Gramado, RS: the complete destination guide
Gramado is the mountain town that became a winter destination in the most tropical country on the continent. This guide gathers what the town holds, how the year divides there, how you get in, where it is worth staying and how many days the place asks for.
What Gramado is
Gramado sits in Rio Grande do Sul, in the south of Brazil, and it is the mountain town that became a winter destination in the most tropical country on the continent. That sentence settles more than it seems: it says what the town has of its own and, by consequence, what there is no point looking for there.
What brings most visitors is concentrated in Rua Coberta, Lago Negro and Mini Mundo. They are different things from one another, and that is why the town holds more than a day without repeating itself.
What the town holds
| Sight | What it is |
|---|---|
| Rua Coberta | The covered stretch of the centre where the town gathers at night |
| Lago Negro | A man-made lake ringed by araucaria and hydrangea, with pedal boats |
| Mini Mundo | A park of miniatures, one of the oldest attractions in town |
| Canela e a cascata do Caracol | The neighbouring town, with the waterfall that drops inside the state park |
| Vale do Quilombo | The valley road between Gramado and the range, lined with small producers |
When to go
The year splits in two. From June to August, real cold, fog and the winter programme; this is high season. From March to May, mild days, hydrangeas and a valley without queues; the best balance of weather and crowds.
There is no bad season in Gramado in any absolute sense: there is the season that matches what you want to do there. Whoever comes for Rua Coberta and accepts crowds picks one half of the year; whoever comes for quiet picks the other.
Getting there
By air, the airport in Porto Alegre, about two hours away by car. By road, access is along the the RS-115 up the range. The climb up the range is often foggy in winter.
Where to stay
| Base | Who it suits |
|---|---|
| the centre | Anyone who wants everything on foot and will not rent a car |
| Avenida Borges de Medeiros | Anyone who wants to be near the centre with more quiet |
| Canela | Anyone with a car willing to sleep in the cheaper neighbouring town |
How many days
3 days is the number that covers Gramado without rushing, counting the arrival day as half a day. With less than that something on the list above falls away — and it is worth choosing what to cut before travelling, not once you are there.
What it combines with
- Bento Gonçalves — the vineyard valley is little more than an hour away
- Cambará do Sul — the canyons of Aparados da Serra, to the north-east
Common questions
Is Gramado worth the trip?
It is worth it for whoever wants what the town has: the mountain town that became a winter destination in the most tropical country on the continent. Whoever expects something else usually leaves disappointed, and that is not the destination’s fault.
Can it be done in two days?
It can, by cutting. Two days fit Rua Coberta and Lago Negro. The rest waits for another time.