Rio is famous all over the world and whether it conjures up beautiful people sunbathing on Copacabana, the view across the bay from the giant Christ statue atop Corcovado, or the favelas spilling down the sides of the forested hills, this multi-faceted city really does have something for everyone. Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon
With its perfect beaches, dramatic peaks and year-round sunshine, Rio de Janeiro is surrounded by such outstanding natural beauty that this alone would make it worth the trip. But add to this iconic sites, colonial splendour and bustling nightlife, and you’ll come to know exactly why it’s called a Cidade Maravilhosa – the Marvelous City.
Blessed with a tropical climate with average highs of 25-30°C throughout the year, it’s no wonder why cariocas (residents of Rio) spend most of their free time outdoors. From cycling along the coast-line, hiking in the Tijuca Rainforest and jogging around the beautiful lagoon, to simply admiring the sculpted bronzed bodies on Ipanema beach, there really is something for everyone. And for the adrenaline seeker, you can kite-surf, rock-climb and hang-glide without having to even leave the city.
For your culture fix, Rio’s vast history has provided a wealth of stunning colonial architecture, and many of these architectural gems have been transformed into the best museums and art galleries in Brazil, such as the fascinating National History Museum, and the grandiose National Fine Arts Museum. Of course, no trip to the city would be complete without experiencing the majestic gaze of Christ the Redeemer, the breath-taking panoramic views from Sugarloaf Mountain, and the vibrant coloured tiles of the Selarón staircase.
But the main charm of Rio comes from discovering the way in which the locals enjoy life to the full – whether it be by showing their passion for football at Maracanã Stadium, dancing until dawn in a Samba club in Lapa, or sharing a caipirinha with friends at a street party during Carnival. It’s in the pure celebration of life that makes Rio de Janeiro one of the most captivating and inspiring cities in South America.
Rio’s a must-see hotspot for travellers with a hunger for partying and beautiful vistas. View my tips to enjoy the best trip possible.
Getting There and Away
From the UK to Rio de Janeiro, the flight’s around eleven and a half hours, either direct or with a stop in Sao Paulo-Guarlhos on the way. Search cheap flights with Skyscanner.
From the airport, you can hop on a bus into the city for around R$5 – the journey should take 40 minutes. You can also grab the airport shuttle bus which stops at all major hotels, leaving every hour or go via taxi.
Rio de Janeiro Airport
The city’s airport is located 20 km north of the city. Buses operate from 5.30 am till 11.30 pm which costs around R$5 depending on your destination. The journey takes about 40 minutes. An airport shuttle bus stops at all major resorts and hotels but only leaves every hour. Taxis are also available but must be pre-ordered, tickets can be purchased from a booth in arrivals. The journey to the city centre takes about 20 minutes and costs around R$38.
Where To Stay
You can find super trendy places to stay in Copacabana and Santa Theresa – both recommended areas to stay.
If your a sun worshipper you will love the laid back El Misti, since it’s five minutes from Copacabana beach! With all the beaches nearby, you’ll be spoilt for sandy choice.
There are lots of budget hostels and guest houses in places like the beachfront neighbourhood Botafogo, most are cheap and cheerful with English speaking staff. The nearby area of Leblon is full bars, restaurants and hostels, so if you want to feel safe and make new friends it’s another great choice.
If you have a larger budget there are lots of luxury hotels along Copacobana with ocean and beach views, prices aren’t too expensive either.
Find the best deals on hotels and hostels on Booking.com.
Getting Around
Rio is well-served by an excellent Metro system which covers Copacabana, Ipanema and the Central district – in short, more or less anywhere you’re likely to want to go.
The metro offers a great, speedy way to get around the city. And there’s no need to worry about being on a packed train in the scorching heat since the lines are air conditioned, hurray!
If you are staying in the bohemian Santa Teresa district, or keen to visit, you will probably end up taking one of Rio’s plentiful taxis, although Santa Teresa also has Rio’s last surviving tramway.
The ferry service in Rio is also terrific; you can take it from bay to bay whilst taking in the city’s sights. Buses are the fastest and most frequent means of travel in Rio – roads are long and narrow so it’s never a big deal if you get on the wrong one.
