13 Most beautiful States in Brazil
This list of the most beautiful states in Brazil will help you plan your trip to the best State for your desired experience. Each State offers its unique blend of natural wonders, cultural richness, and vibrant cities, ensuring you find something that suits your taste.
Tourism in Brazil is super varied. This is because, in the more than 8.5 million km² of the country, there are very different cultural attractions, landscapes, customs, and even climate and temperature. It is as if Brazil were several different countries within the same territory.
Therefore, from the north to the south of the country, there is a lot to see and do. There is a huge list of beaches, mountain towns, canyons, wetlands, forests, historic cities, urban and cosmopolitan metropolises, towns without electricity, etc. Not to mention the different typical festivals and the rich and diverse cuisine.
To get to know all of Brazil, you need time. After all, it’s not possible to cover 27 states (26 + the Federal District) in a single trip. But, regardless of how long it takes, it’s worth getting to know the country. Want to know more? This article contains a list of the most beautiful States to visit in Brazil.
1. Bahia
Bahia is one of the liveliest states in Brazil. This, in part, is the “fault” of the famous street Carnival in Salvador, the state capital, which brings together thousands of travelers who have fun for days to the sound of electric trios.
If you enjoy the party, visit the capital, Salvador. But know that Salvador is not just about parties; it has beautiful beaches and gastronomy full of flavor and pepper.
The first place that the Portuguese disembarked upon arriving in Brazil, Bahia, has other highly recommended beach destinations to visit. Among them are Caraíva and Morro de São Paulo.
Caraíva is a village located 65 kilometers from Porto Seguro and became famous for its paradisiacal beaches and lively nights accompanied by the northeastern forró pé de serra.
Morro de São Paulo is located 248 kilometers from Salvador, on the Island of Tinharé, a region known as Coata do Dendê. It is the third tourist hub in Bahia, where it is possible to do diving and other water sports, hike, or go down the longest zipline in Brazil.
Travelers who want to “get away” from the beaches can enjoy Chapada Diamantina National Park, approximately 394 kilometers away from Salvador. Here, there are caves, hills, waterfalls, lagoons, and wetlands, where it is possible to go hiking, abseiling, diving, and even take photos in breathtaking landscapes.
Morro do Pai Inácio, Lago Azul, Cachoeira da Fumaça, and the Vale do Pati Trail are some of the attractions of the region, which is based in the city of Lençóis.
2. State of São Paulo, One of the Most Popular States in Brazil
São Paulo is a state well known for its capital, very urban, cosmopolitan, full of attractions, noisy, and in a hurry. However, among the 645 municipalities in the State, there are many different landscapes, from those that are more urban, to different types of beaches, to those that are very small with few streets and quiet movement.
The capital of São Paulo, also called São Paulo, is one of the largest metropolises in the world, always offering hundreds of options for residents and tourists. Restaurants, bars, nightclubs, shows, museums, and everything else you want to do there, day or night.
To organize your trip, create an itinerary of up to 4 days in the city and visit the best museums in Sampa, both free and paid.
If you are traveling as a family, São Paulo offers several options for the kids to have fun. And for the grown-ups, the largest city in the country has a vibrant nightlife with hundreds of bars and clubs.
With all this, you can enjoy the capital of São Paulo without missing anything. At the end of the year, the city hosts one of the biggest New Year’s Eve parties in the country.
Finally, to travel as a couple, visit Campos do Jordão, Santo Antônio do Pinhal, Águas de São Pedro, or choose a beach like Ilhabela, a paradise on the north coast of SP, and also get to know Cesário Lange, a peaceful and friendly city in the State, with pleasant weather all year round and featuring the Mavsa Resort in the interior of São Paulo.
3. Santa Catarina
Santa Catarina is one of the three states in the southern region of Brazil. Its capital is the beautiful Florianópolis, rightly known as the Island of Magic. Floripa, in fact, is one of my favorite places to visit in Brazil, perhaps in the whole world, for its beaches and beautiful people, making it an incredible city for summer holidays.
The Hercílio Luz Bridge, the Florianópolis Public Market, and Praça XV de Novembro are some of the tourist attractions in Florianópolis.
Another popular destination in the State is Blumenau. The city became famous for hosting Oktoberfest, but it also offers good leisure options and tourist attractions to occupy your days in the region of Santa Catarina’s main breweries.
