In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Brazil
São Luís
Give São Luís 2 nights for the UNESCO tiled Old Town, then move on to Lençóis Maranhenses: the city is a stopover, not the main event.
São Luís is the capital of Maranhão and a UNESCO World Heritage colonial centre, founded by the French in 1612 and later built rich on cotton. Two nights is the usual suggested stay for the Old Town; most travellers use the city as the gateway to Lençóis Maranhenses. It is hot and wet most of the year, so plan around the June–July Bumba-meu-boi season or the drier second half.
- Country
- Brazil
- Best months
- Aug–Nov (driest, sunniest)
- Avoid
- Feb–May (heaviest rain)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- BRL
- Money
- Currency is the Brazilian real (BRL, R$). About R$5–5.8 per US dollar in 2026 — check. Cards and tap-to-pay are accepted almost everywhere, even at beach kiosks.
- Daily spend
- Budget R$150–250 excl. bed · Mid R$250–450 excl. bed · High R$450+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Vivo, Claro and TIM cover the country; buying a prepaid SIM needs a passport and sometimes a CPF — an eSIM before you fly is easier.
- Emergency
- Police 190 · Ambulance 192 · Fire 193
- Plugs
- Types N, C · 127 V (Rio, São Paulo) or 220 V (Brasília, much of the Northeast) · Check the voltage on the socket; most chargers are dual-voltage.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 10% service (serviço) usually on the bill; optional but normal.; Beach kiosk / bar: Often included; round up.; Taxi / Uber: Not expected; round up.; Guide: US$5–15 per person per day.; Hotel staff: Small tip for porters.
- Water
- Do not drink tap water; filtered water is provided in most homes and hotels.
- Toilets
- Put toilet paper in the bin, not the toilet, in most places.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | 2026 estimate: check |
| Set lunch (prato feito) | 2026 estimate: check |
| Arroz de cuxá or peixada | 2026 estimate: check |
| Beer, 600 ml bottle | 2026 estimate: check |
| Taxi or Uber across the centre | 2026 estimate: check |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | 2026 estimate: check |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- SLZ · Marechal Cunha Machado International Airport
- About 13 km (8.1 mi) from the centre; domestic flights by Gol and LATAM. Fixed-price taxi to the Old Town, or bus 901 to Praça Deodoro.About 8.1 mi (13 km) from the centre; domestic flights by Gol and LATAM. Fixed-price taxi to the Old Town, or bus 901 to Praça Deodoro.
Typical fares
- Airport → Old Town, taxi
- Prices posted by baggage claim; check current fare.
- Airport → centre, bus 901
- About 45 min to Praça Deodoro; check current fare.
- São Luís → Barreirinhas transfer
- About 4 h by road; check current schedule and price.
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Buses serve the city, and Uber and 99 are available. The airport bus 901 takes about 45 minutes to Praça Deodoro; airport taxis use prices posted by baggage claim. Check current fares and routes before travel.
See and do
Known for
- UNESCO-listed Historical Center with azulejo tiles
- Bumba-meu-boi festival in June–July
- Reggae scene
- Gateway to Lençóis Maranhenses
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Barreirinhas and Lençóis Maranhenses | Road transfer or bus from São Luís, about 4 h | 4–5 h |
| Atins | Via Barreirinhas by 4x4 or boat, or direct transfer | 5–6 h |
| Raposa and Carimã beach | Bus or taxi to Raposa, then small boat — check transport and timing | check |
| Alcântara | Ferry or catamaran across the bay — check route and crossing time | check |
Sleep
- Historical Center (Praia Grande)
- Where most visitors stay: colonial streets, guesthouses and restaurants on foot. Quiet on Sundays.
- Lagoa da Jansen / Ponta d'Areia
- Modern hotels, urban beaches and nightlife; 10–15 min by taxi from the Old Town.
- Calhau
- Beach pousadas and bars, no budget options; far from the Old Town, needs a bus or car.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Oláoh-LAH |
| Thank you | Obrigado / Obrigadaoh-bree-GAH-doo / -dah |
| How much is it? | Quanto custa?KWAN-too KOOS-tah |
| The bill, please | A conta, por favorah KON-tah por fah-VOR |
| Can I pay by card? | Posso pagar com cartão?POH-soo pah-GAR kon kar-TOWN |
| Where is the toilet? | Onde fica o banheiro?ON-jee FEE-kah oo bah-NYAY-roo |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake, hug or cheek kiss (one in São Paulo, two in Rio); avoid: Being stiff with new acquaintances
- Gestures: Use thumbs-up freely; avoid: The OK hand sign (it is rude)
- Language: Try Portuguese; say obrigado/obrigada; avoid: Defaulting to Spanish
- Time: Expect relaxed social punctuality; avoid: Being late for tours and flights
- Beach: Bring only a towel, cash and a copy of your ID; avoid: Leaving things unattended
Scams and watch-outs
- Urban violence is a real issue: keep to the Old Town and Lagoa da Jansen after dark, and avoid Praia da Guia and BomFim across the bay.
- The sea recedes up to about 1 km at low tide and leaves no dry sand at high tide — check tide times before swimming.
- Some Old Town buildings are in poor repair; stick to lit streets at night.
- English is limited outside hotels and tours; a few Portuguese phrases help.
The Old Town and Lagoa da Jansen are fine by day; after dark take Uber or 99 and avoid empty colonial streets and the Guia/BomFim area across the bay. Violent crime exists in the wider city — don't walk with your phone out.
One and two days
No timed day plan for São Luís yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- UNESCO-listed Historical Center with azulejo tiles
- Bumba-meu-boi festival in June–July
- Reggae scene
- Gateway to Lençóis Maranhenses
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- São Luís city government: www.saoluis.ma.gov.br/
- Wikivoyage: São Luís, revision 5197549 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5197549
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
São Luís
Para este endereço, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
The US has no consulate in São Luís; nearest is in Recife. Most countries: embassies in Brasília, consulates in Rio or São Paulo.
Tipping: 10% service is usually already on the bill.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/sao-luis). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.