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Capital · Brazil

Palmas

Skip unless you're a Tocantins government visitor or a planned-city enthusiast: one day is enough to see the main square and the lake beach.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Palmas is a purpose-built capital founded in 1990, laid out on a grand grid that still feels empty. The main draw is Praça dos Girassóis, a vast plaza with a Niemeyer memorial and the geodesic centre of Brazil. A freshwater lake beach is a short bus ride away. Most travellers use it as a stopover en route to Jalapão or Taquarussu.

basic guide: no trip line yet
More
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
BRL
Best months
May–Sep (dry, cooler)
avoid Oct–Apr (rainy, hot)
Airport
PMW
Nights
1

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide for Palmas: no airport-to-bed path, walking clusters or day plans yet. Fares and schedules here are unverified. What this page does cover
Rules in force · 7Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the fir…
  • South America ↗Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the first day light; sleep lower where you can (Sacred Valley before Cusco) and descend if headache comes with vomiting or confusion.
  • South America ↗A yellow fever certificate is required on arrival in French Guiana, and asked for on some routes into Bolivia, Paraguay, Suriname and Guyana, or when arriving from Amazon areas — vaccinate at least 10 days before travel and carry the card.
  • South America ↗Overnight buses are the norm in Argentina, Chile and Peru, but pick top-tier companies and keep valuables on your body; on-board thefts from overhead racks are the common loss.
  • Brazil ↗US, Canadian and Australian citizens need an e-visa (about US$81 — check) applied for online at the official VFS portal before travel; EU and UK citizens do not. Check your passport with Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs before booking.
  • Brazil ↗Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for many areas, including the Amazon and Pantanal; check with a travel clinic at least 10 days before travel.
  • Brazil ↗Keep your phone out of sight in the street and on beaches; phone theft is the most common crime against visitors in big cities.
  • Brazil ↗Carnival 2027 runs about 5–10 February (Tuesday 9 February; Salvador from 4 February): book Rio, Salvador and Recife/Olinda months ahead or avoid those dates.

Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide

Checking your follows…
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Palmas190 ▾

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Palmas, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeR$5–8 (≈ US$1–2)
  • BeerBeer (600 ml bottle)R$6–10 (≈ US$2)
  • Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi from centre to lake beachcheckR$25–40 (≈ US$5–8)
  • Metro or bus rideBus ridecheckR$4–5 (≈ under US$1)
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personR$40 (≈ US$8)
  • Mid-range bedDouble room (mid-range hotel), a night, per roomR$180 (≈ US$35)
  • High-end bedDouble room (mid-range hotel), a night, per roomR$300 (≈ US$60)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget R$80 (≈ US$15) · Mid R$150 (≈ US$30) · High R$300 (≈ US$60)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Praça dos GirassóisGeodesic centre of BrazilPlanned-city architectureFreshwater lake beach
Airports
PMW Palmas Airport (Brigadeiro Lysias Rodrigues) (About 20 km (12 mi) from centre; taxis and ride apps available)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    32°C (90°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    32°C (90°F)

  3. Mar

    Avoid

    32°C (90°F)

  4. Apr

    Avoid

    32°C (90°F)

  5. May

    Best

    32°C (90°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    32°C (90°F)

  7. Jul

    Best

    33°C (91°F)

  8. Aug

    Best

    34°C (93°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    35°C (95°F)

  10. Oct

    Avoid

    34°C (93°F)

  11. Nov

    Avoid

    33°C (91°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid

    32°C (90°F)

Best: May–Sep. Avoid: Oct–Apr. Month by month →

Warmest Sep (35°C (95°F)), coolest Jun (20°C (68°F) low), wettest Jan (16 rain days), driest Jul (1). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Palmas: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

32°C (90°F)

23°C (73°F)

16 rd

Feb

32°C (90°F)

23°C (73°F)

14 rd

Mar

32°C (90°F)

23°C (73°F)

15 rd

Apr

32°C (90°F)

23°C (73°F)

10 rd

May

32°C (90°F)

22°C (72°F)

5 rd

Jun

32°C (90°F)

20°C (68°F)

2 rd

Jul

33°C (91°F)

20°C (68°F)

1 rd

Aug

34°C (93°F)

21°C (70°F)

1 rd

Sep

35°C (95°F)

23°C (73°F)

5 rd

Oct

34°C (93°F)

24°C (75°F)

10 rd

Nov

33°C (91°F)

24°C (75°F)

14 rd

Dec

32°C (90°F)

23°C (73°F)

16 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Buses run along the main avenues; taxis and Uber are common. The city is spread out, so walking between sights is impractical in the heat.

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Taquarussu

go

Door to door: About 40 min

Bus or taxi, about 30 km (19 mi) south

Small town with waterfalls and hiking trails; half-day trip.

Natividade

caution

Door to door: About 3 h

Bus or car, about 200 km (124 mi) southeast

Colonial gold-rush town; better as an overnight stop.

Jalapão

overnight

Door to door: About 4 h

4×4 or organised tour, about 250 km (155 mi) east

Remote dunes, waterfalls and canyons; minimum 2–3 nights.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Plano Diretor Sul (central)

Closest to Praça dos Girassóis and most hotels.

Plano Diretor Norte

More residential, fewer options; closer to the lake beach.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
R$80–130 (≈ US$15–25) excl. bed
Mid
R$130–250 (≈ US$25–50) excl. bed
High
R$250 (≈ US$50)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Double room (mid-range hotel)1 × 1 night × R$180R$180
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × R$150R$300
Taxi from airport to centre1 × R$60 · checkR$60
Bus to lake beach (return)2 × R$8 · checkR$16
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeR$56
Trip total≈ R$306 per person per day, bed includedR$612≈ US$120

2026 estimate in BRL; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeR$5–8 (≈ US$1–2)
Lunch (prato feito)R$18–30 (≈ US$4–6)
Beer (600 ml bottle)R$6–10 (≈ US$2)
Taxi from centre to lake beachcheckR$25–40 (≈ US$5–8)
Bus ridecheckR$4–5 (≈ under US$1)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Palmas is generally safe for a Brazilian capital, but avoid walking alone at night in empty areas. The main risks are heat and sun exposure.
  • The city is very spread out: a car or taxi is almost essential.
  • Heat is intense from September to April; carry water and sun protection.
  • Praça dos Girassóis is huge and exposed; go early morning or late afternoon.

Emergency numbers

Police
190
Ambulance
192
Fire
193

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

PalmasPalmas

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Para este endereço, por favorTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police190
  • Ambulance192
  • Fire193

Embassy

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Palmas Airport → centre: about R$60 (≈ US$12) by taxi (check)
  • Centre → lake beach: about R$4–5 (≈ under US$1) by bus (check)

Say or show

  • Olá — Hello (oh-LAH)
  • Obrigado — Thank you (oh-bree-GAH-doo)
  • Quanto? — How much? (KWAHN-too)
  • Onde fica o ponto de ônibus? — Where is the bus stop? (OHN-jee FEE-kah oo POHN-too jee OH-nee-boos)

Portuguese only; English is rare outside hotels.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Palmas. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Sep (dry, cooler) · avoid Oct–Apr (rainy, hot) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 3 day-trips, door to door
  6. 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
  2. Walking clusters with bag rules
  3. Day plans checked against opening hours
  4. Field-verified times and fares

Meanwhile

Back to Brazil

Sources

Ask about Palmas

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