Top 5: Cities in Brazil

Brazil’s a huge country with many places to visit. While it’s hard to narrow down, here are our top 5 destinations.

Rio de Janiero

There was no way the most visited city in all of South America was going to be omitted from this list, so why not get it out of the way. Rio is, of course, home to a slew of fantastic beaches, including, of course, Copacabana and Ipanema. Home to the biggest Carnival celebrations, the people are as lively as the parades. Rio denizens love to party in this city nestled between the Corcovado and Sugarloaf Mountains while Christ the Redeemer looks down on all.

Foz do Iguaçu

This surprisingly large and safe city acts as a gateway to the majestic series of waterfalls that comprise Iguazu Falls on the border with Argentina and on the river of the same name. In addition to awe-inspiring falls, the city provides a jumping point to a number of other adventures to be found in the lush tropical forests teeming with wildlife.

Salvador

This old school city is one of the oldest in South America and also plays host to some of the most amazing Carnival celebrations in the world. The city takes its food as seriously as its beaches with the most famous being Porto de Barra, Flamengo and Stella Maris.

Olinda

Located on Atlantic Coast in the northeastern state of Pernambuco, Olinda is far too often overlooked by visitors. Don’t make the same mistake. The well-preserved colonial city on a hill overlooking the ocean is truly a gem offering beautiful churches, museums and colorful homes in a perfectly temperate climate. The city is a home to many artists and has a unique Carnival itself, as the bulk of the festivities occur during the daylight hours.

Manaus

The capital of the Amazonas state is worth the trouble of getting to its remote location. While Manaus was in the news quite a bit recently as an example of the “wasted” money when it received a new stadium for the World Cup, the city is so much more than this and will never be a waste of your time. Famous landmarks include the Amazonas Opera House and the Rio Negro Palace. The Meeting of the Waters is a must visit. The name is a reference to a three-mile stretch where the Negro and Solimões rivers run side by side without truly coming together.