Brazil’s capital, Brasilia, is definitely worthy of your itinerary. It is one of the best planned cities around the world. Inaugurated on 1960, Brasilia was a product of President Juscelino Kubitschek’s vision. The area is considered a masterpiece by many architects around the globe. In fact, the city is an official World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
When backpacking South America, you’ll realize that there are so many things to do and see in Brasilia. A young and beautiful city like this doesn’t leave much room for boredom. Whether you’re up for some history, good dining, or a little bit of adventure, this city has so much to offer. If you’re going to be in town for the New Year holidays, be prepared for the party of a lifetime. Don’t miss out these five best things to do in Brasilia and you’ll see why this city is so great.
by aur2899 on Flickr
#1 Pay Tribute to the Great Juscelino Kubitschek
Brasilia is nothing without the efforts of Juscelino Kubitschek who made this great city standing. Also known as Memorial JK, this museum is perhaps the most visited tourist spot in the city. Here, you can find Juscelino Kubitschek’s tomb and a collection of 3000 books about his personal life, accomplishments, as well as the city’s illustrated history. And don’t forget to check out his 1973 Ford Galaxy behind the back door!
#2 Check out the Television Tower For Free
You’ll definitely miss out if you go to Brasilia without seeing this. Popularly known as the TV Tower, this 250-foot tower is among the tallest structures on Earth and certainly one of the tallest South America tourist attractions. Want to have the best view of the whole metropolis? Ride the elevator to the top and you’ll see the magnificent architecture of Brasilia. And yes, it’s 100% free! If you want to bring home some souvenirs from your backpacking South America trip, catch the market at weekends to find some great deals.
#3 The Three Powers Square
Locally known as Praca dos Tres Poderes, the square is a product of the ideas of some of the greatest Brazilian architects such as Costa and Niemeyer. It is a stunning architectural masterpiece of monuments, federal buildings, and museums. It also features beautiful sculptures such as Os Candangos by Bruno Giorgi and O Pombal by Niemeyer. Check out the statue in front of the Supreme Court and the then prototype of the city’s architecture.
#4 Trek at the Brasilia National Park
If hiking is your thing, don’t dare miss this. The park offers hiking trails that will take you to its beautiful forest situated in the middle of the city. In going through the whole park, you can choose between two hiking trails: the 1-hour Cristal tour or the easy 20-minute Capivara course. But the most exciting thing to do is take a bath in one of the two mineral springs of the park in which the waters are said to be beneficial to people with skin diseases.
#5 Visit Dom Bosco Church
This brilliant modern church was built on 80 concrete columns and 7500 pieces of illuminating blue-stained Murano glass that seem to glow magnificently. Bosco, a 19th-century Italian priest, was said to have foreseen the creation of the city of Brasilia based from his past writings. Perhaps the best attraction here is the huge central chandelier that’s highly noticeable when scanning the interiors of the church. It weighs around 2.50 tons and is composed of staggering 435 light bulbs with a glow that attracts everyone going around.
