Feira Nordestina So Cristvo: A Guide To Rio's Biggest Market

Feira Nordestina São Cristóvão in Rio de Janeiro offers a window into life in the Northeast of Brazil. Occupying an enormous space of 32,000 squared meters, it is Rio’s largest fair and with over 600 stalls of Bahian (from Bahia) products and other northeastern goodies, it has plenty to offer, from music and drinks to food and souvenirs. We give you the low down on this vibrant, must-visit fair.

What To Buy At The Food Stalls

Many of the barracas (stalls) throughout the fair sell various food products that are typical from Bahia and other states further north of Brazil. Food from Bahia, Pernambuco and other northern states has been heavily influenced by African cuisine, so expect to see plenty of beans, herbs, dried meats, bottled chillies, cheese and bottled melted butter for sale. The melted butter is a common condiment at the dinner table to add on top of carne seca (dried meat) and is a delicious extra. There are also biscuits, jams and goiabada, a sweet hard jelly that is often eaten with a light cheese known as Romeo and Juliet.

What To Eat

Meat, beans and rice, a typical meal option

Souvenirs And Memories

The stalls also sell a wide range of souvenirs from the northeast that make unusual and charming reminders to take back home, including hammocks for those with plenty of space in their suitcase. One thing that this fair does not lack is cachaça, a strong liquor made from sugar cane, and the varieties are countless there. Try a little taster and pick your favorite to take home with you.

Music With Northeastern Vibes

The fair is always lively and buzzing, especially on the weekend. There is always live music which is typically Forró or Baião, the anthems from the northeast, and the best acts are on Fridays and Saturdays. At any time of day, people will be singing or dancing to the music, getting swept into its rhythmic beats and getting out of their chairs to dance to some Forró which, with its intimacy and swinging moves, is wonderful to watch. As well as music, sometimes there are rodas of Capoeira where experienced capoeiristas form a circle and perform mind-blowing moves of immense agility and speed.

When To Go

The fair is open Tuesday until Thursday from 10am to 6pm, and the entrance is free. On Friday it opens at 10am then continues non-stop until Sunday 9pm, with a R$4 entrance fee. The weekend is the best time to go as all the stalls are open, the atmosphere is contagious and there is live music all day and all night. It is easy to get to by taking the subway to São Cristóvão station and then take the 484L bus straight there or a taxi. It is possible to walk there from the subway and would take about 20 minutes.

Address: Campo de São Cristóvão, São Cristóvão, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, +55 (21) 2580-6946

The outside of the fair, also known as Centro Luiz Gonzaga in honor of the famous Forro musician

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