Fast Facts

Capital: Brasilia
Country code: 55
Population: 170 million
Time: GMT minus 3 to minus 5 hours. The time depends on the region.

Culture

Brazilian culture has been shaped by the Portuguese who gave the country its language and religion. The culture however is diverse with many other influences coming from immigrants, indigenous cultures and Africans - this influence is seen particularly in the northern parts of Brazil. This African influence extends to particular styles of music and style, and a different type of cuisine.

Climate

As Brazil is such a large country, it experiences different climates throughout the country. Whereas the lower regions have more dramatic changes throughout the year, the north of Brazil remains warm throughout the year. Summer runs from December to February and throughout this time Rio de Janiero and the northern states of Brazil experience lovely temperatures of around 30 degrees. The Amazon region is humid and has year round temperatures of about 27 degrees. This region also experiences rainfall throughout the year due to its tropical climate.

The hottest part of Brazil is the northeast, where temperatures of more than 38°C (100°F) are frequently recorded during the dry season between May and November.

Language

Portuguese is the main language in Brazil however throughout Brazil there are many regional languages still in practise. English is widely spoken, especially along the coast of Brazil where the tourist population is enormous. It more common than not to find English speaking taxi drivers and restaurant waiters.

Money

The currency in Brazil is reais. ATMs and banks are readily found throughout Brazil. The main banks are Banco do Brasil, Bradesco, Citibank and HSBC. The current exchange rate at time of print:

£1 = 4.03 reais
1 Euro = 2.73 reais

Visas

When entering Brazil all tourists must fill out an entry card and immigration officials keep half and you keep half. Most tourists are granted the 90 tourist visa. Citizens of the UK, France and Germany do not require a visa, however nationals of other countries do. Be sure to check before with your embassy before travelling.