazil, how it compares to its neighbors, and which travel style suits you

⛰️

Rio de Janeiro

Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, and the most beautiful city beaches.

💦

Iguazu Falls

The widest waterfall in the world, with 275 cascades — one of the 7 Natural Wonders.

🌳

The Amazon rainforest

The world's largest rainforest — boat trips, wildlife, and indigenous communities.

🎭

Carnival

The biggest festival on Earth — samba, parades, and color.

🏖️

Beach lifestyle

Copacabana, Ipanema, and a coastline running thousands of kilometers.

🍖

Churrasco & food

Brazilian barbecue, feijoada, and caipirinha.

Brazil vs its neighbors

BrazilArgentinaPeru
Daily budget (per person)$55–130$50–115$45–90
Visa (Thai passport)e-Visa requiredFree 90 daysFree 183 days
Getting around citiesDomestic flights, metro, UberMetro, busesBuses, taxis
EnglishLittleWorkable in big citiesWorkable in tourist areas
Known forRio · beaches · CarnivalTango · steak · PatagoniaMachu Picchu · the Incas

Figures are rough per-person, per-day estimates — your real budget depends on your travel style.

2

Plan — stay, eat, see

Start with where to stay (the heart of the trip), then add food and sights, and gauge your daily budget.

We're adding Brazil food reviews

We're adding Brazil sightseeing reviews

🚆 Getting around Brazil

✈️

Domestic flights

A huge country — flying between cities (GOL, LATAM, Azul) is essential and saves time.

🚇

Metro

Rio and São Paulo have clean metros — avoid traffic and they're safer by day.

🚗

Uber

Popular and safer than taxis in big cities, at good prices.

🚌

Long-distance buses

Good air-conditioned coaches link cities, but for very long distances you should fly.

🚠

Cable cars & trams

Rio has the Sugarloaf cable car and a tram up to the Christ statue.

🛂 Etiquette & culture in Brazil

🩴

Chilled & easygoing

Brazilians are warm, greet with a cheek kiss, live relaxed, and aren't big on punctuality.

🛡️

Mind your safety

Big cities have snatch-theft — don't flash valuables, keep your phone and camera close, and use Uber.

💵

10% tip

Restaurants usually already add 10% (serviço), so no need to add more.

🏖️

Beach culture

The beach is the heart of social life — dress casually, but leave valuables at your accommodation.

💧

Drink bottled water

Avoid tap water; drink sealed bottled water.

💸 Daily budget — a rough guide

🎒

Budget

$45–70/ day / person

🛏️ Hostel / 2★ hotel $25–45

Eat at por quilo buffets (pay by weight), use the metro, and enjoy the free beaches.

🧳

Comfortable

$85–160/ day / person

🛏️ 3–4★ hotel $55–100

Fly between cities, take Iguazu and Amazon tours, and dine at a churrascaria.

Premium

$255+/ day / person

🛏️ Luxury beach hotel like Copacabana Palace $170+

Beachfront resorts, luxury Amazon lodges, and private tours.

🗓️ When to visit Brazil

☀️

Summer (Southern)

Dec – Mar

Hot and humid, lively beaches, and Carnival (Feb/Mar) — but crowded and prices spike.

🌤️

Autumn / Spring

Apr–Jun · Sep–Nov

Lovely weather, fewer crowds, and good prices — the best time to go.

❄️

Winter (Southern)

Jun – Aug

Rio is still warm enough, the far south gets cool — good for escaping the northern winter.

🌳

Amazon dry season

Jul – Nov

Lower water makes hiking and wildlife-spotting easier — good for cruising the Amazon.

3

Book — hotels our team picked

Hand-picked from the highest guest-rated hotels we've reviewed in Brazil — compare prices across 3 sites.

Hotel das Cataratas, A Belmond Hotel, Iguassu Falls★ 9.6👑 Great for your trip

Hotel das Cataratas, A Belmond Hotel, Iguassu Falls

From ~$55,715,857

See the full ranked review →
Cullinan Hplus Premium★ 9.4💼 Great for your trip

Cullinan Hplus Premium

From ~$1,085,920

See the full ranked review →
Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel★ 9.4👑 Great for your trip

Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel

From ~$74,287,429

See the full ranked review →

Want to see every option in Brazil?

Browse all our ranked stay reviews — every budget and area, with real photos and price comparison.

View the top city guide →

FAQ — visiting Brazil

How many days do I need in Brazil?+

10–14 days — Rio for 4 days + Iguazu for 2 days + São Paulo/Salvador or the Amazon. It's a huge country, so you'll need domestic flights.

Do Thai passport holders need a Brazil visa?+

You'll need to apply for a Brazil e-Visa online in advance, with the required documents.

Is Brazil safe?+

Tourist areas are fine to visit, but watch for snatch-theft in big cities — don't flash valuables, use Uber, and explore by day.

What should I prepare for Carnival?+

Carnival is in Feb/Mar — book accommodation in Rio/Salvador months ahead, as prices are high and rooms fill up fast.

Tips before you go to Brazil

  1. Apply for a Brazil e-Visa online in advance.
  2. Fly domestically — it's a huge country, and booking ahead is cheaper.
  3. Don't flash valuables in big cities, and use Uber at night.
  4. Book accommodation for Carnival (Feb/Mar) months in advance.
  5. Try a por quilo buffet (pay by weight) — good value and tasty.
  6. Carry cash in reais plus a card; larger shops take cards.

Explore more

🏨 Our top hotels in Brazil Compare 3 sites →