Taguatinga travel guide

Taguatinga, Brazil

By the Travel Wiki editorial team

Taguatinga

Before you go

Brasília sits on a plateau at high altitude, so temperatures rarely reach extremes, though winter nights can turn cold and September and October can be hot. The year splits into two clear seasons: a rainy season from October to April, when the rains return gradually in October, become intense with frequent thunderstorms from November to January, and can cause flooding in parts of the city, and a dry season from May to September, when rain is practically non-existent. At the peak of the drought in August and September, humidity drops sharply, the normally green landscape turns desert-like, small forest fires can occur, and the hot, dusty air can cause burning eyes, dry skin, nose bleeds and difficulty breathing — drink plenty of water and consider a humidifier. Whatever the season, ultraviolet radiation is very high, so use sunscreen, especially from late morning to late afternoon.

Addresses in Brasília are usually shortened to acronyms, which can be perplexing at first. The Monumental Axis divides the city into north and south sectors: acronyms ending in N refer to the northern side and those ending in S to the south. SHS/SHN are hotel sectors, SCS/SCN commercial sectors, SQS/SQN residential sectors, CLS/CLN local commerce along the wings, and SES/SEN the embassies sector. Official tourist information is available from the State Secretariat of Tourism of the Distrito Federal, with stands at the airport, the new rodoviaria and the Praça dos Três Poderes. Brasília is generally a safe city, but take the usual measures: avoid walking alone at night anywhere in the city, and note that the area near the central bus station is not considered safe at night. Flash kidnaps — attacks near or inside your own car — are an increasing concern, so walk with company and avoid deserted or poorly lit places, be wary of people approaching to ask for information at night, check whether you are being followed when leaving a bank, have your keys ready as you approach your car, and when arriving home or at your hotel watch the sides of buildings and corners before stopping. Do not react to any kind of crime, as criminals do not act alone. Police are usually polite but may appear harsh when they have to be alert; respect is the key to a good interaction, and if police intervene at a crime, lay down on the floor with your hands on your head and follow instructions without reacting if searched. Dial 190 for police assistance and 192 for medical emergencies. Drug consumption, while not leading to incarceration, is still a crime in Brazil, and being caught with small amounts may cause bureaucratic complications when leaving the country; selling or transporting drugs is treated as trafficking and carries severe consequences, so do not use or carry drugs of any kind.

Getting there

Brasília is a national air travel hub, so flying is a practical way to arrive, with plenty of domestic flights — though direct connections from abroad are limited, and most international travellers clear customs elsewhere in Brazil before re-boarding. Non-stop services reach the city from Lisbon, Lima, Bogotá, Miami, Panamá City, Montevideo, Atlanta and Paris. Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek International Airport sits a short drive from the centre, with an executive bus to the hotel zone and central region, taxis for the twenty-minute trip, and regular buses 102 and 102.1 linking the airport to the main bus terminal at Rodoviária, where you can pick up buses or the subway. By bus, the city's central location makes it well served by routes from across Brazil — roughly fifteen hours from São Paulo, eighteen from Rio, ten from Belo Horizonte and three from Goiânia. Long-distance buses arrive at the rodoferroviaria at the west end of the axis, connected to the centre by bus 131 and by taxi. If you drive, arrivals from the southern and centre-west states come in via Saída Sul, while other states enter by Saída Norte; once inside the Federal District, follow the Brasília signs and Zona Central if you're heading for the hotel sector. The Eixo Rodoviário, which crosses the south, central and north sectors, is recognisable by the double strip of yellow raised pavement markers separating its lanes.

Getting around

Taguatinga sits within the same metropolitan area as Brasília, so getting around means plugging into the Federal District's transport network. That network was planned around the assumption that every resident would own a car, which makes the area spread out and not especially friendly to pedestrians — roads have few crosswalks or traffic lights, so walking is best reserved for short trips within a single neighbourhood. For anything longer, you'll want buses, the subway, taxis or a ride-hailing app.

