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Porto Alegre, Brazil
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Must-include attractions sorted by popularity
Most popular attractions in Porto Alegre, Brazil
1. Usina do Gasômetro
Striking riverside cultural complex in a converted power plant, full of contemporary art and city views. Walk the boardwalk, catch exhibitions, live music and sunset over Guaíba.
2. Fundação Iberê Camargo
Striking modernist museum pairing Iberê Camargo's paintings with Álvaro Siza's white concrete. Walk sweeping ramps and terraces with views over the Guaíba, and explore rotating exhibitions.
3. Museu de Arte do Rio Grande do Sul (MARGS)
MARGS
Top-tier Brazilian modernism and regional art housed in a charming riverside building. Expect rotating contemporary shows, curated local collections, and occasional cultural events.
Book a FREE walking tour in Porto Alegre, Brazil
The best way to experience a city with a local tour guide.
Tip: We strongly recommend a free walking tour on your first day to get to know the city with a local guide. They usually cover all main attractions and you can ask for personal recommendations based on your interests for the next days. Book early as spaces fill up fast!
4. Casa de Cultura Mário Quintana
Historic mansion turned lively cultural hub in Porto Alegre. Galleries, a literary café and rooftop terraces host exhibitions, plays, and readings.
5. Jardim Botânico de Porto Alegre
Quiet green refuge in Porto Alegre, great for plant lovers and slow walks. Wander tree-lined paths, visit the palm collections and spot local birds.
6. Catedral Metropolitana
Visit Porto Alegre's cathedral for its neoclassical façade and peaceful nave. Admire stained glass, carved altars and quiet courtyard light.
7. Estádio Beira-Rio
Iconic riverside stadium with lively club spirit. Guided tours let you step into the stands, locker rooms and panoramic terraces.
8. Museu de Ciências e Tecnologia da PUCRS
Hands-on science and a planetarium under one roof, ideal for curious minds. Explore interactive exhibits, live demos, and immersive dome shows.
Things to Do in Porto Alegre, Brazil
Popular activities and local experiences recommended by travelers
Traditional Sweet Dishes
Sagu com creme
Sagu com creme pairs chewy sago pearls cooked in red wine with a sweet milk cream, a dessert brought by Italian immigrants that became a signature of Rio Grande do Sul.
Cuca
Cuca is a German-style streusel-topped cake often filled with banana or plums, and in Rio Grande do Sul it is a bakery staple at family gatherings and breakfasts.
Doce de leite
Doce de leite is thick caramel made from slowly heated milk and sugar, prized in the south for artisanal variations and used in many regional sweets.
Traditional Savory Dishes
Churrasco gaúcho
Churrasco gaúcho is the regional barbecue where large cuts of beef are slow-roasted over wood fire on skewers, reflecting the gaucho cattle-ranching culture and communal meals.
Arroz de carreteiro
Arroz de carreteiro began with ox-cart drivers who cooked rice with preserved beef, and today it is a hearty, flavor-packed emblem of gaucho cuisine.
Entrevero
Entrevero is a rustic stir-fry of mixed meats, sausages and vegetables, often finished with pinhão when in season, showing the region's blend of influences.
Traditional Beverages
Chimarrão
Chimarrão is hot yerba mate tea sipped from a gourd through a metal straw, a daily social ritual in Porto Alegre and a key symbol of gaúcho identity.
Vinho gaúcho
Vinho gaúcho, especially sparkling wines and varietals from the nearby Serra Gaúcha, has earned national and international recognition and pairs well with local meats and cheeses.
Quentão
Quentão is a spiced hot drink made with cachaça, sugar and warming spices, popular at winter festivals and known for bringing people together on cold southern nights.
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Day trips
São Francisco de Paula
Hill town with forests, hiking and rural charm
Google MapsComments (9)
Go to Mercado Público early for breakfast, bring small bills. Some stalls get busy and a few still only accept cash.
Nice arts scene and riverfront walks, but some neighborhoods felt rundown after dark. Two to three days felt enough for me.
Mercado Público is lively and cheap for snacks, crowded around noon though. Loved the small coffee shops nearby and people watching.
Buy a reloadable bus or metro card at a station, it saves money on repeat rides and speeds up boarding compared to single tickets.
Not as expensive as Rio, but some tourist spots jack up prices. Plan cash for small vendors, cards work fine at sit-down restaurants.
Getting there
Airports
Train stations
Suburban Trensurb line to Canoas, São Leopoldo, Novo Hamburgo
Take taxi, ride-hail, or airport bus to city center; allow 30-40 minutes.
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