If you’ve never ventured to Latin America before, make Brazil your number-one priority when you do. It’s the largest nation in Latin and South America and the fifth biggest country by area in the world. With a hugely diverse geography, including sun-kissed coastlines, tropical forests and mountainous regions, Brazil offers a little something for every intrepid traveler.
To set the scene of life and popular culture in Brazil – and to whet your appetite for your next adventure – we’ve put together a guide to the things this country is most famous for.
Exceptional soccer teams
Brazil is known worldwide for the flair and success of its national soccer teams. The men’s national team is the most successful in the history of the FIFA World Cup, lifting the Jules Rimet trophy five times since 1958. Their all-time leading scorer, Pele, passed away in December 2022. The sheer fact that the following day was one of national mourning is a testament to how highly he was regarded and how much Brazilians love their soccer. Pele could soon be overtaken as all-time leading scorer too, with Neymar recently drawing level with the late, great player on 77 goals.
Carnivals done properly
You haven’t seen a real carnival until you’ve experienced a Brazilian carnival. The carnival season is scheduled annually before the start of Lent. It’s a time for friends and loved ones to come together for balls and parades, as well as street and beach parties. It’s like one big festival all over the country. Rio de Janeiro is comfortably the most vibrant area for carnival season, with 500,000+ people travelling from overseas to catch a glimpse and soak up the vibes.
The Amazon Rainforest
If you’re passionate about the environment and the world’s geography, seeing the Amazon Rainforest with your own eyes should be at the top of anyone’s bucket list. Most of it is situated within Brazil, spanning 2.1 million square miles of lush vegetation, equal to two-fifths of all of South America. Animal lovers will adore the chance to look for endangered species like the pink dolphin or the jaguar, as well as meet the abundance of indigenous Amazonian tribes who live disconnected from the modern world.
Bossa Nova music
Although Brazil is famed for its samba music, Bossa Nova is one of the most authentic Brazilian music styles you’ll come across. Originating in the 1950s, Bossa Nova is a cross between jazz and samba, bringing chilled, sensual vibes. Many of the greats have been inspired to write songs using Bossa Nova, including the late Elvis Presley and The Beatles. If you’re new to Bossa Nova, be sure to check out Brazilian stars like Astrud Gilberto, Antonio Carlos Jobim, and Joao Gilberto.
Up-and-coming poker talent
Brazil is fast becoming a hotbed of talented poker players. Brazilian poker players are starting to dominate at the final tables of major online poker tournaments, including PokerStars’ World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP). So much so that this operator has added a Brazilian Fenômeno event to its daily bill of poker tournaments. This has opened the door to poker players worldwide to test themselves against the cream of the crop in Brazil.
Christ the Redeemer
One of the most iconic views in all of Brazil is the Christ the Redeemer statue overlooking the city of Rio de Janeiro. The art deco statue, designed to depict Jesus Christ himself, stands proudly 709 metres above sea level in the heart of Tijuca National Park. It’s possible to walk up to the base of the statue to get a similar view yourself. The Christ the Redeemer statue was also named one of the seven wonders of the modern world as of 2007.
Picanha beef
Fanatical meat eaters will be awestruck by the Brazilian cut of beef known as picanha. It’s considered by most butchers to be one of the finest cuts there is. While some butchers elsewhere prefer to trim the fat before cooking, the fat is left on to render down with a picanha cut. The result is a richer, deeper flavor. Most Brazilian restaurants will serve their picanha beef to locals and tourists with white rice and black beans, as well as a popular Brazilian side dish made using cassava flour and toasted yuca flour, known as farofa.
We’ll be honest, Brazilian cuisine is probably at the bottom of the list of most suitable vegan cuisines around the world, but it’s perfect for meat lovers.
If this has got your travel juices flowing, direct flights from London Heathrow to Brazil are plentiful. Sao Paulo tends to be a cheaper city to fly into than Rio De Janeiro, but it depends where you want to explore the most.