GO · Brazil
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Get to know the place
A capital planned in the 1930s, with an Art Deco layout downtown and plenty of green space. The Parque Vaca Brava and the Bosque dos Buritis are the places to walk; the Feira Hippie, on Sundays, is one of the largest open-air markets in the country; and pamonha (a sweet corn tamale) and empadão goiano (a savory deep-dish pie) are everywhere. It is a starting point for Pirenópolis, the Cidade de Goiás and the hot springs of Caldas Novas.
This destination brings together 1 city: Goiânia.
A look at the place
These pictures are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs. They may differ from the place.
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One destination, many paths
Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.
The local experience
Officially Praça Pedro Ludovico Teixeira, it is the heart of the capital's original layout and brings together the Palácio das Esmeraldas, the Museu Zoroastro Artiaga and the Art Deco bandstand opened in 1942. Several buildings in the ensemble are listed by Iphan (Brazil's national heritage institute).
Opened in 2006 and designed by Oscar Niemeyer, it brings together a library, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the sphere-shaped Palácio da Música and the Human Rights Monument, marked by a large red triangle. The buildings surround an esplanade used for concerts and events.
Discover Centro Cultural Oscar Niemeyer
A wooded park in Setor Oeste, near Praça Cívica, with three lakes, illuminated fountains, inner trails and an orchid house. Inside is the Museu de Arte de Goiânia, devoted to regional and national art.
Created in 1988 in Setor Bueno, it has a central lake surrounded by royal palms and a jogging track, amid residential high-rises. It is a meeting point for locals and visitors and often hosts leisure and wellness events.
Built in the 1940s, it keeps original Art Deco elements, such as the old diving board and stone walls, and owes its name to the rose beds of that era. The Goiânia Zoo is next door, and a walking track circles the lake.
Discover Parque Lago das Rosas
An open-air museum on Campus II of PUC Goiás, with the Vila Cenográfica Santa Luzia, which recreates a colonial village, as well as replicas of a quilombo (a community of escaped slaves) and a Timbira Indigenous village. There is also a natural history museum and nature trails through preserved cerrado.
Started in the 1960s by artisans who displayed their work at Mutirama, it moved through other squares before settling on Praça do Trabalhador, where it takes place on Sunday mornings. With thousands of registered vendors, it is considered the largest open-air market in Brazil and Latin America.
Founded in 1950 in Setor Central, it is one of the capital's most traditional municipal markets and a meeting point for locals. It is known for its empadas goianas (savory pies) and for selling regional products.
Your base to explore
Where you stay is part of the trip. Choose the area that best fits your itinerary.
A modern hotel on Avenida Portugal, in Setor Marista, Goiânia's bar and restaurant district. It caters to business travelers and tourists who want to stay in a well-served area.
A business hotel on Avenida Araguaia, in Goiânia's Setor Central, with a panoramic pool, sauna and restaurant. It is convenient if you need to stay downtown.
A traditional hotel on Avenida República do Líbano, in Setor Oeste, with heated pools, a spa, a restaurant and facilities for large events. It caters to business travelers and conference-goers who want to stay near downtown Goiânia.
Flavors of the destination
A restaurant and café on Rua 13, in Setor Oeste, with all-day breakfast, pão de queijo (cheese bread), tapioca and a buffet of salads and hot dishes. It is a light, convenient option in central Goiânia.
A bar and restaurant on Rua 101, in Setor Sul, with feijoada (black bean and pork stew), carne de sol (salt-cured beef), moqueca (seafood stew) and pastéis (fried pastries). It is a nighttime meeting spot in Goiânia.
A restaurant serving Goiás food buffet-style from a wood-fired stove, on Avenida T-11, in Setor Bueno, in a rustic setting. It is a good choice if you want to try typical dishes such as galinhada (chicken and rice) and rice with pequi, and it has another location on Avenida República do Líbano, in Setor Oeste.
Before you go
A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.
Via Goiânia Airport, near downtown. Brasília is about 210 km away and Pirenópolis about 120 km.
From May to September, the dry season, with sunny days and cool nights. From October to April it rains a lot.
Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.
