Brazil Nuts' Exclusive: City Finder

Is it a "Must See" City?
So Many Cities, So Little Time Most of us mere mortals have but 7-14 days to spend exploring Brazil. How in the world can we sift through al the options and decide which city to visit? Each one is so fabulous! By using the handy grid below we hope you can make some decisions on the cities YOU would like to include by factoring such criteria as beaches, nightlife, accessibility and nearby destination that easily (and affordably) combine with the city in question. See Bottom of Grid to Scroll All Options
Ideal Length of Stay
Selection of Accommodations
Best Beach to Escape To
Nightlife Scene
What's the Buzz
Pros
Cons
Recommended for

Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro was the capital of Brazil until 1960. Often called "Cidade Maravilhosa" (The Wonderful City), Rio de Janeiro is world renowned for its...	São Paulo Sao Paulo is the third largest city in the world. Its 10 million inhabitants are composed of a diverse mix of ethnicities, languages, tastes and cultures.	Salvador da Bahia The oldest city in Brazil and its first capital, Salvador was a major post for the slave trade and is now a thriving center of Afro-Brazilian life. Salvador is...	Recife Capital of the state of Pernambuco in the Northeast, Recife is known as the "Brazilian Venice" due to its many channels, waterways and innumerable bridges...	Natal The “city of sun” is also one of the most enjoyable capitals of Brazil, with its wide avenues, modern infrastructure, a high quality service industry, hospitable locals...	Fortaleza Fortaleza, the capital of the State of Ceara, enjoys year long sunshine and a traditional Northeast lifestyle. The city is filled with the energy of Forro, the ...
Absolutely. Even if you "don't like cites", you really need to experience Rio	If you have connections and live for the night, yes; otherwise not so much	If you care to understand the African soul of Brazil, yes	If a vibrant folklore and popular culture is your thing	As the gateway to the big dunes and Pipa, yes	As gateway to fabulous beaches, yes
3 Nights Minimum/ 4 is ideal	2 to 3 Nights	2 Nights minimum in the city	2 Nights minimum, but stay in nearby Olinda	2 Nights	1 Night is fine
Anything and everything	All kinds; and very competitive	Choose either Pelourinho or Rio Vermelho... skip the rest	The pousadas in Olinda!	Limited	Mostly 3-4 star
Buzios, with Ilha Grande a close second	Mmmm, that's a problem... Rio!	Praia do Forte or Morro	Porto de Galinhas, or Fernando de Noronha	Pipa is it!	Jericoacoara & Canoa Quebrada
Samba, Bossa Nova, Jazz; dancing all night, lively café scene	Legendary, on an international scale	Exciting but limited to Afro beats	Moderate	Forro was born here during WW II (true story)	Dance clubs
The one, the only... you gotta see it to believe it	The most powerful city on the continent - center of everything	The New Orleans of Brazil	Portuguese, French, Dutch, English, Africans, Indians	Gateway to some neat places	Sunshine 330 days a year
Unique combination of beach, nightlife, culture and people	Best food, best nightlife, most beautiful people	Amazingly Exotic - a real taste of Africa	Most folkloric city of the Northeast	Small city, warm people, great seafood	Modern, safe city, excellent seafood
Crime is way down, but stay alert	Almost impossible to navigate unless you have a friend on the inside	Some call it a one trick city ...but we don't mind!	A long way to go (unless you are also going to Fernando?)	European charter destination	In town beaches are unswimmable
Everyone (Really!)	Hipsters	Romantics	Beach Frontiersmen	Sophisticated and Party	Beach lovers en route to paradise