Brazil🇧🇷 | citiesCuritibaBotanical greenhouse, eye-shaped museum, tube stations, Ukrainian cabins | things to do and best time to go

From the Rodoviária (long-distance bus terminal), the center is about 2 km (1.2 miles) away, and a local bus or a US$2 to 4 ride-hailing trip takes 10 to 15 minutes. Curitiba has one of Brazil’s most organized bus systems, so you rarely need a car. Traffic is heavy at rush hour, but dedicated lanes keep buses moving.

• Walking: The center, São Francisco and Batel are flat and walkable. Do this for anything within 2 km.
• Biarticulated and express buses: The tube-shaped boarding stations are the system’s signature. A single fare of about US$1 covers transfers between lines, and services run roughly from 5am to midnight. Worth learning, as it is the cheapest way across town.
• Turismo Line: A hop-on, hop-off circuit to about 25 parks and sights, around US$6 to 7 for a day. It saves time for the parks,

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From the Rodoviária (long-distance bus terminal), the center is about 2 km (1.2 miles) away, and a local bus or a US$2 to 4 ride-hailing trip takes 10 to 15 minutes. Curitiba has one of Brazil’s most organized bus systems, so you rarely need a car. Traffic is heavy at rush hour, but dedicated lanes keep buses moving.

• Walking: The center, São Francisco and Batel are flat and walkable. Do this for anything within 2 km.
• Biarticulated and express buses: The tube-shaped boarding stations are the system’s signature. A single fare of about US$1 covers transfers between lines, and services run roughly from 5am to midnight. Worth learning, as it is the cheapest way across town.
• Turismo Line: A hop-on, hop-off circuit to about 25 parks and sights, around US$6 to 7 for a day. It saves time for the parks, but you can reach most of them on regular buses for less.
• Ride-hailing (Uber, 99): Typically US$2 to 6 for most city rides. Use it at night or for Santa Felicidade, not for daytime trips between the central stops.

Skip the taxis, since ride-hailing is cheaper and the fare is fixed in advance.

Curitiba sits close to the Serra do Mar, so a few of southern Brazil's best day outings start from the Rodoviária (bus station) before 8 a.m. and finish by dinner.Serra Verde Express to Morretes: The scenic train drops through Atlantic forest, over viaducts and past waterfalls, in about 3 hours each way down to Morretes. Tickets run roughly US$25 to 60 each way depending on class, and they sell out on weekends, so book ahead. Many travelers ride down and return by bus, which takes about 1.5 hours and costs US$4 to 7. Sit on the left side going down for the best views. Fog in the cooler months (May to August) gives the ride its moody look, while summer brings heavy rain.

Antonina: An old port town on Paranaguá Bay, about 2 hours by bus (US$5 to 8) with a change at Morretes or a direct service. … read more 👉

Curitiba sits close to the Serra do Mar, so a few of southern Brazil's best day outings start from the Rodoviária (bus station) before 8 a.m. and finish by dinner.Serra Verde Express to Morretes: The scenic train drops through Atlantic forest, over viaducts and past waterfalls, in about 3 hours each way down to Morretes. Tickets run roughly US$25 to 60 each way depending on class, and they sell out on weekends, so book ahead. Many travelers ride down and return by bus, which takes about 1.5 hours and costs US$4 to 7. Sit on the left side going down for the best views. Fog in the cooler months (May to August) gives the ride its moody look, while summer brings heavy rain.

Antonina: An old port town on Paranaguá Bay, about 2 hours by bus (US$5 to 8) with a change at Morretes or a direct service. Colonial facades face the water, and the barreado, a slow-cooked beef stew eaten with manioc flour and banana, is the local dish to order. Most visitors budget US$15 to 25 in total including lunch. First-timers often leave Curitiba too late and miss the last return bus, so check the final departure when you arrive.

Parque Estadual de Vila Velha: Sandstone towers shaped by erosion rise out of the grassland near Ponta Grossa, about 1.5 hours west by road. Buses to Ponta Grossa cost around US$7 to 10, then you need a taxi or ride-share to the park, which makes the day US$40 to 55 with the entrance fee. Dry months, April to September, give clearer skies and firmer trails. Plan for a full day, as the lagoons and the Furnas sinkholes sit apart from the main rock formations.

Pico Paraná trailhead area at Campina Grande do Sul: Hikers wanting a peak go for the highest summit in southern Brazil, but the route is demanding and usually needs two days, so most day-trippers settle for the lower trails around Pico do Marumbi, reached by the train stops near Marumbi. Bring water and a rain layer, as the weather turns fast.