In Santa Catarina, there are other beautiful destinations, such as the Santa Marta Lighthouse, located in the city of Laguna. This is a great alternative for those who want to spend New Year’s Eve due to the beautiful beaches and young crowd that fills the village.
You will also like to visit the city of Garopaba, with its beaches and vibrant nightlife, and Praia do Rosa and Guarda do Embaú, which has beaches, trails, and more.
4. Pernambuco
Pernambuco is a Brazilian state full of paradisiacal tourist destinations. Starting with the capital, Recife, which has beautiful beaches and tourist attractions such as Marco Zero, the Pernambuco Crafts Center, the Cais do Sertão and Frevo, as well as Dutch bridges such as the Maurício de Nassau Bridge, which was built exactly where the first bridge in Latin America existed in 1643. The current construction dates back to 1917.
Of course, it is also worth enjoying the beaches of Recife, such as Praia de Calhetas, Praia Coroa do Avião, and Reserva do Paiva.
Another destination much loved by travelers is Porto de Galinhas. Located about 60 kilometers from Recife, it is considered by many tourists to be the most beautiful beach in the country. What most delight tourists are the warm, clean waters and the endless natural pools.
Outside the State, in the Atlantic Ocean, is the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha, which belongs to the State of Pernambuco. The paradisiacal islands of Noronha have deserted beaches with the most varied shades of blue, natural pools, trails, rich marine life, and much more. The tourist attractions in Fernando de Noronha are to fall in love with!
5. The State of Rio de Janeiro, One of the Most Sought-After States in Brazil
The State of Rio de Janeiro is known for its stunning natural beauty, including famous beaches like Copacabana and Ipanema, as well as iconic landmarks like the Christ the Redeemer statue.
The capital of the State, Rio de Janeiro, is indeed one of the most sought-after destinations in Brazil and worldwide. Anyone who knows it, even from photos, has no doubt where the nickname “Marvelous City” comes from. There are many beautiful beaches, hills, caves, and lakes, mixed with the urban landscape and in a big city rhythm.
Anyone going to the city needs to know how to get around Rio de Janeiro, especially using public transport, as traffic is chaotic.
Apart from the practical part of organizing the trip, discover the unmissable tourist attractions in Rio de Janeiro, such as the Botanical Garden, which is the largest in Brazil; Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, Vista Chinesa, Catacumba Park, as well as Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain, among others.
Outside the capital, there are other beautiful destinations in the State of Rio de Janeiro. One of them is Arraial do Cabo, approximately 160 kilometers from Rio. The city has beautiful beaches, such as the Praia do Forno, Praia do Farol, which is the 2nd most beautiful beach in Brazil, and Prainhas do Pontal do Atalaia, the 3rd most beautiful beach in Brazil.
On your trip around the State, also visit Petrópolis, Búzios, Paraty, Ilha Grande, and Angra dos Reis.
6. Paraíba
Paraíba was voted the Best Tourist Destination in Brazil in 2013 and has increasingly attracted the attention of travelers who dream of getting to know the Brazilian Northeast.
The State is not only famous for its beaches, but also for one of the most popular festivals in Brazil, São João. This festival takes place in the countryside of the State, with Campina Grande.
The landscape of Paraíba mixes the coastal plain with the depressions of the hinterland, where there are rocks dating back more than 2.5 billion years. The climate is as different from the coast to the hinterland as the landscapes.
In beach cities, the climate is hot, and temperatures are high all year round, with summers being very dry and autumn/winter being rainier. In the backlands, the climate is also hot, but rain is much rarer.
João Pessoa is the capital and most populous city in Paraíba. It is the gateway to tourism in the State. The city invested in tourist infrastructure. The most popular beaches are Bessa, Manaíra, Penha, Tambaú, Cabo Branco, and Intermares, among other beaches.
Tourist attractions such as the historic center, Parque Sólon de Lucena, Casa da Pólvora, Centro Cultural São Francisco, which is a historic complex with a baroque-style church and chapel, as well as two museums, make Paraiba one the best Brazilian State to visit in 2024.
7. Rio Grande do Norte
Located at the tip of the Brazilian Northeast, Rio Grande do Norte is known as one of the corners of Brazil. In addition to being one of the most “advanced” Brazilian states in the Atlantic Ocean, residents of the region are proud to say that they are closer to the African continent than the rest of Brazil.
