Gramado is in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, in Southern Brazil.
Understand
Gramado is a municipality and small touristic town, southeast of Caxias do Sul and east of Nova Petrópolis in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, in the Serra Gaúcha region. Most of the population of Gramado are of German or Italian descent. Gramado is one of the towns along the scenic route known as Rota Romântica. The town is also part of the scenic Região das Hortênsias route.
Gramado hosts the Festival de Gramado, a major South American film festival and Gramado's most important event. Gramado is also known for hydrangea blossoms in late spring. Another key event in Gramado is Natal Luz, when Gramado is decked out in lights and wreathes made of recycled material by local residents.
Get in
By plane
Gramado is served by two airports: Hugo Cantergiani Airport (CXJ) in Caxias do Sul and Salgado Filho International Airport (POA) in Porto Alegre. There is also an airstrip in Canela, which is only used for private airplanes. A plan to create the Hydrangeas Region Airport was halted by a court order due to environmental reasons.
CXJ
Hugo Cantergiani Airport[1] is a small airport serving Caxias do Sul and, it's some 60km (37mi) away from Gramado. CXJ is basically a collecting airport to Congonhas Airport in São Paulo and stopover from flights coming from e to Porto Alegre. Because of that, CXJ tends to be more relaxed on baggage overweight. In general, flights from Congonhas (CGH) to CXJ are cheaper than those flying to POA, an average roundtrip flight CGH-CXJ costs around R$450 (US$210). Infrastructure for visitors is minimal.
POA
Salgado Filho International Airport[2] is the largest, busiest airport in Rio Grande do Sul and Southern Brazil. POA is some 118km (74mi) away from Gramado. POA has a modern infrastructure, being the first airport in Brazil to have a mall (shopping centre), with movie theaters, food court, shops, duty-free shops, banks and so on. POA is connected to several Brazilian and South American cities.
By bus
Gramado is served by Citral, which has the franchise to explore bus services in the Região das Hortênsias, Vale do Paranhana. Gramado Bus Station is centrally located, on Borges de Medeiros Avenue, and has a taxi rank.
Get around
See
The area of main touristic interest is along Av. Borges de Medeiros, where sit the St. Peter church, the Festivals Palace, Covered Street, several restaurants, shops and squares.
- Lago Negro. surrounded by Araucaria wood that gets full of flowers in summer. Very popular walking spots. Features pedal boats.
- Miniworld (Mini-mundo). Outdoors collection of world monuments, such as Neuschwanstein castle, Ouro Preto and Bariloche airport, built in 1:24 scale.
- Covered Street (Rua coberta), city center. 24h. Shopping street with acrylic roof that looks beautiful with Christmas lights. Free.
- Parque Knorr, Rua Bela Vista, 353. Christmas-themed picturesque park, features Santa Claus Grove, Ms. Santa Village, Toy Factory, Wish Tree and Bear Cottage.
- Culture Center, Rua São Pedro, 369. features City Hall, Elisabete Rosenfeld Theater, the Municipal Historic Archives, the Prof. Hugo Daros Municipal Museum, sporting and religious facilities.
- Festivals Palace (Palácio dos Festivais), Av. Borges de Medeiros, 2697. Fr-Mo, from 20h30. Hosts famous Gramado Cinema Festival, and regular cinema sessions year-round.
- Wax Museum (Dreamland - Museu de Cera de Gramado), Av. das Hortênsias, 5.507, ☏ +55 54 3286-5100.
Do
- Agrotourismo, Beside the bus station. R$40.
Buy
Eat
- Restaurante do Hotel Pousada Colina de Pedra, Rua Furna 2305, Zona Rural de Gramado, ☏ +55 54 3286-0967, atendimento@colinadepedra.com.br. 8:00pm-11:00pm. Chicago-style pizza. R$ 23-R$34.
- St Hubertus Restaurante, Av. Borges de Medeiros, 2000, ☏ +55 54 3286-2227. Fondue.
Drink
Sleep
- Hotel Recando da Serra.
- Hotel Cabanas Tio Chico, Av. das Hortensias, 3634, ☏ +55 54 3286-1327. R$60.
- Hotel Pousada Colina de Pedra, Rua Furna 2305 Linha Furna, ☏ +55 54 3286-0967, atendimento@colinadepedra.com.br.
- Aardvark Inn Hotel Pousada, Rua Mestre, 18 Bairro Floresta (Center of Gramado, secondary entrance to Expogramado), ☏ +55 54 3286-0806, contato@aardvarkinn.com.br. Check-in: 14, check-out: 12. 120 - 250 Reais.
Go next
Go to Canela to see the great waterfall in Parque do Caracol (Snail Ecological Park), Parque da Ferradura (Horseshoe Ecological Park).
Routes through Gramado |
Nova Petrópolis ← | W E | → Canela → São Francisco de Paula |
Start of Road ← | N S | → Igrejinha → Taquara |