Porto Alegre Brazil
Frequently Asked Questions
On the Guaíba, alongside the historic centre, a few hundred metres from the first monuments. Few South American cities can be approached this directly from the berth.
It is a freshwater body, so wide you would take it for an inland sea. It is what gave rise to Porto Alegre, capital of Rio Grande do Sul and gateway to the Brazil of the gauchos.
The Mercado Público, Rua da Praia and Praça da Alfândega are about ten minutes on foot from the docks, and the whole historic centre takes an hour or two. Add the Usina do Gasômetro and the riverfront promenade if time allows.
A large neoclassical market opened in 1869. Under its yellow arcades, stalls overflow with southern fruit, inland cheeses and yerba mate leaves. A few counters also serve simple dishes, including churrasco, the state's signature grill.
Yerba mate as it is drunk here, from a gourd filled with leaves and hot water. Locals carry a thermos under one arm at all hours: watching a vendor fill his gourd at the market already tells you something about the regional identity.
A 1928 thermoelectric plant converted into a cultural space, recognizable by its tall brick chimney. It marks the start of the Orla do Guaíba, a long riverfront promenade running several kilometres along the shore.
Because the orientation of the shore and the width of the water let the sky light up unobstructed. Locals gather on the Orla do Guaíba at day's end, mate in hand, for a ritual the city itself promotes.
A weekday, when shops and museums are open and students and civil servants bring the centre to life. Several institutions close on Mondays, so check before planning your day around a museum.
Brazilian reais, and cards are widely accepted. Some cash still makes purchases easier at the Mercado Público and with small traders.
A packet of yerba mate or an engraved gourd, modest souvenirs typical of the gaúcha capital. The Mercado Público offers the best selection, a few minutes' walk from the pier.
