Most of the people coming to Brazil stick to visiting our coastal area, it is no lie that our beaches are the biggest tourist attractions but there is so much more to be seen. Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world, with treasures hidden in each region. One of the biggest treasures hidden in central Brazil is a planned city called Goiânia. And you might be wondering what are some of the things to do in Goiânia, Brazil?
Well, like i said, this was a planned city! Ever since Brazil gained its independence and states began to look a little more like the ones we have today, there was an idea to give Goiás a new capital. Pedro Ludovico Teixeira set the cornerstone in 1933 and ever since then there were plenty of things to do in Goiânia, Brazil. Because it was planned, there was time to think about planning for people’s entertainment as well.
Unlike beach destinations, being a tourist in Goiânia is all about actively exploring what’s around you. You will get the chance to visit parks, museums, go down water slides and so much more. So let me tell you all about the things to do in Goiânia, Brazil.
1. Go on a Park Exploring Spree:
Not just in 2025 – top attractions every year are the goianian parks. Ever since the beginning ot this planned city’s history, it was important to have as many green spaces as possible. There are over thirty public parks in town so our first item on the list of things to do in Goiânia, Brazil, had to be an indication to explore them. You probably won1t be able to go to more than two a day, so try to mix them up with museums or local restaurants. That way you will be able to sit down for a minute and not get overly tired.
Vaca Brava Park is perfect for people who just want to see some nature, it’s a well planned park in a upper end part of town. You’ll find lots of walking trails and playgrounds there. Parque Flamboyant is a local favorite, given it is so much bigger even if it is a little more on the rusticc side of things. The last one you absolutely have to visit is Parque Areião! This one has a lot of hiking trails where you can see wildlife if you’re lucky.
2. Visit at Least One Museum:
A lot of the things to do in Goiânia, Brazil, and in the Midwest region will involve tons of nature exploration, require things like specialized equipment or travel insurance. If you’re not the kind of visitor who enjoys such things, Goiânia is here for you. There are plenty of place to explore and some of my facvorite are Goiânia’s museums. You might think it’s just going to be boring but I guarantee it won’t. Places like these will give you a chance to know the place you’re visiting much better!
Because this is a planned city, your first stop should be the place dedicated to the guy who fought for it to happen. Museu Pedro Ludovico Teixeira is inside the man’s old house which add a whole layer of history. The Image and Sound Museum is perfect if you are looking for a more interactive thing! ANd lastly, you should definetly check out the Cerrado Memorial Museum, it tells you a little bit about everything in the area.
3. Walk Through the Zoo:
DId you know that Goiânia’s Zoo is almost as old as the city itself? It started as a connecting point between Goiânia and Campinas, which would turn into a neighborhood in later years. It oficially turned into a zoo in 1956! So if we are talking about things to in Goiânia, Brazil, in 2025 – top attractions to cross of a list, the Goiânia Zoo is one of them! You should plan for a day trip here!
The zoo is open from wednesday to sunday. You can get in starting at eight thirty in the morning but tickets are only sold until 4pm, with visitors woandering around until 5pm. As for admitions, they are super cheap because it is a state operated business. Your entrance fee will cost five reais, less than a dollar! Tickets can’t be purchased in advance so be ready for a little queing depending on when you show up here. As for moving around in there, you’re the boss since animals aren’t spread on a linear path.
4. Shop at Feira Do Cerrado:
I’s say the first one is because it’s been going on for so long, every sunday at Parque da Criança, it recently became an intangible heritage of the city. As if that wan’t enough, it is also considered the biggest craft fair in the midwest, with over 400 different stalls. You will be able to find everything, from leather goods to carved figurines and all the way to local foods.
This is the place to be on Sundays in the afternoon! It is one of those programs you could fit into your day after a morning spent exploring a park or the zoo. You just need to be careful with your belongings since it can get pretty crowded even if it is a nice place. And another way to be safer is to prefer paying with cash when buying things on the street, that way you’ll always avoid being scammed.
5. Splash Away at the Waterparks:
One thing that the state of Goiás and all the others in Brazil’s midwest don’t have is beaches. It can be weird since we are so famous for them, but Goianos put in their best efforts to make sure you canstill have as much fun even in the driest months. It is incredibly easy to go from your hotel accommodations to any of the park of your choice, with actual prices for entering them not being too expensive either.
Jaó Club is a more family friendly place, with several pools spread over plenty of space. What I like about this place is that it has restaurants in the property as well so you don’t need to worry about packing food. And of course, there is always the option to book hotels further away from the city center. Very often these places will have nice pool structure without the hassle of dealing with too many others.
