Palácio do Planalto

What makes it special

The Palácio do Planalto is the seat of Brazil's federal executive and the president's place of work. Oscar Niemeyer designed it, and from outside the things to look at are its long horizontal lines and its row of columns.

The palace opened on 21 April 1960, and its opening marked the federal capital's move to the centre of Brazil. It stands inside Lúcio Costa's plan for the city, which UNESCO lists as World Heritage, and Brazil's national heritage institute, Iphan, protects the building itself.

The Presidency keeps part of its collection of Brazilian art and furniture here, shared with the Alvorada palace and the Granja do Torto residence. The collection holds tapestries, sculpture and furniture, with works by Alfredo Volpi, Athos Bulcão and Di Cavalcanti among them.

Visiting

Free places on the public visit are booked online, through the Presidency's own visit site. Its official page names that site as the only way to book, so plan the booking before you travel.

You go round in a group, and a few places in each group are held for priority visitors. If you need one of those, say so when you book.

This is a working government building, so book ahead and expect to go round with your group. For a question about a booking, the Presidency's visits office answers by email at corep@presidencia.gov.br and by phone on (61) 3411-2317.

Tips

Book as soon as your Sunday is fixed, because each group has a set number of places.

The formal Troca da Guarda here is a ceremony held every six months by the Batalhão da Guarda Presidencial and the Dragões da Independência. It is not something you can plan a Sunday around, so treat the building itself as the reason to come.