Buses are the most extensive option. Most local lines start from or pass through the rodoviária at the centre of the city and run along the "wings" or through the Monumental Axis, and some link the central area to the Esplanada dos Ministérios, the airport and the main avenues L2 and W3. Board by the front door and flag the bus down, or it will only stop when someone requests to get off. Use the Moovit app to find connections, the official DF no Ponto platform for schedules and itineraries, or horariodeonibus.net as a user-friendly complement. A prepaid transport card can be obtained without a CPF at the BRB service centre at the Rodoviária Plano Piloto — head downstairs toward the Metrô station Estaçio Central and take the next left. The Metrô's Y-shaped line starts at the main bus station and runs along the south wing through the suburbs; it isn't particularly useful for the main attractions, though it does stop near the Buddhist Temple via "114 Sul" station. Bring small bills or coins, as the Metro doesn't accept credit cards and won't give change on larger notes. Taxis can't usually be hailed on the street, so use a taxi stand or ask your hotel to call a dispatch office; meters only start once you've boarded. Ride-hailing is cheap and convenient, with Uber, 99Taxi and the Brazilian service TeLevo all operating in the city.

Where to stay

Most of the city's accommodation is concentrated in the Hotel Sectors (SHS and SHN), two central areas on either side of the Eixo Monumental. During the week, hotels are usually busy because of the capital's political activity, so it is advisable to book in advance. Many hotels offer lower off-price rates for the weekend.

Wherever you stay, avoid showing off any splurging. It can be taken as an insult to less fortunate citizens and can make you a target for mugging.

Food & drink

Brasília has no single regional cuisine of its own, but its restaurants serve food from across Brazil as well as international dishes. Self-service por quilo places are everywhere and usually cost less than à la carte restaurants, and they generally don't charge tips. For table service, head into the residential wings, which are a bus or taxi ride from most attractions; the CLS 405 street is one of the most popular, with options running from sushi to Brazilian, Mexican and French. Wherever you eat at a full-service restaurant, expect to pay at least 10% on top of the bill — it's usually printed on the invoice and can normally go on your card, since the total is shared among all employees.

For cheap eats, Giraffas is a local chain with branches around town serving sandwiches and beef or chicken with rice-and-beans set meals, while Pizzaria Dom Bosco, the oldest active pizzeria in the city, sells reasonably priced pizza by the slice at its South Wing, North Wing and Sudoeste addresses. In the city center, the fourth floor of Conjunto Nacional Mall is a convenient spot for reasonably priced food, right beside the main bus terminal and within walking distance of many hotels and the Three Powers Square. The South Wing's Comércio Local Sul 201 is known for its cluster of cheap self-service restaurants alongside a few mid-range and splurge options. In the North Wing, Bar e Restaurante Velha Guarda offers a simple, well-served menu of the day with a large portion of beef, poultry or pork plus salad, egg and rice and beans. Vegetarians can look to Green's Restaurante Natural in Asa Norte or Bardana on SCLS 405, and Don'Durica 201 Norte puts on an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet of mainly Minas Gerais cooking. At the top end, Fogo de Chão is a traditional Brazilian steakhouse with an all-you-can-eat salad buffet and fire-roasted cuts brought to your table, while Patu Anu, out in Lago Norte, mixes international recipes with Brazilian ingredients such as jacaré and Brazil nuts.

