Passeio Público
Rua Presidente Carlos Cavalcanti, Ciritiba, Paraná, 80030-010
Curitiba’s oldest park, Passeio Público, opened in 1886 and boasts abundant forested space along with many species of native vegetation. The location is considered an ecological sanctuary, housing a lake with islands, a cave, a suspension bridge, and a floating stage. Locals and visitors alike visit this public park to rent bikes and paddle boats and enjoy the natural beauty of Brazil.
The basics
Join a guided cycling tour to explore the city of Curitiba and visit Passeio Público, or rent a bicycle to ride within the park limits. Browse the outdoor organic market. Catch a seasonal performance on the park’s stage. And there’s a digital bandstand that shows programming, including artistic video exhibitions, dance shows, and recordings of local bands. Spectators can sit on benches situated around the curved 360º LED screen.
Passeio Público is also home to the city’s former zoo and still maintains some small animal exhibits here. The gate of the Paris Dog Cemetery inspired the gates at the park’s main entrance on Carlos Cavalcanti.
Things to know before you go
Look for thrushes, tico-ticos, canaries, collared birds, cowbirds, woodpeckers, tanagers, swans, and white herons.
There’s a playground with adapted toys for children with special needs.
There are toilets located throughout the park.
Dogs are only allowed in the designated play area.
How to get there
Set between Rua Carlos Cavalcanti, Av. João Gualberto and Rua Presidente Faria, in the middle of Curitiba, Passeio Público is easily accessible and is serviced by several bus routes. Known for its Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, the city offers buses with higher capacities than regular, dedicated stations instead of "stops," and off-board payment options so passengers can get on and off via all doors.
When to get there
Passeio Público is open from 6am to 8pm every Tuesday through Sunday. On Saturdays, visitors can wander around an outdoor local organic market from 7am to 12pm; it’s located on Rua Carlos Cavalcanti. The park’s digital bandstand operates from 10am to 6pm during the week.
Botanical Garden of Curitiba (Jardim Botânico de Curitiba)
The most visited spot in the city, the Botanical Garden boasts a grand greenhouse that houses natural and ornamental plant specimens. It’s lit up at night to mark significant campaigns, such as pink for breast and uterine cancer awareness. The grounds are designed to resemble French royal gardens with plants culled from the local vegetation.
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