This position also causes the day to dawn and dusk earlier when compared to São Paulo. It’s cool to see.
Speaking of the sun, Natal, the capital of Rio Grande do Norte, usually has 15 hours of sunshine a day, so much so that it is known as the Land of the Sun. It is an unmissable destination in the Northeast.
Among the most famous tourist attractions in the capital are Ponta Negra Beach, where Morro do Careca is located, one of the city’s several dunes. Don’t forget to go to Parque das Dunas and Duna de Genipabu, Canto do Mangue, and the city’s various beaches.
Just 80 kilometers from Natal is the city of Tibau do Sul, where the district called Praia de Pipa is located. This is one of the most popular places in the State, full of attractions, and the district is very small – its coastline is just 10 kilometers long.
The attractions of Praia de Pipa are its cliffs, Chapadão, dunes, beaches, and natural pools. You can even see dolphins in the sand!!!
São Miguel do Gostoso, which is two hours from Natal (approximately 100 kilometers), is the windsurfing and kitesurfing point in Brazil. Furthermore, it is a good option compared to Jericoacoara, as it is cheaper, quieter, and close to the airport.
8. Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul is another of the most beautiful states to visit in Brazil worth including in your travel itinerary. Like Rio Grande do Norte, this State is at the extreme end of Brazil, but as the name suggests, this is in the very south. As it borders Argentina and Uruguay, it has a lot of similarities, especially in the singing accent, the gastronomy with lots of meat, and the more intense winters.
The capital of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, is like a big city with a small-town soul, as its residents love to walk around the Historic Center, sit back and relax, and watch the sunset on the banks of the Guaíba River, which is so big that it even has a port, or take a stroll in some of the city’s parks.
Other beautiful tourist cities in Rio Grande do Sul are Caxias do Sul, Bento Gonçalves, and Garibaldi, a region known as “Little Italy.”
Gramado and Canela are two towns worth visiting in the State, known for their fantastic nature and the architectural heritage left by the Germans.
Organize yourself in advance and decide where it is best to stay in Gramado or Canela. It all depends on how much you are willing to pay. A great accommodation option is the Hotel Cercano in Gramado.
In terms of cuisine, both cities have excellent restaurants and typical dishes from the gods!
To enjoy the cities, which are just 10 kilometers away from each other, I suggest booking tours that will take you to the main points of interest.
I recommend staying up to 3 days between Gramado and Canela. There will be time to go sightseeing and even take a break to shop. And, of course, visit lots of chocolate shops.
Gramado and Canela are charming at any time of the year, but visiting them during the Natal Luz period is undoubtedly the best time.
9. Amazon
Tourism in Amazonas is as rich as the Amazon Forest, which occupies most of the State’s immense territory. The State’s strength is ecotourism due to the forest itself and the many parks located in it and also the rivers that cross the State, such as the Amazon, the Negro, and the Solimões.
Another attraction in Amazonas is Pico da Neblina, home to the highest point in Brazil, which takes its name from the constant fog at its peak, almost 3,000 meters high. Pico da Neblina is on the border with Venezuela, and to enter the park, you need authorization from the Institute that maintains the site.
But it’s not just ecotourism that takes travelers to discover Brazil’s largest State. Manaus is very urbanized but, at the same time, exotic. It preserves much of the local history in its architecture, as well as indigenous and foreign influences.
In Parintins, the main attraction is the Boi Bumbá folk show, a parade that tells the story of the ox, always in different versions from rivals Garantido and Caprichoso. In addition, you can also enjoy the jungle hotels, observe and contact with animals, handcrafts, and exotic cuisine, among others.
10. Ceará
Being in a region with incredible natural landscapes and year-round sunshine, Fortaleza, the capital of Ceará, has its tourist life around the beaches that attract visitors from all over the world. Furthermore, the region has a lively nightlife, fantastic regional cuisine, is rich in culture, and friendly people.
You can visit the most famous beaches, such as Futuro, Mucuripe, and Iracema, among others. In addition, you cannot miss tours such as the market on Avenida Beira Mar, the Craft Market, the Dragão do Mar Cultural Center, the Central Market, and the José de Alencar Theater.
