Vila Velha

Introduction

Vila Velha sits on the coast of Espírito Santo in Brazil's Southeast Region, and forms part of the Greater Vitória Metropolitan Area. The municipality spreads across just over 200 square kilometres, a little more than a quarter of which falls within its urban area.

It is one of the most populous municipalities in Espírito Santo, second only to Serra. Use that as your starting point: a coastal city within easy reach of the wider metropolitan area, with a settled urban core and a stretch of coastline to match.

Three days in Vila Velha

Day one: Start in Vila Velha itself, in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. Get your bearings in the city before heading out into the wider area, and use the day to settle into the pace of the Southeast Region. Keep your first day simple and close to where you are staying.

Day two: Head into the Greater Vitória Metropolitan Area and make your way to Serra, which sits within the same metropolitan region. It is a good counterpoint to Vila Velha, and the journey between the two gives you a sense of how the area fits together.

Day three: Return to Vila Velha and use what you have already seen to decide where to spend your last hours. If you have time left, revisit the parts of the city you passed through on day one, or take one more look at the coastline and streets before you leave Espírito Santo.