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Voykit pocket guide · Brazil
Campina Grande
One night for the São João festival or a day-trip from João Pessoa; otherwise skip unless you have a specific event.
Campina Grande is Paraíba's second city and the self-proclaimed 'Capital of the Forró', famous for its June São João festival and the out-of-season Micarande carnival in April. Outside festival dates the city has few tourist sights, so most travellers use it as a one-night stop or a day-trip from João Pessoa.
- Country
- Brazil
- Best months
- Jun (São João), Apr (Micarande)
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (hot, little going on)
- Stay
- 1 night
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$70–120 excl. bed · Mid R$120–200 excl. bed · High R$200+ 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 (cafézinho) | R$3–5 |
| Beer (draft, 300 ml) | R$5–8 |
| Simple lunch (prato feito) | R$15–25 |
| Taxi from bus station to centre | R$10 |
| Bus from João Pessoa | R$16 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CPV · Campina Grande Airport
- Regional flights only; check connections from Recife or João Pessoa
Typical fares
- Bus João Pessoa → Campina Grande
- about R$16, 2 h (check)
- Taxi bus station → centre
- about R$10
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
The centre is walkable. Bus 500 runs from the bus station to the centre (R$4, check). Taxis cost about R$10 from the bus station to the centre.
See and do
Known for
- São João festival (June)
- Micarande carnival (April)
- Açude Velho and Açude Novo
- Forró music and dance
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| João Pessoa | Bus from the bus station (Real Bus, at least hourly, 2 h, R$16, check) | About 2.5 h |
| Sousa | Bus from the bus station (Guanabara, 6 daily, 5 h, R$42, check) | About 5.5 h |
| Conde | Bus to João Pessoa then local bus, about 3 h total | About 3.5 h |
Sleep
- Centre (downtown)
- Walkable to most sights, bars and restaurants; best option outside festival dates.
- Near the bus station
- Convenient for arrivals, but 3 km (1.9 mi) from the centre; newer hotels here.Convenient for arrivals, but 1.9 mi (3 km) from the centre; newer hotels here.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Oláoh-LAH |
| Thank you | Obrigado / Obrigadaoh-bree-GAH-doo / oh-bree-GAH-dah |
| How much? | Quanto?KWAN-too |
| Where is the bus station? | Onde fica a rodoviária?ON-dee FEE-kah ah ho-doh-vee-AH-ree-ah |
| I don't understand | Não entendonow en-TEN-doo |
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
- During São João and Micarande, hotel prices can double; always confirm the rate before booking.
- The bus station is on the SE outskirts, about 3 km from the centre.
- Last buses from João Pessoa run until about 20:00; check the schedule.
Campina Grande is generally safe for a Brazilian city of its size. Watch for pickpockets during crowded festivals and avoid walking alone late at night in empty streets.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Campina Grande yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- São João festival (June)
- Micarande carnival (April)
- Açude Velho and Açude Novo
- Forró music and dance
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: Campina Grande, revision 4571747 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4571747
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/campina-grande). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.