Let’s face it, you either love football of loathe it. But the Brazilian World Cup is upon us and whatever your sporting preferences, there’s no doubting the backdrop to the competition is breathtaking.
So sit back and either check out which match is being played in which host city or, if you have to travel with your football-loving family, how you can escape World Cup Fever and visit the best hotels, restaurants and must-see sites across Brazil.
Know before you go
A visa is required for UAE citizens to visit Brazil. The Visas-TE are specially designed for the World Cup, and are free of charge, but you’ll need a ticket for at least one of the games as proof. For more info see www.cgbrasil.org.
Safety
Most visits to Brazil are trouble-free, but there is a high crime rate and there are some important things to remember. Standards of driving, particularly in rural areas, can be low. Be aware of pickpockets.
Never leave your belongings unattended and it’s worth remembering that thieves do operate inside restaurants and hotels as well as outdoors.
Make sure you have comprehensive travel insurance and take mosquito repellent. And check with your doctor to see if you need any vaccinations before you travel, particularly if you’re planning to go off the beaten track.
Climate
June and July is winter time in Brazil, and while temperatures can still get as high as 35⁰C they can also drop to 10⁰C, depending on where you’re travelling, so make sure you pack some warm clothing just in case.
Official language and currency
Portuguese and the Brazilian real.
Food
A dish of rice and beans is the staple of Brazilian food, and root vegetables feature heavily, as well as fruit such as mango, papaya and guava.
Definitely try a pastel, which is a deep-fried thin pastry filled with minced meat, seafood, chicken or cheese, or a sweet filling such as chocolate, banana and cinnamon.
There are lots of regional specialities, and fish and seafood are very popular, but carnivores will be in their element with the delicious gaucho rodizio (grilled meat on skewers) and sizzling churrasco (barbecue).
Brasilia
Matches on June 15, 19, 23, 26 and 30 and July 5 and 12
Spectacular architecture by Oscar Niemeyer made Brasilia the only 20th century city to be given Unesco World Heritage status. The palaces of Planalto and Alvorada are well worth visiting.
Where to stay: The Kubitschek (www. kubitschek.com/br) has a great location next to three shopping malls and offers elegant, sophisticated accommodation.
Eat: On any given night at Aquavit (www.restauranteaquavit.com), chef and architect Simon Lau Cederholm will cook you a five-course meal in his home. The menu changes with the season, but typically includes local seafood.
Do: Race the locals during some stand-up paddle surfing on the artificial Lake Paranoá.
Porto Alegre
Matches on June 15, 18, 22, 25 and 30
An intriguing, busy port city. Set on the banks of the freshwater Lagoa dos Patos, it boasts a colonial downtown.
Where to stay: Sheraton Porto Alegre (www.starwoodhotels.com) is located in the exclusive Moinhos de Vento neighbourhood.
Eat: Starch tablecloths, hovering waiters and slivers of flavour don’t exist in Porto Algre. Dinner at any of the city’s churrasco restaurants – where steaks are tossed over an open-fire grill – will leave you full for a week.
Do: Rio Grande’s Guaíba Lake drifts through the centre of Porto Alegre, so spend an afternoon cycling along the water or head to the local sailing club.
Curitiba
Matches on June 16, 20, 23 and 26
This is considered one of the world’s most well-planned cities, and while it may not be the most exciting, Curitiba does have some stunning parks and gardens – it’s known as Brazil’s Green Capital.
Where to stay: San Juan Jonscher (www.sanjuanhotels.com) is an extraordinary, design-focused hotel with just 24 luxurious rooms.
Eat: There are so many Italians in Curitiba so head to the Santa Felicidade district, order a pizza and watch the sun drop lazily into dusk.
See: The Ópera de Arame hosts suitably wacky performing art throughout the year.
Fortaleza
Matches on June 14, 17, 21, 24 and 29 and July 4
It’s the capital of forró, a style of dance and music which began in north-east Brazil; forró parties and the June festivals will be in full swing during the World Cup.
Where to stay: Hotel Dom Pedro Laguna Beach Villas & Golf Resort (www.dompedro.com) is one of the most luxurious hotels in Brazil, an eco-resort with an 18-hole golf course.
Eat: It’s controversial, but with lashings of caramel and lots of rich chocolate, no one does gelato better than the Brazilians. At Sorveteria 50 Sabores
(www.50sabores.com.br) they churn out 100 tubs of the sweet stuff every day.
See: Bump out over sand dunes and charge up mountains during an off-road safari with Nordest Off Road tours (www.nordesteoffroad.com).
Cuiabá
Matches on June 13, 17, 21 and 24
One of the oldest cities in Brazil, with a strong tradition of crafts. It’s close to the start of the Amazon rainforest, and you can also go snorkelling, rafting or for a dip in thermal waters close to the city.
Where to stay: The Deville (www.deville.com/br) has very good facilities, well-appointed rooms and is within easy reach of all the main attractions (and it isn’t far from the airport).
Eat: Skip the restaurants and try Cuiabá’s street food, grilled chunks of alligator meat and stingray.
See: Cuiabá’s the gateway to the Pantanal, the world’s largest tropical wetland with more animals than the Amazon. Pantanal Nature (www.pantanalnature.com.br) run Pantanal Ecological Safaris and Jaguar Spotting Tours from their base in the city.
