Porto Alegre sightseeing in 48 hours

Spending two days in the gaucho capital can be a delightful experience. Porto Alegre has beautiful parks, a plethora of cultural spaces and houses, museums, historical sites, lively markets, theaters, an exciting night life, not to mention its signature breathtaking sunset over the Guaiba lake.

Start your first day  in  Porto Alegre by having brunch at Cafe dos Cataventos, which is located at the Casa de Cultura Mario Quintana. After you have tasted some authentic Brazilian coffee and pastries, you can stroll down Mario Quintana’s house and enjoy the various exhibits that  inhabit the house. There are always movie exhibits as well, and several of them are free.  

Porto Alegre’s Mercado Publico is nearby, so once you’ve satisfied your cultural appetite, head to the historical building that hosts  over one hundred establishments selling the most various items, from natural products and spices to fresh seafood , ice cream, and chocolate.  If you still have time,  the Alfandega Square  is within walking distance.  The square is near the Guaiba lake, and is surrounded by some historical important  buildings. If you stick around until dusk, you can enjoy Porto Alegre’s beautiful sunset over the Guaiba, a favorite among locals.

Still up for some nightlife fun? Head to Bar Opiniao, another favorite among locals. Great music, snacks, drinks, dancing... a definitely promising evening. But if you’d rather have some low-key dinner at a nice cozy restaurant, the Gaucho capital has plenty to offer. Bistro do Margs, a steakhouse near Alfandega Square, offers authentic Gaucho cuisine.

A second day in Porto Alegre asks for a visit to Brique da Redencao, the famous gaucho flea-market that takes place everyday from 9am to 5pm at the Farroupilha Park. After you’re done shopping around at the flea-market, you can enjoy Farroupilha park, the most popular park in the gaucho capital. In need of some more shopping? Padre Chagas street, in the Moinhos de Vento neighborhood, is famous for having the best places for services, shopping, dining, entertainment and leisure in the city. Padre Chagas is considered the most elegant street in Porto Alegre. You will have plenty of choices for a lunch meal, snack, or coffee among the many chic restaurants and bars that inhabit Padre Chagas.

Since you’re in the hottest neighborhood in Porto Alegre, why not walk around a little longer and visit Moinhos de Vento Park, also known as ‘Parcao’? It holds beautiful scenery of several cultural attractions of the city calendar. There even is an artificial Azorean windmill with a small cascade that houses the headquarters of the park, and have inside about 2,000 titles of children's literature, in theEcological Children's Library Maria Dinorah, which is open to the public. The park also has sporting infrastructure, such as soccer field, tennis courts, bocce court, fitness equipment, a skating track, multipurpose courts and athletics tracks of 400m, 650m and 1.100m. The fauna is composed of turtles , geese, and ducksand fish.

Your second day in Rio Grande do Sul’s capital is almost over. Before you head out, enjoy a typical  and simple Brazilian delicacy, the ‘pastel’. It resembles pastry, but do not be fooled, for it is a full meal! One of the best ‘pasteis’ in the city is served at Usina do Pastel, just a few miles away from Moinhos de Vento park.

Loved your time in the capital of the southernmost state of Brazil? Rio Grande do Sul has much more to offer. If you’re planning to stay a little longer, head to Gramado, a mountain town only two hours away (by car or bus). Gramado offers the most elegant European flare mixed with the best of Brazil.