Petrópolis

Petrópolis is a city in Rio de Janeiro (state). It is also known as The Imperial City of Brazil.

Understand

In the 1830s, the area of modern day Petrópolis was little more than farmland. When Emperor Dom Pedro I went through there on his way to Minas Gerais, he was struck by the scenery and decided to buy some land. Dom Pedro I returned to Portugal soon after and the land was passed to his son, Dom Pedro II, who built a summer retreat. Soon a palace was built along with mansions and a cathedral, giving its nickname, "The Imperial City".

Nestled among the forested hills of the Serra dos Órgãos, in the valley of the Quitandinha and Piabanha rivers, Petrópolis is a popular summer holiday spot. Besides the climate and surroundings, the main attraction is the former Summer Palace of the Brazilian Emperors, which is now a museum, specializing in Imperial history and memorabilia.

Petrópolis is home to the National Laboratory for Scientific Computing (LNCC), a research unit of the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Brazilian Federal Government.

Get in

The only way into Petrópolis is by road. Buses run from the major cities in the area such as Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte as well as places further afield such as São Paulo and Brasília.

• Única, ☎ [phone]. This company runs buses from Rio de Janeiro (1 hour) about every 20 minutes (Try and get a seat on the left hand side of the bus for the best views). You get dropped off at the Leonel Brizola bus station in Bingen about 10km from town. Take the local bus number 100 (R$2) or 010 (R$2.50) into the city center. Ask to be dropped off at Praca Libertad. R$14.5. 

Get around

All the main tourist sights are close to the center and are easily accessible on foot. There is numerous bus services in and around town but the number 100 or 010 are the ones most useful to visitors which run from the center to the Leonel Brizola bus station in Bingen.

• Imperial Coop, Rua do Imperador 288, Centro, ☎ [phone]. This car hire place is really only useful if you plan on visiting the area around the city 
• Taxi, toll-free: 0800 241-516. If you're in need of a taxi, you can call this company or just hail one of the many driving around town 

See

The Museu Imperial.

Catedral de São Pedro de Alcântara in Petrópolis.

• 🌍 Imperial Museum of Brazil (Museu Imperial), Rua da Imperatriz, 220, ☎ [phone]. 11am-6pm Tue-Sun. One of the cities highlights. The weekend house of Dom Pedro II and his wife, Dona Teresa. The well preserved building has a collection of royal exhibits as well as a 1.7kg diamond and pearl studded crown. Adults R$8 , Students R$4. 
• 🌍 Cathedral of St. Peter of Alcantara (Catedral de São Pedro de Alcântara), Rua São Pedro de Alcântara, 60, ☎ [phone]. 8am-Noon & 2-6pm Tue-Sun. Housing the tombs of Dom Pedro II, Dona Teresa and their daughter Princesa Isabel, this is a fine cathedral that has great views from its steps. Free. 
• 🌍 Palácio de Cristal (Crystal Palace), Rua Alfredo Pachá, ☎ [phone]. 9am-5:30pm Tue-Sun. A greenhouse built for Princesa Isabela in France and brought to Brazil in 1884. Free entrance. 
• 🌍 Quitandinha Palace (Palácio Quitandinha), Av. Joaquim Rolla. A historic former luxury resort hotel, second only to the Copacabana Palace in Rio. However it closed in 1962 and was turned into private condominiums. The lavish surrounding gardens are open to the public. 
• 🌍 Rio Negro Palace (Palácio Rio Negro), Avenida Koeller, 255, ☎ [phone]. One of the official residences of the President of Brazil, although mostly used as a country retreat. 
• 🌍 A Encantada (Santos Dumont's house), Rua do Encanto, 22, ☎ [phone]. Tu-Su from 9h to 17h30 (ticket until 17h). Nicknamed "The Enchanted", this house was the summer residence of Alberto Santos Dumont, the Brazilian aviation pioneer. He designed the house himself; nowadays it's a museum showing his objects, books, letters and furniture, as well as some famous domestic inventions of his: an alcohol-fueled hot shower, and an entrance staircase with paddle-shaped steps, which can only be used starting with the right foot. There's also the Centro Cultural 14a, attached to the house, where you can watch a short film about Santos Dumont. The space has tactile models and accessibility for visitors with special needs. R $ 8.00 (full price) / R $ 4.00 (half price).. (updated Sep 2015)
• 🌍 Cervejaria Bohemia (Bohemia Brewery), Rua Alfredo Pachá, 166. wed-fri, 11AM-06PM, sat-sun 11AM-08PM. The brewery of the popular Bohemia beer, built in neoclassic style in 1853, is a national heritage. It can be visited by those interested in the beer making process and in beer history. Tickets are sold up to two hours before the closing time; they can also be bought in the website. R$ 9,50 to R$ 19,50. 

