Getting Around Dourados
Dourados is the second most populous and important city in Mato Grosso do Sul, and it acts as an economic and social hub for a wide surrounding region that reaches into neighbouring Paraguay. For a visitor, that means a city with real urban amenities and services, but one where getting around is mostly a matter of road-based transport rather than rail.
Rail, Metro and Trams
There is no rail, metro or tram network to speak of for visitors in Dourados. Practically speaking, you should plan your trip around buses, taxis and walking rather than any train service.
Buses and Public Transport
Public transport in Dourados is road-based. The city is well-served by commerce and services that cater to the many surrounding cities of Mato Grosso do Sul and part of Paraguay, so the urban area is laid out around a busy commercial core rather than a rail corridor. For a visitor, the sensible approach is to use local buses for longer hops across town and to rely on the compact centre for everything else. As with most Brazilian cities, you can expect to pay on board, so carrying small change is useful.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are a straightforward option for reaching the airport, the shopping mall or the nightlife and restaurant district in the city centre. Ride-hailing apps are widely used across Brazil and are a convenient alternative, particularly in the evenings when you are heading to or from the centre's nightclubs and restaurants. Because the city's main attractions for visitors are concentrated in and around the centre, a short taxi or app ride is often the easiest way to cover the last stretch of a journey.
Walking
Dourados is a practical city to explore on foot if you base yourself centrally. The city centre concentrates many restaurants and nightclubs offering a broad range of cuisines, including churrascarias, pizza parlours and places catering to the substantial Japanese community, so an evening out can comfortably be done on foot. The city also offers recreational parks and squares that are pleasant to walk between. The modern shopping mall, with its many stores and parking, is another anchor point, though you may prefer a taxi or bus to reach it depending on where you are staying. On Saturday night and Sunday morning, the large open-air Feira is a highlight worth walking to, with locally produced fruits and vegetables, restaurants serving Brazilian and Japanese food, and stalls selling local delicacies such as sugarcane juice, doce de leite and cocada.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Dourados is served by Francisco de Matos Pereira Airport, which is located outside the downtown area. The airport is served by LATAM, so arrivals are straightforward for travellers flying in from major Brazilian hubs. To reach the city from the airport, taxis and ride-hailing apps are the most direct options, and local buses serve the route into town as well. If you are continuing onward, note that Dourados sits southwest of the state capital, Campo Grande, and that many locals make regular trips to the Paraguayan border town of Ponta Porã/Pedro Juan Caballero, a short hop away, for low-cost imported goods.
Practical Tips
- Base yourself in or near the city centre if you want to walk to restaurants, nightlife, parks and squares.
- Use taxis or ride-hailing apps for the airport run and for evening trips when you would rather not navigate on foot.
- Carry small change for bus fares, since payment is typically made on board.
- Plan a visit to the Saturday night and Sunday morning Feira for local food and produce.
- Remember that Dourados has close ties with Paraguay, so cross-border trips to Ponta Porã/Pedro Juan Caballero are a popular and easy excursion.