Curitiba, Brazil: what to see, the train to Morretes and the weather

At a glance

What Curitiba is like

Curitiba sits on a plateau at about 945 m. Viaje Paraná, the state tourism board, calls it the coldest state capital in Brazil, colder even than Porto Alegre, which is further south but almost at sea level. On 17 July 1975 the city woke up under snow, at about -2 °C, though that is rare.

The city has a long habit of trying new things with its streets. In 1972 the city government closed five blocks of Rua XV de Novembro to cars and made the first pedestrian street in Brazil. It became known as Rua das Flores. When opponents planned to drive onto it, they found hundreds of children painting on the ground and turned back.

What to see in Curitiba

Botanical Garden

Opened on 5 October 1991, the garden covers 278,000 m². Its best-known building is a 458 m² greenhouse made of iron and 3,800 panes of glass. The Jardim das Sensações, added in 2008, is a 200 m path with more than 70 plant species chosen for texture and scent, each with a plaque that includes Braille. The garden opens daily from 6:00 to 19:30; the Jardim das Sensações opens Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 to 17:00.

Ópera de Arame and Pedreira Paulo Leminski

The Ópera de Arame, the “wire opera”, opened in 1992: a 1,572-seat theatre built of tubular iron, wire mesh and clear polycarbonate. Next door, the former Pedreira Paulo Leminski quarry is the city’s largest open-air venue, with room for 20,000 people. The complex opens Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 18:00. We confirm entry terms for your dates.

Tanguá Park

Created in 1996 on an old quarry site, Tanguá has a waterfall of about 65 m dropping from the rock wall and a semicircular three-level belvedere with a lookout. The tunnel cut into the rock between two lakes is closed to visitors for safety. The park opens daily, 6:00 to 20:00, and the late afternoon light makes it a good last stop of the day.

Barigui Park

At about 140 hectares, Barigui is the largest park on this list, created in 1972. Its 230,000 m² lake also helps contain floods from the Barigui River, and the loop around it is 3.28 km. Capybaras are often seen here; the city asks visitors not to feed wild animals. The park never closes.

Oscar Niemeyer Museum

The main building was designed in 1967 for the Instituto de Educação do Paraná and later housed state offices. It became a museum on 22 November 2002, when the annex nicknamed the “Eye” (Olho) was built to Niemeyer’s design. The museum has about 35,000 m² of built area and describes itself as the largest art museum in Latin America. It opens Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 18:00, last entry 17:30.

Largo da Ordem and the old centre

On Largo da Ordem stands the church of the Ordem Terceira de São Francisco das Chagas, built in 1737 and considered the oldest building in Curitiba. It now houses the Museum of Sacred Art. For more local dishes, see Brazilian food.

The Linha Turismo bus

The easiest way to see the sights without a car is the city’s Linha Turismo, run by URBS:

• The double-decker route passes 26 sights, about 48 km in roughly 3 hours.
• The first bus leaves Rua 24 Horas in the centre at 8:30, and the route runs every day.
• Buses come every 30 minutes, every 15 minutes in school holidays and long weekends.
• The card gives unlimited boardings for 24 hours from first use; you can reboard the same bus after 30 minutes.
• You buy it on board or at the #CuritibaSuaLinda shops in the Botanical Garden and Shopping Estação.

If you prefer to go at your own pace, we can book a driver for the day instead.

The Serra Verde Express to Morretes

The tourist train runs from Curitiba down through the Serra do Mar to the small town of Morretes. According to the operator:

The operator publishes its departure calendar on its own site, and we check the days and tickets for your dates.

Weather in Curitiba by month

INMET normals, published through the World Meteorological Organization:

December to March is warmest and wettest. April, May and September to November suit walks in the parks. In June to August pack a jacket and a sweater. For other regions, see the best time to visit Brazil.

Curitiba with Iguazu and Florianópolis

Iguazu Falls is in the same state, and Florianópolis is the next capital south, so Curitiba fits a southern route. Our two-week Brazil itinerary shows how we connect regions, and we check flights from Rio for your dates.

Check entry requirements on official websites before you travel.

What to tell us in your request

• Your dates, or the month you have in mind
• How many people, and the ages of any children
• Whether you want the train to Morretes
• Other stops on the trip: Iguazu, Florianópolis, Rio
• Hotel style and area
• The language you want for your guide

How we help

We put the city days and the train in the right order, book the hotel, arrange the airport transfer and a driver, and find a guide who speaks your language. We stay your single contact before and during the trip; see help during your trip and how we work. Tours and transfers can be cancelled at no cost up to 48 hours before; terms and payment are set out in the proposal, and you pay nothing before you confirm.