Rui Bittencourt

Curitiba

While not necessarily sexy, Curitiba has long garnered praise for being one of the world’s best models of urban planning, mainly due to the bold initiatives of its three-term mayor, Jaime Lerner, whose daring moves in the early 1970s transformed a six-block length of downtown into a pedestrian zone (done in secret under the cover of darkness), created five express-bus avenues with futuristic tubular boarding platforms, encouraged recycling and sustainable design long before it was fashionable, and planted trees and created parks on an enormous scale.

Curitiba has also taken innovative approaches to urban ills such as homelessness, pollution and poverty, and it’s now the envy of urban planners the world over and the country's most efficient city. With its abundant green spaces, sophisticated population and well-heeled infrastructure, this is a good spot to recharge your batteries and enjoy Brazil at its functioning best.

Explore Curitiba

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Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Curitiba.

  • Museum

    Museu Oscar Niemeyer

    Designed by and named for the architect responsible for much of Brasília, this striking museum features an iconic eye-shaped tower painted with whimsical…

  • Market

    Feira do Largo

    On Sundays, Largo do Ordem and Praça Garibaldi host a lively art and artisan market with more than 1000 stalls.

  • Plaza

    Largo da Ordem

    Curitiba's colonial heart. Here, the pedestrian-only cobblestone streets are lined with beautifully restored buildings, many of which now house trendy art…

  • Historic Building

    Paço da Liberdade

    Curitiba's historic Old City Hall was inaugurated in 1926 and designed by then-mayor Cândido Ferreira de Abreu, who was responsible for many of the city's…

  • Gardens

    Jardim Botânico

    In the far south of the city, the Jardim Botânico is a vast, flower-filled expanse, studded with sculpture and crisscrossed by walking paths. The…

  • Historic Building

    Palácio Belvedere

    Built in 1923, this modest art nouveau construction was originally designed to be a city lookout. It was left to die and gutted by fie in 2017, but the…

  • Theater

    Teatro Guaíra

    This premier state-run theater in Curitiba is home to the Paraná Symphony Orchestra (Orquestra Sinfônica do Paraná), and also hosts other dance and…

  • Viewpoint

    Oi Torre Panorâmica

    For an overview of Curitiba, head to the 109m-high Torre Panorâmica, offering 360-degree views from the observation deck.

  • Christian Site

    Catedral Basílica de Curitiba

    Inaugurated in 1893 and completely restored in 2012, Curitiba's neo-Gothic main cathedral – inspired by Barcelona's metropolitan cathedral – isn't one of…

  • Historic Building

    Federal University of Paraná

    The neoclassical headquarters of the Federal University of Paraná is home to MusA-UFPR, the university's museum, which features small rotating cultural…

  • Museum

    MusA-UFPR

    Inside the neoclassical headquarters of the Federal University of Paraná, the university's museum features rotating exhibitions along with a small and…

Top experiences

Whether it’s a guided tour of a historic landmark, private tasting of local delicacies, or an off-road adventure — explore the best experiences in Curitiba.

  • Activities