Brasilien

Top 5 Orte

1. Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain · Rio de Janeiro

   Rio's two classic viewpoints over the bay, beaches and city.

2. Iguaçu Falls · Foz do Iguaçu

   Huge waterfall system on the Argentina border, with walkways close to the falls.

3. Copacabana and Ipanema beaches · Rio de Janeiro

   Famous city beaches with promenades, kiosks and beach culture.

4. Pelourinho · Salvador

   Colourful colonial old town and centre of Afro-Brazilian culture and music.

5. Amazon rainforest · Manaus

   Base for river trips and jungle lodges near the Meeting of the Waters.

Unterwegs vor Ort

• Fahrdienst-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.

• Fahrdienst-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.

• Öffentlicher Nahverkehr

  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.

• Busse

  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.

• Bikesharing

  Bike Itaú (Tembici)

  Orange shared bikes in Rio, São Paulo and other cities, rented by app; good along Rio's beachfront cycle paths.

Geld und Bargeld

Währung: 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.

Wechselkurs nach BRL prüfen

Trinkgeld

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.

Nützliche Sätze

• 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.

Umgangsformen

• 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.

Maschen und wie du damit umgehst

• Card machine amount switch

  Wo: Beach kiosks, taxis, street vendors

  So funktioniert’s: The seller types a much higher amount (or swaps your card) on the maquininha, hoping you tap without looking.

  So vermeidest du es: Read the amount on the screen before paying, keep your card in sight and check your banking app.

• Express kidnapping and forced transfers

  Wo: Big cities, often at night

  So funktioniert’s: Victims are taken to ATMs or forced to transfer money from phone banking apps before being released.

  So vermeidest du es: 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')

  Wo: Rio, São Paulo, nightlife areas

  So funktioniert’s: Criminals meet tourists through dating apps or in bars, spike drinks, then take phones, cards and bank access.

  So vermeidest du es: Meet in public, buy your own drinks and do not invite new contacts to your room.

• Beach mass robberies (arrastões) and theft

  Wo: Rio beaches such as Copacabana and Ipanema, especially busy days

  So funktioniert’s: Groups sweep through the beach grabbing bags and phones; single thieves take unattended items.

  So vermeidest du es: Bring only cash for the day and a cheap phone to the beach; never leave things unattended.

• Phone snatching

  Wo: Street corners, traffic lights, beach promenades

  So funktioniert’s: Thieves on foot, bikes or motorbikes grab phones from hands, mostly between 4pm and 9pm according to UK advice.

  So vermeidest du es: Use your phone inside shops or away from the kerb and do not walk with it out.

• Unlicensed taxis

  Wo: Airports, bus stations, nightlife areas

  So funktioniert’s: Unofficial drivers overcharge and some are linked to robberies.

  So vermeidest du es: Use Uber, 99 or official airport taxi booths; check the plate matches the app.

• ATM and card cloning

  Wo: Street ATMs, shops

  So funktioniert’s: Skimmers copy cards; helpers at ATMs watch your PIN.

  So vermeidest du es: Use ATMs inside banks or shopping centres in the daytime and refuse help from strangers.

Sicherheit

• 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.

Wie verbreitet Englisch ist

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.

Quellen

• 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

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