Tourist attractions in Northeast Brazil, state by state

Published on September 23, 2020 · Updated on October 25, 2026

Home » Northeast Travel Guide » Tourist attractions in Northeast Brazil: must-see destinations in every state

The tourist attractions in Northeast Brazil go far beyond the famous beaches. After all, the region brings together nine states, with a coastline of warm waters, mountain ranges, canyons, dunes, national parks and historic towns listed by UNESCO. In addition, each state capital has its own culture, music and cuisine. For this reason, this guide brings together the must-see destinations in every state, with links to the complete itineraries.

Quick summary – tourist attractions in Northeast Brazil

States: Bahia, Sergipe, Alagoas, Pernambuco, Paraíba, Rio Grande do Norte, Ceará, Piauí and Maranhão.
Beaches: Maragogi, Porto de Galinhas, Carneiros, Pipa, Jericoacoara, Morro de São Paulo and Praia do Espelho.
Nature: Lençóis Maranhenses, Chapada Diamantina, Cânion do Xingó and Serra da Capivara.
History: Pelourinho, Olinda and the historic center of São Luís.
Best time: from September to March, along most of the coast.

Map of the states and tourist attractions in Northeast Brazil

Landscapes of Northeast Brazil

In addition, one advantage of the region is that almost every state combines three types of landscape:

Coast: beaches with warm waters, natural pools, cliffs and dunes.
Forest: stretches of Atlantic Forest and humid mountain ranges, with rich biodiversity.
Semi-arid region: the sertão and the caatinga, with canyons, archaeological sites and a culture of their own.

Thus, you can combine beach, nature and history on the same trip. To better understand the tourist attractions in Northeast Brazil, also see the geography and climate regions of the Northeast.

Video about the tourist attractions in Northeast Brazil

Principais Destinos Turísticos no Nordeste

Bahia

Salvador: the Pelourinho, the historic center with Baroque churches; the Elevador Lacerda, which connects the Cidade Alta to the Cidade Baixa; and Porto da Barra. In addition, see the tourist attractions of Salvador.
Chapada Diamantina: waterfalls, caves and trails; therefore, see the guide to Chapada Diamantina.
Ilha de Itaparica: calm beaches in the Baía de Todos os Santos; so, see the guide to Ilha de Itaparica.

Morro de São Paulo and Boipeba

Morro de São Paulo is known for its numbered beaches and lively atmosphere. The Third and Fourth beaches, for example, are the best for those seeking peace and quiet and snorkeling.

Neighboring Boipeba, on the other hand, is quieter, with unspoiled nature and the atmosphere of a fishing village.

Praia do Espelho and Porto Seguro

Between Trancoso and Caraíva, in the municipality of Porto Seguro, Praia do Espelho has calm, clear waters, cliffs and a peaceful setting. To explore the area, then, see the guides to Porto Seguro and Caraíva.

Praia do Espelho, between Trancoso and Caraíva

Sergipe

In Aracaju, the Atalaia waterfront is packed with bars and restaurants, and the Mercado Municipal is also great for tasting the local cuisine and buying handicrafts.

Cânion do Xingó

About 200 km from the capital, in Canindé de São Francisco, the Cânion do Xingó is one of the largest navigable canyons in the world. In general, catamaran tours on the rio São Francisco reveal impressive rock walls.

Alagoas

Maceió: Pajuçara, with natural pools at low tide, and the Museu Théo Brandão, dedicated to folk culture; see the guide to Maceió.
Francês and Gunga beaches: close to the capital, with calm seas and, therefore, great for water sports; see Marechal Deodoro.

Maragogi

Maragogi is famous for its galés, coral reef banks that form natural pools at low tide. That is why it is called the “Brazilian Caribbean”. Moreover, the waters are clear and warm, and speedboat or catamaran tours get there in just a few minutes.

Pernambuco

Recife: Boa Viagem beach and the Instituto Ricardo Brennand, with a collection of weapons and art; see the guide to Recife.
Olinda: a neighboring historic town, famous for its Carnival and colonial churches; see the guide to Olinda.
Porto de Galinhas: natural pools and jangadas (traditional rafts); it is also worth seeing the guide to Porto de Galinhas.
Fernando de Noronha: the most famous archipelago in the country; see the history and geography of Noronha.

Praia dos Carneiros

In Tamandaré, Praia dos Carneiros is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Brazil, with warm, clear waters. In addition, the Capelinha de São Benedito, right by the sea, attracts many couples. For this reason, see the guide to Tamandaré.

