The best place to visit in Brazil is Iguazu Falls, followed by Christ the Redeemer in Rio and the UNESCO archipelago of Fernando de Noronha. This list covers 10 places that between them show the range of the country, from rainforest and waterfalls to colonial towns, surf beaches and carnival cities. We checked the park rules, ticket prices and heritage listings in October 2026 and added one new entrant, Lençóis Maranhenses.
| Rank | Place | Region | What to know (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iguazu Falls | Paraná | Park on the Brazil side, open daily |
| 2 | Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro | Rio de Janeiro | Corcovado train from R$134 |
| 3 | Fernando de Noronha | Pernambuco | Daily fee R$105.79 plus park ticket |
| 4 | The Amazon River and Jungle | Amazonas | Lodges and boats from Manaus |
| 5 | Jericoacoara | Ceará | Dunes, lagoons and kitesurfing |
| 6 | Olinda | Pernambuco | UNESCO site since 1982 |
| 7 | Ouro Preto | Minas Gerais | Baroque churches and mine tours |
| 8 | Salvador de Bahia | Bahia | Pelourinho, UNESCO since 1985 |
| 9 | Paraty | Rio de Janeiro | UNESCO mixed site since 2019 |
| 10 | Joaquina Beach, Florianópolis | Santa Catarina | Surf and sandboarding |
The 10 best places to visit in Brazil in 2026
1. Iguazu Falls
Iguazu (Cataratas do Iguaçu) is a chain of roughly 275 separate falls on the Brazil and Argentina border, so wide that Brazil’s park gives you the panorama and the Argentine side puts you on top of the water. The Brazilian park is open daily, from 9:00 to 16:00 on weekdays and 8:30 to 16:00 on weekends. In mid-October 2026 the river ran well above its average flow, and the park removed walkway railings as a safety measure, which temporarily closed one walkway, so check conditions before you book.
2. Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro
The 635-tonne Art Deco statue stands on the 700-metre Corcovado peak in Tijuca National Park, and it is still the postcard of Brazil. The Corcovado train, the most scenic way up, currently lists an adult ticket at R$134, with R$107 for children aged 7 to 11 and free travel for under-sevens, so book a timed slot and go early, before the clouds close in.
3. Fernando de Noronha
A UNESCO World Heritage archipelago of 21 islands and islets, with only one inhabited island and about 3,000 residents. Visitors are capped by a daily environmental fee: in 2026 the tax is R$105.79 per day, rising on a sliding scale (R$672.85 for seven days). National marine park entry is charged separately, at last report R$384 for foreigners and R$192 for Brazilians after a 2.9 percent rise in November 2025. Beaches such as Baía do Sancho, Sueste and Praia do Leão are the draw, with warm water and visibility up to 50 metres for divers.
4. The Amazon River and Jungle
The Amazon is the biggest river system on earth and Brazil’s most extreme trip. Manaus is the standard hub, with its rubber-boom opera house and its jungle lodges, and Belém near the mouth gives you a very different old port. Pick an established operator, because the UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel on some western river stretches of Amazonas State (September 2026), mainly the upper Amazon, Itaquaí, Japurá and parts of the Rio Negro.
5. Jericoacoara
A former fishing village on Ceará’s coast, now inside Jericoacoara National Park, created on 4 February 2002. The dunes, lagoons and a sunset watched from the big dune made it a kitesurf and windsurf capital, and the village keeps its sand streets. The dunes and sand streets are the charm.
6. Olinda
A hilltop colonial city next to Recife, with a historic centre that UNESCO listed in 1982. Its street carnival mixes frevo and maracatu with African-influenced dance, and it stays a free, open party where anyone can join a bloco. Visit outside carnival if you want quiet churches and gallery-lined lanes.
7. Ouro Preto
Ouro Preto, “black gold”, was Vila Rica, a gold-rush city of about 40,000 people in 1730 and 80,000 by 1750, more than twice the size of New York at the time. Its baroque churches, museums and mine tours make it Brazil’s best-preserved colonial town. The Mina da Passagem is billed as the largest mine open to the public in the world.
8. Salvador de Bahia
Salvador had 2,417,678 residents in the 2022 census, making it the fifth biggest municipality in Brazil, and its Pelourinho district has been a UNESCO site since 1985. The city is split into Cidade Alta and Cidade Baixa, and its culture is largely Afro-Brazilian, from capoeira to its carnival. Go for the food, the music and the colonial centre.
9. Paraty
Paraty is a colonial port town on the Costa Verde, 258 km from Rio. Its historic centre and nine natural areas were listed by UNESCO as a mixed cultural and natural site in 2019. Its cobblestone streets, baroque churches and forts show how people lived on the edge of the gold rush.
10. Joaquina Beach, Florianópolis
Praia da Joaquina on Santa Catarina island has hosted surf competitions since the 1970s and is known for its big waves and dune sandboarding. It is an easy pick for a southern Brazil trip.
New since this list was first written: Lençóis Maranhenses
The white dunes of Lençóis Maranhenses National Park in Maranhão fill with fresh-water lagoons during the rainy season, between January and June. UNESCO listed the park as a World Heritage Site in July 2024, and it receives up to about 60,000 visitors a year. We now rank it right alongside Jericoacoara on any northeast route.
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FAQ
What is the best place to visit in Brazil?
Iguazu Falls is our top pick, because nothing else in the country matches its scale. Christ the Redeemer and Fernando de Noronha follow close behind.
How much does it cost to see Christ the Redeemer?
The Corcovado train lists an adult ticket at R$134, R$107 for children aged 7 to 11 and free for under-sevens, according to the official ticket page in October 2026.
How much is the Fernando de Noronha tax?
The environmental preservation fee is R$105.79 per day in 2026 and rises on a sliding scale for longer stays, R$672.85 for seven days. The national marine park ticket is separate.
Is Brazil safe for tourists in 2026?
Most visitor areas are fine with normal city precautions. The UK Foreign Office only advises against all but essential travel on some western Amazon river stretches, and it does not list Rio itself.
Which Brazilian places are UNESCO sites?
Olinda (1982), Salvador’s Pelourinho (1985), Ouro Preto, Paraty (2019), Fernando de Noronha (2001) and, since July 2024, Lençóis Maranhenses.
When is the best time to go?
It depends on the route. Lençóis Maranhenses is best from January to June when the lagoons fill,.
How we put this list together
We kept the original ten places because they still cover Brazil’s range, then re-checked prices, access rules and heritage listings against official pages in October 2026. Prices change, so confirm on the day you book.
Last updated: October 2026.
