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Explore Natal • Natal, RN

Natal

The capital of Rio Grande do Norte brings together city beaches, dunes, history and over 400 years of local culture in a single destination.

Forte dos Reis Magos and the Newton Navarro Bridge at sunset, at the mouth of the Potengi River

Natal is the capital of Rio Grande do Norte, on the northeastern tip of Brazil, where the Potengi River meets the Atlantic. It's the base for anyone arriving in the state: it has an international airport, city beaches like Ponta Negra, dunes inside the city itself and a historic center more than four centuries old. Most tours along the coast leave right from Natal's hotels.

Local tip

If you only have one day in Natal, combine Forte dos Reis Magos with the Historic Center on the same tour — they're close to each other and tell the same story, from the founding of the city to today.

Things to do in Natal

In Natal, beaches, dunes, history and culture are just minutes apart. You can see the highlights in one day or spread them over several, combining the seafront, historic landmarks and trips out of the city.

History and heritage

Forte dos Reis Magos seen from the sea at sunset
History and heritageMust see

Natal, RN

Forte dos Reis Magos

Forte dos Reis Magos is Natal's starting point: built by the Portuguese in 1598 to protect the mouth of the Potengi River from other European powers, it gave rise to the settlement that would become the state capital. Today it's a military history museum, with a great view of the river meeting the sea and of the Newton Navarro Bridge.

Local tip

Go in the late afternoon: the low light brings out the stone, and at low tide the strip of sand around the Fort looks even better in photos.

45 min to 1 hourSmall admission fee, paid at the entranceDirt road access at Ponta do Forte, included in the City Tour route

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The Newton Navarro Bridge over the Potengi River, in Natal
History and heritage
Photo: Victor Camilo · CC BY 2.0

Newton Navarro Bridge

A 1,800-meter cable-stayed bridge over the Potengi River, opened in 2007, that became one of Natal's most photographed symbols.

Palácio Felipe Camarão, a blue and white building in Natal's Historic Center
History and heritage
Photo: Marcio Lasset · CC BY-SA 4.0

Natal Historic Center

The Cidade Alta and Ribeira neighborhoods hold the city's colonial architecture, museums and oldest bohemian scene.

Natal City Tour
Natal Metropolitan Cathedral, with the concrete crosses in front
History and heritage
Photo: Marcos Elias de Oliveira Júnior · CC0

Natal Metropolitan Cathedral

Opened in 1988, it's one of the largest churches on Natal's religious tourism route.

White and blue facade of the Church of Saint Anthony, known as Igreja do Galo, in Natal
History and heritage
Photo: Marcos Elias de Oliveira Júnior · CC0

Church of Saint Anthony (Igreja do Galo)

The third church built in Natal, completed around 1766, it's considered a landmark of local Baroque and is protected as national heritage by IPHAN.

Compass rose on the pavement of Praça André de Albuquerque, in Natal
History and heritage
Photo: Marcos Elias de Oliveira Júnior · CC0

Praça André de Albuquerque

Created in 1599, it's the city's starting point and home to the Capitoline Column.

The Capitoline Column in Praça André de Albuquerque, in Natal
History and heritage
Photo: Patrick-br · CC BY-SA 3.0

Capitoline Column

A monument given by the Italian government to celebrate the first direct flight between Italy and Rio Grande do Norte.

The stone church of Our Lady of the Navigators, in Redinha
History and heritage
Photo: Patrick-br · CC BY-SA 3.0

Igreja de Pedra (Our Lady of the Navigators)

On Redinha Beach, it's the only church in Brazil built with stones taken from the sea — raised by summer residents in 1954.

Natal City Tour
The historic Rampa building and the museum's glass pavilion, in Natal
History and heritage
Photo: Marquinhos · CC0

Rampa Cultural Complex and Museum

At the mouth of the Potengi River, it tells the story of aviation and of the city, with a great view of the river meeting the sea.

Natal City Tour

Beach

The Ponta Negra seafront with Morro do Careca in the background
Beach
Photo: Matti Blume · CC BY-SA 4.0

Ponta Negra Beach

Natal's busiest city beach, with about 12 km of shoreline, a boardwalk and beach kiosks facing Morro do Careca.

Breakwater and seafront buildings at Praia do Meio, in Natal
Beach
Photo: Ridiculopathy · CC0

Praia dos Artistas and Praia do Meio

City beaches right next to downtown, with a continuous boardwalk to Praia do Forte — nice for a walk in the late afternoon.

Areia Preta Beach on a sunny day, in Natal
Beach
Photo: Patrick-br · CC BY-SA 3.0

Areia Preta Beach

A quiet beach in an upscale neighborhood, named after the dark color of its sand.

Nature

Trail through the woods of Parque das Dunas, in Natal
Nature
Photo: thimhz · CC BY-SA 2.0

Parque das Dunas

One of the largest urban forest reserves in Brazil, with guided trails through Atlantic Forest in the heart of the city.

The Parque da Cidade tower lit up at night, in Natal
Nature
Photo: Humberto Diógenes · CC BY 2.0

Parque da Cidade Dom Nivaldo Monte

A city park opened in 2008, designed by Oscar Niemeyer.

Viewpoint

Morro do Careca and the Ponta Negra bay seen from above
Viewpoint
Photo: Alex Regis/MTur · Public domain

Morro do Careca

Brazil's most famous dune and the symbol of Ponta Negra — now protected and closed to climbing, but still the seafront's main postcard.

Natal City Tour
Via Costeira between the dunes and the sea, seen from above, in Natal
Viewpoint
Photo: Alex Regis/MTur · Public domain

Via Costeira

An almost 9 km avenue between Parque das Dunas and the sea, linking Ponta Negra to downtown with views of the protected dunes.

Natal City Tour

Culture

Culture

Beco da Lama

The bohemian corner of the historic center, a hangout for artists since the 1960s and 1970s, with music, street theater and the city's first graffiti.

Culture

Casa da Ribeira

A cultural venue in the Ribeira neighborhood, part of the movement to revitalize the historic center.

Pink facade of Câmara Cascudo's house, in Natal
Culture
Photo: Marcio Lasset · CC BY-SA 4.0

Ludovicus Institute / Câmara Cascudo

The former home of folklorist Luís da Câmara Cascudo, where he lived from 1947 to 1986, now dedicated to preserving his collection.

Fruit and vegetable stalls at the Alecrim Market, in Natal
Culture
Photo: Marcos Elias de Oliveira Júnior · CC0

Alecrim Market

A traditional Saturday street market held since 1920, one of the city's oldest popular gathering spots.

Statue of Iemanjá by the sea at Praia do Meio, in Natal
Culture
Photo: Jorge Andrade · CC BY 2.0

Statue of Iemanjá

At 3.5 meters and 4 tons, it's the largest statue ever made in Rio Grande do Norte. Every February 2, it hosts the city's biggest celebration in honor of the orixá.

Questions

Frequently asked questions about Natal

The most popular sights are Forte dos Reis Magos, Ponta Negra Beach with Morro do Careca, the Historic Center and Parque das Dunas. To see the coast around the city, the easiest option is a tour that picks you up at your hotel.

Two to three days are enough for the city's highlights (beaches, the Fort and the Historic Center). If you also want to visit Pipa, the South Coast and the North Coast, plan 5 to 7 days in the region.

Ponta Negra is the busiest, with Morro do Careca in the background. Praia dos Artistas and Praia do Meio are closer to downtown and nice for a walk in the late afternoon.

The Natal City Tour was designed for exactly that: it covers Forte dos Reis Magos, Ribeira and the Historic Center in a single private tour.

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