Curitiba is a big city in the state of Paraná. The city is very clean, organized and very green, it has a lot of trees on the sides of the roads and a lot of parks. Curitiba has 1.7 million people living in the city. The subtropical climate is hot in the summer but the winters can be cold. If you don’t know what to expect in this city you can also read more about what you should know before you go.
Walk in the Jardim Botânico
If there is one thing you shouldn’t miss, it is the botanical garden of Curitiba. Wherever you go in Curitiba you will find souvenirs with the beautiful art nouveau greenhouse on it. You can go inside and see some beautiful plants and flowers growing inside. The botanical garden has some French inspired gardens, a sensory garden, a walking trail and beautiful blossom trees (they bloom in may/june). There is a little restaurant in the garden behind the greenhouse and a hall where souvenirs are sold. A very lovely place to wander around. There is no admission for the garden. If you are a wheelchair user you can access the park but be aware that there are areas where you can’t get to. But most of it you can.
Find some great handmade items at Largo da Ordem market
Make sure you will come visit during the weekend, because this Sunday market is a great place for handmade/ artisanal goods. The market is open on Sunday mornings between 9-13.30h. It expands a large area of the historical city center and it has a lot to offer. From clothes, to baskets, home decor to toys and musical instruments to food, there is always something special to find here. There is a food area which is really nice because you can get hungry after walking around. You can find most typical Brazilian street foods here like pastel, coxinha, crepes on a stick and of course the sweet drink caldo de cana. Because the products on the market are handmade the sellers are very happy to show you how it is made or will tell you how they did it. At this market I have found some really awesome souvenirs for myself and some lovely gifts as well. I can recommend it a lot. The streets are cobbled so for wheelchairs and people who have trouble walking it’s not the best but you can definitely go.
Usually on Sundays’ there is a cultural performance in the Memorial de Curitiba. Over a period of 2 years I have seen Japanese dance and musical groups, Polish dancing and much more! Casa da Cultura Polônia or the culture house of Poland is also close by and they have ‘open house’ a couple of times a year.
If you are visiting during the winter months you can buy the pine nuts from the national pine tree of Paraná. You can buy them roasted from one of the vendors at the market. They are similar to wild chestnuts. You need to break open the nut first and eat the content.
Visit the Oscar Niemeyer museum
This museum has different exhibitions all year round, they display contemporary art, paintings and they have a great collection of African statues and of Japanese dolls. I have been there multiple times and every time they had new (and old) artists showcase their talents. From art installations to paintings to sensory exhibitions they have always made an impression. Besidesthe amazing art collection in this museum the building itself is also a piece of art. The building was designed by the famous Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer. He is famous for designing the capital city, Brasíllia. In the basement they have different models of buildings that he designed. On Wednesday the museum is free and the other days it is $R30. Check the website for accurate pricing and opening times. The museum is accessible for disabled people.
Watch a sunset at Tanguá park
This park is best visited when the sun is going to go down. One of the first places I visited was Tanguá Parque and I still have fun memories from it. There are two entries, down and up. From the down entrance you can see the waterfall but the view is best from the upper entrance. You are not able to walk up or down so you need to choose which entry you want to go to. You can of course take a car to drive to the other entrance. The viewpoint is lovely and you will see lots of people having a photo shoot here during golden hour. If you want to go up the building you can do that with a stairwell on both sides.
Shop at Mercado Municipal
In most big cities you will find a big covered market for all your fresh food like vegetables and fish. Usually there is a food court where you can have lunch. Some markets have a section with local products, selling cheese, coffee, liquor or artisan products. The Mercado Municipal in Curitiba is really good because of their broad selection of food, souvenirs, restaurants and service stores. I have been there a lot of times to get my fruits and vegetables, getting nuts and seeds or getting my bag made when it was broken. Practical and fun place to spend your time. The market is accessible for wheelchair users.
Wandering at the neighborhood of Santa Felicidade
This neighborhood is home to Italian descents and has a lot of nice shops and restaurants. If you are in the mood for Italian wine, cheese or ice cream you will find it here. One of the most unique restaurants is here, Madalosso. This restaurant was started in the 1960’s by the family Madalosso and it can house more than 1250 people. The restaurant is divided into different rooms which you can rent for big parties. This is a rodizio restaurant which means the waiters will come by the table with different dishes you can try.
Have a walk in Tingui park with the Ukrainian memorial
The first time I went to this park I was surprised by how quiet it was and how many butterflies I saw. It was in March which is considered the end of summer. The gorgeous trees were in full bloom and one of the bushes was full of flowers and full of butterflies. It felt like when I would come close a cloud of butterflies would fly away. In the park there is a wooden building that is a Ukrainian Memorial. They explain a bit of history and display some typical items from Ukraine. If you are getting sick of the city, this park is a really nice place to recuperate. You can access the memorial with the stairs only.
See a great view from Torre Panorâmica
If you would ask a Curitibano (a person from Curitiba) if they have been on the panoramic tower about 85% of the people will tell you they have never been there. The tower used to be a phone tower and there is some old memorabilia when you come in. The tower has a fantastic view of the city and it was a lot of fun to try and find some of the touristic places that Curitiba has. It is super easy to spot Parque Barigui because it is very close. It is only $R10 so there is not a lot lost if you don’t like it, but you will probably enjoy it. The tower is reached with an elevator and you can go inside with a wheelchair if you want.
