Voltage changes between cities - 127V in Sao Paulo and Rio, 220V in Brasilia - on Type sockets. Toilet paper goes in the bin, not the bowl, and swimwear stays on the sand.
- Voltage changes between cities: Sao Paulo and Rio are mostly 127V, Brasilia and the northeast 220V, on Type sockets that also take Europlugs. A single-voltage 110V appliance on 220V is destroyed instantly.
- Brazil does not observe daylight saving, so the gap to Europe and North America shifts twice a year. Sao Paulo, Rio and Brasilia are UTC-3.
- Banks open only 10:00 to 16:00 on weekdays, shops 09:00 to 19:00 with a half day Saturday, and shopping centres 10:00 to 22:00.
- Toilet paper goes in the bin beside the toilet, not down it. Brazilian drainage pipes are narrow and flushing paper blocks them.
- Beachwear belongs on the beach. Bikinis and bare chests are fine on the sand and unacceptable in shops, on transport and in banks - and the OK hand sign is an obscene gesture here.
- Power is the one to check. Sockets are Type (three round pins in a triangle) and accept Type Europlugs. Voltage varies by city: Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are mostly 127V, Brasilia and the northeast are 220V, both at 60 Hz. Dual-voltage devices just need an adapter; a single-voltage 110V appliance plugged into 220V is destroyed instantly.
- Time: UTC-3 in Sao Paulo, Rio and Brasilia. Brazil does not observe daylight saving, so the gap to Europe and North America shifts twice a year.
- Tap water: not for drinking.
- Language: Portuguese, and English proficiency is limited outside luxury hotels, airports and tourist businesses. Por favor, obrigado (obrigada if you are a woman) and com licenca go a long way. Spanish is not Portuguese and trying it is not appreciated as much as people expect.
Hours
- Shops Monday to Friday 09:00 to 19:00, Saturday 09:00 to 13:00.
- Shopping centres Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 22:00, Sunday 14:00 to 20:00.
- Banks Monday to Friday 10:00 to 16:00 only, closed weekends.
- Supermarkets daily 07:00 to 22:00.
Public holidays that close commerce: 1 January, Carnival (moveable, February or March), 21 April, 1 May, 7 September, 12 October, 2 November, 15 November, 20 November and 25 December.
Rules visitors break
- Toilet paper goes in the bin beside the toilet, not down it. Brazilian drainage pipes are narrow and flushing paper blocks them. Every bathroom has a lixeira for this.
- Beachwear belongs on the beach. Bikinis, trunks and bare chests are fine on the sand and at the pool, and unacceptable in shops, on public transport and in banks. Put a shirt on to cross the road.
- The OK hand sign - thumb and finger in a circle - is an obscene gesture in Brazil. Use a thumbs up, which is the universal local signal for yes, thanks, agreed and go ahead.
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