Tips for visiting Brazil

Brazil is a land mass simply too large to describe with a brushstroke. However, no matter which part of the country you go to, the following tips cover the essential basics that can come in handy at any point during your trip.

Rio de Janeiro is not the capital
It used to be – until 1960. After 1960, the capital was moved to Brasília, in the center of the country where the government is currently based. The city of Rio de Janeiro is the capital of the state of Rio de Janeiro, but not the entire country.

Spanish is not a native or widely spoken second language
A large number of tourists arrive in Brazil thinking that they can survive in Spanish, but it is important to remember that Portuguese is the country's official language and more people learn English than Spanish due to its necessity in the business world. Although Spanish and Portuguese are quite similar and students will certainly notice the ease of learning the other having mastered one, this does not mean that speaking Spanish will make traveling in Brazil an easy task. English is also not spoken, although in São Paulo and in tourist attractions in Rio de Janeiro some people have some knowledge of English. Impress the locals by learning some Portuguese expressions. They will appreciate the efforts.

Beer is served in small glasses
Across the country, most places serve beer in small glasses – smaller than a half pint. The logic is simple – most of Brazil experiences extreme heat and beer in a larger glass would heat up quickly and not be pleasant. In bars, beer is usually served in a large 600ml bottle with a small drinking glass, or as a draft beer which is a small glass of draft beer. The exceptions are in the south of the country, where German-influenced cities sometimes serve larger-sized beers.

The green man at the intersection does not necessarily mean it is safe to cross
Always check and wait for cars to come to a complete stop before crossing the road, even if the green man is clearly lit and telling you to cross. It is not uncommon for a car to accelerate from afar when the light is turning orange and skip the red lights, to the annoyance of drivers at other junctions. This is general road safety, but running through a red light happens enough in Brazil to be something to watch out for.

Brazil makes wine – and it’s good
Wines from Italy, France and South Africa may not need to worry too much about new competition just yet, but Brazilian wine – especially sparkling wine like Brut Champenoise, produced in the south of the country – is particularly good. There are also some wonderful rosés and reds that come from local wineries in Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais. Try going to Canastra or WineHouse in Rio de Janeiro to taste some of the best Brazilian wines. French-owned Canastra sells only Brazilian wines, and WineHouse also sells a solid selection of domestic wines.

Brazil is not always hot and in some parts it snows
That's right – Brazil also gets snow. In the extreme south of Brazil, temperatures reach below freezing in winter and sometimes receive snow. It's rarely more than a fine layer of dust, but enough to dampen any hopes of warm, tropical days. The north of the country receives tropical weather year-round, but the south gets much colder in winter and can be an unpleasant surprise for those who only packed shorts, t-shirts and flip-flops.

Brazil has Oktoberfest
Southern Brazil has a large German influence that can be seen in the architecture, food, traditions and physical attributes of the local inhabitants. In Blumenau, city of Santa Catarina, every October the traditional German festival of Oktoberfest is celebrated. Held over several days, it pays homage to the region's German heritage with lots of beer, traditional food, singing and dancing. It is recognized as the second largest beer festival in the world, after the original Oktoberfest in Munich.