Go shopping at one of the many shopping malls
The city has lots of great shopping malls where you can find most anything you might need. From older shopping malls to new ones, from big to small and normal to luxury shopping malls they have everything. Most shopping malls have a place where kids can play. I have seen complete playgrounds, little cars riding around and trampoline parks. In Brazil you can have tropical rains and then a day in a shopping mall doesn’t sound bad. The food courts provide lots of options. Lots of shoppings also have a cinema. The biggest shopping malls are Shopping Jockey, Park Shopping Barigui, Shopping Palladium and Shopping Mueller. The most luxurious shopping center is Shopping Batel. Then we still have Shopping Curitiba, which is not very big just like Shopping Estação. The latter used to be a railway station. You can still see the ticket booth and a train inside the shopping. This is one of my favorite shoppings, not too big but with a lot of options. Shopping malls are a great option for people who need to use a wheelchair, the floors are nice and flat and it’s easy to go inside shops without needing to think about thresholds.
See capybaras in Parque Barigui
Spotting wild animals in a city is really possible. There are some beautiful birds you can spot here but also butterflies, capybaras and monkeys. The park itself has a walkway and a bicycle lane that goes around the lake in the middle. There are some restaurants where you can eat or drink something and at one side there is a little area of rainforest. There I spotted the monkeys. This park has a pathway through it which allows you to come if you are a wheelchair user but the paths in the forest are very uneven so it’s better not to go there. I also advise you not to go alone in the forest area because it is known for exhibitionists.
Listen to a concert or see the beautiful Ópera de Arame
Music is the soul of Brazil. In large cities there are beautiful theaters built but when you go to this theater in Curitiba you will be amazed. This steel wire theater is built in an artificial lake and can only be accessed by a bridge. It was built in 1992. The walls of this theater are open which give the building a unique feeling. It is really awesome to enjoy a production here especially if it is a full house. The theater can receive about 2400 people but if you don’t like crowds you can also visit it without a concert in progress. It is $R15 to go in and there is a half price if you are a student. You can go in if you are using a wheelchair.
Visit Praça do Japão
In the middle of the big city is a small but beautiful little park. Surrounded by high buildings you will find a Japanese styled building, a nice park and some Japanese imported blossom trees. In the building is a shop with origami items and some souvenirs. Upstairs is a viewpoint but it’s not always open. When there are classes you can’t go up. It’s not a big park but I have spent some time there, just reading a book on a bench. It’s a bit hilly but even if you are disabled you can come here and enjoy the view.
Of course there is lots more to do here like going to some museums. There is the museum Holocaust, the Paranaense museum (national museum of Paraná) or the Egypt museum.
The city center, where the market is on Sunday, is also nice to visit when the market is not open. The colorful houses and the fountain are easier to see when there is no crowd.
The shopping street with the black and white road is also a nice way to explore the city more. The street is called Rua XV de Novembro. In the beginning or end of the street you have Praça Osório, there are some stalls with handmade goods and food.
Besides these cool things you can also find some great restaurants in Curitiba. One of my favorite Japanese restaurants is called Izakaya Hyotan. The food is so delicious but I do have to warn you that some of the wall paintings are very sexually explicit. If you don’t like that ask for a table more to the back. Another restaurant I really like is GreenGo Batel , a salad restaurant. For a good buffet restaurant with a lovely garden area you could go to Quintana gastronomia Curitiba. And if you like middle eastern cuisine then Amish Baladi restaurant is one that I enjoyed a lot. It’s a bit tricky to find because it is inside Shopping Mueller, close to the cinema. So just follow the directions to get to the cinema and you will also find the restaurant. Most shopping malls have a food court and you can always find good food there too.
As you could have read there is plenty to do in Curitiba for you to see. In my humble opinion it’s a good city to explore and get to know. There are also some awesome day trips you can do from Curitiba, which I recommend you to do.
Is Curitiba accessible for wheelchair users?
Museums*
Good, most museum are accessible but not all of them. Other places that I mentioned in this blog are accessible too but not all of them. Compared to other museums in Brazil, the ones you have here are much better to access.
Café’s and restaurants
Not good, not bad. There are some places but you do have to look for them for sure. Your best option is to go to the shopping malls because there is always a food court and sometimes nice restaurants.
Public transport
It’s not bad but also not good. Most of the bus stops have a stairway, ramp and/or elevator. But not all of them are accessible and you need help with it. If you don’t speak Portuguese it can be quite challenging. So for a hassle free trip it’s easier to take Uber.
Toilets
In lots of places you find toilet for disabled people. Especially in shopping malls, museums and some bigger restaurants.
*And other attractions
Items I love while traveling
Baseball cap for high ponytail
One of my biggest wins in terms of sun protection are hats and baseball caps. But I have a lot of hair and with this baseball cap I can finally wear my hair in a bun or high ponytail. Win-win!
Collapsible handheld fan
I don’t know about how you deal with heat but I need a bit of cooling down when I’m traveling. This easy (and cute) fan is my go to for when I am too hot. It can be charged with usb which is super practical.
XD Design roll top bag pack
My roll top backpack is almost 3 years old but I still use it every day, not only when I travel. Because of the roll top and the add lock system it is anti-theft. It’s also cut proof and water resistant. There is a separate section for your laptop and water bottle.