Etiquette
In Brazil, people have two surnames and the main surname is the last. So for instance, Senhor Antonio Pereira dos Santos would be known as Senhor dos Santos.
In general Brazilians shake hands to greet friends, acquaintances and business associates and also when saying goodbye. In non-business situations or where the parties know each other, women may expect a kiss as well. Two men will shake hands, two women will kiss once on each cheek and a man will shake hands and kiss a woman’s cheek at the same time.
Gratuities:
10% service charge is included in restaurant bills and you may leave a gratuity on top of that. Taxi drivers would expect you to round up to the nearest real. Porters, bellhops and so on would appreciate a real or two for their assistance.
Smoking:
Smoking is generally acceptable unless otherwise indicated. Most restaurants have separate smoking and non-smoking sections.
Climate
Rio de Janeiro has a tropical climate and the temperatures remain relatively stable throughout the year. Summer, from December to March, is hot and slightly humid, with temperatures of up to 40ºC (104ºF) during the day whilst winter, June to August, is warm but very humid, with temperatures around 20ºC (68ºF). Due to the hot, humid weather, most buildings are air-conditioned.
Government
The state of Rio (one of Brazil's 26 states) has a governor, elected for a four-year term. The city's council is headed by the mayor.
Economy
As well as being the most popular tourist destination in Brazil, Rio is a thriving shipping, banking, cultural, publishing and administrative centre. 32 per cent of Brazil's population, 65 per cent of its industries and 40 per cent of its agricultural production can be found within a 500 kilometres radius of Rio. Its port trades more than 30 million tonnes of goods each year and more than 80 per cent of Brazil's visitors arrive and leave from the city's airports.
Business Hours
Most shops and government services, such as post offices, are open Monday to Friday from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm and on Saturday from 9.00 am to 1.00 pm, which is when most people in Rio do their shopping. The large shopping malls usually stay open until 10.00 pm and open on Sunday as well.
Visa Requirements
As the Brazilian Foreign Office bases its policy on reciprocity, visitors from certain foreign countries will require a visa. This usually means European citizens don't require a visa, while visitors from the US, Canada and Australian need to have a visa in order to enter the country. Please check with the Brazilian embassy or consulate in your country of residence.
A visa can be obtained from the Brazilian embassy or consulate closest to you and is usually processed in two working days. For a tourist visa, you will need to show your passport (valid for at least six months from the date of arrival), one passport-size photograph and a round-trip ticket.
Currency
The monetary unit of Brazil is the real, the plural is reais. It is made up of 100 centavos in coins of 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50. In addition to the one real coin, there is a one real note. Notes are in different colours: green for one real, blue for two, blue/purple for five, red for ten, brown for 50 and blue for 100.
Cash, Credit Cards and Traveller's Cheques
US cash dollars can also be traded in Rio and are worth a bit more on the parallel market. As traveller's cheques are insured against loss and can be exchanged at the tourist rate, they are good value.
International credit cards like Visa, American Express and MasterCard can be used in many hotels, restaurants and shops. As they are not accepted in some establishments, make sure you ask first if you plan to use one.
Banks are generally open from 10.00 am to to 4.00 pm, Monday to Friday.
Public Holidays
Government offices and businesses are closed on numerous national holidays which include:
- 1st January
- Good Friday and Easter Monday
- 21st April
- 1st May
- 7th September
- 12th October
- 2nd November
- 15th November
- Christmas Day
Newspapers and Magazines
There are three daily newspapers in English: the Miami Herald, USA Today and the International Herald Tribune. They are usually on the news-stands by noon.
Time,Newsweek and The Economist magazines are all available in Rio de Janeiro. There are many other English and French language newspapers and magazines for sale at the news stands on Avenida Rio Branco in the Centro.
The Jornal do Brasil and O Globo are Rio's main daily newspapers. Both have entertainment listings which are useful to tourists.
Time Zones
Brazil has four official time zones. The Standard Time zone covers the eastern, north-eastern, southern and south-eastern parts of Brazil, including Rio. This zone is three hours behind GMT.
Weights and Measures
The metric system is used throughout Brazil.
Driving
Drive on the right-hand side of the carriageway in Brazil.
