Rio Grande do Norte · Brazil Capital
In the destination Rio Grande do Norte South Coast (Pipa and Rota do Sol).
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
The city
Natal brings together city beaches, dunes and landmarks of Rio Grande do Norte's history along the Atlantic. At the mouth of the Potengi River, Forte dos Reis Magos (fort) highlights the city's relationship with the sea and its colonial origins.
3 places to stay in Natal.
3 places picked to eat.
What to know before you go.
The local experience
It is the busiest waterfront in the capital, with a boardwalk, bars and nightlife nearby. At the southern end is Morro do Careca, a dune of about 107 meters that you are not allowed to climb, to preserve the vegetation and curb erosion.
Discover Praia de Ponta Negra e Morro do Careca
A fortress built around 1600 at the mouth of the Potengi River, named (Fort of the Three Kings) because construction began on Epiphany. Reopened in 2021 after restoration, it has cannons and sentry boxes on the upper level, and access is by a walkway between the river and the sea.
Created in 1977, Parque Estadual Dunas de Natal protects 1,172 hectares of dunes covered in Atlantic Forest right in the middle of the city. Visits center on Bosque dos Namorados, where the interpretive trails begin.
Opened in 2007, the cable-stayed bridge crosses the Potengi River and links the city beaches to the North Zone, at 1.78 km long with 103-meter towers. It is named after the artist and poet who portrayed the river's landscape and fishermen.
On Praça André de Albuquerque, it stands on the site of the city's first chapel and dates back to the early 17th century. The tower was completed in 1862, and the church is part of the urban ensemble protected by Iphan (the national heritage institute).
Discover Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora da Apresentação
Linked to UFRN (the federal university), it started in 1960 as the Câmara Cascudo Institute of Anthropology and became a museum in 1973. The collection includes pieces of paleontology, geology, zoology, ethnography and archaeology.
The neoclassical mansion served as an asylum and a jail before becoming a handicraft center. The shops occupy the old cells, marked with their original numbers, and the upper gallery has views of the Potengi River.
Opened in 1904 in the Ribeira neighborhood, it is protected by Iphan (the national heritage institute) and got its current name in 1957, in honor of a former governor. Reopened in 2021 after restoration, it has a regular program of performances.
Discover Teatro Alberto Maranhão
