Brazil is South America's largest country, offering stunning biodiversity from the Amazon rainforest to iconic beaches like Copacabana and Ipanema. Experience vibrant culture, world-class cuisine, spectacular waterfalls at Iguazu, and the rhythm of samba in Rio de Janeiro.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Capim Dourado Jewelry
Delicate jewelry made from golden grass (capim dourado) harvested in the Jalapão region of Tocantins. These intricate pieces have a natural golden shimmer and are unique to Brazil.
Price: $15-80
Where: Feira Hippie (Ipanema), artisan markets in Brasília
Marajoara Pottery
Ceramic art inspired by the ancient Marajó Island civilization of the Amazon, featuring geometric patterns in earthy tones. Bowls, plates, and figurines make beautiful decorative pieces.
Price: $20-150
Where: FUNAI craft stores, Museu do Índio shop, Belém craft markets
Rede (Hammock)
Brazilian cotton hammocks from Ceará and the Northeast are world-famous for their durability and comfort, woven in vibrant colors and patterns. A staple of Brazilian home culture.
Price: $25-80
Where: Mercado São Cristóvão (Rio), Northeast markets, Fortaleza craft fairs
Cachaça (Brazilian Rum)
Brazil's national spirit distilled from fresh sugarcane juice, available in artisanal varieties aged in wood barrels from Minas Gerais and interior regions. Far superior to mass-market brands.
Price: $10-60
Where: Empório Sagarana (São Paulo), Casa do Cachaça stores, airport duty-free
Natura and O Boticário Products
Brazil's iconic cosmetics brands offer unique Amazonian botanical ingredients in skincare, perfumes, and hair products unavailable outside Brazil. O Boticário has over 3,000 stores nationwide.
Price: $8-45
Where: O Boticário and Natura stores nationwide, shopping malls
Woodblock Prints (Xilogravura)
Traditional Northeast Brazilian folk art featuring carved woodblock prints depicting everyday scenes, animals, and literatura de cordel themes. Authentic pieces come from Pernambuco and Paraíba artisans.
Price: $5-30
Where: Mercado de São José (Recife), Caruaru craft market, Fortaleza Centro Dragão
Havaianas Flip Flops
Brazil's iconic rubber sandals come in hundreds of designs and colors at local prices significantly cheaper than abroad. The brand was founded in 1962 and remains Brazil's most beloved footwear.
Price: $8-25
Where: Havaianas stores nationwide, airport shops, drugstores
Berimbau and Percussion Instruments
Traditional instruments of Capoeira and Afro-Brazilian music, including the berimbau bow, pandeiro tambourine, and atabaque drums. Handmade in Salvador workshops by master craftspeople.
Price: $15-100
Where: Mercado Modelo (Salvador), Pelourinho craft shops, Capoeira schools
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Feira Hippie de Ipanema
Rio's most famous outdoor market runs every Sunday in Ipanema's main square with 700+ vendors selling art, jewelry, clothing, and handicrafts. A Rio institution since 1968 with everything from antiques to contemporary art.
Where: Praça General Osório, Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro
Hours: Sundays 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Mercado Modelo
Salvador's landmark market in a restored 19th-century customs house sells Afro-Brazilian crafts, Candomblé items, lace, percussion instruments, and Bahian food. Over 200 vendors across two floors.
Where: Praça Cairú, 250, Comércio, Salvador, BA
Hours: Monday-Saturday 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM, Sunday 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Feira da Liberdade
Belo Horizonte's beloved Sunday market fills the city's most scenic square with antiques, artisanal cheeses, fresh produce, handicrafts, and traditional Mineiro food. Great for sampling local culture.
Where: Praça da Liberdade, Belo Horizonte, MG
Hours: Sundays 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Mercado Central de Belo Horizonte
One of Brazil's largest covered markets with 400 permanent stalls selling everything from cachaça and cheese to medicinal herbs, fresh meat, and regional crafts. The best place to buy artisanal Minas products.
