Brazil, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo are recording stronger tourism activity from the United Kingdom as British visitor arrivals reached 121,990 between January and July 2026, the highest figure for the period since the 2014 FIFA World Cup year. The total represents an 11.61% increase compared with the same period in 2025 and places 2026 second only to 2014, when Brazil recorded 133,328 British visitors during the first seven months of the year.
The increase adds to Brazil’s broader international tourism growth and highlights the expanding role of European visitors in the country’s inbound travel market. British travellers can access Brazil through major international gateways, with tourism routes connecting large cities, coastal destinations, cultural centres and nature-based attractions across the country.
Rio de Janeiro remains a major British travel destination
Rio de Janeiro continues to provide one of Brazil’s most recognisable international tourism experiences. Visitors can explore Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, Sugarloaf Mountain, Christ the Redeemer and the city’s historic and cultural neighbourhoods.
The city also provides access to outdoor experiences, including hiking, viewpoints and coastal activities. Travellers can combine sightseeing with beach stays, restaurants, music and cultural events, creating itineraries that extend beyond Brazil’s most photographed landmarks.
For British visitors arriving through Rio, the city can also serve as a starting point for journeys along Brazil’s southeastern coast.
São Paulo expands the cultural travel experience
São Paulo provides a different side of Brazilian tourism, with museums, galleries, restaurants, shopping districts, architecture and a large events calendar. The city is one of the country’s main international gateways and can be incorporated into itineraries alongside Rio de Janeiro.
Visitors can explore Avenida Paulista, the São Paulo Museum of Art, historic neighbourhoods and major food markets while experiencing one of Latin America’s largest urban centres.
The city’s international air connections also make it an important entry point for British travellers continuing to other Brazilian destinations.
Brazil offers nature beyond traditional routes
British tourism demand is also connected with Brazil’s extensive natural attractions. The country includes the Amazon rainforest, Pantanal wetlands, Atlantic Forest landscapes, waterfalls and thousands of kilometres of coastline.
Iguaçu Falls remains one of the country’s major nature attractions, with visitors able to explore viewpoints, trails and surrounding national park areas. The destination can be combined with southern Brazil itineraries covering Paraná, São Paulo and other regional attractions.
The Amazon provides a different travel experience, with visitors able to explore rainforest ecosystems, rivers and wildlife through guided excursions based around Manaus and other gateway locations.
Bahia brings culture, beaches and heritage
Salvador and the wider Bahia region provide another important destination for international visitors. Salvador’s historic Pelourinho district, Afro-Brazilian cultural traditions, music and cuisine form a central part of the city’s tourism offer.
Travellers can combine a stay in Salvador with beach destinations along Bahia’s coastline. Places such as Praia do Forte and Morro de São Paulo provide opportunities for coastal holidays, while inland routes introduce visitors to additional cultural and natural landscapes.
The combination of heritage and beach tourism allows British travellers to experience different aspects of Brazil within the same regional itinerary.
Coastal destinations widen Brazil’s appeal
Brazil’s coastline provides extensive opportunities for travellers seeking beach holidays. Northeast destinations in states including Ceará, Pernambuco, Rio Grande do Norte and Alagoas offer beaches, marine activities, resorts and cultural experiences.
Recife and Fortaleza provide major gateways to these regions. Travellers can use the cities as bases for coastal excursions or continue toward smaller beach destinations.
Fernando de Noronha offers a more nature-focused experience, with protected marine ecosystems, beaches, diving and wildlife experiences forming the centre of its tourism offer.
Aviation supports growing UK-Brazil travel
Air connectivity plays an important role in international tourism between the United Kingdom and Brazil. Direct and connecting services provide access to major Brazilian gateways, allowing travellers to reach destinations across the country through domestic connections.
Once in Brazil, domestic aviation links cities separated by thousands of kilometres, making multi-destination holidays possible. A British traveller can therefore combine Rio de Janeiro with Salvador, the Amazon, Iguaçu Falls or northeastern beaches during an extended trip.
The availability of air connections also supports business travel, visiting friends and relatives, cultural tourism and leisure journeys.
British travellers explore more Brazilian experiences
The increase in UK arrivals comes as Brazil continues to promote tourism across a broader range of destinations and experiences. Nature, culture, food, beaches, adventure and heritage provide multiple reasons for international visitors to travel beyond the country’s most established tourism centres.
For British travellers, this creates opportunities to build itineraries around specific interests. A cultural journey can connect São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Salvador, while a nature-focused trip can combine Iguaçu Falls with the Amazon or Pantanal.
Brazil strengthens its international tourism network
The 121,990 British visitors recorded between January and July 2026 place the United Kingdom among Brazil’s important international source markets. The 11.61% year-on-year increase also shows continued growth from a European market that has historically contributed substantial visitor numbers.
With Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Salvador, Iguaçu Falls, the Amazon and Brazil’s extensive coastline offering distinct travel experiences, the country provides British visitors with opportunities to move beyond a single destination.
As international connectivity expands and more travellers explore Brazil’s cultural and natural attractions, the latest UK visitor figures mark another important stage in the country’s tourism recovery and international growth.
