The pleasant city of Campo Grande, capital of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, is characterised by its urban planning, with wide tree-lined avenues.
Campo Grande is almost flat, with well-kept parks and native forest reserves that contribute to the high quality of life of its 700,000 inhabitants.
Campo Grande began to take shape in the second half of the 19th century, when farmers from Minas Gerais settled at the foot of the Maracaju mountain range, attracted by the fertile soil.
The city flourished as a cattle trading centre and took off with the arrival of the Noroeste do Brasil railway in 1914, which facilitated transport to the centre-south of the country.
In the constitutionalist movement of 1932, it allied itself with São Paulo and proclaimed itself the capital of the state of Maracaju, which lasted only five months – President Getúlio Vargas’s forces crushed the uprising.
In 1977, with the division of Mato Grosso, it became the capital of the new state of Mato Grosso do Sul.
For tourists, the so-called “Morena City”, so called because of the reddish colour of the land, serves as a base for those travelling to the southern Pantanal or to Bonito, in the Bodoquena Mountains, and also offers some attractions.
Melhores Pontos Turísticos de Campo Grande Mato Grosso do Sul
The nightlife is lively, with a wide variety of bars with live music, good restaurants and concert venues.
An unusual place to spend an evening is Feira Livre, with a wide range of gastronomic options that reveal something of the diversity of the local culture.
In addition to the Portuguese, the indigenous and the gaucho, the people of Campo Grande have received a strong contribution from the traditions of the countries of the River Plate basin, especially Paraguay.
The city has also been influenced by Japanese immigration – it is home to one of the largest Japanese colonies in Brazil, which explains the popularity of dishes such as soba (a kind of noodle stew with pork and chicken).
The tourist attractions in the capital of Mato Grosso do Sul are spread out, and the best way to get around is by car.
There are two main thoroughfares, Avenida Afonso Pena and Avenida Mato Grosso, which run parallel and cross Campo Grande from east to west.
Hotels, restaurants, bars, shops and banks are concentrated in this area. It is not advisable to walk around the centre at night.
Tourist Attractions of Campo Grande MS
- Artisan House
- Don Bosco Museum of Cultures
- Pantanal Biopark
- MARCO – Museum of Contemporary Art of Mato Grosso do Sul
- Central Market
- Indigenous Culture Memorial
- Campo Grande Market
- Fogo Caipira Restaurant
- Horto Florestal – Antônio de Albuquerque Forest Park
- Macaw Square
- Lake of Love
- Railway Promenade – Maria Fumaça
- Morada dos Baís
- Radio Club Square
- Pantaneira Square
- Museum of Sound and Image (MIS)
1. Casa do Artesão
Located in a building dating from 1918, this is the best place to buy local products.
Here you’ll find ceramics by the Cadiuéus and Terenas Indians, as well as seed necklaces, buriti leaf baskets, liqueurs and typical sweets.
The wooden sculptures of Indians covered in beeswax, the work of the artist Conceição de Freitas, are among the most sought-after pieces. Avenida Calógeras, 2050, Centre.
2. Museum of Don Bosco Cultures
The Don Bosco Museum of Cultures is a Brazilian museum organised by the Salesian Province of Mato Grosso, located in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul (MS).
The Dom Bosco Museum, better known as the Indian Museum, was founded in 1950 and inaugurated on 27 October 1951 by Salesian priests.
The museum is known throughout the world for the scientific rigour of its considerable collection. Located in the Parque das Nações Indígenas, it is dedicated to the development, education and leisure of adults and children.
During its existence, the museum has built up a rich and varied collection, thanks to the work and dedication of the following Salesians: Félix Zavataro, Cesar Albisetti, Angelo Jaime Venturelli, João Falco and, more recently, Emilia Kashimoto for archaeology, Aivone Carvalho for ethnology and Liane Calarge for palaeontology.
3. Pantanal Biopark
Bioparque Pantanal is the largest freshwater aquarium in the world.
You’ll see the most important fish species from the Pantanal and the five continents in tanks with incredible scenery.
The site also has an open environment that represents the Pantanal in its “raw” form, allowing contact with typical animals of the biome, such as the wild alligator, and a viewpoint to observe birds and other animals in their natural habitat, as well as a biodiversity museum.
Address: Parque das Nações Indígenas (Av. Afonso Pena, 6277 – Chácara Cachoeira);
4. MARCO – Museum of Contemporary Art of Mato Grosso do Sul
MARCO’s collection comes from the State Art Gallery, acquisition prizes from art exhibitions (since 1979), as well as spontaneous donations and gifts from artists.
Of note is the donation of 110 works by Lídia Baís, whose family is considered one of the pioneers of plastic arts in the state.
Address: Rua Antônio Maria Coelho, Parque das Nações Indígenas, 6000, Campo Grande – MS.
5. Central Market
At the Central Market you can find the dish that has been declared a Municipal Intangible Heritage, Sobá – a kind of yakisoba with egg and meat.
There is even a monument to the dish at the entrance. There are several restaurants to choose from. Sometimes there are musical performances. The traditional Sobá Festival is held in August.
