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Congresso Nacional — The Congress complex across the reflecting pool and lawns in daylightPhoto: Leandro Ciuffo · CC BY 2.0 · edited
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Congresso Nacional

Town halls & civic buildings ·Brasília ·Closed
4.48.1K
#1Town halls & civic buildings in Brasília#2Town halls & civic buildings in BrazilTravelers' Choice 2025
  • Visit: 50 min
  • Free
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About

Congresso Nacional (Brazilian National Congress): Brazil's legislature, with two domes on the Monumental Axis, Brasília's main street.

More photos 11

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Congresso Nacional — Aerial view of the Congress complex at sunrise Joe Espindola · CC BY-SA 4.0 · edited
Congresso Nacional — Aerial view of the Congress complex at sunriseCongresso Nacional — The twin towers and domes illuminated beneath a moonlit skyCongresso Nacional — The Congress complex reflected in the pool beneath a dramatic sunsetCongresso Nacional — The twin towers and domes seen across the reflecting poolCongresso Nacional — The Congress complex viewed from across the water in daylightCongresso Nacional — The twin towers and domes framed by an open lawnCongresso Nacional — The Congress complex beside the broad avenueCongresso Nacional — The twin towers and domes beneath storm cloudsCongresso Nacional — The Congress building and reflecting pool seen from the water's edgeCongresso Nacional — The illuminated towers and bowl against the night skyCongresso Nacional — The Congress complex seen from the grassy grounds

Why go

  • Going inside on a 50-minute guided visit, offered every day.
  • The Praça dos Três Poderes behind the building, beside the Planalto Palace and the Supreme Federal Court.

Opening hours

Today09:00 – 17:00Show all
Monday09:00 – 17:00
Tuesday09:00 – 17:00
Wednesday09:00 – 17:00
Thursday09:00 – 17:00
Friday09:00 – 17:00
Saturday09:00 – 17:00
Sunday09:00 – 17:00

Don't miss

  • Senate domeHolds the Senate, the upper house.Left dome, seen from the city centre. On the map
  • Chamber of Deputies domeHolds the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house, with 513 deputies.Right dome, seen from the city centre. On the map
  • Low plenary buildingBoth chambers sit in this low building, which lies across the Monumental Axis.Between the two domes, in front of the office towers. On the map
  • Salão NegroThe hall where guided visits meet, reached by the main ramp.Inside the building, reached by the main ramp. On the map

Know before you go

  • Open daily, 09:00 to 17:00.
  • Guided visits run every day and last 50 minutes.
  • Shorts and slippers are not allowed inside from Monday to Friday.
  • In April 2025, protesters breached security barriers on the lawn in front of the building, and police intervened.

Tips for your visit

  • The two domes can be seen from the city centre without going inside.

Best time to visit

  • Congress sits each year from 2 February to 27 July and from 1 August to 22 December.
  • Guided visits run every day, including outside those sitting dates.
  • The first guided visit of the day starts at 09:00, the earliest time to come inside.

Interesting facts5

1/5
  1. 1889

    The Senate was modelled on the British House of Lords and, after 1889, moved closer to the US Senate.

    Brazilian National Congress - Wikipedia
  2. 81 seats

    The Senate has 81 seats, three per state and three for the Federal District.

    Brazilian National Congress - Wikipedia

  3. Lower-house seats follow state population, but every state has at least eight and at most 70.

    Nationalkongress (Brasilien) - Wikipedia

  4. Some buildings in the complex are linked by underground tunnels.

    Nationalkongress (Brasilien) - Wikipedia
  5. 2014

    After the 2014 elections, 28 parties sat in the two houses, 11 of them in a loose coalition.

    Nationalkongress (Brasilien) - Wikipedia

Shorts

History

Before Brasília, the two houses met in separate buildings in Rio de Janeiro. The count of legislatures starts from the first meeting of both houses, on 6 May 1826. Oscar Niemeyer, who designed most of the city's main buildings, also designed this one. The Chamber of Deputies moved to Brasília in the early 1960s, a process that took years.

  1. 1824Brazil's first Constitution created the two houses of the legislature.
  2. 1930Getúlio Vargas closed Congress when he took over the provisional government.
  3. 1958–1960Oscar Niemeyer designed the present building, built between 1958 and 1960.
  4. 1960Both chambers moved into the building, and Brasília became the national capital.
  5. 1968Ato Institucional 5 (AI-5) closed Congress and suspended political rights.
Show all
  1. 1987The building became a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of Brasília's original urban buildings.
  2. June 2013Demonstrators symbolically occupied the dome during protests.
  3. 8 January 2023Supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro stormed the building, causing extensive damage.

Sources: Brazilian National Congress - Wikipedia · Brasilia - Wikivoyage (see) · Portal da Câmara dos Deputados · História e Arquivo da Câmara dos Deputados - Po… · Nationalkongress (Brasilien) - Wikipedia · Congrès national du Brésil - Wikipedia · checked 19 Oct 2026

Where
Praca dos Tres Poderes, Brasilia Federal District

Plan from here: A day out →

Questions and answers

How long does a guided visit of the Congresso Nacional take?

A guided visit of the Congresso Nacional lasts 50 minutes. Guided visits run every day.

What are the opening hours of the Congresso Nacional in Brasília?

The Congresso Nacional is open every day, Monday to Sunday, from 09:00 to 17:00.

Where do guided visits of the Congresso Nacional start?

Guided visits meet in the Salão Negro, reached by the main ramp. They start every half hour from 09:00.

Can I wear shorts or slippers to visit the Congresso Nacional?

Not on weekdays: shorts and slippers are not allowed inside from Monday to Friday.

Where is the Congresso Nacional?

The address is Palácio do Congresso Nacional, Praça dos Três Poderes, Brasília. It stands in the middle of the Monumental Axis.

Is the Congresso Nacional a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

Yes. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, as part of Brasília's original urban buildings.

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