Outside of Fortaleza, there are other destinations worth visiting. One of them is Canoa Quebrada, one of the most famous beaches in Brazil and located around 200 kilometers from Fortaleza. Located on the Costa do Sol Nascente, there are cliffs, and you can take raft rides, buggy rides, and water sports, as well as enjoy the bustling nightlife. Morro Branco and Jericoacoara are other beach destinations in Ceará that are popular with travelers.
Jijoca de Jericoacoara, or just Jeri, is another coastal town in Ceara. There are approximately 400 kilometers of beaches, the Blue Lagoon with its transparent waters, Pedra Furada, and the dunes, a popular place to enjoy the sunset. It’s a perfect paradise that makes Ceara one of the best states in Brazil for tourism.
11. Para
Tourism in Para has a direct connection with the Amazon Forest. This is because most of the more than 1.250 million km² of Para territory is covered by the Amazon.
There are forest areas with trails, waterfalls, various species of animals and plants, many rivers, and also areas of mangroves, fields, and even savannah, the latter to a lesser extent. It is no surprise that tourism is one of the main economic activities in the State, along with mineral, vegetable (wood) extraction, agriculture, and livestock farming.
The name of the State, in fact, is a tribute to the Para River, which in Tupi-Guarani means river the size of the sea. As you can see, it is not just the State that is large in size; the rivers also have this proportion.
The climate in Pará is equatorial, with abundant rainfall and an average temperature varying between 24 and 26 degrees. Therefore, you can do tourism in Para all year round, but it’s worth keeping an eye on the rainy season so as not to interfere with your tours in Pará.
The capital, Belém do Pará, is cosmopolitan, bustling, and with a very intense nightlife. It has a good tourist structure with several hotels of different prices and styles, restaurants, bars, and clubs.
Among the most famous tourist attractions in the capital are the Estação das Docas, which is a gastronomic center of the city, the Casa das Onze Janelas, the Mercado Ver-o-Peso, the Emílio Goeldi Park, where the Goeldi Museum is located, the Mangal das Garças, the Belém Castle Fort, and more.
12. Espírito Santo (Holy Spirit)
Espírito Santo is another state to visit in Brazil that is small in size but huge in terms of tourist attractions. The State has mountain cities with trails and space for extreme sports.
There is a large coastal area, which is divided into three parts: the central region, where Vitória and Vila Velha are located; the south coast region, where Guarapari and Anchieta are located; and the north coast region, with Linhares and Conceição da Barra.
It attracts travelers in search of its beautiful landscapes, pleasant climate, and hospitality of the population.
This is in terms of leisure tourism, since for business, the State is already consolidated and, due to its important ports, it is one of the largest exporters of agricultural products.
Vitória is one of the three Brazilian capitals located on the State’s islands and connected to the mainland by large bridges. It was founded in 1551 and is one of Brazil’s oldest cities, older than São Paulo and Ouro Preto (Minas Gerais).
Among the city’s attractions is the Anchieta Palace, built at the request of Father Anchieta in 1570. Today, it is one of the government headquarters, located in front of the Port of Vitória, the Metropolitan Cathedral, with neo-Gothic features that took 50 years to build.
And also the Convent of São Francisco, built at the end of the 16th century; the Convent of Nossa Senhora do Monte do Carmo in 1682; and the Teatro Carlos Gomes, with its design inspired by the Teatro Scala in Milan, opened in 1927.
13. Minas Gerais
I end this list of the most beautiful states in Brazil with Minas Gerais, a state full of tourist destinations. Although it does not have a beach, the State stands out for its mountainous landscapes, adventure, and rural tourism.
Belo Horizonte, the state capital, offers a range of leisure and cultural options. You can enjoy strolling around Lagoa da Pampulha or exploring lively areas like Savassi and Lourdes, known for their abundance of bars, pubs, and clubs.
You can also visit Betim (42 kilometers from the capital), where the Cachaça Museum is located; Serra do Cipó (100 kilometers from the capital), with its trails and waterfalls; and the Inhotim Institute, located in the city of Brumadinho. The Institute brings together one of the world’s main collections of contemporary art, in addition to housing a botanical garden with one of Brazil’s largest collections of plant species.
One of the most incredible tours in Minas Gerais is walking along Estrada Real. A route that began to be traced along with the history of Brazil when the Portuguese found gold and precious stones in this State. Also, visit the cities of Ouro Preto and Mariana, which are part of Brazilian history and have several important tourist attractions.
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