About Brazil

• Entertainment
• Important

Language

Brazilians speak portuguese. If you know some spanish it will certainly help you to read portuguese, and to get around. However, really learning portuguese takes a little longer. English-speaking Brazilians are rare.

Entertainment

Carnival in Rio is probably the world´s most famous party. Some brazilian cities go, even crazier at Carnival. Try Salvador, Recife and Porto Seguro.

Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo have club/disco scenes that can compete with the scene in New York or Ibiza. Porto Seguro, Fortaleza and Recife are not exactly dull either, with some big and original dance spaces.

New Year's Eve is another big party event, above all on Copacabana beach in Rio.

Soccer / Football

One of the things Brazil is famous for, is soccer. Not only, because the players are world famous but also because Brazil has won the most world cups. For brazilians, soccer is a passion and being a fanatic supporter, in or outside the stadium, is a part of the lifestyle. During the year there are several championships, such as Copa Libertadores and Campeonato Brasileiro.

Even for those who are not really into soccer, going to a game in a stadium is an incredible experience. The drumming of the supporters, the cheerful people and the atmosphere full of excitment is contagious. The best stadiums are Maracana (Rio de Janeiro), Pacaembu and Morumbi (Sao Paulo). Depending on the seats, there´s a difference in the price of the tickets. These can be bought at the ticket boxes near the stadium.

Music

There are dozens of genres, most of them associated with a specific region. Música Popular Brasileira (MPB), samba, bossa-nova, samba-canção, samba-pagode, axé, forró, maracatu, repentismo, frevo, baião, carimbo, lambada ou timbalada are some of the genres Brazil has to offer.

Important

Like any other place in the world, it is always important to look after your belongings. Do not bring anything with you that you don´t need. Always leave important documents (tickets, passport) and money in a safe place. Don´t carry around more money than you need. Be careful counting US Dolars in the streets because all the notes are green and similar. In the event of theft or loss of documents during your stay you are legally obliged to report the incident at the nearest police station. In case of emergency, call the police toll-free 190 or the Tourist Police.

Because Brazil is a mixture of cultures the local dishes differ a lot.This might mean that the food contains ingredients or spices that you are not familiar with. Always try to ask what comes in a certain dish before experimenting.