Brazil
Last checked:
- Capital
- Brasília
- Currency
- BRL · Brazilian real
- Languages
- Portuguese
- Plugs
- Type C, N · 127 V or 220 V (varies by city)
Emergency numbers
Top 5 places
- Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain · Rio de Janeiro
Rio's two classic viewpoints over the bay, beaches and city.
- Iguaçu Falls · Foz do Iguaçu
Huge waterfall system on the Argentina border, with walkways close to the falls.
- Copacabana and Ipanema beaches · Rio de Janeiro
Famous city beaches with promenades, kiosks and beach culture.
- Pelourinho · Salvador
Colourful colonial old town and centre of Afro-Brazilian culture and music.
- Amazon rainforest · Manaus
Base for river trips and jungle lodges near the Meeting of the Waters.
Getting around
Ride-hailing app
Uber
Works in all big cities and is the safest easy option in Rio and São Paulo. Check that the plate and car match the app before getting in. UK advice says not to hail taxis on the street.
Ride-hailing app
99
Brazilian app (owned by DiDi) for private cars, motorbike rides and licensed taxis. Often cheaper than Uber.
Taxi
Airport taxi booths
Use the official prepaid or registered taxi desks inside the airport rather than drivers offering rides in arrivals.
Public transport
Metrô Rio / Metrô São Paulo
Clean, cheap metro systems covering main tourist areas. Pay by contactless card or the local transit card. Watch for pickpockets at busy stations.
Buses
Domestic flights (LATAM, Gol, Azul)
Distances are huge, so flights are the practical way between regions. Long-distance buses are cheaper and comfortable but trips can take over 24 hours.
Bike share
Bike Itaú (Tembici)
Orange shared bikes in Rio, São Paulo and other cities, rented by app; good along Rio's beachfront cycle paths.
Money and cash
Currency: BRL · Brazilian real
Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere, even at many beach kiosks. Locals pay with Pix (instant bank transfer), which usually needs a Brazilian bank account, so visitors rely on cards. Keep a little cash for street vendors and small tips. Always look at the card machine (maquininha) screen before paying and keep your card in sight.
Tipping
Restaurants and many bars add a 10% service charge (taxa de serviço) to the bill. It is legally optional but most locals and visitors pay it. Beyond that, tipping is modest: round up for taxis and small change for services.
| Restaurants | The 10% taxa de serviço is usually on the bill. Pay it for normal service; no extra tip is expected. |
|---|---|
| Cafés and bars | Bars often add 10% too. At kiosks and counters, round up or leave small change. |
| Taxis and ride apps | Not expected; round up the fare. Uber and 99 allow optional tips in the app. |
| Hotels | About R$5-10 per bag for porters; housekeeping tips are optional. |
| Tours and guides | Common: roughly R$20-30 per person for half-day group tours and more for private guides (varies). |
| Food delivery | Optional, a few reais in the iFood or Rappi app. |
Service charge: what’s true
The 10% shows as 'taxa de serviço', 'serviço' or '10%' on the bill. Under the Consumer Protection Code it is optional: you can ask for it to be removed without giving a reason, and refusing it cannot lead to being denied service. Under the Tips Law (Lei 13.419/2017) the money belongs to the employees, though the business may keep up to 20% (small businesses on the simplified tax regime) or 33% (others) to cover payroll charges.
Pressure tactics to watch for
Some places present the 10% as compulsory or ask for an extra tip on top. Brazil's consumer agency (Procon) calls charging it as mandatory an abusive practice. If you want to drop it, say 'Sem os dez por cento, por favor.' Also check the total on the card machine before tapping; altered amounts are a known trick.
Useful phrases
- A conta, por favor. The bill, please.
- O serviço está incluído? Is service included?
- Sem os dez por cento, por favor. Without the 10%, please.
Etiquette
- Greetings are warm: a handshake with strangers, and cheek kisses (one to three depending on region) among acquaintances.
- The 'OK' hand sign (thumb and finger circle) can be read as rude; use a thumbs-up instead.
- Beachwear is for the beach; cover up in shops, restaurants and churches.
- Brazilians are relaxed about time at social events, but be punctual for tours and business.
- Do not visit favelas on your own; UK advice warns against all favelas, including tours.
- Bargaining is acceptable with street and beach vendors, not in shops.
Scams and how to handle them
Card machine amount switch
Where: Beach kiosks, taxis, street vendors
How it works: The seller types a much higher amount (or swaps your card) on the maquininha, hoping you tap without looking.
How to avoid it: Read the amount on the screen before paying, keep your card in sight and check your banking app.
Express kidnapping and forced transfers
Where: Big cities, often at night
How it works: Victims are taken to ATMs or forced to transfer money from phone banking apps before being released.
How to avoid it: Use app rides, avoid empty streets at night, and do not resist. Set low daily limits on cards.
Drugging via dating apps ('Boa noite, Cinderela')
Where: Rio, São Paulo, nightlife areas
How it works: Criminals meet tourists through dating apps or in bars, spike drinks, then take phones, cards and bank access.
How to avoid it: Meet in public, buy your own drinks and do not invite new contacts to your room.
Beach mass robberies (arrastões) and theft
Where: Rio beaches such as Copacabana and Ipanema, especially busy days
How it works: Groups sweep through the beach grabbing bags and phones; single thieves take unattended items.
How to avoid it: Bring only cash for the day and a cheap phone to the beach; never leave things unattended.
Phone snatching
Where: Street corners, traffic lights, beach promenades
How it works: Thieves on foot, bikes or motorbikes grab phones from hands, mostly between 4pm and 9pm according to UK advice.
How to avoid it: Use your phone inside shops or away from the kerb and do not walk with it out.
Unlicensed taxis
Where: Airports, bus stations, nightlife areas
How it works: Unofficial drivers overcharge and some are linked to robberies.
How to avoid it: Use Uber, 99 or official airport taxi booths; check the plate matches the app.
ATM and card cloning
Where: Street ATMs, shops
How it works: Skimmers copy cards; helpers at ATMs watch your PIN.
How to avoid it: Use ATMs inside banks or shopping centres in the daytime and refuse help from strangers.
Safety
- Do not resist robbery; attackers may be armed.
- Avoid favelas, including tours; UK advice notes tourists have been shot after wandering in by mistake. Check your route, as map apps can route through them.
- Take only what you need to the beach and to Carnival events.
- Avoid empty streets and beaches after dark; use app rides at night.
- Keep car doors locked and windows up in traffic; robberies at traffic lights happen in big cities.
- Buy your own drinks and keep them in sight.
How widely English is spoken
Limited outside upscale hotels and tourist businesses in Rio, São Paulo and some resorts. Portuguese basics or a translation app help a lot; Spanish is partly understood.
Sources
- GOV.UK Foreign travel advice: Brazil, safety and security
- Wikivoyage: Brazil
- Hootling: Tipping in Brazil
- Capitalist: Taxa de 10% no restaurante é obrigatória?
- Wikipedia (Portuguese): Gorjeta, Lei 13.419/2017
- Wikipedia: List of emergency telephone numbers
We check these guides against official and well-known sources, but rules and prices change. Spot something out of date? Email support@tourits.app.