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Voykit pocket guide · Brazil
Franco da Rocha
Skip unless you have a guide; only visit the Hospital Psiquiátrico Juqueri (about 2 h) with a local escort.
Franco da Rocha is a low‑income suburb of São Paulo with one notable site – the historic Hospital Psiquiátrico Juqueri. The city offers limited tourist services, so most visitors only stop for a guided tour of the hospital and then leave.
- Country
- Brazil
- Best months
- Apr–Oct (drier, milder)
- Avoid
- Dec–Mar (heavy rain and heat)
- Stay
- 0–1 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$120–200 excl. bed · Mid R$200–350 excl. bed · High R$350+ 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 at a local café | R$5–8 |
| Water bottle | R$2–4 |
| Taxi (5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi (3.1 mi (5 km)) | R$30–45 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- GRU · São Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport
- ≈ 30 km (19 mi), 40 min by car or bus≈ 19 mi (30 km), 40 min by car or bus
Typical fares
- CPTM train Franco da Rocha → São Paulo
- about R$7.50 one way, about 45 min
- Taxi within Franco da Rocha
- about R$30–45 for 5 km (3.1 mi)about R$30–45 for 3.1 mi (5 km)
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
Local buses and taxis are available but the area is not tourist‑friendly; use a guided vehicle for the hospital visit.
See and do
Known for
- Hospital Psiquiátrico Juqueri
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| São Paulo city centre | Train (CPTM line 7) from Franco da Rocha station, about 45 min | ≈ 1 h total |
Sleep
- No recommended hotels
- Most visitors stay in São Paulo and commute; overnight in Franco da Rocha not advised
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Desculpedes-kuh-pe |
| Thank you | Obrigadoob-ree-ga-do |
| How much is it? | Quanto custa?kwahn-toh koos-tah |
| Where is the hospital? | Onde fica o hospital?ohn-jee fee-kah oo hohs-pee-tahl |
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
- The city is considered unsafe for unsupervised tourists; local residents may view foreigners with suspicion.
- Hospital tours require prior arrangement; check opening hours on the official site.
Tourist safety is low; travel with a guide and avoid wandering alone.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Franco da Rocha yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Hospital Psiquiátrico Juqueri
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Franco da Rocha: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1760159
- Wikivoyage: Franco da Rocha, revision 3778039 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=3778039
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/franco-da-rocha). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.