🇧🇷 Brazil travel essentials

Everything you need to plan a trip to Brazil — climate, currency, packing essentials, public holidays, voltage and plug types, and what locals actually wear.

Currency
R$ BRL
Brazilian Real · vs USD
Electricity
127V · 60Hz
Plug: Type N, Type C
Best months
Jul, Jun, Aug
Avg high 26°C · 16 rain days
Capital time zone
America/Sao_Paulo
Cities covered
40
40 with full climate data

Top cities in Brazil

+28 more cities — explore via all destinations.

Local style + dress code

Rio is beach-casual: havaianas + light fabrics. Smart-casual for nicer restaurants in Ipanema/Leblon.

Dress code: very casual

Public holidays in Brazil

Plan around national holidays — many businesses close, transport gets busier, and prices for flights/hotels can spike.

See the full 2026 calendar for Brazil →

Money & currency

The Brazilian Real (BRL, symbol R$) is the official currency. Live exchange rates are updated daily.

Cost of living & travel — Rio de Janeiro

Estimated daily budgets per person across three travel tiers. Lodging assumes single occupancy or shared dorm; food covers 3 meals + a coffee/drink; transit covers metro and short rides; activities cover one paid attraction per day.

Per person per day 🎒 Budget🏨 Mid-range🥂 Luxury
🛏 Lodging $28$105$325
🍽 Food $16$42$130
🚇 Transit $5$11$40
🎟 Activities $15$35$85
Daily total $64$193$580

Estimates as of 2025-2026, in USD per person. Actual spend varies with season, neighborhood, and trip style.

Visas & entry rules

Top-passport entry rules for Brazil — quick reference, but always confirm with the destination's official consulate before booking flights:

PassportRuleStayNotes
🇺🇸 US passport e-Visa (online) up to 90 days e-Visa reintroduced for US/CA/AU in 2025 ($80.90).
🇬🇧 UK passport Visa-free up to 90 days
🇪🇺 EU passport Visa-free up to 90 days
🇨🇦 Canadian passport e-Visa (online) up to 90 days
🇦🇺 Australian passport e-Visa (online) up to 90 days

Last reviewed 2025-2026. Visa rules change with little notice; this table is informational and not legal advice.

Plan a trip to Brazil

Use one of our planning tools to figure out exactly when and how to go:

What to pack

Each city has month-by-month packing lists computed from local climate data — temperatures, rainfall, peak hazard seasons, and Brazil's dress code.

🗺 Explore Brazil on the map