Though just like in any busy city, it’s wise to keep an eye on your valuables when you’re riding a packed bus.
You can also search the best sightseeing tours of Rio on GetYourGuide or Viator.
Best Neighbourhoods in Rio de Janeiro
Copacabana and Leblon
Rio has several excellent beaches, and although Copacabana is the most famous and is still very popular, our vote goes to the more stylish and laid-back Ipanema beach.
By all means visit Copacabana – it’s definitely one of the sights of Rio – but if you just want to relax and enjoy the beach, or if you’re looking for somewhere good to eat and drink in the evening, then Ipanema should definitely be on your itinerary.
The relaxed and vibrant Leblon area is also more than worth a look, and is home to some of the city’s best restaurants, and a slightly less upmarket (but no less fun) nightlife than Ipanema – although the two areas effectively merge into each other so it can be difficult for non-residents to say which is which. Together these three areas are known as Zona Sur, and this is where you’re likely to spend most of your holiday in Rio.
Apart from the beaches, the undoubted major attraction of Rio is the statue of Christ the Redeemer on top of Mount Corcovado. With arms outstretched over Rio, and gazing out to sea, the statue is one of the most recognisable symbols of Rio all over the world, and a visit is highly recommended, if only for the superb views across Rio and the bay.
Santa Teresa and Centro
Further north of Copacabana, the best of Rio’s historical sites are located in the downtown area known as Centro. Here you’ll find the Cathedral, the Central Market and many fine colonial buildings. For those interested in football in Brazil the enormous Maracana stadium is something of a shrine, even if there isn’t a match on.
Meanwhile, up in the hills behind Centro, you’ll find what is many people’s favourite part of Rio, Santa Teresa. This bohemian district, with its cobbled winding streets and grand old houses, is home to many artists and musicians and has been a backpacker favourite for years. A new clutch of boutique hotels mean it’s also now becoming a favourite for all kinds of holidays in Rio.
It’s not on the Metro (although you can get the picturesque old tram up there from Centro) but so long as you don’t mind being a cab-ride from the beach, Santa Teresa is a great place to spend your time in Rio.
Best Things to Do in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro is home to some of the most beautiful sights in the world. Here are some must do things.
Christ the Redeemer
This might be an obvious one, but no trip to Brazil would be complete without seeing the famous Christ the Redeemer statue. Recognisable the world over, this New Seven Wonder sits on top of the Corcovado Mountain. Rising majestically for 38 m and 28 m wide, this statue has to be taken in up close for you to appreciate its size.
You can make the journey on the Corcovado Railway to reach the statue, or if you prefer to get a little bit active on your trips, you should tackle the 222 steps that lead up to the monument from the road. Your efforts will be rewarded, not only by the chance of getting some stunning photographs of Christ the Redeemer, but also across the whole of Rio de Janeiro.
Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas
Take the Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas: a huge four mile path encircling the lagoon with open air cafes and restaurants dotted along so you can chow down while enjoying an amazing view.
Hiking
If hiking’s where your heart lies check out the Tijuca National Park, one of the largest urban forests in the world. You can hike to Rio’s highest peak, the Pico de Tijuca, and take in the extensive views of Guanabara Bay and the city below.
Arts and Culture
There’s the Mayrink Chapel, full of murals painted by famous Brazilian neo-realist artist Candido Portinari.
Party in Lapa
If you’re more of a night owl, the Lapa neighbourhood might be your favourite. Once known as the city’s red-light district, it’s now frequented for its vibrant nightlife. Filled with samba and choro bars (playing popular Brazilian ‘choro music), the party’s non stop all weekend.
Celebrate Carnival
Colourful masks, vibrant feathers, body paint and glitter galore, Rio’s world famous carnival experience is one of the biggest parties in the world! For one week a year, eager travellers from all over flock to the seaside city to experience the Latin flavour and incredible shows, with around two million people taking to the streets.
The main parade takes place in the Sambadrome, where you can see extravagant floats and costumes showcasing years of Latin tradition. The most famous dance at carnival is the samba. A Brazilian dance with African influences, it pulses through the streets with dancing continuing into the early hours. There is no where else on earth where you can experience the colours, music and cultural pride than Rio carnival!
