Brasilia Tourist Attractions and Sightseeing

(Brasilia, Federal District, Brazil)

One of the easiest ways to sightsee in Brasilia is to jump aboard a tour bus, sit back and enjoy the scenery as you are transported around the city's tourist attractions. Most guided bus tours last around half a day and can be booked at either travel agencies or at the tourist office.

Particularly impressive attractions in Brasilia include the Praca dos Tres Podéres (Three Powers Square), which is located at the end of the Monumental Axis, and the beautiful Lago do Paranoá (Paranoa Lake), where many locals come to sail, swim or sunbathe on its artificial sandy beaches. If you are looking for recreational attractions in pleasant green surroundings, then both the Parque da Cidade Sarah Kubitschek (City Park) and the Parque Nacional de Brasilia (National Park) are reliable bets.

Praca dos Tres Podéres (Three Powers Square)

Address: Praca dos Tres Podéres, Via Eixo Monumental / Via Um Leste, Brasilia, Planalto Central, Brazil, BR
The Praca dos Tres Podéres is where you will find a mixture of Brasilia's most important buildings, monuments and museums, a number of which have been designed by prominent Brazilian architects, such as both Lúcio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer. Notable attractions here include the Congresso Nacional (National Congress), the Palacio do Planalto (Presidential Palace) and the Supremo Tribunal Federal (Supreme Federal Court). This part of the city's imaginative layout was designed so that each year on April 21st (Tiradentes Day), the sun rises exactly in between the towers of Congress.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Lago do Paranoá (Paranoa Lake)

Address: Brasilia, Planalto Central, Brazil, BR
The Lago do Paranoá is a man-made lake situated on the eastern side of the city, created when the Rio Paranoá (Paranoa River) was damned. This lake is simply enormous, with its shoreline stretching for some 80 km / 50 miles and lined with all kinds of attractions, including embassies, restaurants, the University of Brasilia, the Olympic Centre and the Palace of the Dawn. Various water sports are possible on Paranoa Lake, with Brazil's second-biggest marina being located here, where both wakeboarding and windsurfing are popular.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Brasilia City Tour

Address: Brasilia, Planalto Central, Brazil, BR
Tel. +55 061 9298 9416
Tour buses visit the majority of the main tourist attractions, whilst also providing an understanding of the general layout of the city. Customised tours are available when required, while if you are lacking in time, a ten-minute helicopter tour may be more suitable, allowing you to fully appreciate the city's unusual 'airplane' design, with these tours being operated by Esat Aerotaxi and departing next to the Television Tower. Those trying to sightsee on the cheap may like to combine long walks with public bus transportation.
Open hours: daily - 10:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge

Parque da Cidade Sarah Kubitschek (City Park)

Address: Estrada Parque Industrias Gráficas, Brasilia, Planalto Central, Brazil, BR
Named after the wife of Brazil's former president Juscelino Kubitschek, the Parque da Cidade Sarah Kubitschek enjoys a central setting and provides endless recreational opportunities, with jogging trails, cycleways, kart racing, picnic and BBQ areas, playgrounds for children and sports facilities. The main entrance to City Park is to be found on the Monumental Axis South, while further gateways are based on this part of the 'South Wing'.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Parque Nacional de Brasilia (National Park)

Address: Estrada Parque Contorno / Estrada Epct, Brasilia, Planalto Central, Brazil, BR
Located on the northern outskirts of the city, just under 10 km / 6 miles from the city centre, the Parque Nacional de Brasilia was officially created in 1961 and covers an area of more than 74,100 acres / 30,000 hectares. Home to a wealth of Brazilian flora and fauna, the National Park comes with many appealing attractions, including natural swimming pools, mature palms and coconut trees, and pathways around the shoreline of the central Barragem Santa Maria (Santa Maria Lake). Of interest, locals often refer to the Parque Nacional as the 'Agua Mineral' (Mineral Water).
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Outdoor Activities / Jogging

Address: Brasilia, Planalto Central, Brazil, BR
Jogging is easily the most popular sport in the city and there are innumerable jogging trails spread around the city, with some of the most used being sited in the Parque da Cidade Sarah Kubitschek (City Park), the Parque Olhos d'Agua (Eyes of the Water Park) and the Parque Nacional de Brasilia (National Park). Regular street races (5 km / 3 miles and 10 km / 6 miles) generally take place every other month and always draw the crowds.

Also widely practiced in Brasilia are the sports of hang gliding and paragliding, which take advantage of the plentiful thermal winds and strong uplifts present. Many hang gliding championships have been hosted by the city over the years. Those who prefer their feet to be on the ground may like to enjoy a round of golf at the 18-hole Brasilia Golf Club, which is based within the SCES Trecho area, overlooking the Lago do Paranoá, and open to the public every day except for Mondays.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Football

Address: Brasilia, Planalto Central, Brazil, BR
Brazil is famous for its love of football and as you would except, this capital city contains one of the country's largest and most prestigious soccer stadiums, the Estádio Nacional de Brasilia (National Stadium), which was previously named the 'Estádio Mané Garrincha'. Enlarged to increase its overall capacity to more than 75,000 spectators and regularly hosting major soccer tournaments, including matches in the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics, the National Stadium is used as a multipurpose arena, with an array of concerts and major events being staged here each year. The city's two football teams, the Brasiliense Futebol Clube and the Sociedade Esportiva do Gama, have yet to achieve success and regularly play home games.
Open hours: seasonal
Admission: charge