What to see and do

Start at the eastern end of the Monumental Axis, where Three Powers Square gathers the seats of the country's three highest authorities: the Congress, the Presidential Palace known as Palácio do Planalto, and the Supreme Court. On Tiradentes Day the axis is aligned so the sun rises precisely between the two towers of Congress. In the same square you'll find the bronze Os Candangos, honouring the workers who built the city, a "blind justice" statue by the Supreme Court, a small museum about Juscelino Kubitschek, the Pantheon, the Eternal Flame monument, and a scale model of Brasilia in an underground space. The Palace of Justice nearby has waterfalls running down its façade. Guided visits run at Congresso Nacional, and you can join guided tours of the Itamaraty Palace, home of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which stands out among the ministry buildings for its architecture and sculptures. The Cathedral, with its curved concrete pillars and stained-glass panels, is one of the world's great modernist buildings, and the National Museum along the axis hosts temporary national and international exhibitions and free concerts and events on its outside space. Climb the Television Tower for a sweeping panorama and a crafts and typical food market at its base, or head to the Juscelino Kubitschek Memorial on the western, highest part of the axis, an underground museum with a 1960s science-fiction feel that houses his remains. The Palácio da Alvorada, the President's official residence by Paranoá Lake, is not open to visitors, but its arches are icons of the capital. Away from the axis, the city's cultural life spreads through its wings and beyond. Galleries and cultural centres include the Espaço Cultural Contemporâneo with its contemporary sculpture and painting, CAIXA Cultural with its historical display and programme of photography, concerts, films and exhibitions, the Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil with its changing exhibitions and events, the Espaço Cultural Renato Russo for concerts and plays, and the Monetary Museum, maintained by the Central Bank, which holds rare coins, paper money from many countries, medals, gold bars, old printing machinery and the biggest gold nugget ever found in Brazil. The National Theater Claudio Santoro offers halls for plays and concerts plus art galleries. Public works of art are everywhere and free to see, from Burle Marx's landscape design to Athos Bulcão's geometric tile panels, Oscar Niemeyer's buildings and sculptures, and sculptures by Ceschiatti and Bruno Giorgio. Along the Wings, visit the Dom Bosco Church with its blue stained glass and huge crystal chandelier, and the Little Church, the first built inside Plano Piloto, designed by Niemeyer and clad with Bulcão tiles. The Universidade de Brasília campus has interesting modern architecture and an Olympic Center by the lake with options for hiking, jogging and swimming, while Parque Olhos D'Água in the northern wing is mainly used for jogging and has springs, streams, a small pond, a playground and outdoor gyms. Paranoá Lake offers lakeside restaurants and a park at Pontão, and the Ermida Dom Bosco chapel gives views across the lake and is an excellent place to watch the city's famous sunsets; you can swim in the lake at the Ecological Park next to it. City Park in the South Wing is the hot spot for jogging, cycling, skating, kart racing and barbecues. Outside the wings, the TV Digital Tower, also called the Cerrado Flower, has glass observatories, and further afield you'll find the Brasilia National Park with its cerrado vegetation, fauna and natural swimming pools, the Poço Azul waterfall and its blue pools on quartz rock, and Chapada Imperial, a natural park with trekking trails, camping and waterfalls. If your visit coincides with a festival, the city hosts a major Brazilian cinema festival in late October or early November, a Japanese Obon festival with bon odori dances and food stalls, and the Porão do Rock music festival, usually in July, August or September.

When to go

Brasília sits on a high plateau, so temperatures stay mild all year. What changes dramatically is the rain. The year divides sharply between an intense summer rainy season and a severe winter drought, and which one you get will shape your trip.

Rains return gradually in October, greening the lawns and trees again. From November to January the rain becomes more intense, with frequent thunderstorms — December is the rainiest month — and flooding can occur in parts of the city. The rains then taper off from February to April. In the dry season rain is practically non-existent and the normally green landscape turns desert-like, with small forest fires possible. Humidity hovers around 50% in May and June but drops below 20% at the peak of the drought in August and September, when hot, dry, dusty air can cause burning eyes, dry skin, nose bleeds and difficulty breathing, and locals resort to humidifiers. Those same months reward you with spectacular orange, pink and red sunsets.

Three days in Taguatinga

Day one: Base yourself in Taguatinga and use it as your launch point for Brasília. The Monumental Axis is the spine of the planned city, and the Praça dos Três Poderes anchors the government quarter. Addresses in the Distrito Federal follow a system of lettered blocks — SHS, SHN, SCS, SCN, SQS, SQN, CLS, CLN, SES and SEN — so learn to read them before you set out. Whatever the season, the weather in this part of Brazil runs warm and humid for much of the year, with a drier stretch that can feel pleasantly mild.

Day two: Turn to the practical side of the city. The State Secretariat and the tourism offices of the Distrito Federal can help you orient yourself, and the Police are on hand if you need to file a report. Keep the Flash Dial and the Drug Dial numbers in mind for emergencies. If you are arriving from abroad, flights connect Brazil with Lisbon, Lima, Bogotá and Miami, so jet lag may shape your first mornings.

Day three: Slow down and let the calendar guide you. September, October, November, January, April, May and August each bring their own character to the city, from the build-up to the rains to the cooler, drier months. Use the day to revisit the Monumental Axis at a different hour, or to wander the blocks around SQS, SQN, CLS and CLN. Do keep an eye on official notices, and remember that addresses here are not always intuitive — a map and a little patience go a long way.

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