It was purpose-built as the new capital in the late 1950s, designed by urban planner Lúcio Costa with buildings by Oscar Niemeyer - the whole layout is a planned modernist project, not an organic old town.
Discover Local Brasília: What to Do Around Mercure Brasília
At Mercure, we believe you shouldn't need a guidebook to feel like you belong somewhere. That's the idea behind Discover Local: since 1973, every Mercure hotel has been built around its neighbourhood, not just dropped into it — from the décor on the walls to the flavours on the menu. Step into any Mercure and our teams are on hand with the kind of tips you won't find in a guidebook: the market stall locals queue for, the bar where nobody speaks English, the walk that skips the crowds. They live here. They know. Discover Local isn't a generic city guide — it's a short, honest list of the restaurants, markets and neighbourhoods our own hotel teams actually recommend to guests, updated as the city changes around us. Below, you'll find our picks for Brasília, an interactive map to help you find your way, and answers to the questions travellers ask us most. So — where will Discover Local take you?
Brasília in 5 picks
Catedral Metropolitana
Oscar Niemeyer's hyperboloid cathedral, its ring of curved concrete columns visible long before you reach the entrance. Step inside and look up - the stained-glass ceiling floods the space with blue and green light.
Esplanada dos Ministérios
The monumental axis at the heart of Brasília's planned layout, government ministries lined up in identical blocks leading toward the Congress building. Walk it in the early morning before the heat sets in.
Feira da Torre de TV
A craft fair held at the base of the TV Tower, a few hundred meters from the hotel, selling regional handicrafts, gemstones and Brazilian souvenirs.
Memorial JK
A monument to Juscelino Kubitschek, the president who built Brasília from nothing in the late 1950s - his mausoleum and personal effects are on display inside.
Parque da Cidade
One of the largest urban parks in the world, popular with locals for weekend jogging, cycling and picnics - a green break from the city's concrete monumentality.
FAQ
A one-way walk from the Congress end to the Praça dos Três Poderes covers a few kilometers, so many visitors combine walking with a taxi for the return.
It runs regularly through the week - check ahead if you have a specific day planned, since hours can shift.
Where to sleep
See Mercure hotels in Brasília, all within reach of these picks.