Essentials
- City
- Armação dos Búzios, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Population
- Approx. 35,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 150 Mbps (Fiber available via Sumicity or Oi)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 BRL ≈ 0.20 USD. Banks include Itaú and Banco do Brasil on Rua Manuel Turíbio de Farias.
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; buy 20L water jugs for approx. R$15.00
- Power
- 110V (mostly), 60Hz, 🔌 Type N sockets
- SIM Card
- Vivo or Claro; R$30–50 for 10GB-20GB packages
- Banking for Expats
- Nubank or Inter (digital); Wise and Revolut widely accepted
- Accommodation
- Pousadas (guest houses) and Airbnb; monthly rentals available via OLX
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, 'Pix' and credit cards are used for everything from street corn to high-end dining
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Booking.com, and local agencies like Búzios Rent
- Budget Accommodation
- Che Lagarto Hostel Búzios (approx. R$80/night for a dorm)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Orla Bardot and Rua das Pedras (Center) for proximity to nightlife
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Ferradura or Geribá for a quieter atmosphere and larger rental houses
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Búzios Coworking (Rua das Pedras); Daily rates approx. R$70
- Best Cafe for Work
- Golden Bread (Geribá) - fast WiFi and excellent pastries
- Networking Events
- Weekly 'Nomad Meetups' often organized via the 'Búzios Digital Nomads' WhatsApp/Facebook groups
- Social Events for Expats
- Samba nights at Porto da Barra on Friday evenings
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber (limited) and 99; local 'CooperBúzios' vans (R$6.00 fixed fare)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Búzios Rent a Car & Bike; R$80/day for bicycles, R$180/day for scooters
- Best Beach Nearby
- Praia de Geribá (surfing) and Praia da Ferradura (calm waters)
- Top Regional Airline
- Azul Conecta (flights to Cabo Frio Airport CFB)
- Top International Airline
- LATAM, GOL (via Rio de Janeiro GIG/SDU)
- Highway Access
- Via Lagos (RJ-124) connects Búzios to Rio de Janeiro
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Búzios Bus Terminal (Rodo-Shopping); frequent buses to Rio via Auto Viação 1001
- Public Transport Passes
- RioCard Mais (shared with Rio state) or cash for local vans
- Regional Travel
- Private transfers/bus to Cabo Frio (20 mins) or Arraial do Cabo (45 mins)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Hospital Municipal Rodolpho Perissé (Public); Clinica Búzios (Private)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga Búzios (Geribá); classes approx. R$50 per session
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Academia Physical (Ferradura); monthly pass approx. R$150
- Laundry Services
- Lavanderia Búzios (Center); approx. R$40 per 5kg load
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- iFood is the dominant platform in Búzios
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Moqueca Capixaba or Peixe na Brasa (Grilled Fish)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Maria Maria Café (Center) - offers plant-based lunch specials
- Best Dessert Spots
- Sorvete Finlandês on Rua das Pedras
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Supermercado Extra or Princesa (Manguinhos)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Mercado Livre (express delivery often takes 2-3 days)
- Grocery Delivery
- Supermercado Princesa offers WhatsApp-based delivery
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Rua das Pedras and Orla Bardot
- Local Brewery
- Búzios Cervejaria (located in Porto da Barra)
- Wine Bars
- Anexo Bar (Orla Bardot)
- Street Food Stalls
- Tapioca stands at the Praça Santos Dumont
- Popular International Cuisine
- Satyricon (Italian/Seafood); Místico Sunset (Contemporary)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Statue of Brigitte Bardot; 'Três Pescadores' statue in the water
- Museums & Art Venues
- Zanine Cultural Center
- Historical Sites
- Sant'Anna Church (built in 1740) overlooking Praia dos Ossos
- Religious Sites
- Igreja de Santa Rita de Cássia (Manguinhos)
- Annual Events
- Búzios Jazz Festival (usually July); Búzios Food Festival (August)
- Cultural Districts
- Porto da Barra (Gastronomy and sunsets)
- Theater Venues
- Gran Cine Bardot (Independent movie theater)
- Local Markets
- Feira Livre de Búzios (Saturday mornings at Praça da Ferradura)
- Music Scene
- Live MPB and Bossa Nova at bars in Rua das Pedras
- Street Art
- Mural art along the walk to Praia da Armação
- Cooking Classes
- Private lessons at local pousadas like Casas Brancas
- Art Galleries
- Galeria de Arte Celina Sampaio
- Historic Buildings
- The original fishing huts at Praia dos Ossos
- Local Heritage
- The 'Caiçara' fishing culture and the 1960s transformation by Brigitte Bardot
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Emerências Reserve; hiking trails with Atlantic Forest vegetation
- National Parks Nearby
- Parque Estadual da Costa do Sol
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The Orla Bardot boardwalk for scenic walking
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Mirante do Forno and Mirante de João Fernandes
- Birdwatching Locations
- Lagoa de Geribá
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Generally prohibited on beaches; check private events at Praia Brava beach clubs
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Correios (Post Office) in the Center; Jadlog for private shipping
- Tech Repair Services
- Búzios Tech (Rua Manuel Turíbio de Farias)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Clubes de Praia (Beach Clubs) in Geribá sometimes offer tables
- Language Classes
- Búzios Portuguese School (located in Manguinhos)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Biblioteca Municipal de Búzios
- Community Centers
- Associação de Moradores de Geribá
- Gaming Lounges
- None; most internet cafes have closed in favor of coworking
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Illegal in Brazil (except for Poker clubs like Búzios Poker House)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. R$15,000 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = R$450,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. R$9,000 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = R$270,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. R$13,500 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = R$675,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. R$8,500 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = R$425,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. R$12,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = R$960,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. R$7,500 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = R$600,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 15% plus 10% surtax on income exceeding R$240k/year
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- Currently 0% (one of the few countries with this benefit)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for tax residents (after 183 days)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 27.5%
- VAT
- ICMS/ISS (Local/State taxes) range from 5% to 18%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, applicable to residents with foreign offshore holdings
- Property Tax
- IPTU; annual tax based on property value (approx. 0.5% - 1.5%)
- Property Transaction Tax
- ITBI; approx. 2% to 3% of the transaction value
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Specific Digital Nomad Visa (VITEM XIV) allows 1 year stay with 0% tax for the first 183 days