Best things to do in Colombo, including free and rainy-day options

Colombo is a small historic town in the Curitiba metropolitan area, known for its Italian immigrant roots, its Sunday market and a cluster of nearby wineries. It works best as a half-day or day trip from Curitiba rather than a base of its own.

If you are short on time in Paraná, put Curitiba first and treat Colombo as an optional add-on. If you like markets, old churches and wine, give it a full day and include one winery.

Prices are 2026 estimates in Brazilian reais. Times are rough, door to door.

Start in the historic centre. The main square, the church and the surrounding streets hold the town's Italian-Brazilian story: families from Veneto settled here in the late 19th century, and the architecture and food still show it. A slow walk takes an hour or two and costs nothing.

The Sunday market is the reason many people come. Stalls sell produce, cheese, salami, bread, pastries and handicrafts, and it is busiest in the morning. Go early, bring cash and small notes, and expect crowds by 11am.

The wine route is the other draw. Several small wineries sit in and around Colombo, and some offer tastings and tours. Opening days vary and tastings often need a booking, so call or check ahead before you travel out. This is also the best rainy-day option.

If you have children or want a slower afternoon, the town's parks and the rural roads around it make an easy drive. Combine Colombo with a stop in Campo Largo or continue to Curitiba for the rest of the day.

The town itself is cheap. A walk around the centre, the square and the church costs nothing. At the Sunday market, snacks and pastries run R$10–40 and a sit-down lunch R$40–80 per person. Winery tastings are the main expense, roughly R$50–150 per person depending on the package (check).

If you come from Curitiba by bus, budget R$20–40 each way (check). By app car, expect more, especially on Sundays. Cash is still useful at market stalls.

Come on a Sunday if you want the market, and on any other day if you want quiet streets and wineries. Many shops and some wineries close on Mondays, so check before you go.

Colombo sits at around 1,000 m, so mornings and evenings are cooler than the coast; bring a light jacket even in summer. Rain is possible year-round, with wetter months in summer (December–March).

Distances between the centre and the wineries are short by car but awkward on foot or by local bus. If you are not driving, arrange a taxi or app car for the winery part of the day.