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Capital · Brazil

BrasiliaBrasília

Give Brasilia 2 nights if you like modernist architecture, 1 if you don't: the sights sit 5–10 km apart and you need wheels or rides.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
BRL
Best months
May–Sep (dry season)
avoid Aug–Sep (peak drought, humidity under 20%), Nov–Jan (heaviest rain)
Airport
BSB
Nights
2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
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.

Brasilia is Brazil's purpose-built capital, inaugurated in 1960 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its modernist plan by Lúcio Costa and buildings by Oscar Niemeyer. The Monumental Axis holds the government and museums; the residential wings hold hotels and food. Sights are spread out and the city was designed for cars, so plan on taxis, ride-hailing or a rental rather than walking.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

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

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$8–15 (≈ US$2–3)
  • Beerdraught / canR$10–18 (≈ US$2–4)R$5–8 (≈ US$1–2)
  • Taxi, about 5 kmRide-hailing across the axischeckR$15–35 (≈ US$3–7)
  • Metro or bus rideMetro rideR$5.50 (≈ US$2) (check)
  • Museum or sight ticketMuseum entryCongress and several museums are free; check current rules.Free–R$30 (≈ US$6)
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personR$70 (≈ US$13)
  • Mid-range bedHotel double room, a night, per roomR$350 (≈ US$65)
  • High-end bedHotel double room, a night, per roomR$750 (≈ US$140)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget R$180 (≈ US$35) · Mid R$350 (≈ US$65) · High R$700 (≈ US$130)

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 →

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.

Oscar Niemeyer modernist architectureUNESCO World Heritage city planThree Powers Square and the National CongressCathedral of Brasília
Airports
BSB Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek International Airport (About 11 km from the centre; most flights are domestic, so international arrivals usually connect through São Paulo or Rio.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Brasilia: 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

27°C

18°C

19 rd

Feb

27°C

18°C

16 rd

Mar

27°C

18°C

17 rd

Apr

27°C

18°C

12 rd

May

26°C

16°C

4 rd

Jun

25°C

14°C

1 rd

Jul

26°C

14°C

1 rd

Aug

27°C

15°C

2 rd

Sep

29°C

18°C

4 rd

Oct

29°C

19°C

12 rd

Nov

27°C

18°C

18 rd

Dec

27°C

18°C

20 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

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

Getting around

Do not plan to walk between sights: the city was designed around cars and the axis is long. Use Uber, 99 or TeLevo, or taxis from stands (they are not hailed on the street). The metro runs along the south wing and is of limited use for the main monuments. Buses start at the Rodoviária and serve the wings and the axis; flag them down and board at the front.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Pirenópolis

overnight

Door to door: 2–2.5 h

Car or bus west into Goiás, about 150 km

Colonial town with waterfalls; better as one night than a rushed return.

Chapada dos Veadeiros (Alto Paraíso)

overnight

Door to door: 3.5–4.5 h

Bus or car north into Goiás

Waterfalls and trails; needs 2–3 nights, not a day.

Goiânia

skip

Door to door: 3–3.5 h

Bus from the rodoferroviária, about 3 h

Another big city with little for a short Brazil trip.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

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

Setor Hoteleiro Norte/Sul (SHN/SHS)

Hotel sector on the Monumental Axis; closest to the sights and the metro, best for a short first visit.

Setor Comercial Sul (SCS)

Commercial core near the Rodoviária and metro; cheaper business hotels, walkable to the axis.

North Wing superquadras (SQN/CLN)

Residential blocks with local commerce; quieter, needs a car or rides to reach sights.

South Wing superquadras (SQS/CLS)

Same logic south of the axis; metro along the wing, good for longer stays.

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$180–300 (≈ US$35–60) excl. bed
Mid
R$300–550 (≈ US$60–110) excl. bed
High
R$550 (≈ US$110)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Hotel double room1 × 2 nights × R$350R$700
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × R$350R$1,400
Airport taxi to the hotel sector, one way1 × R$70 · checkR$70
Ride-hailing across the axis, one trip1 × R$25 · checkR$25
eSIM, about a week of data2 × R$60R$120
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeR$232
Trip total≈ R$637 per person per day, bed includedR$2,547≈ US$500

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

Prices of common things

CoffeeR$8–15 (≈ US$2–3)
Prato feito lunchR$25–45 (≈ US$5–9)
Beer, draught / canR$10–18 (≈ US$2–4) / R$5–8 (≈ US$1–2)
Ride-hailing across the axischeckR$15–35 (≈ US$3–7)
Metro rideR$5.50 (≈ US$2) (check)
Museum entryCongress and several museums are free; check current rules.Free–R$30 (≈ US$6)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Brasilia is calmer than Rio or São Paulo, but the central bus station and hotel sectors see bag snatching after dark; use ride-hailing at night and keep phones out of sight on the axis.
  • Dry-season air (Aug–Sep) causes dehydration, nose bleeds and eye irritation: carry water and use sunscreen, UV is high year-round.
  • Pedestrian crossings are few and drivers expect you to signal before crossing; police fine drivers who ignore crossings.
  • Parking 'watchers' may ask for R$2–5 (≈ under US$1) to mind your car; refusing can risk scratches.
  • The metro takes cash only and will not give change above R$20 (≈ US$4).
  • Addresses are acronyms (SHN, SCS, SQN); save the full block code before you ride.

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.

BrasiliaBrasília

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Para este endereço, por favorTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police190
  • Ambulance192
  • Fire193

Embassy

Most embassies sit in the Setor de Embaixadas (SES/SEN) south and north; check your country's listing before you go.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • BSB airport → hotel sector, taxi: R$60–90 (≈ US$12–17), about 20 min (check)
  • BSB airport → central area, executive bus: about R$10 (≈ US$2) (check)
  • Local bus single fare: R$3.80–5.50 (≈ US$1–2) (check)

Say or show

  • Bom dia — Good morning (bohn DEE-ah)
  • Obrigado / Obrigada — Thank you (oh-bree-GAH-doo / -dah)
  • Quanto custa? — How much is it? (KWAHN-too KOOS-tah)
  • Posso pagar com cartão? — Can I pay by card? (POH-soo pah-GAR kohn kar-TOWN)
  • Onde fica o banheiro? — Where is the toilet? (OHN-jee FEE-kah oo bah-NYAY-roo)
  • Para este endereço, por favor — To this address, please (PAH-rah ESH-tee en-deh-REH-soo)

Metro takes cash only; keep small bills.

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 Brasilia. 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 season) · avoid Aug–Sep (peak drought, humidity under 20%), Nov–Jan (heaviest rain) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 4 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. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for BSB: taxi and ride-hailing bands field-checked, plus the executive bus option.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Three Powers Square, the Esplanada ministries, the axis museums, the lake palaces.
  3. Place pages with verified visiting rules (Congress, Itamaraty, Cathedral) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Dry-season and rainy-arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Brazil

Sources