What to Do in Nova Petrópolis

Nova Petrópolis is part of the Rota Romântica, 35 km from Gramado via RS-235, and about 100 km from Porto Alegre. Arriving in town, you get the sense you’ve discovered a hidden, lesser-known gem among more famous neighbors, yet with great leisure options of its own.

With a strong German and Italian cultural influence, the town is charming, beautiful, and peaceful, tucked into the Serra Gaúcha interior. It’s known as the Garden of the Serra Gaúcha, since its streets and squares are kept in bloom year-round.

It’s also known as the National Capital of Cooperativism, since it’s where Latin America’s first credit union, Sicredi, was founded, along with the Cooperativa Piá dairy. A group of businessmen started a credit line for producers as a way to encourage production for everyone, functioning like a network of friends. This began in 1902, led by Father Theodor Amstad.

We loved the town, and we think it absolutely belongs on your itinerary.

Praça das Flores

This is what catches your eye along the Rota Romântica, right as you enter town — you drive past the square and think, “This is a town I have to explore.” Praça das Flores is the town’s central square, and beyond its beautiful garden, it also has craft shops, its covered street, and finally, the green labyrinth, built from shrubs, along with the Monumento do Cooperativismo.

Praça das Flores

Rua Coberta

At Praça das Flores, the Rua Coberta is a charming, easily accessible destination in Nova Petrópolis, and it will absolutely win you over, with its craft shops and restaurants for food and drink.

Rua Coberta

Labirinto Verde

Labyrinths are always fun for the challenge of finding your way to the exit. In this particular one, the goal is to reach the center, where a staircase lets you climb up and take in the whole labyrinth. The maze is made up of countless cypress trees that keep confusing you along the way.

Labirinto Verde

Monumento do Cooperativismo

As mentioned earlier, Nova Petrópolis is Brazil’s National Capital of Cooperativism. At Praça das Flores, there’s a sculpture reflecting the importance of unity among communities, honoring the values that helped build the town.

Monumento do Cooperativismo

Casa do Artesão

A great spot for anyone who loves handmade, personalized pieces, located downtown. Service is friendly, and the variety of products is genuinely appealing. Prices reflect a tourist town, but nothing too extreme, making it a good spot to find a souvenir or gift.

Casa do Artesão

Location: Avenida 15 de Novembro - Centro. Admission: free.

Parque Aldeia do Imigrante

This is an open-air park spanning ten hectares, with plenty of attractions, like gardens, crafts, colonial products, and a restaurant serving local cuisine. It’s also where the town’s main traditional festivals take place. With admission, you can tour half-timbered buildings that recreate a small German immigrant village, complete with a school, church, cemetery, and even a museum, called the Museu Histórico Municipal.

This themed park aims to show just how beautiful German culture is, and the best part is that it sits inside a town that’s already, on its own, a little corner of Germany transplanted here.

Parque Aldeia do Imigrante

Location: Avenida 15 de Novembro, 1966 – Centro. Hours: 8 AM to 5:30 PM. Admission: R$10.00.

Parque Esculturas Pedras do Silêncio

Opened in 2014, this park (website) has several sculptures scattered throughout, telling the story of German immigration through professions, notable figures, and the culture and traditions carried over. The attraction sits in a rural area, near the Pedra do Silêncio, part of the rock formation on Morro Mallakoff.

Parque Esculturas Pedras do Silêncio

Location: Rua Emílio Dinnebier Filho, 500 – Linha Brasil. Hours: 9:30 AM to 6 PM. Admission: R$30.00.

Galeria Imigrante, Festimalha, and Tricofest

Nova Petrópolis is a town built around knitwear factories, with more than 100 spread across town. Because of that, in May and June, the Festimalha and Tricofest events take place, bringing together the region’s major knitwear suppliers in one place, with discounts and weekend fashion shows.

At the shop Malharia Imperial, there’s a free museum in the back, telling the story of the region’s first knitwear factory. The Galeria do Imigrante is also a great spot to browse a range of shops.

Galeria Imigrante

Historic Cooperativism Landmarks

Brazil’s National Capital of Cooperativism has a guided historic-cultural route, retracing the steps of the cooperative movement in the region, centered around a route along Linha Imperial, where these sites are located.

First headquarters of Sicredi Pioneira RS (1903 to 1933): a house built in half-timbered style in 1900, once belonging to the first manager, Joseph Neumann.

Praça Padre Amstad: built in 1942 by local residents to host five thousand participants of the Congresso da União Popular. In this square, you can visit the monument to Father Theodor Amstad and the plaque marking the 100th anniversary of the Amstad Association (Volksverein).

