The Southeast Region is the most populous region of Brazil, as it is where the cities of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo are located. The first, known as the “Wonderful city”, is a paradise for tourists who love the sun, beaches, and parties.
The Rio Carnival is one of the most popular cultural festivals in the world, but the city is also interesting for its history and beautiful landscapes. You should not miss the view from the Corcovado, topped by the statue of Christ the Redeemer, or from the Sugarloaf Mountain, which is reached by cable car. Other places worth visiting are the Tijuca National Park, an urban forest, and the Botanical Gardens, not to mention the beaches of Ipanema, Copacabana, Leblon, Barra da Tijuca, Leme, and so on. The list is long, and each place has its own charm. The most difficult thing is choosing which one to visit first. Angra dos Reis and Parati, in the south, and Cabo Frio and Búzios, in the north, are other municipalities with interesting scenery. If you prefer the mountains, a day trip to Teresópolis or to Petrópolis, the Imperial city, will give you fresh air and lots of gorgeous photos for your social networks.
While Rio is a city with abundant nature, São Paulo is a city of buildings. One of the biggest cities in the world, São Paulo has a culture and nightlife to suit all budgets and interests. A popular activity is walking along Avenida Paulista, in the heart of the city, taking in the Museum of Arts (Masp), the Itaú Cultural, the Centro Cultural Fiesp, and the Casa das Rosas. As you can see, São Paulo is plenty of cultural events and places to visit, particularly in Vila Madalena. There are, of course, many other museums in the city, and its architecture is a treasure to be explored. Amidst all these skyscrapers, Ibirapuera Park is an oasis in the concrete jungle. It is a place where people go jogging, cycling or walking, or to see other cultural activities. The list is so long that you will need several days to see just a part of it. There is so much to see and do. Bars and nightclubs, restaurants offering food from around the world, stadiums, sports arenas, religious buildings, and a melting pot of peoples and cultures from every part of the globe.
Rio and São Paulo are the biggest cities in Brazil, but the smaller ones have also have attractions of their own. These include the historic towns of Congonhas, Ouro Preto, Mariana, Sabará, São João del Rei and Tiradentes, in the State of Minas Gerais, where Brazil’s colonial history can be see clearly in the Baroque architecture, or in the sculptures made in soapstone, such as the Twelve Prophets, by Aleijadinho, a sculptor and architect who was influenced by the Baroque and Rococo styles. The state capital, Belo Horizonte, is an interesting city to visit, as are the Lake and the Canyons of Furnas. The state has its own peculiar cuisine, and is famous for its “Pão de Queijo” (cheese bread), and “Doce de Leite” (dulce de leche).