Rio de Janeiro is one of the most beautiful major cities in the world and famous for its natural harbor, beaches, samba, carnival, girls, football madness, statue of Christ as well as poverty and criminality. Rio is one of the largest cities in South-America and a highlight in any itinerary. Note that Rio will be extremely crowded when the annual carnival is on (February).
Belém is the gateway to the River Amazon with public land, sea and air connections. Belém lies approximately 100 km upriver from the Atlantic Ocean, just south of the equator.
Brasília is the capital of Brazil and Brazil's third-most populous city (after Sao Paulo and Rio). It was completely designed and built in the 2nd half of the 20th century.
Manaus is a major city in the heart of the Amazon rainforest and at the Amazon river. Don't expect undiscovered indigenous people, but business, because more than 1 million people live here.
Recife is the fourth-largest urban area in Brazil with 4 million inhabitants and a major tourist attraction in the Northeast for its beaches and its historic sites, dating back to both the Portuguese and the Dutch colonization.
Salvador de Bahia, founded in 1549 by the Portuguese, is the oldest colonial city in the Americas. The city´s cathedral is a must-see and its Carnival celebration has been reckoned as the largest party in the world.