Where: Av. Augusto de Lima, 744, Centro, Belo Horizonte, MG
Hours: Monday-Saturday 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM, Sunday 7:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Feira de São Cristóvão
Rio's Northeast Fair brings the culture, food, and music of Brazil's Northeast to the Zona Norte. Over 700 stalls selling hammocks, leather goods, forró music, and authentic Northeastern cuisine.
Where: Campo de São Cristóvão, São Cristóvão, Rio de Janeiro
Hours: Thursday-Sunday 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM (24h on weekends)
Shopping districts
Neighbourhoods known for retail.
Oscar Freire Street
São Paulo's most glamorous shopping street in Jardins neighborhood is lined with international luxury brands, Brazilian designer boutiques, and excellent restaurants. Comparable to Paris's Faubourg Saint-Honoré.
Best for: Luxury fashion, Brazilian designer labels, fine jewelry
Leblon / Ipanema
Rio de Janeiro's chic beach neighborhoods offer Brazilian fashion brands, surf shops, boutiques, and lifestyle stores along Rua Garcia d'Ávila and Rua Visconde de Pirajá. São Paulo-Rio fashion meets beach culture.
Best for: Brazilian fashion, swimwear, beachwear, lifestyle brands
Vila Madalena
São Paulo's bohemian neighborhood is packed with independent galleries, vintage clothing stores, record shops, and design studios. Beco do Batman street art alley is the epicenter of creative culture.
Best for: Vintage clothing, independent design, street art, records
Pelourinho
Salvador's UNESCO-listed colonial center has craft shops, art galleries, and boutiques in colorfully painted 17th-18th century buildings. The best place to buy authentic Afro-Brazilian art and handmade lace.
Best for: Afro-Brazilian crafts, lace, percussion instruments, local art
Rua 25 de Março
São Paulo's legendary wholesale street in downtown sells everything at rock-bottom prices from toys and textiles to electronics and party supplies. Chaotic but fascinating with over 1,200 stores in a few blocks.
Best for: Budget shopping, wholesale prices, carnival supplies
Malls & modern shopping
Air-conditioned, international brands, and food courts.
Shopping Iguatemi São Paulo
Brazil's first shopping mall (1966) remains São Paulo's most prestigious, housing Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Chanel alongside top Brazilian brands. The anchor mall of the Jardins luxury district.
Hours: Monday-Saturday 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM, Sunday 2:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Shopping Leblon
Rio's most upscale mall in the chic Leblon neighborhood combines luxury retail with excellent dining options, a cinema, and a rooftop bar with ocean views. Apple, Melissa, and top Brazilian labels.
Hours: Monday-Saturday 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM, Sunday 1:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Shopping Cidade Jardim
São Paulo's ultra-luxury open-air mall set in lush gardens features Porsche Design, Giorgio Armani, Bottega Veneta alongside Brazil's finest restaurants. An architectural landmark by Isay Weinfeld.
Hours: Monday-Saturday 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Barra Shopping
Rio's largest shopping center in Barra da Tijuca offers over 700 stores across 5 floors with the city's largest cinema complex. A one-stop destination for mid-range and high street shopping.
Hours: Monday-Saturday 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM, Sunday 3:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Bargaining tips
Negotiate like a local.
Bargaining is acceptable at street markets and with independent vendors but not in fixed-price stores or malls
Buying multiple items together gives leverage to ask for a discount (desconto)
Paying with cash (dinheiro) rather than credit cards often yields 5-10% discounts
End-of-day bargaining at markets is most effective when vendors want to clear stock
Prices at tourist markets near major attractions are higher than the same goods elsewhere
Customs & restrictions
What you can and can't take home.
Restrictions: Cannot export antiques, archaeological artifacts, or items over 100 years old without IPHAN authorization. Wildlife products including feathers, skins, and live animals are strictly prohibited.
Tax Refund: Brazil does not offer VAT refund programs for tourists on regular purchases. Some duty-free shops at international airports offer refund options.
Duty Free: Travelers may import up to $1,000 USD in goods duty-free when entering Brazil. Departing travelers have allowances per home country customs rules.
Shipping: DHL, FedEx, and Correios (Brazilian post) offer international shipping from most cities. Correios international air mail is cheapest but slowest. Declare all items over $50 USD value.