In this text I will give tips on what to do in Brasília in two or three days, in a ready-to-use travel itinerary with the main tourist attractions in the Federal District and surrounding areas.
It took me 30 years to set foot in Brasília, but it only took me a few minutes to realize that I should go back there.
The enchantment occurred as soon as I saw the Monumental Axis, in the center of the Plano Piloto designed by Lúcio Costa: Congress, Palácio do Planalto, Esplanada dos Ministérios and the Cathedral. Everything there, a gigantic set of postcards and scenes that we already know from TV.
Accommodation Tips in Brasília
Due to business and government tourism, hotels in Brasília are cheaper on weekends. It’s also not uncommon to find discounted tickets there, after all, all the big companies have frequent flights to Juscelino Kubitschek Airport. If you arrive on Friday night, take the opportunity to start your adventure in one of the bars in the federal capital.
When choosing accommodation, one option is to look in the North and South Hotel Sectors, which are very close to the Monumental Axis. Or stay in the North Tourism Hotel Sector, which has a strategic location: close to the Lake Paranoá It’s from Alvorada Palacethe official residence of the Presidency of the Republic.
See all the neighborhood and hotel tips in the text: Where to stay in Brasilia
Is it possible to visit Brasília on a weekend?
Yes, in two or three days, that is, a weekend, you can get to know the main tourist attractions in Brasília, which we have listed below.
If you have more time, you can create a less busy itinerary around the federal capital and include tours in the surrounding area, such as Pirenópolis, in Goiás.
What are the main tourist attractions in Brasília?
- Alvorada Palace
- National Congress Palace
- Brasilia’s Cathedral
- Itamaraty Palace
- Praça dos Três Poderes
- Planalto Palace
- Pananoa Lake
- Juscelino Kubitschek Bridge
- city’s park Sarah Kubitschek
- TV Tower and Tower Fair
- National Museum
- National Library
- National Stadium Mané Garrincha
- Memorial JK (Memorial Juscelino Kubitschek)
What to do in Brasília in 2 or 3 days: Travel Itinerary
Day 1: From Lake Paranoá to Eixo Monumental
Start your Saturday at Orla do Lago Paranoá, an artificial lake formed by damming the river of the same name.
We have been to two places: the Pontão do Lago Sul it has a promenade full of bars and restaurants, as well as decks to admire the view of the lake.
Fairs, shows and other cultural events are also common, especially on weekends. Entry is free, but the prices on the menus are not the most attractive.
In any case, it’s worth it: I wanted to go back there at sunset, which must be beautiful.
Do Pontão do Lago Sul It is possible to take a boat trip across the lake. Lasting 1 hour, the tour costs R$50 for adults and R$30 for children up to 12 years old.
During the tour you will see the Palácio da Alvorada up close, which is on the banks of Lake Paranoá. It is possible to visit Alvorada, as explained on the Nós no Mundo blog, but the tour is only possible on Wednesdays.
It’s at Juscelino Kubitschek Bridgeopened in 2012 and soon became a postcard of Brasília.
Already JK Bridge Waterfront There are other interesting restaurants – I was at Mangai and Avenida Paulista, but I didn’t get to eat in them – as well as more leisure areas. Finally, on the outskirts of Lake Paranoá is the Dom Bosco Hermitage Chapelwhich is surrounded by an ecological park, as Cris, from the blog Dentro do Mochilão, explains in this text here.
From the lake we head to the Monumental Axis. If it’s late afternoon, a good idea is to run to the TV tower and enjoy the sunset. The tour is free and from there you will see almost all of Brasília’s most famous tourist attractions.
Nearby there is a Tower Fair, where you can eat typical dishes from all Brazilian states, as well as shop at craft stalls. The Fair, however, closes before the Tower, which is open until sunset.
See too: Visit to the Brasília TV Tower: best view of the capital
View of the TV Tower
Day 2: Esplanada dos Ministérios, Congress, Palácio do Planalto (and more)
Use your second day to get to know the political heart of Brasília. If you want to make the most of this day, you can take a guided walking tour of the entire region, lasting 3 hours.
We started the tour at Brasilia’s Cathedral, which is my favorite building in the city. Designed by Niemeyer, this was the first monument erected in the new capital, although the inauguration only took place years later, in the 70s.
Entrance is free, as is the case with practically all tours of public buildings in Brasília. Nearby are still the National Museum it’s at National Library.
Brasilia’s Cathedral
We walked along the Eixo Monumental, the main Avenue of Plano Piloto, to the National Congress Palace, with its two complementary domes: the concave dome, facing downwards, conveys the idea of weighting.
There is the plenary of the Federal Senate. Next to it is the convex dome, the one facing upwards, in an effort to represent a more open house, which would be the Chamber of Deputies. Guided tours of the National Congress take place every day, between 9am and 5:30pm – a group leaves every 30 minutes.
See too: Guided tour of the National Congress, in Brasília
National Congress
In any case, before arriving at Congress you will go through Itamaraty Palaceheadquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and one of the most beautiful in the capital.
I didn’t visit due to lack of time, but Itamaraty occupies first place on the list of reasons to return to Brasília. In addition to the arches on the facade, which guarantee the building’s charm, the highlight there is the Hanging Garden designed by Burle Marx.
In front of Itamaraty and on the other side of the Eixo Monumental is the Palace of justiceheadquarters of the Ministry of Justice.
But let’s move on: pass the National Congress and you will arrive at the also famous Square of the Three Powerswhich is located between the parliament, the Palace of the Federal Supreme Court and the Planalto Palace. It’s curious to think that these three places, present almost every day in the news, are so close to each other.
As the Palácio do Planalto houses the office and workplace of the Presidency of the Republic, the building can only be visited on weekends: always on Sundays, between 9am and 2pm.
If you pass by during busy times, you might be lucky enough to witness the Changing of the Guard of the Independence Dragons, which occurs every two hours, between 8am and 6pm.
It is also possible to take a guided tour of the STF, but only on weekdays. Details on the official website.
What to do in Brasília: it’s not over
I think the attractions listed will take up an entire weekend, especially if you take one or two guided tours (I highly recommend the one at the Congress, which I did, and the one at Itamaraty and Palácio do Planalto, which I would like to have done).
But the list of attractions in Brasília goes much further. For example, just go in the other direction of the Eixo Monumental to find the National Stadium and, on the other side, the City’s park, the place where, as I learned from Renato Russo, Eduardo and Mônica met, she on a motorbike and he on a camel.
city’s park
There was also no mention of the Cláudio Santoro National Theaterwhat is the arts space, Memorial JKdo Jaburu Palace, residence of the vice-presidency and which, like Alvorada, is also on the banks of the Paranoá.
The list of palaces is completed with the Buritiseat of the Government of the Federal District, and the Catetinhomade of wood in a simple style and where President Juscelino Kubitschek lived and worked during the construction of Brasília – today the space is a museum.
There is also the Digital TV Tower, another viewpoint in the city.
In addition to checking the opening hours of public buildings, keep in mind that some of them have a dress code for tourists. This is especially true during the week, when the buildings are in operation.
Extra tip: Brasília – with or without a car?
I’ve been to the city with and without a car. And I have no doubt in saying that the vehicle helps a lot, especially if you are traveling on weekends and holidays, when traffic is calm and parking is easy.
If you are traveling alone it may not be worth it – so use and abuse public transport and Uber/cabify/taxi.
On the other hand, those traveling in a group may do the math and discover that renting a car is worth it. If this is the case, read our text on how to guarantee the best value for money when booking.
