10 Tips For People Coming to Brazil For The Olympic Games

The Olympics are coming!

After what seems like an eternity, the games are just a few weeks away. Is Brazil completely ready? Probably not! 

Is there a chance it can all turn into a giant nightmare? Speaking honestly, yes.

I think though in all likelihood it will be much like what happened with the World Cup two years ago. Things won't be perfect, but the games will go on. I have some advice for people that will be coming to Brazil for the first time for the Olympic Games.

I arrived in Brazil just before the start of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and had no idea what I was getting into. I've since returned and now lived here for nine months. While I don't live in Rio de Janeiro where the Olympics will take place, I do have a good idea of what it's like to arrive in Brazil for a big event and feeling a bit overwhelmed. 

1. Don't believe all of the doomsayers 

If you were to listen to the major news outlets of the world, Brazil currently resembles a mix between The Walking Dead, Mad Max and Venezuela. It certainly isn't as bad as all that.

While there are some real problems here and a fair bit of political and economic turmoil it isn't as bad as a lot of the reports have you believe. 

2. Be Safe

That being said, like any developing country, you have to make sure you take care when you're in Brazil. There are some parts of Rio (and every other city in Brazil) that are genuine no go zones, and theft and robberies are relatively common. 

The important thing is to remember to use your common sense and take notice of your surroundings. My advice is to take out good travel insurance and not put up a fight if you are robbed. 

3. Plan ahead – things will take time

Nothing in Brazil is ever quick, and it won't change just because the Olympics are here. Be prepared for long delays. Traffic, queuing to buy tickets or to get into stadiums or even waiting for food. Some of this will be because the infrastructure promised for the games won't be completed on time. But it is also just part of being Brazilian.

True to Brazilian style, the metro line connecting the Olympic District to Copacabana is set to open only days before the Games open.

Lateness is kind of a way of life here. For Brazilians, when you organise a time to meet, its really just a suggestion or a start point, not a strict time to meet. 

Just be prepared and be patient. 

4. See the rest of Rio

Aside from the beach volleyball which will be happening on the beautiful Copacabana beach, most of the events are happening away from the usual hot spots of Rio de Janeiro. 

While the focus of the games will be on the sporting events and the competitors, you should definitely spend a few days checking out the rest of the sights Rio has to offer. Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, Christ the Redeemer, the Sugar loaf, the Santa Teresa Neighbourhood and even downtown are definitely areas worth checking out. There are some good free walking tours that are always a good place to start.

5. Get out of Rio

Brazil is more than just Rio de Janeiro. While all of the events (aside from the Olympic Football) are based in Rio, if you've got some more time before or after the Olympics I would definitely recommend getting out of the city to see some of what the rest of Brazil has to offer. 

I had never heard of Porto Alegre before following the Australian Football team here in 2014 and now I live here. Cities like Fortaleza, Florianopolis, Parati, Manaus, Olinda, Recife and Salvador offer history, culture and beaches, while Foz do Iguacu has one o the most stunning natural wonders of the world. Brazil is a big country – try to see some of it!

6. Eat Churrasco

A lot of people have heard of “Brazilian BBQ”, known as Churrasco. The best stuff comes from here in Porto Alegre, but you'll definitely be able to to find some in Rio and other cities as well. It is a carnivores delight with beautifully seasoned meat cooked to perfection. If you're luck, you may be invited to a locals home to enjoy a private churrasco, otherwise look out for a restaurant run by “Gaúchos” (people from Porto Alegre) and you'll be on the right track!

7. Learn some Portuguese

Portuguese is a tough language to master. It looks like Spanish but sounds like Russian. 

I've been living in Brazil for nine months and I'm still barely more than a beginner, but you should definitely try to learn the basics. While there will be plenty of people available to speak English and other languages around Olympic venues, if you want to get away from that at all you'll find the levels of other languages drops off dramatically. 

And here's the thing, Brazilians love it when you try to speak Portuguese. So many people don't try – or speak Spanish to them because they think that is close enough. It isn't. You'll make local friends a lot quicker by trying to say at least something in the local tongue.

8. Stay away from the water

I'm actually genuinely surprised that they're allowing the sailing and rowing events to go ahead at the Olympic Games. The water is filthy. Its a shame too because Copacabana and Ipanema are two the most iconic beaches in the world, but you'll just need to settle for some sun bathing or beach volleyball – its just not worth going into the ocean.

In some Brazilian cities, like here in Porto Alegre, the water is actually safe to drink. Rio de Janeiro is not one of those cities. Buy bottled water and save yourself the hassle.

9. Don't come if you're pregnant

While the chances of getting the Zika virus are still pretty remote, the potential problems caused by it for new borns are just not worth taking the risk. Even if you're trying to get pregnant it is best to stay away. Even for men, current advice suggest you'll need to wait up to several months before thinking about fathering a child.

10. Have fun - you're in Rio de Janeiro! 

The Olympic Games brings people together from all over the world which can only ever be a good thing. You're there to watch the best athletes in the world as well as meet people from all over, so try not to get bogged down in the negatives. 


That isn't to say you should ignore the problems of the country, but by being respectful, spending your money wisely (buy from local shops and restaurants as much as possible as opposed to those affiliated with the giant corporations) and try to engage and try to engage with locals you can leave a positive mark.

Let the Games begin!