- Direct flights run from Heathrow to Rio and São Paulo in about 12 hours
- Brazil is huge, so pick two or three regions and fly between them
- Carnival week is spectacular but hotel prices can triple, so book months ahead
- British passport holders currently do not need a visa for tourist trips, but check GOV.UK before booking
- Airports
- Rio de Janeiro Galeão (GIG), São Paulo Guarulhos (GRU), Salvador (SSA), Foz do Iguaçu (IGU)
- Flight time
- about 11h45 direct from London to Rio de Janeiro
- Best time to go
- September-November and March-May; December-March for beach summer and Carnival
- Currency
- Brazilian real (R$, BRL)
Brazil covers almost half of South America, and a single trip can take in a city beach in Rio, the roaring water of Iguaçu, colonial streets in Salvador and the wildlife of the Amazon or the Pantanal wetlands. It is one of our South America guides and, with direct flights from London, one of the easiest countries on the continent to reach.
The flip side of all that variety is scale. Rio to Manaus is a four-hour flight, so it pays to choose a few regions rather than trying to see everything. This guide covers where to go, when to visit, flights from the UK and what Brazil costs in 2026.
Where to go in Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro has one of the most spectacular settings of any city: granite peaks, rainforest and long beaches in the middle of town. See the city from the Christ the Redeemer statue on Corcovado and Sugarloaf Mountain, then spend afternoons on Copacabana or Ipanema.
Iguaçu Falls
The Iguazu Falls straddle the border with Argentina. The Brazilian side, reached from Foz do Iguaçu, gives the best panoramic view of the whole system in a couple of hours; most visitors cross to the Argentine side for a longer day among the walkways.
Salvador and Bahia
Salvador, Brazil's first capital, has a hilltop old town, the Pelourinho, of pastel churches and cobbled squares, and the strongest Afro-Brazilian culture in the country. Head down the coast to the beach village of Trancoso or the island of Morro de São Paulo.
The Amazon and the Pantanal
Manaus, deep in the rainforest, is the base for jungle lodges and river trips. For actually seeing animals, the Pantanal wetlands in the west are often better: open country makes it easier to spot capybaras, caimans, giant otters and, with luck, jaguars along the rivers between July and October.
Lençóis Maranhenses and Paraty
In the north-east, the dunes of Lençóis Maranhenses fill with turquoise rainwater lagoons, usually from around June to September. Closer to Rio, colonial Paraty and the island of Ilha Grande make an easy few days of beaches and walking.
Best time to visit Brazil
| Season | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Summer (December-March) | Hot and humid in Rio (often 30 °C+), busy beaches, Carnival in February or March |
| Autumn (April-May) | Warm, drier and calmer in Rio; good value |
| Winter (June-August) | Mild in Rio (around 25 °C by day), dry season in the Pantanal; lagoons forming at Lençóis |
| Spring (September-November) | Warm and pleasant across most of the country; Iguaçu has good water levels |
Salvador and the north-east coast are warm all year but wettest from around April to July. The Amazon is hot and humid year round, with high water from about March to June.
Getting to Brazil from the UK
British Airways flies direct from Heathrow to Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, and LATAM also flies Heathrow to São Paulo. Direct flights take about 11h45 to Rio and 12 hours to São Paulo. For other cities, connect in São Paulo or Rio, or fly one-stop with TAP via Lisbon, which also serves Salvador, Recife, Fortaleza and other north-eastern cities directly from Portugal. Brazil is 3-4 hours behind the UK, so jet lag is milder than in Asia.
Entry requirements
British passport holders do not currently need a visa to visit Brazil as tourists and can usually stay up to 90 days. Your passport should be valid for the length of your stay, and six months' validity is a sensible minimum. Entry rules for some nationalities have changed in recent years, so check GOV.UK foreign travel advice for Brazil before you book and again before you fly. Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for some regions, including the Amazon and Iguaçu; ask a travel clinic.
Getting around
Fly between regions: LATAM, GOL and Azul have extensive domestic networks and fares drop when booked early. Long-distance buses are comfortable but journeys are long. In cities, use the metro in Rio and São Paulo and ride-hailing apps rather than street taxis, especially at night. Hiring a car makes sense for the coast between Rio and Paraty but driving in big cities is stressful.
Money and costs
The currency is the Brazilian real. Rio and São Paulo are the most expensive places; the north-east is cheaper. Allow roughly £60-90 per person per day for mid-range travel excluding flights, and from around £40 if you use hostels and eat at por quilo (pay-by-weight) buffets. Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere, including at beach kiosks. Restaurants usually add a 10 per cent service charge to the bill, so extra tipping is not expected.
Top attractions in Brazil
Brazil on the map
Frequently asked questions
How long do I need for a trip to Brazil?
Ten days works for Rio plus Iguaçu or Paraty. Two weeks lets you add Salvador or a Pantanal lodge, and three weeks covers the main regions without rushing.
When is Carnival in Brazil?
Carnival falls in the days before Ash Wednesday, usually in February and sometimes early March. Rio's samba school parades and Salvador's street parties are the biggest. Accommodation sells out and prices rise steeply, so book well ahead.
Is Brazil safe for tourists?
Most visits pass without trouble, but street crime is a real issue in big cities. Carry little on the beach, keep phones out of sight on busy streets, use apps for taxis and avoid empty areas after dark. Check GOV.UK advice for current guidance.
Do people speak English in Brazil?
Brazilians speak Portuguese, not Spanish, and English is limited outside upmarket hotels and tour companies. Learning a few phrases and having a translation app goes a long way.
Written by
Anna Beach, family & practical travel editor
Anna knows which beach has shade at 3pm and which car hire excess is a rip-off. She covers sun, islands, family trips and practical travel tips.
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