Things to Do in Brasilia

About Brasilia

Rising from the red earth of Brazil's central plateau in just 41 months, Brasília stands as humanity's most ambitious experiment in designed utopia—a capital city conceived on a blank canvas and brought to life through the revolutionary vision of Oscar Niemeyer's sweeping curves and Lúcio Costa's airplane-shaped master plan. This UNESCO World Heritage marvel defies every convention of how cities evolve, replacing organic chaos with deliberate harmony, where modernist architecture doesn't just house government but reimagines how a society might live when freed from historical constraints. Here, beneath the vast cerrado sky, you'll discover a living monument to mid-century optimism that continues to challenge perceptions of what a capital, and indeed a city, can be.

Travel Tips

• Getting Around: Brasilia was designed for cars, not pedestrians, so rent a vehicle or rely on ride-sharing apps like Uber and 99, as public transportation is limited and distances between attractions in the sprawling city are vast.

• Visiting Government Buildings: Plan your visit to iconic Oscar Niemeyer buildings like the National Congress and Palácio do Planalto on weekdays, as most offer free guided tours but require advance online registration and valid photo ID.

• Dining Hours and Locations: Most restaurants and services are concentrated in the commercial sectors (like 405/406 Sul or 109/110 Norte) rather than residential superblocks, and many close on Sunday evenings, so plan your meals accordingly.

• Stay in Asa Sul or Asa Norte: Book accommodation in the Plano Piloto's south wing (Asa Sul) or north wing (Asa Norte) near the central axis rather than satellite cities, as this keeps you closest to major attractions and minimizes travel time in this expansive capital.

When to Visit

Brasília's optimal visiting window is April to September during the dry season, when the city experiences virtually no rainfall, crystal-clear skies, and comfortable daytime temperatures of 25-28°C, though nights can drop to a crisp 12-15°C requiring a light jacket. May through August marks the absolute driest period with humidity levels around 30-40% (sometimes triggering health alerts for respiratory issues), creating ideal conditions for exploring Oscar Niemeyer's iconic modernist architecture without the oppressive mugginess that plagues October through March. The rainy season from October to March brings intense afternoon downpours, temperatures reaching 28-30°C with stifling 70-80% humidity, and the capital's major drawback: being a government city, it empties out during summer holidays (December-February) and long weekends, leaving restaurants and attractions eerily quiet. Budget travelers should target April-May or August-September to avoid both rain and the peak domestic tourism of June-July school holidays when hotel prices spike for events like the Festa Junina celebrations in June or Independence Day on September 7th, both offering authentic Brazilian culture but requiring advance bookings. Avoid visiting during Carnival week (February/March) as most of Brasília's bureaucratic population flees to coastal cities, leaving the modernist capital feeling like an abandoned architectural museum, though serious architecture enthusiasts might appreciate the solitude for photographing the UNESCO-listed buildings without crowds.