Brasília
A wildly mixed crowd of serious music aficionados – No talking! No standing! – descends on this locals' secret. You can walk here from the hotel sectors, and it's a showcase for some of the country's most magnificent choro (improvised samba). Reserve the best seats online. Food and drinks are (quietly) served.
On the first Saturday of the month, students from the affiliated choro school form an impromptu orchestra of Brazilian musicianship under the trees outside from 10am to 2pm…for free!
2.67 MILES
This square is a focal point of the city design, a synthesis of the ideas of architects Niemeyer and Costa, combining various monuments, museums and…
2.45 MILES
Featuring photogenic roof ‘dishes’ and twin towers, the Congresso Nacional has one of the more interesting interiors in the city. In addition to the color…
5.15 MILES
The official presidential residence, the Palácio da Alvorada, is a Niemeyer building constructed in 1958. It was the first edifice in the city to be…
2.27 MILES
Palácio do Itamaraty is home to the Foreign Ministry and one of Brasília's most impressive buildings – a series of concrete arches towering over Burle…
2.65 MILES
The Palácio do Planalto, where Brazil's president works, is another Niemeyer design that's worth seeing inside and out. From the curved lines of the…
1.52 MILES
This landmark white dome, gleaming in the sun, was opened to the public on the 100th birthday of architect Oscar Niemeyer. The inside is softer in grays…
0.83 MILES
Santuário Dom Bosco is made of 80 concrete columns that support 7400 pieces of illuminated Murano glass, symbolizing a starry sky, which cast a blue…
1.71 MILES
The 16 curved ribs rising to the crown of the iconic exterior coupled with the light-filled circular interior, which sits under a dome of wavy stained…
0.44 MILES
The 75m-high observation deck of the TV Tower gives a decent overview of the city, but it’s still not quite tall enough to really get a sense of the city…
0.83 MILES
Santuário Dom Bosco is made of 80 concrete columns that support 7400 pieces of illuminated Murano glass, symbolizing a starry sky, which cast a blue…
3. Memorial dos Povos Indígenas
0.86 MILES
Opposite the Memorial JK, in a Niemeyer building inspired by the circular form of the indigenous Yanomani hut, is a small but colorful display of…
0.99 MILES
Inside this enormous memorial is the tomb of former president Juscelino Kubitschek (JK), which lies underneath eerily beautiful stained glass by French…
1.23 MILES
A good park not far from the city center is the Parque da Cidade, which has kiosks to grab a snack.
6. Teatro Nacional Cláudio Santoro
1.28 MILES
The lopped-off pyramid of the Teatro Nacional looks somewhere between a waterslide and a skateboard ramp. Inside, sculptures and a garden adorn the…
1.35 MILES
Numismatists will be interested in visiting this museum in the central bank HQ. A detailed history of Brazilian coins and banknotes – try keeping track of…
1.37 MILES
The national library was opened in 2008 and yet still seems to be not fully realized. The arcade and grille of the handsome exterior give it a vaguely…