Address: Rua 14 de Julho, 3351 – Centro, Campo Grande – MS.
6. Indigenous Culture Memorial
Created in 1999, the Cacique Enir Terena Indigenous Culture Memorial is located in the urban village of Marçal de Souza. It has an emu-shaped structure where ethnic products from the Terena, Kinikinau, Guarani and Kadiwéu cultures are sold.
The Marçal de Souza Urban Village, the first urban village in Mato Grosso do Sul, covers an area of 340 square metres and is mainly inhabited by families of the Terena ethnic group.
Address: R. Terena, 88 – Tiradentes, Campo Grande – MS.
7. Campo Grande Market
A visit to the city’s market is always a good way to discover local products and culture.
This is a good place to buy your tereré kit (the typical drink that, unlike chimarrão, is consumed cold), with different herbs and flavours.
Address: R. Sete de Setembro, 65 – Centro, Campo Grande – MS.
8. Fogo Caipira Restaurant
This restaurant is a reference point for those who want to taste the best of the Pantanal. Specialities include carne de sol na moranga, moqueca de pintado and arroz carreteiro. Desserts include petit gateau de rapadura.
Address: R. José Antônio, 145 – Centro, Campo Grande – MS.
9. Horto Florestal – Antônio de Albuquerque Forest Park
The park has an Arena Theatre, a library, a playground, a water mirror, a jogging track and is a good place for bird watching. Do not miss the opportunity to visit the Carro de Boi Monument, a large slab at the confluence of the Prosa and Segredo Rivers.
It provides a historical record of the early urban settlement of Campo Grande, around 1872. It was created by artists Neide Ono and Marisa Oshiro Tibana, with pieces cast in aluminium and gold metal on a black granite background.
Address: S/N 65894, R. Joel Dibo, 1 – Vila Carvalho, Campo Grande – MS.
10. Araras Square
Located at the intersection with Rua Dom Aquino, it has a sports field and a playground.
It’s common to see a round of tereré while friends watch the sunset. The Macaw Monument has a trio of macaws in blue and red, made by the artist Cleir D’Avila, who wanted to make the population aware of the importance of conservation.
Address: At the junction with Rua Dom Aquino, Praça Cuiabá, S/N – Amambai, Campo Grande – MS.
11. Lake of Love
The artificial lake, where capybaras cross, is a tourist attraction. In 2008, the sculpture O Beijo (The Kiss) by artist Pedro Guilherme was inaugurated at the lake’s roundabout.
The monument is made of reinforced concrete and represents two caras fish kissing. It’s a great place to enjoy the sunset.
Address: Av. Sen. Filinto Müler, 713-917 – Pioneiros, Campo Grande – MS.
12. Railway Rim – Maria Fumaça
A nostalgic journey to the arrival and departure points of those who helped build the state. The Maria Fumaça Monument was built in honour of the old Noroeste do Brasil Railway.
It is five metres high, 20 metres long and weighs 20 tonnes. The work is suspended on a swing, giving the impression that it is in flight. It is located at the intersection of Mato Grosso and Calógeras Avenues.
Address: Av. Calógeras, 5045 – Centro, Campo Grande – MS.
13. Morada dos Baís
The historic Morada do Baís was built in 1913 to house the family of the Italian Bernardo Franco Baís.
The most representative artist of Campo Grande, Lydia Baís, daughter of Bernardo Baís, lived in this house for several years.
Part of her collection and museum pieces can be seen here.
Address: Av. Noroeste, 5140 – Centro, Campo Grande – MS.
14. Radio Club Square
This square is the scene of many activities. Also known as Republic Square, it is home to the Japanese Immigration Monument. There are also a few Japanese restaurants in the area.
Address: Av. Afonso Pena – Centro, Campo Grande – MS.
15. Pantanal Square
Close to the town hall, this square is decorated with animal statues created by the artist Levi Batista in the Pantanal biome. It’s worth a stroll to take a photo.
Address: R. Vinte e Cinco de Dezembro, 230 – Centro, Campo Grande – MS.
16. Museum of Sound and Image (MIS)
A place to preserve the records that make up the visual and audio memory of the State of Mato Grosso.
The MIS collection has over 8,000 items, including photographs, films, videos, posters, records, objects and sound recordings.
Address: Av. Fernando Corrêa da Costa, 559 – Centro, Campo Grande – MS.
See the following publications on the Pantanal
- Mammal and reptile watching in the Pantanal
- Fishing in the Pantanal – Best places, lures, methods and seasons
- Most common fish species in the Pantanal
- Birdwatching in the Mato Grosso Pantanal
- Most common bird species in the Mato Grosso Pantanal
- Flora of the Mato Grosso Pantanal
- Fauna of the Mato Grosso Pantanal
- Pantanal of Mato Grosso – Geography, climate, soil and rivers
- History of the Mato Grosso Pantanal – Discovery and economic development
- Southern Pantanal Region
- Northern Pantanal Region
- Why visit the Pantanal in Mato Grosso?
