Things to Do in Natal

Natal’s draw is a long Atlantic coastline backed by dunes, plus a compact historic core from the 1599 founding of the city. Most things to do in Natal revolve around the beaches and the sand dunes that frame them, but you can fill several days with forts, parks, reefs and day trips. Prices below are in Brazilian reais (R$) and were current for the 2025 to 2026 season, and the best time to visit Natal guide tells you when the weather suits each activity best.

Things to Do in Natal: Beaches and Dunes

Ponta Negra Beach and Morro do Careca

Ponta Negra is Natal’s main urban beach, a 3km strip of sand in the south of the city backed by hotels, bars and restaurants. At its southern end sits Morro do Careca, a 120-metre bare sand dune that is the city’s postcard landmark. Climbing the dune has been banned since the 1990s to stop erosion, but you can photograph it from the beach or from a boat. The water is calm and warm year round, and beach vendors rent chairs and umbrellas for around R$20 to R$30 a day. It is free and open 24 hours, and it anchors the nightlife district covered in our Natal neighborhoods guide.

Genipabu Dunes

Genipabu, about 10km north of the centre, is a field of mobile dunes up to 50 metres high on the edge of a lagoon. The signature activity is a dune buggy ride: drivers charge roughly R$200 to R$250 per buggy (up to four people) for a 90-minute circuit, and you choose com emoção (fast, over the dunes) or sem emoção (a gentler route). Camel rides along the sand, a leftover from an old film set, cost about R$40. You can also swim in Lagoa de Genipabu and rent a skibunda, a small board for sliding down the dunes, for a few reais. If you have not picked a base yet, see our where to stay in Natal guide for hotels in reach of the dunes.

Things to Do in Natal: History and Culture

Forte dos Reis Magos

This star-shaped fortress marks where Natal was founded in 1599 and guarded the Potengi River mouth against Dutch and French incursions. It sits at the tip of Praia do Forte, reachable by a short walk across the beach at low tide. The fort is open Tuesday to Sunday from 8am to 4pm and charges around R$5 entry. Inside you’ll see the original stone walls, a small chapel and cannons, with views over the river and the city skyline.

Centro Histórico and Teatro Alberto Maranhão

The historic centre in Cidade Alta groups Natal’s oldest buildings within a few blocks of Praça André de Albuquerque. The Teatro Alberto Maranhão, opened in 1904, is a French-style theatre with painted ceilings and free daytime entry on weekdays. Nearby are the Metropolitan Cathedral, the pink Igreja do Galo, and the Memorial Câmara Cascudo museum of local folklore, which charges a few reais. Walking the area takes about two hours, and it pairs naturally with the handicraft market at Praia do Meio.

Parque das Dunas

Parque Estadual das Dunas de Natal is a 1,172-hectare state park of Atlantic forest and dunes that covers a large share of the city, making it one of the largest urban parks in Brazil. The visitor centre off Avenida Alexandrino de Alencar offers a short marked trail and a small visitor centre; entry is around R$1 and it opens daily. It is a quiet contrast to the beaches and home to marmosets, lizards and native birds.

Things to Do in Natal: Water Activities and Nature

Maracajaú Reefs (Parrachos)

About 60km north of Natal, the village of Maracajaú fronts a reef system called the parrachos, shallow pools of coral and tropical fish 7km offshore. Operators run day trips by catamaran or speedboat, with snorkelling gear included, for around R$150 to R$250 per person. Visibility is clearest from September to January, as the Natal weather by month data shows. Trips usually include hotel pickup, making it a full-day outing. It is the best place in the state to see live coral and sea turtles.

Natal Aquarium

Aquário Natal, in the Redinha neighbourhood across the river, holds around 60 species including sharks, rays, seahorses and Amazonian fish. It is open daily from 8am to 6pm and charges about R$40 for adults and R$20 for children. It is compact, taking 60 to 90 minutes, and it pairs well with a stop at Redinha beach for the local ginga com tapioca street snack.

Things to Do in Natal: Day Trips

Praia da Pipa

Pipa, 85km south of Natal, is a clifftop village with several beaches, the best known being Praia do Amor and Baía dos Golfinhos, where wild dolphins feed in the shallows. Buses from Natal’s Rodoviária (bus station) run about every two hours for R$25 to R$35 and take two hours; a private transfer costs R$200 to R$300. You can hike the cliff trails, surf, or watch dolphins from the sand at low tide. Most visitors make it a day trip, but an overnight stay lets you see the town after the day-trippers leave. See the Natal travel tips for transfer details.

Pirangi Cashew Tree and Pirangi Beach

Thirty kilometres south of Natal, the Cajueiro de Pirangi is the world’s largest cashew tree, a single tree spreading over about 8,500 square metres and producing thousands of cashews each season. Entry costs about R$10 and the site is open daily. The adjacent Praia de Pirangi do Norte has calm, shallow water and seafood restaurants, and you can combine the two in half a day. For more ideas on filling an itinerary, see our events and festivals in Natal calendar and the Natal travel guide.