6. Dance the Night Away:
I have to warn you that this next item on our list of things to do in Goiânia, Brazil, isn’t for everybody. For example, I am not the biggest fan of going out until the early morning hours but for those of you who enjoy it, this brazilian city is an amazing destination. Its rich culture and history exist besides a thriving night scene. You can have the best time just local bars!
But if you want to be a little more intentional about all the parts of your vacation, you could try scheduling it around one of the city’s traditional parties. The most famous one is Festa Junina which happens over a number of nights every June. And of course there is always Carnaval! It isn’t even close to Rio de Janeiro’s celebrations but you will definetly enjoy them.
7. Enjoy a Date in Goiânia:
Okay, before you begin arguing that there is no point in leaving north america or europe to go on a date in a city in midwestern Brazil. But if you are coming here with your better half, taking some time for yourselves as a couple is an important aspect of your trip. Going on a date is definitely one of the most unique things to do in Goiânia, Brazil. Your could follow the suggested itinerary of day tours to nearby waterfalls, have a picnic at Flamboyant Park or choose the museum to stop at before dinner.
For dinner with a nice view, you should hit Grá Bistro! It is organized in a nice lounge-ish way and it has a beautiful lookout spot over Goiânia. Should you prefer a small and traditional place that will definitely have good wine, Bartolomeu Restaurant is a great option. And there are always the comforting flavors of Italian cuisine at Viela Gastrônomica. You can always check the google review section or trip advisor for fellow travelers’ opinions.
8. Try Local Food:
Of course one of our items in this list of things to do in Goiânia, Brazil, has to be dedicated to local cuisine. The food you find at Goiania today comes from days where the rural exploration was a huge economic activity. Drovers went into the wilderness with their cattle and brought back some staple ingredients into town. The most famous dish is Pamonha, a dough made with corn and can have savory or sweet fillings.
There is also Chipa, a name which means my beloved in Guarani language. It is a sort of cracker made mainly from cassava and cheese. Another dish that locals consider to be a staple is Galinhada! It starts with cooking rice, adding chicken then mixing together and after that, it can look different in every restaurant you go to. Trying local food in seemingly authentic places can be enticing but never forget food safety, knowing what safe-to-eat-at places look like is important travel information.
9. Stop at the Oscar Niemeyer Cultural Center:
What I like about things to do in Goiânia, Brazil, it is that we don’t need to rely on third-party providers to get to them. You’ll hardly need to book vacation tours either! Reaching the Oscar Niemeyer Cultural Center is easy no matter how you choose to do it. And I think that you should definitely go, to be honest. Oscar Niemeyer is a famous architect responsible for places like the famous eye-shape museum and Brazil’s capital.
There is a lot you can do over the sprawling grounds. Walk through exibtions, enjoy presentations or just take in the modern architecture. Visitation hours are from Monday to Friday, starting at 8AM until 12PM. In the afternoon, doors are open from 2PM until 5PM. It doesn’t open on weekends so you can plan around that! As for how much it costs to get in, don’t worry. It’s free for everyone.
10. Continue Your Trip to Chapada Dos Veadeiros or Brasília:
Sadly, one of the main things to do in Goiânia, Brazil, is to continue on to other adventures in the Midwest. You can take a car or a private shuttle into Caldas Novas, a city with great water parks. Moving on even further, you could use Goiânia’s main airport to go to Brasilia. There is so much to do there and I wrote I whole travel guide about it on our blog. Flight costs tend to climb up the closer to your travel date it gets so plan in advance!
And for people looking for a chance to explore a different kind of Brazilian nature, you could look into Chapada dos Veadeiros. You can take a flight into Brasilia, enjoy town for a bit then book a private shuttle or try driving into Alto Paraíso de Goiás and Cavalcante. Just remember to bring your international permission to drive if you plan on renting a car.
Wrapping Up
Although the time of booking doesn’t matter so much, you are fine booking stuff up to six weeks in advance, that won’t always be true depending on when in the year you’re coming. The busiest season in Goiânia is from May through September, so late spring through early fall. This is your best bet for having a decent balance of good weather and milder temperatures. Summer months, December through February, have a tendency to be rainier so you might want to avoid that.
My biggest advice is to really plan your itinerary ahead. That will help you have a better idea of what to pack since activities like going to a waterpark or to a club have wildly different dress codes. You never want to be stuck hauling around huge suitcases because of overpacking. Whenever you feel like your advventure is ready to begin, Santa Genoveva Airport is ready for you. And if you want to know more beyond things to do in Goiânia, Brazil, check out our Goiânia travel guide!
