BrasíliaCapital
Brazil · Country profile
Brasilia is the planned capital of Brazil, a city built from nothing in the middle of the cerrado savannah in the 1960s to move the nation’s heart inland from the coast, and a masterpiece of the modernist design that the whole city celebrates. The plan of the city, shaped by the architect of the pilot plan, spreads its monumental axis of the government buildings, the twin towers of the congress and the cathedral of the crown design along the great avenue, while the quieter residential sectors, the super-quadras with their green blocks, hold the everyday life. The lake of the Paranoa wraps the city with its waters, and the wide avenues and the monumental scale give it a singular, airy, futuristic feel unlike any other city on earth. Cold, planned and extraordinary, Brasilia is a complete idea made concrete.
About Brasília
Brasília is the capital of Brazil. The city's documented population is around 2,941,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Brazilian Real (BRL) and Portuguese is spoken; the dialling code is +55. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: Brasília International Airport.
The Congress, the Cathedral and the Esplanade of the Capital
Brasilia is a city that was designed on paper and built in a generation, the purest major example of the modern movement on earth. Its monumentality is the attraction: the congress, the cathedral, the palaces of the government axis and the great aerial views of the lake give the whole place the feel of a living museum. The city is spread out and car-based, and the experience is more about the architecture and the scale than the street life of the historic capitals. It is a working city of the politicians and the civil servants, and its rhythms follow the government calendar. For the design-minded traveller, it is completely unlike anything else in the Americas.
The Official Rhythm, the Plateau Weather and the Guided Tours
The city is best appreciated with some architectural context, and the guided tours of the government axis and the interior visits of the palaces make the difference. The weather of the plateau is mild with the rainy season from October to April, and the evenings are cool all year. The city is built around the car, so the buses and the ride apps fill in for the spread-out layout. The museum and the cultural spaces of the city hold the story of the building of the capital. The Wednesday and the weekend rhythms of the politicians affect the energy of the centre. The currency is the Brazilian real and the Portuguese is the language.
The Lake of the Paranoa, the Tower and the Grills of the Evening
The government axis, with the congress building, the cathedral and the palaces of the esplanade, is the essential walk, best done on foot or by the city tour to take in the scale of the design. The cathedral with its white crown columns and its blue light is the icon of the city, and the cable car of the television tower gives the classic panorama. The lake of the Paranoa with its sailboats and its sunset views holds the leisure life, and the national theatre and the cultural complex carry the arts. The restaurants of the city, from the gaucha grills to the regional dishes of the whole country, serve the government crowd. The wide streets and the monumental blocks are unlike anything else, and the whole city is the attraction.
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- Country
- Brazil
- Population
- 2,941,000
- Coordinates
- -15.8711, -47.9186
- Capital
- Brasília
- Region
- South America
- Currency
- Brazilian Real (BRL)
- Languages
- Portuguese
- Calling code
- +55
- Country code
- BR
Getting to Brasília
Airports we list for Brasília:
Other airports in the area:
Cities in Brazil
Other cities we cover in Brazil:
Frequently asked questions
Is Brasília the capital of Brazil?
Yes — Brasília is the capital of Brazil.
What currency do I need in Brasília?
The local currency is the Brazilian Real (BRL). Languages spoken in Brazil include Portuguese.
What is the dialling code for Brazil?
The international dialling code for Brazil is +55.
Which airport should I fly into for Brasília?
Brasília International Airport (BSB) is the airport we list for Brasília.
How far is Brasília from the nearest airport?
Brasília is about 855 km from São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport.
Flying out of Brasília? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.