What to see in Brasilia
Brazil’s capital is not a popular tourist destination. Admittedly, it’s hard to compete with the Amazon rainforest and Brazil’s lovely coastline. Still, if you do find yourself in Brasilia, here’s my top eight recommendations for what to do while you’re there.
Start in the TV Tower get a good look at the layout of town.
Brasilia is a planned city, designed and built in the 1950s. Then president Juscelino Kubitschek announced a competition for the design of the new capital, which was won by Lúcio Costa with an airplane design.
It was built in a flat, dry area which didn’t previously have a town or road. It’s part of the Cerrado biome, which is the largest biome in Brazil after the Amazon Basin. The Cerrado is home to wildlife like the puma, anteater, armadillo, panther and the maned wolf. This last animal is not a wolf but the only species in its genus. It looks like a fox with very long legs, but not’s not related to foxes either. It’s closest relatives are all extinct.
2. Tour the congressional buildings
Brazil’s congress is housed in these two symbolic bowls. The upturned one in my hand is for the Camara de Diputados, like the US House. The downturned one is the Senado, like the US Senate. Designed by mid-century enthusiast Oscar Niemeyer, they symbolize that the Senado is both smaller and more closed than the Camara de Diputados.
3. Visit the cathedral.
Like most of Brasilia, the cathedral ws designed by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer. Outside the cathedral you’ll find a line of stands selling beautiful dried flowers made from a variety of dried grasses and the papery seeds of several plants that grow in the Cerrado.
4. See the changing of the guard at the presidential palace
The tradition looked bizarrely British, for a former Portuguese colony in South America. The guard changes on the hour and at 6:00 pm, you can watch them take down the flags for the day.
5. Visit the Memorial dos Povos Indigenas
This was my favorite museum in Brasilia. It has artifacts from dozens of indigenous peoples throughout Brazil. It’s built in a circular shape, leading visitors down to the middle which houses a forest of languages. Each post in the forest is labeled with the name of one of the indigenous languages of Brazil. Most are now either threatened or already extinct.
6. Visit the JK Memorial
To truly understand why Brasilia is the way it is, visit the Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira memorial. It’s full of artifacts from his presidency as well as the design and building of Brasilia.
7. See a free film or exhibit at the Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil
This cultural center has frequently rotating exhibits, as well as musical performances, theater and films. Everything is free but you must get tickets online or at the box office at the center.
8. Go for a swim and a hike at the National Park of Brazil
There are several trails that take you through the forest and a large natural spring that’s been developed into a swimming area to cool off after your hike.
View from the TV tower, looking away from the congressional buildings towards the JK memorial.