Praça Padre Amstad

Igreja Católica São Lourenço Mártir: home to stained glass, paintings, a monument, and Father Theodor Amstad’s mausoleum.

Igreja São Lourenço Mártir

Caixa Rural and Memorial Padre Amstad: the Caixa Rural de Nova Petrópolis was Sicredi Pioneira RS’s first own headquarters, opened in 1954. Designated a landmark of the municipality of Nova Petrópolis in 2013, the building is, without question, an important space for the memory and culture of Linha Imperial. Today, it houses the Memorial do Padre Amstad and the Casa Cooperativa de Nova Petrópolis.

Pinheiro Multissecular: a natural attraction located near Praça Padre Amstad. This Brazilian pine, Araucaria angustifolia, is estimated to be 1,000 years old, standing 45 meters tall, with a trunk circumference equal to the span of seven adults holding hands.

Location: Praça and Church: Linha Imperial, RS-235 – free admission.

Cervejaria Edelbrau

Started in 2011, right after two friends returned from studying abroad in Europe, they founded Cervejaria Edelbrau, meaning “noble brewery.” In 2018, Cervejaria Edelbrau gained a mascot, the Cuckoo, inspired by the traditional craft of building German cuckoo clocks. Over the years, their beers have won several awards.

Cervejaria Edelbrau is the oldest brewery in Nova Petrópolis, offering craft beer tastings through their EXPERIÊNCIA EDELBRAU, bookable through their website.

Cervejaria Edelbrau

Location: Avenida 15 de Novembro, 4024. Hours: 9 AM to 5 PM. Adult: R$55.00 (admission + glass + 5 tastings + R$10.00 store credit) Adult without tasting: R$55.00 (admission + R$27.50 store credit) Ages 10 to 17: R$20 (admission) Up to age 9: free

Cervejaria Traum

Cervejaria Traum is another good tip, close to Edelbrau, with beers awarded not just at the Concurso Brasileiro de Cerveja in Blumenau, but also at the Copa Internacional da Cerveja in Porto Alegre.

The space is pleasant, with several outdoor tables shaped like Viking ships, both covered and uncovered, great for a meal on site, plus a kids’ area.

Cervejaria Traum

Hours: 10 AM to 6 PM (Monday to Thursday), Friday and Saturday 10 AM to midnight, and Sunday 10 AM to 8 PM. Location: Avenida 15 de Novembro, 6200.

Have an Alfajor at Mulki

With a shop right along the highway, Mulki (website) is, without a doubt, a great spot to grab a sweet treat or buy an alfajor to snack on along the road. It’s also a great pick for a coffee break if you’re tired of driving.

Alfajor at Mulki

Other Tips for Nova Petrópolis

Since we only spent a morning in the region, we didn’t get to explore everywhere, but here are tips for other spots worth checking out in town, for anyone who loves hiking and adventure.

Parque Ninho das Águias

A beautiful spot for scenery, paragliding if you’re brave enough, and a chimarrão in the late afternoon. It’s 8 km from downtown, with views over the mountains and the Vale do Caí. The lookout sits 590 meters up. Access is via BR-116, at km 181. Note: no outside drinks allowed (water, soda, or alcoholic beverages) — only your own chimarrão.

Admission: R$30.00 (includes parking) Hours: 11 AM to 5 PM; the park closes at 7:30 PM only on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

Galeria de Arte Casa Amarela

Casa Amarela retains original features from the era of German immigration and settlement.

It’s a space where artists from the Serra Gaúcha region get the chance to display their work, share it with the public, and also sell it.

On site, you can also buy snacks and craft beer, either to eat there or take with you.

Location: Rua Pastor Paulo Evers, 1328.

Parque do Panelão

An open-air park worth visiting for its rock formation and waterfall, which you can enjoy. There’s also a lake formation with an underground outlet and two rock walls, one on each side.

Camping is allowed on site, though we’d recommend never going alone — always go with a group.

To get there, follow BR-116, and turn off onto an unpaved road at km 20, where you’ll find signage, and continue about 4 km until you arrive.

Monte Malakoff

Monte Malakoff is a rock formation that catches your eye from a distance, set amid native forest in the Nova Petrópolis region.

The name refers to the rock walls of the formation, discovered by German immigrants back in the 18th century.

There are several trails leading to Monte Malakoff, some steep, others not, and it’s also one of the most popular climbing spots in the region.

We’ve read that there are fixed ropes along the way, meaning you could consider the route an actual climb — so make sure you’re physically prepared for the trip, with the right clothing, shoes, backpack, and equipment.

The main spot to visit is Pedra do Silêncio, home to the most beautiful view in the region.

See where to have lunch in the area at Restaurante Wazlawich Armazém e Gastronomia Cultural.