Campina Grande City Guide
Image by MTur Destinos via wikidata

Brazil

Campina Grande City Guide

Paraiba

Campina Grande is an inland city in Paraíba, Brazil, known for its tech scene and the big São João festival in June. It has a lively culture, university energy, and lower living costs than coastal cities.

Lifestyle🍽️

🍽️
Food Scene
Good
7

Local dishes include carne de sol com macaxeira and baião de dois. International food is growing with Italian and Japanese options. Vegetarian and vegan choices exist but are limited.

Local Dishes:
Carne de sol com macaxeira, Baião de dois, Corn-based dishes
International Cuisine:
Italian, Japanese, Fast food
Vegan FriendlyVegetarian Friendly
🌙
Nightlife
Good
7

Nightlife centers around bars and clubs, especially during weekends and festivals.

Coffee Culture
Good
6

A mix of traditional and a few specialty coffee shops make a decent coffee scene.

💰
Tipping
Not Required

10% service charge is common but optional. Rounding up taxi fares is usual.

Top Attractions
Parque do Povo
Cultural
Main venue for the São João festival and events.
Museu de Arte Assis Chateaubriand (MAAC)
Museum
Art museum with local works.
Açude Velho
Nature
Large reservoir with walking paths and monuments.
Vila do Artesão
Shopping
Craft market with local products.
Parque da Criança
Recreation
Public park with playgrounds.
Areia
Day trip
Nearby colonial town with cachaça distilleries, 1 hour drive away.
SIM Cards

SIM cards from Vivo, Claro, and TIM are available in official stores and mall kiosks. ID and CPF needed for registration.

Available at:
Vivo store
Claro store
TIM store
Mall kiosks
Recommended Apps
WhatsApp(Communication)
Uber/99(Transport)
iFood(Food)
Google Maps/Waze(Navigation)
PicPay/Mercado Pago(Finance)
Busão CG(Transport)
Sem Parar(Finance)

Services & Infrastructure

Street Cleanliness
Good
6

Cleanliness is moderate with regular waste collection, but some areas lag.

24/7 Services
Limited
4

Limited 24/7 services. Some pharmacies and minimarts stay open late.

Groceries
Carrefour
Atacadão
GBarbosa
Assaí Atacadista

Supermarkets like Carrefour, Atacadão, GBarbosa, and Assaí Atacadista offer local and some international products. Fresh markets sell produce where bargaining is common.

Cashless Payments
Widely accepted

Cards and Brazil's Pix system are widely used. Cash is still handy for small vendors and markets.

ATMs

ATMs from Banco do Brasil, Caixa, Bradesco, Itaú, and Santander are common. Foreign withdrawal fees can be high, so withdraw larger amounts less often.

Schools
Local only

Most schools teach in Portuguese. Some private schools offer bilingual programs. For more international options, consider João Pessoa or Recife.

Available Schools:
Local public and private schools

Work & Digital💻

Coworking Spaces
Available
6
Available Spaces:
Hub CG
Flexible plans and meeting rooms.
Impact Hub Campina Grande
Focuses on social impact and innovation.
Parque Tecnológico da Paraíba (PaqTcPB)
Tech park with co-working and startup spaces.
Work-Friendly Cafés
Good
Café com Arte
Popular café with Wi-Fi.
Café do Museu
At the art museum with a quiet atmosphere.
Starbucks
Located in shopping malls, reliable Wi-Fi.
Pão & Cia
Some branches are work-friendly.
Padaria Pão de Açúcar
Good for working during the day.
Alternatives:
University libraries at UFCG and UEPB
Quiet spots with Wi-Fi, access may vary.
Shopping mall food courts
Can be quiet during off-peak hours with Wi-Fi.
Digital Nomad Community
Limited
4

A small but growing community tied to local universities and tech events. Networking is possible but limited.

Nature & Activities🌿

Green Spaces
Good
7

Parks and Açude Velho provide good green spaces for outdoor activities.

Running
Good
7

Popular running spots include Açude Velho and Parque do Povo. Generally safe in well-lit areas.

Gyms
Available

Multiple gyms with various fitness options are available across the city.

Available Gyms:
Academia Korpus
Smart Fit
Selfit Academias
Academia Corpo e Forma
Academia Top Fitness
Tennis
Good
6

Tennis courts are available at private clubs and academies.

Padel
Limited
5

Padel courts exist at some clubs; bookings vary.

Yoga
Good
6

Several yoga studios offer classes and wellness programs.

Martial Arts
Good
6

Gyms offer Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, and Judo training options.

Skiing
Poor
0

No skiing facilities due to Brazil's tropical climate.

Water Sports
Poor
3

Limited water sports mostly at Açude Velho; more options along the coast.

Surfing
Poor
2

Surfing spots are on the coast near João Pessoa, 120 km away.

Diving
Poor
2

Diving available near João Pessoa on the coast.

Health & Safety🏥

Healthcare
Good
6

Hospitals include Hospital de Trauma and Hospital da FAP. English speakers are rare, mostly in private clinics. Pharmacies are many and well stocked.

Hospitals:
Hospital de Trauma de Campina Grande
Hospital da FAP
Pharmacies:
Farmácia Pague Menos
Drogasil
Droga Raia
Tap Water Safety
Safe to drink

Tap water is treated and considered safe, but many prefer bottled water.

Common Scams
ATM skimming, Fake taxi drivers, Pickpocketing in crowded areas, Friendly strangers leading to theft

Community & Family

Family Friendly
Good
7

Playgrounds and parks like Parque da Criança and Parque do Povo are good for kids. São João festival offers family activities.

LGBTQ+ Friendly
Good
6

Some safe spaces exist, but the area is moderately conservative. Discretion advised in some settings.

Pet Friendly
Good
6

Pet policies vary, with veterinary services and pet supplies available. Few dedicated pet parks.

Communities
Campina Grande Online (Social)
Onde ir em Campina Grande (Events)
Classificados Campina Grande (Marketplace)

Quick Facts

Population
419,379
Power Reliability
Excellent
8/10

Power is generally reliable, with occasional outages during heavy rains.

Mountains
Available

Located on Borborema Plateau with scenic elevated areas. Not traditional hiking mountains.

Languages
Portuguese(100%)
English(10%)
Emergency
190
Polícia Militar
192
SAMU
193
Bombeiros

⚠️Natural Disasters Risk

🌊
Tsunami
Very Low Risk
0
🏔️
Earthquake
Very Low Risk
1

🌦️Seasonal Issues

Heat and humidity
December, January, February, March
Hot and humid summers can be intense.
Rainy season
April, May, June, July
Heavy rains can cause occasional outages and localized flooding.
São João festival crowds
June
Large crowds and traffic congestion during the festival.

No reviews yet

Be the first to share your experience at this place

💬 Feedback & Bugs