Hotels in Curitiba

Curitiba: Brazil's Urban Planning Capital

Curitiba, capital of Paraná state, sits on a plateau 934 metres above sea level in southern Brazil. Founded in 1693, the city earned international recognition in the 1970s when mayor Jaime Lerner pioneered a bus rapid transit network — the Rede Integrada de Transporte (RIT) — that became a global urban mobility model. Today, 1.9 million residents move through a city that maintains roughly 52 square metres of green space per inhabitant, one of the highest ratios in the Americas.

Where to Stay

Most hotels concentrate in the Centro Cívico and Batel neighbourhoods, placing guests within walking distance of the Ópera de Arame — a wire-frame opera house set inside a former quarry — and the Jardim Botânico, whose French-style greenhouse opened in 1991. The São Francisco district draws travellers seeking independent restaurants and nightlife along Rua Trajano Reis. Business travellers favour the Água Verde corridor for its proximity to the corporate district.

Practical Tips

• Getting around: Use the RIT tube stations with pre-paid boarding; a single fare covers transfers across the network.
• Climate: Curitiba averages 17 °C annually; pack a light layer even in summer (December–February) as evenings cool sharply at altitude.
• Airport: Afonso Pena International Airport is 18 km southeast of the city centre; the Airport Executive bus runs to Praça Rui Barbosa every 30 minutes.