Catch the July puppet festival at Teatro Guaíra

Bosque Alemão in Vista Alegre honors the German immigrants of Curitiba, with the Oratório de Bach concert hall inside a replica church, the Torre dos Filósofos lookout and a trail that retells Hansel and Gretel. It makes an easy half morning, especially with children. Check whether the concert hall has a performance…

Mercês is a residential neighborhood beside the center, with the Torre Panorâmica on its streets and Parque Barigui nearby. It suits travelers who want calm streets and everyday local life, since hotels are few and nightlife is almost nonexistent. Look at short-term apartments, small pousadas or hostels, and plan your…

Hotel Johnscher on Rua Barão do Rio Branco is a boutique hotel with 24 apartments in a restored early twentieth century building in the historic center. Its restoration kept the original architecture, so the stay itself is part of the experience. Use it as a base for walking the historic center on foot, since many…

The Orquestra Sinfônica do Paraná, founded in 1985, plays in the Guairão, the main auditorium of the Centro Cultural Teatro Guaíra on Rua Conselheiro Laurindo. Tickets are sold online and at the theater box office, which opens two hours before a performance on event days. Check the current programme when you plan your…

Monday is the weak day for sightseeing in Curitiba. The Museu Oscar Niemeyer is normally closed, as are the Ópera de Arame park and the Mercado Municipal, and so are several city museums such as the Museu da Imagem e do Som and the Museu do Expedicionário. Use Mondays for parks and neighborhood walks, and keep museums…

Right beside the Mercado Municipal on Rua da Paz, the organic market sells organic produce, grains, teas, coffee, juices and meats, plus cosmetics. It is a good place to pick up coffee or tea that travels well and to see what regional farmers grow. It follows the same days as the main market, open Tuesday to Saturday…

Parque Barigui has three marked walking and running tracks, a cycle path and a lake, so you can match the route to your pace. Weekends and holidays fill the park, especially on warm days, so go early on a weekday for a calmer lap. The park has several access points, including Avenida Cândido Hartmann and Avenida…

Parque Tanguá fills a former quarry in the north of the city, with a waterfall, a French-style garden and a lookout over the green area. Arrive in the late afternoon for softer light and walk the paths between the two quarry lakes before you climb for the view. Entry is free, but closing times differ between guides…