Do

• Rios Brasileiros Rafting, Room 104, Rua Silva Jardim 514, ☎ [phone]. This company organizes rafting and hiking trip around the area. They have English and Portuguese speaking guides. 
• Trekking Petrópolis, ☎ [phone]. This company organises hikes, mountain biking and other activities in the Mata Atlântica rainforest. 

Buy

Like most towns and cities in Brazil, anything that you could want to buy would most likely in the main street Rua do Imperador. However if its clothes you're after you can't go wrong with Rua Teresa. This street has more clothes stores than you need as well as a few good places to eat. Here are some good choices.

• Taco Roupa, Rua 16 de Março 364 e 366 Centro, 25655, ☎ [phone]. A chain of clothing stores throughout Brazil. 
• 🌍 Sendas, Rua General Rondon, 1015 - Quitandinha, ☎ [phone]. A food and drink supermarket where you can pick up a whole heap of Brazilian food and drink. 

Eat

• 🌍 Majórica Churrascaria, Rua do Imperador, 754, ☎ [phone]. Noon-10pm Tue-Sun. A great Churrascaria not far from the Meseu Imperial. R$24-44. 
• Bistrô Petit Palais, Av Imperatriz, 220 (Within the Museu Imperial complex), ☎ [phone]. Noon-7pm Tue-Sun. A nice little bistro serving pastries and some hot dishes. From R$16. 
• 🌍 Las Delicias (The Delight), Rua Gonçalves Dias, 423, ☎ [phone]. This is a good Brazilian style buffet. Good for a quick cheap bite of local Brazilian foods. Less than R$20. 
• 🌍 Locanda della Mimosa, Alameda das Mimosas 30, Vale Florida, ☎ [phone]. 12:30-3:30pm Sat & Sun, 8-11:30pm Fri & Sat. This place may be expensive but the exotic foods are impressive. Reservations are highly recommended. 3-course dinner R$120. 

Drink

Drinking is pretty thin in Petrópolis but there are a few good chopperias on Rua do Imperador. Petropolis' most famous native beer is the Bohemia (1853), which became nationwide popular after 1960, when its brewery was acquired by Antarctica (now AmBev).

Sleep

• 🌍 Pousada 14 Bis, Rua Buenos Aires, 192 (A few blocks from the bus station), ☎ [phone]. This place has nice quiet rooms and is close to the bus station. Double from R$70. 
• 🌍 Hotel Colonial Inn, Rua Monsenhor Bacelar, 125, ☎ [phone]. Beautiful antique style rooms with a nice feel. Double from R$140. 
• 🌍 Pousada Quitandinha, Rua Uruguai, 570 (Bus 180 or 480 to avoid a connection in the city center. Get off Quitandinha lake with the fake lighthouse, then climb the stairs left of the palacio.), ☎ [phone]. HI affiliated hostel located outside of the center in the quiet Quitandinha neighboorhood. 4 beds dormrooms in a wooden house, clean but worned out sheets, clean bathroom, friendly and helpful staff. Varied all you can eat breakfast. They cook basic but filling meals for RS6 at night. R$35. 
• 🌍 Pousada Mata Atlantica dos Sauer, Rua Bingen, 1055, ☎ [phone]. Check-in: 1300, check-out: 1200. A beautiful quite bed & breakfast alongside the mountains of Petropolis. There are 11 natural water springs on the compound that also has a waterfall. Some features include: Waterfall, Hiking Trails, Breakfast inclusive, Free Wi-Fi, Free long distance to USA and Canada. R$190. 

Connect

• CompuLand, Rua 16 de Março 326, Centro. 9am-7pm Mon-Sat & 9am-6pm Sun. This centrally located internet café has high speed internet. R$2/hr. 

Go next

• Rio de Janeiro
• Belo Horizonte