With only a couple of weeks left until the World Cup kicks off in June, we’re getting really excited! Even if you’re not big football fans, the explosion of colour and passion of a World Cup is pretty infectious and hard to ignore, and there have been loads of changes around Brazil to accommodate the tournament.
We’ve already brought you guides to Cuiabá and Fortaleza and Salvador and Manaus, but if you’re heading out to Brazil this summer, read on for our travel guide of Rio de Janeiro, Porto Alegre, Natal and Belo Horizonte.
Guide to Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro is the second largest city in Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area in South America. With over 6.3 million people living in the city itself, you’ll need a helping hand if you want to get around efficiently, and that’s where HERE comes in.
HERE can help take the stress out of journeys, offering up traffic information for Rio itself, and also on the roads to Campinas, Sao Paulo and Santos. There are also venue maps, helping you navigate airports, museums and more.
Add in the very latest information for public transport, including subways and rail systems, and you’ll have everything you need to get around the bustling city as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Matches in Rio will be played in the magnificent Estádio do Maracanã stadium, which holds 78,838 fans. It’s a long way down on the 199,854 people that somehow squeezed into the stadium back in 1950, but it’s still a lot of football fanatics!
There’s a whole lot more to do in Rio de Janeiro than just football though, with a whole city at your fingertips. Which is why HERE has updated its maps to include 35 per cent more POI (Points of Interest), including restaurants and bars, or more vital things like ATM machines or even hospitals.
Guide to Porto Alegre
Founded back in 1769, Porto Alegre is the capital city in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande Do Sul. It’s also one of the top cultural centres of the country.
World Cup matches will be played at the Estádio Beira-Rio, which is the home stadium for Sport Club Internacional. Although construction of the stadium started in the 1950s, it seemed to locals like it’d take forever to finish, finally opening over a decade later in 1969.
Countries that will play in Porto Alegre include France vs Honduras, Australia vs Netherlands, Korea Republic vs Algeria and Nigeria vs Argentina.
As with Rio de Janeiro, HERE has updated its maps for Porto Alegre, with over 46 per cent more POI on offer for World Cup revellers.
Guide to Natal
Natal is both the capital and the largest city in Rio Grande do Norte, a North Eastern Brazilian state. There are around a million people in the city itself, with a bourgeoning tourist trade since the introduction of the Via Costeira coastal highway.
The Arena das Dunas stadium will play host to World Cup matches in Natal, and it’s one of the newer stadiums on offer. Described by architect Christopher Lee as the “most perfect stadium in South America”, it has a capacity of 45,000 people, and will be surrounded by shopping centres, an artificial lake and hotels.
If you’re in Natal with tickets for the World Cup, matches include Mexico vs Cameroon, Ghana vs United States, Japan vs Greece, and Italy vs Uruguay.
Once again there’s a huge increase in information when it comes to places worth visiting in the area, helping to keep you entertained when you’re not sitting back and enjoying the football.
Guide to Belo Horizonte
Belo Horizonte is the city that England fans will initially be interested in, playing their group D match against Costa Rica there. Other matches include Columbia vs Greece, Belgium vs Algeria and Argentina vs Iran.
World Cup games will be played at the Mineirão stadium, which was established in 1965. The stadium has a rich history, playing a part as the venue in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. Along with the World Cup, it’s also set to be used in the 2016 Olympics.
The city itself features some stunning architecture, stretching back to the early 18th century. It’s the location that really stands out though, being completely surrounded by mountains.
Exciting changes for the tournament include indoor maps for stadiums, helping you to find food, toilets and more while you’re actually in the stadium itself. No more need to go hunting for directions on the walls!
You’ll be able to get all you need from HERE when it comes to getting around the city, with subway and bus information covered for fans of public transport.