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Voykit pocket guide · Brazil
Aracaju
Spend 2 days: one night at Atalaia beach, see the aquarium and city centre; walk, bus or Uber, budget-friendly.
Aracaju, capital of Sergipe, offers a compact coastal vibe with Atalaia beach, an aquarium, zoo and historic churches. A short stay covers the highlights; transport is easy via bus (R$4 fare) or Uber.
- Country
- Brazil
- Best months
- Sep–Feb (dry, warm)
- Avoid
- May–Aug (rainy season)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- BRL
- Money
- Currency is the Brazilian real (BRL, R$). About R$5–5.8 per US dollar in 2026 — check. Cards and tap-to-pay are accepted almost everywhere, even at beach kiosks.
- Daily spend
- Budget R$120–180 excl. bed · Mid R$180–300 excl. bed · High R$300+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Vivo, Claro and TIM cover the country; buying a prepaid SIM needs a passport and sometimes a CPF — an eSIM before you fly is easier.
- Emergency
- Police 190 · Ambulance 192 · Fire 193
- Plugs
- Types N, C · 127 V (Rio, São Paulo) or 220 V (Brasília, much of the Northeast) · Check the voltage on the socket; most chargers are dual-voltage.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 10% service (serviço) usually on the bill; optional but normal.; Beach kiosk / bar: Often included; round up.; Taxi / Uber: Not expected; round up.; Guide: US$5–15 per person per day.; Hotel staff: Small tip for porters.
- Water
- Do not drink tap water; filtered water is provided in most homes and hotels.
- Toilets
- Put toilet paper in the bin, not the toilet, in most places.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | R$3–5 |
| Beer (draft) | R$6–10 |
| Bus ride | R$4 |
| Aquarium entry | R$15–20 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- ARU · Santa Maria Airport
- —
Typical fares
- City bus
- R$4 per ride, free transfers at terminals (check)
- Uber short trip (5 km)
- ≈R$25 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
City buses (Moovit app) cost R$4 per ride; transfers at terminals are free. Uber works citywide.
See and do
Known for
- Atalaia beach
- Aracaju Aquarium
- Aracaju Zoological Park
- Igreja de Santo Antônio
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Mangue Seco (Bahia border) | Bus from Aracaju station, about 2 h | ≈3 h round trip |
| Lake Xingo (artificial lake) | Taxi or Uber, 30 min | ≈1 h |
Sleep
- Atalaia beachfront
- Hotels and hostels within 5 km (3.1 mi) of city centre; easy bus stop.Hotels and hostels within 3.1 mi (5 km) of city centre; easy bus stop.
- Centro (downtown)
- Budget guesthouses, close to churches and markets.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Desculpedesˈkuʎi |
| Thank you | Obrigadoobɾiˈɡadu |
| How much is it? | Quanto custa?ˈkwɐ̃tu ˈkusta |
| Where is the bathroom? | Onde fica o banheiro?ˈõdʒi ˈfika u baˈɲeɾu |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake, hug or cheek kiss (one in São Paulo, two in Rio); avoid: Being stiff with new acquaintances
- Gestures: Use thumbs-up freely; avoid: The OK hand sign (it is rude)
- Language: Try Portuguese; say obrigado/obrigada; avoid: Defaulting to Spanish
- Time: Expect relaxed social punctuality; avoid: Being late for tours and flights
- Beach: Bring only a towel, cash and a copy of your ID; avoid: Leaving things unattended
Scams and watch-outs
- Crime rates are lower than most Northeast capitals but stay alert in the North Zone and at night on Atalaia beach.
- Check opening hours of the aquarium and zoo; they may close on public holidays.
Aracaju is one of the safer state capitals in the Northeast; keep valuables hidden, avoid poorly lit streets after dark.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Aracaju yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Atalaia beach
- Aracaju Aquarium
- Aracaju Zoological Park
- Igreja de Santo Antônio
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Aracaju, revision 5197531 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5197531
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/aracaju). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.