Curitiba

No reviews yetCity Paraná, Brazil

Centro Histórico de Curitiba (8596340152), Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil

Paço da Liberdade Curitiba panoramio, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil

CHAFARIZ Rua das Flores, Curitiba, Paraná, Brasil by Nivaldo Cit Filho panoramio, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil

About Curitiba

Glass greenhouses, opera houses built in abandoned quarries and a museum shaped like a giant eye give Curitiba a look all its own. The capital of Paraná sits on a plateau about 900 metres above sea level, so it is cooler than most Brazilian cities, and it is famous for its urban planning, from the pioneering bus rapid transit system to one of the country's first pedestrian streets.

Founded in the 17th century, Curitiba grew rich on mate and timber and was transformed by immigrants from Poland, Italy, Germany and Ukraine, whose memorials, woods and restaurants still mark the city. Parks created from old quarries and flood plains give it an unusual amount of green space, and capybaras graze along the lakes.

The historic centre around Largo da Ordem comes alive at the Sunday fair, while Santa Felicidade serves Italian feasts by the plateful. The Serra Verde Express descends the Serra do Mar to colonial Morretes, one of Brazil's most scenic rail journeys, and the Atlantic coast and Ilha do Mel are within easy reach.

Best seasonOctober to April for warmer days; winters (June to August) are cool and can be frosty

Ideal stay3 days, plus a day for the train to Morretes

ArrivingAfonso Pena International Airport in São José dos Pinhais, about 30 minutes from the centre

Top 12 Experiences in Curitiba

Parks 4

Jardim Botânico de Curitiba

Opened in 1991, the botanical garden is Curitiba's postcard image: a metal-and-glass greenhouse inspired by London's Crystal Palac...

Parque Tanguá

Created in 1996 from two old quarries, Tanguá Park is famous for its viewpoint terrace above an artificial waterfall that tumbles...

Parque Barigui

One of Curitiba's largest and busiest parks, Barigui wraps around a lake where capybaras graze on the banks, often a few metres fr...

Bosque do Papa

Created after Pope John Paul II's visit to Curitiba in 1980, this wooded park honours the city's Polish immigrants with a memorial...

Museums 1

Museu Oscar Niemeyer

Designed by Oscar Niemeyer and opened in 2002, this art museum is best known for its 'Eye', a suspended, eye-shaped gallery raised...

Landmarks 2

Ópera de Arame

Opened in 1992 inside a disused quarry, this theatre of tubular steel and transparent panels sits on an island in a lake ringed by...

Catedral de Curitiba

Facing Praça Tiradentes, where the city was founded, the Metropolitan Cathedral of Our Lady of Light of the Pines was completed in...

Neighborhoods 3

Largo da Ordem

The cobbled squares and colonial houses of Largo da Ordem form Curitiba's historic quarter, anchored by the Church of the Third Or...

Rua XV de Novembro

Known as Rua das Flores, this central avenue was pedestrianised in 1972, one of the first major pedestrian streets in Brazil and a...

Santa Felicidade

Settled by Italian immigrants in the 19th century, Santa Felicidade is Curitiba's gastronomic quarter, famous for vast family rest...

Food and Drink 1

Mercado Municipal de Curitiba

Open since 1958, the municipal market gathers butchers, fishmongers, cheese and charcuterie counters, spice stalls and imported de...

Day Trips 1

Serra Verde Express

This tourist train runs from Curitiba down the Serra do Mar to colonial Morretes on the historic Curitiba to Paranaguá railway, co...

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Photo credits

Photo: Bruna cs, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Photo: Nivaldo Cit filho, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

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Photo: Nivaldo Cit filho, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

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