São Paulo
Matches on June 12, 19, 23 and 26 and July 1 and 9
An extraordinary, pulsating city, with superb nightlife but also lots of museums, including the Museu do Futebol (a football museum).
Where to stay: In the heart of the Jardins neighbourhood and close to excellent shopping and restaurants, Hotel Emiliano (emiliano.com) is cool and luxurious –
it even has its own helipad.
Eat: Head to the Liberdade district for the best Japanese food outside Tokyo, or try one of the city’s ‘kilo restaurants’ – buffets with live kitchens where you pay by the weight of the food you eat. Still hungry? Snack on empanadas: fluffy pastry stuffed with meat, olives and tomatoes.
See: Take a walking tour of Vila Madalena, where roads are hemmed in by street art and boutiques and cafés spill out on to the footpaths.
Salvador
Matches on June 13, 16, 20, 25 and July 1 and 5
The state capital of Bahia is the oldest city and, really, the party capital of Brazil (the best parties take place outdoors), but with some spectacular historical buildings.
Where to stay: The Hotel Marinas Tibau Sul (www.hotelmarinas.com/br) is situated right on the beach, and while the accommodation is a little basic the views (and the fact you have wild dolphins and turtles in the water) more than make up for it.
Eat: The couple who run Paraiso Tropical (www.restauranteparaisotropical.com.br) serve bubbling pots of mariscada – seafood and nuts in coconut milk – under palm trees.
See: Go for an early morning swim at Porto da Barra beach, then join a Salvador walking tour for a fascinating peek into the city’s history. Don’t be surprised to see strangers smiling at you – Salvador is the country’s capital of happiness, after all.
Belo Horizonte
Matches on June 14, 17, 21, 24 and 28 and July 8
Named for its beautiful views of the nearby mountains, Belo Horizonte has reinvented itself as a cultural hot spot.
Where to stay: Promenade Belo Horizonte Platinum (www. promenadebh platinumhotel.com) is a four-star hotel in Lourdes.
Eat: Mineira cuisine is based around stewed meats, vegetables and tutu – a black bean sauce made with manioc flour. Xapuri Restaurante (www.restaurantexapuri.com.br) serves some of the best: try the carne picadinha (spiced meats).
See: A two-and-a-half drive from Belo Horizonte takes you to the Gruta Rei do Mato limestone caves, where you can spend an afternoon.
Natal
Matches on June 13, 16, 19 and 24
Famous for its sand dunes, beaches and clear waters, but like Fortaleza, home to the rhythms of forró.
Where to stay: The five-star Serhs Natal Grand Hotel (www.serhsnatalgrandhotel) is a contemporary hotel with a fantastic location and stunning spa.
Eat: Share black bean soup with writers and artists at the bohemian Choperia Petropolis.
See: Catch a performance at Teatro Riachuelo (www.teatroriachuelo.com.br) – it shows everything from jazz to samba to John Lennon tribute acts.
Recife
Matches on 15, 20, 23, 26 and 29
A former fishing village, rich in culture and history, Recife boasts a 8km beach (although swimming is restricted due to shark attacks).
Where to stay: Located on the waterfront Hotel Atlante Plaza (www.ponteshoteis.com.br/) is a modern hotel with a great pool overlooking the sea.
Eat: A trip to Recife’s not complete without a meal at Parraxaxa (www.parraxaxa.com.br), a kilo-based restaurant serving hardy northeastern dishes that make vegetarians weep. Think salted beef, goat stews and slabs of rice pudding.
See: Recife’s got excellent wreck diving so hire some gear and head out to Shipwreck Park off the coast. The Aquaticos Diving Centre is Padi-certified with knowledgeable guides.
Rio de Janeiro
Matches on June 15, 18, 22, 25 and 28 and July 4 and 13
Superb beaches and rainforestclad mountains including Sugarloaf combine to make Rio one of the world’s most beautiful cities.
Where to stay: The Art Deco Copacabana Palace (www.copacabanapalace.com), located right on the beach, is where the rich and famous flock.
Eat: Every lunchtime, locals head to Bar do Mineiro (www.bardomineiro.net) for plates of Feijoada – a satisfyingly salty black bean stew.
Do: Rio’s Tijuca Forest is said to be the largest urban rainforest in the world. Dig out your boots and tramp through the knotted jungle, swim beneath waterfalls and picnic under monkeys flinging themselves through the trees.
Manaus
Matches on June 14, 18, 22 and 25
Manaus is located at the meeting point of two rivers, the Rio Negro and the Solimões, and it’s well worth taking a boat tour; you’re also right on the doorstep of the Amazon. An absolute must-see is the Teatro Amazonas opera house.
Where to stay: Located on the Rio Negro, the Hotel Tropical (www.tropicalmanaus.com/br) is a gorgeous, high-end hotel.
Eat: Whoever thought you’d be eating a big fish from the Amazon while in the Amazon’s largest city? At Banzeiro (www.restaurantebanzeiro.com.br) they serve it up five ways.
See: Book a spot on luxury yacht MY Tucano (www.naturetours.com) and spend the next five days winding your way down the Rio Negro.