Food and Drink
While not a tourist attraction as such, Rio’s restaurants serve delicious local delicacies that sum up the Brazilian culture perfectly – creative, spicy and varied.
One cheap and filling dish that you will no doubt tuck into a few times during your stay in the city is feijoada, a black bean and pork cassoulet that usually comes with kale and rice.
With its stretches of beautiful beaches, it will be of no surprise that Rio de Janeiro’s eateries have a wealth of fresh seafood on the menu. View my guide to the best seafood restaurants in Rio.
All of your meals will likely be washed down by a caipirinha or two. Be warned though, this potent concoction includes cane sugar rum, sugar and lime juice.
Best Places to Visit Near Rio de Janeiro
Angra Dos Reis
Just 150km south of Rio, the area of Angra dos Reis is perfectly placed for a few days getaway from the city and it’s no surprise that the area has become the premier beach resort near Rio.
The long coastline of the Angra dos Reis bay is dotted with little sandy coves with pristine clear waters, just inviting you to go for a relaxing dip, while the bay itself contains no fewer than 365 islands and islets: one for every day of the year!
The warm sub-tropical sun gives the area a beautiful climate, and the area is covered by large areas of Brazil’s Atlantic rainforest, which is a real diversity hotspot, and the area is also a big base for adventure sports so there really is something for everyone!
You need to allow a few hours to get to and from Rio from Angra Dos Reis, as the roads are not Brazil’s best, and to get on to Ilha Grande you obviously need to catch a ferry from Angra Dos Reis itself across the bay to the island. However, the journey is certainly worthwhile, particularly if you are interested in diving or hiking, as the scenery and wildlife are among Brazil’s best.
Ilha Grande
The largest of the islands, known accurately if unimaginatively as Ilha Grande (Big Island) is worth a visit in itself. Almost entirely undeveloped, it has no cars, no real roads and very few people, but what is does have are fantastic sandy beaches, over 150km of hiking trails leading up to the 1031m Pico da Pedra D’Agua, and verdant, unspoilt Atlantic rainforest.
These trails, together with the variation from beach to tropical mountainside, have helped ensure that Ilha Grande is well and truly on the trekking trail in Brazil, so if you’d like some good opportunities to stretch your legs in-between snoozes on the beach, then it’s well worth adding Ilha Grande to your must-see list.
Buzios
You might like to consider the rather quicker trip from Rio to Buzios: it’s a shorter journey and a better road than getting to Angra Dos Reis, so if you’re only wanting to spend a couple of days on the beach then, lovely though Angra is, Buzios might be the one for you…
Paraty and São Paulo
If you are looking to head south from Rio to São Paulo, be sure to visit Paraty, located four hours south of Rio on Brazil’s stunning Emerald Coast. Paraty will give you the chance to unwind and relax. After a few days sightseeing and visiting the nearby islands, a good dose of vitamin D and some sand between the toes, you’ll be ready to explore more of Brazil.
Salvador
Though Rio’s Carnival is the most spectacular, its carefully-rehearsed processions can’t match the exuberant displays in Salvador, far to the north, where every spectator quickly becomes part of the carnival – a participant rather than observer.
Set on the shores of the northern state of Bahia, Salvador has a much more African feel and celebrates Carnival in a week-long party, changing in mood from one part of the city to another. In one area the Carnival takes place around trio elétricos, a semi-trailer loaded with thousands of watts of sound equipment and with a band playing on top. They parade slowly along two circuits, followed by roped areas called blocos, roped areas containing dancers. You can pay to join a bloco: you’ll be given a t-shirt to prove your right to dance with the truck.
Alternatively, you can join the crowds outside the roped-off areas, known as pipoca (literally: popcorn), and cruise the barracas, freelance bars, often with their own sound systems, that turn Salvador into a city of ten thousand parties. To keep yourself going there are vendors everywhere selling beers and batidas, killer-strength mixtures of cachaça and fruit juices. Muvuca! (“madness”).