With attractions for all ages, renewed every year, the city of Rio Grande do Sul has become one of the biggest tourist hubs in the country – and not just in winter.
By Luiz Maciel
Brazil has several winter destinations that welcome tourists during the July holidays to enjoy fondue, hot chocolate and walks between valleys and mountains that make for beautiful photos. And there is Gramado , in Serra Gaúcha , which is a case in point as it offers much more than these traditional cold season attractions. It is a place from which you return with experiences that cannot be found, so combined, in any other part of the country.
There are so many points of interest in Gramado that it’s not even possible to mention them all here. But it’s natural to start this list with Snowland , a snow theme park that remains without competitors in Brazil, despite having been in existence for eight years. With an area equivalent to two football pitches, Snowland reproduces an alpine village with a snowy mountain, ski slope, ice skating and, naturally, a café-restaurant for visitors to refresh themselves between one fun experience and another. In the cafe area – which includes stores and electronic games – the temperature is 18 degrees. In the icy surroundings, the cold reaches minus 5 degrees.
Located at an altitude of 850 meters, Gramado is one of the Brazilian cities that can record snowfall without causing surprise, from June to August. With Snowland, however, it now guarantees the feeling of winter all year round, with certainty of snow and fun for the whole family; especially for those who have never had the opportunity to experience true cold.
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Another great feature of Gramado is its museums and attractions. Some are mere piles of tourist-hunting trinkets. Others especially appeal to children, such as Mini Mundo , a miniature city assembled with precision detail and lots of breath, with 133 buildings, 505 vehicles, 3,268 inhabitants and 290 animals or the new Alice and the Hatter , a space themed around the novel by Lewis Carroll.
Chocolate, essential in any mountain environment, is honored by not one, but two museums in Gramado. In the Chocolate Kingdom , you learn everything about this cocoa delicacy, from its discovery to the modern manufacturing process. In the World of Chocolate , five tons of the product model houses, animals and even a four-meter-high Eiffel Tower. In both, of course, there is a huge variety of chocolates for sale. Other interesting options are Hollywood Dream Cars , with a collection of cars from the 1920s to 1960s in impeccable condition, including a 1929 Model A Ford, and Super Carros , where you can drive a Maserati or a Lamborghini.
Gramado, like Las Vegas, could be a success just with the countless indoor attractions it offers. But it goes far beyond that, as it is immersed in exuberant nature . Anyone who arrives in the city in summer – another high season in the city, due to the many Christmas light and sound events that run from October to January – notices this right on the road that goes up the mountains, decorated with flowering hydrangeas on both sides. In the city, an unmissable outdoor trip is Lago Negro , which children – and parents too – will love exploring on a pedal boat, some shaped like a pirate boat.
It is important to remember that Gramado is the epicenter of a very special region, which deserves to be known in more depth by those planning a stay of at least seven days. In the city of Canela , for example, just 6 km away, there are two must-visit postcards: the Caracol Cascade and the Gothic-style Stone Cathedral . Further away, a two-hour drive away, is the Itaimbezinho canyon , a natural beauty that Brazil still knows little about, which is a shame, as it is our version of the American Grand Canyon – smaller in size, but much greener. . Also two hours away by car is Bento Gonçalves , in Vale dos Vinhedos , where you can visit wineries and take a steamboat to Carlos Barbosa , which received the first Italian immigrants from Rio Grande do Sul. It’s a full day program.
It is no coincidence, after all, that Gramado, with a fixed population of just 36 thousand inhabitants, is visited by around 6.5 million tourists per year. So many people like that can’t be wrong.
Natal Luz is Gramado’s unmissable event that attracts thousands of tourists every year. There are several daily shows , in closed or open places and most of them pay. This year, the event takes place from October 27, 2022 to January 29, 2023 . Plan ahead, tickets can be purchased here . See the video of the event below.
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Where to stay
Gramado has an extensive hotel network, with around 27 thousand beds and options of all levels. These are some of the well-structured hotels to welcome entire families:
Casa da Montanha Located in the city center, close to several attractions, it has a children’s play room, indoor pool and a carousel that is a hit with children. At Christmas the program includes the arrival of Santa Claus.
Laghetto Stilo Vita Very central, close to Rua Coberta, it hasa restaurant, heated pool, kids space, games room and fitness center.Furthermore, the hotel is Pet Friendly and has parking.
Villa Bella Concept The children’s entertainment structure is a strong point: it includes monitors and even a mascot that appears at breakfast to play with the little ones. It is further away from the center, but it makes up for it with the beautiful view of a valley and the free transport to the center.