Paraíba

João Pessoa: Tambaú beach, the Estação Cabo Branco, designed by Oscar Niemeyer, and Ponta do Seixas, the easternmost point of the Americas; see the guide to João Pessoa.
Praia do Jacaré: in Cabedelo, famous above all for its sunset by the river.

Praia de Tambaba

In Conde, Praia de Tambaba was the first official naturist beach in Northeast Brazil. It is divided into a naturist area and an unrestricted one and, above all, it delights visitors with its cliffs and warm waters.

Rio Grande do Norte

Natal: Ponta Negra beach, with the Morro do Careca, the Parque das Dunas and the Forte dos Reis Magos, from the late 16th century; see the guide to Natal.
Pipa: cliffs, dolphins and also nightlife; see the guide to Pipa.
Genipabu: dunes and buggy rides; so, see the itinerary for the northern coast of Rio Grande do Norte.
Lajedo de Soledade: an archaeological site with rock paintings, in the interior of the state.

Ceará

Fortaleza: Praia do Futuro, with large beach kiosks, and the Centro Dragão do Mar de Arte e Cultura; see the guide to Fortaleza.
Jericoacoara: dunes, lagoons and sunsets; therefore, see the guide to Jericoacoara.

Canoa Quebrada

Canoa Quebrada has attracted visitors since the 1970s. It is known for its colorful cliffs and, at night, for the busy Broadway street, full of bars and restaurants.

Ponta Grossa, in Icapuí

Praia de Ponta Grossa em Icapuí CE

Less well known, Praia de Ponta Grossa keeps the atmosphere of the old fishing villages. There, you can take jangada (raft) and buggy rides, as well as admire beautiful cliff formations. Finally, see the guide to Icapuí.

Piauí

Teresina: the Encontro dos Rios Poti and Parnaíba and the Palácio de Karnak, the seat of government; see the guide to Teresina.
Delta do Parnaíba: islands, mangroves and dunes on the coast; it is also worth seeing the guide to the Delta do Parnaíba.

Parque Nacional da Serra da Capivara

In the south of the state, far from the capital, the Parque Nacional da Serra da Capivara is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is home to one of the largest concentrations of rock paintings in the Americas and, therefore, it is a true journey into prehistory.

Maranhão

São Luís: the historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with old mansions and Portuguese tiles, and Calhau beach; see the guide to São Luís.
Lençóis Maranhenses: white dunes and freshwater lagoons; so, see the guide to the Lençóis Maranhenses.
Cachoeira da Pedra Caída: canyons and waterfalls in the south of the state; in addition, see the Complexo da Pedra Caída.

Best time to travel to Northeast Brazil

Along most of the coast, the best time is from September to March, when it rains less. However, the rainy season varies from state to state. In the Lençóis Maranhenses, for example, the lagoons are fullest between June and September, right after the rains. In the sertão and the Chapada Diamantina, on the other hand, the dry winter is ideal for hiking.

To plan your visit to the tourist attractions in Northeast Brazil, also see the best beaches in the Northeast and the 31 places to travel to in the Northeast.

Frequently asked questions about the tourist attractions in Northeast Brazil

What are the main tourist attractions in Northeast Brazil?

Among the most famous are the Pelourinho, Maragogi, Porto de Galinhas, Jericoacoara, the Lençóis Maranhenses and Fernando de Noronha.

In addition, Chapada Diamantina and Serra da Capivara stand out for their nature.

Which states make up Northeast Brazil?

In total, there are nine: Bahia, Sergipe, Alagoas, Pernambuco, Paraíba, Rio Grande do Norte, Ceará, Piauí and Maranhão.

In other words, it is the region with the most states in Brazil.

What is the best time to travel to Northeast Brazil?

In general, from September to March, along most of the coast.

However, for the Lençóis Maranhenses, the ideal time is from June to September.

What are the most beautiful beaches in Northeast Brazil?

Maragogi, Carneiros, Pipa, Jericoacoara, Morro de São Paulo and Praia do Espelho are among the most often mentioned.

Even so, there are many little-known and equally beautiful beaches.

Which tourist attractions in Northeast Brazil are UNESCO Heritage Sites?

Among the tourist attractions in Northeast Brazil on this list, for example, are the Pelourinho, Olinda, the historic center of São Luís and Serra da Capivara.

Also on the list are Fernando de Noronha and the Atol das Rocas.

Written by Willy Sievert

Editor of Bahia.ws since its founding in 2009. Based in Salvador, he travels frequently across the Northeast and all of Brazil to keep the guides up to date. Learn more about Willy Sievert →