We show you how to keep your costs down if you’re planning on making Porto Alegre your base for Brazil 2014.
City – Porto Alegre
Stadium name – Estadio Beira-Rio
Stadium capacity – 47,000
World Cup games – 5
Time zone – 3 hours behind GMT
Group E – France v Honduras
Group B – Australia v Netherlands
Group H – S. Korea v Algeria
Group F – Nigeria v Argentina
Round of 16 – Winner Group G v Runner-Up Group H
Porto Alegre is the capital of Rio Grande do Sul state; Brazil’s southernmost capital city. The city sits on the confluence of 5 major rivers, which all flow into the massive Lagoa dos Patos.
Being so far south (500-odd miles from Sao Paulo) means you’re best off flying into Salgado Filho International Airport. Montevideo in Uruguay and Buenos Aires, Argentina, are similar distances away.
The airport serves destinations throughout Brazil and across South America, but Lisbon is its only European route; check for connecting flights to see which option is cheapest.
The Estadio Beira-Rio will become SC Internacional’s home after Brazil 2014. Until then it’s a 47,000-seater monster: and like many builds for this World Cup, one beset by funding and construction problems.
You’ll find it to the south of Porto Alegre on the eastern bank of the river Guaiba. The Beira-Rio is about 2 miles out from the historic city centre so walkable if you’re feeling fit / motivated.
If not, there are plenty of public transport options to reach the stadium. Eleven different buses run from the Av. Salgado Filho in the centre (Centro); with plenty more buses from elsewhere in the city.
There are two hotels very close by: Pousada do Parque and the Blue Tree Towers Hotel. Hotel InterCity Premium and Hostel Porto Tche are walkable. In the city centre, you’re got loads of options.
TripAdvisor rates Piazza Navona InterCity, Mercure Porto Alegre Moinhos de Vento, Swan Tower Porto Alegre and Harbor Hotel Regent Suites highly.
There’ll be 5 games held in the Estadio Beira-Rio; check with eSeats.com for tickets to all upcoming matches.
However the World Cup pans out, England won’t be playing in Porto Alegre. Check out the World Cup Group Stages here.
Once you've sorted when you're going and where you're staying, buy your travel insurance and Brazil RL currency as soon as you can so you don’t forget. Alternatively look into credit cards with no foreign transaction fees, or prepaid cards for overseas. Finally think about how to get a cheap overseas plan for your mobile phone.
Porto Alegre is a cultural hub for gaucho, the popular name for natives of Rio Grande do Sul state, and famed for its barbecues and chimarrao (a strong tea brewed from erva mate). The many Centros de Tradicao Gaucha throughout the city organise traditional meals, music and dance year-round. For the best bars, head towards the SoHo area.
TripAdvisor recommends Koh Pee Pee, Xavier260, Del Barbiere, Na Brasa, Chicafundo, Atelier de Massas, and Restaurante Prinz.
Porto Alegre average temperature (June): 15°C
Porto Alegre average rainfall (June): 5 inches
Ronaldinho has got to be Porto Alegre’s favourite son, but if you want to be in-the-know it’s now only acceptable to call him Ronaldinho Gaucho. There’s even a species of bee, newly discovered in 2012, named after him: the Eulaema quadragintanovem. Apparently that means the "something-49" which refers to his shirt number at current club Atletico Mineiro!
Stadium: Estadio Beira-Rio
Country: Brazil
City: Porto Alegre
Capacity: 48849