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Published: 24-05-2022
Rio de Janeiro has always been Brazil's top destination for tourists, but the city burst into the international spotlight in 2016 with the Olympic Games being held there. Rio offers a lot more than the sun-kissed beaches for which it's globally famous and taking a selfie with Christ the Redeemer. From sampling authentic Brazilian food in some of the country's best restaurants to getting away from the bustle of the city to get back to nature, there are many activities to do in Rio all year round.
Arraial do Cabo
Ipanema Beach
Rio de Janeiro is famous for its stunning beaches, whether you hit the crowded shores of Copacabana and Ipanema with a caipirinha in hand, or sample a skewer of grilled Coalho cheese, or visit the quieter beaches like Leblon, to the west of Ipanema, with a book in hand. Alternatively, you could choose Barra de Tijuca, where many 2016 Olympics events took place. These are the beaches in the city itself, though, just a little further afield are the more remote sun and surf spots just outside of Rio de Janeiro's city center to experience. Located about 20 km west of the Barra da Tijuca neighborhood, inside a nature reserve, Praia de Grumari is cleaner and quieter than those inside the city. Meanwhile, the beaches in the resort town of Búzios, located about two and a half hours east of Rio, provide an even more secluded escape from the city crowds.
Ipanema Beach
Visit Christ the Redeemer
No trip to Rio de Janeiro is complete without a visit to Christ the Redeemer, imitating the giant Jesus pose, with your arms outstretched and a cheesy grin on your face. If you plan a trip up the Corcovado hill to Rio's most iconic viewpoint, book your Christ the Redeemer tickets online in advance to avoid the queues. The statue of Christ the Redeemer is a truly remarkable feat of sculpture and architecture. Accessible by a 10-minute train ride and a short climb up 220 steps to the foot of the statue, Christ the Redeemer looks over Rio and the mountaintop provides impressive views over the city, Sugarloaf Mountain, and the beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana.
Tourists at Christ the Redeemer
Go green in the Rio Botanical Garden
Rio de Janeiro is one of the best places in the world to catch some sun, of course but if you are looking for some shade, the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden, sits in the western part of the city not far from Leblon Beach and the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon. Filled with shady palm trees and sprawling ponds covered with lily pads, the park is home to more than a few mischievous monkeys and other species and is the perfect place to escape the heat for a day.
Rio Botanical Gardens
Check Out the Portuguese Architecture
Rio de Janeiro is famous for the sky-scraping modern hotels that line them; however, Rio is also home to historical Portuguese-colonial architecture. You can take a short walk from the Lapa Arches to Santa Teresa, which is one of Rio de Janeiro's most historical neighborhoods. In addition to colorful buildings, the historic streetcars that run through Santa Teresa almost make you feel like you're in Portugal. After you're done exploring the city streets, you can take a break by ascending to the rooftop of the Santa Teresa Hotel for sunset cocktails and look over his stunning neighborhood.
Santa Teresa Acueduct
Discover Rio's Underrated Downtown
The Lapa Arches form part of the Carioca Aqueduct that once delivered drinking water to the residents of Rio and form part of Rio de Janeiro's underrated downtown. Take a half- or full-day away from the beach to appreciate the beauty of this inland neighborhood. Other worthwhile attractions include the colorful Escadaria Selarón staircase and the Theatro Municipal, whose fascinating architecture is reminiscent of a European capital.
Escadaria Selarón
Eat at a Churrascaria
If an acai breakfast doesn't fill you up, or you've worked up an appetite wandering around the colorful Rio streets, stop for lunch or dinner at one of Brazil's famous grilled meat restaurants known as “churrascarias”. There are as many excellent churrascarias in Rio de Janeiro as there are bright red umbrellas on Ipanema Beach, but for a truly special experience, head to Copacabana's Churrascaria Palace. You can choose beef or pork, or a fabulous salad bar for sides or save room for dessert. However, you choose to dine, this carnivore’s delight serves the best of everything you can imagine in Rio.
Churrascaria Palace
Take a Hike
Whether you spend a few days in Rio or a few weeks, you should take advantage of the hills and mountains that surround the city. The most popular spot for hiking is Morro dois Irmãos, to the west of the city, overlooking Leblon and Ipanema beaches. The trail up to this viewpoint is steep but only takes about an hour to climb and is very much worth the effort. Other popular hikes in Rio de Janeiro include Pedra da Gávea and Pedra do Telégrafo, where you can take impressive photos of the views and abyss-like drop below.
Morro dois Irmãos
Running in Rio
One of the most refreshing things about the beaches of Rio de Janeiro is that you see bodies of all shapes and sizes on the beach. Whether you are fully kitted out with a beach body or not, we can all make an effort to get a little fitter! Kilometers of well-maintained sidewalks line Rio de Janeiro's white-sand beaches, which make them the perfect place to go for a run, jog, or walk, especially during the beautiful sunrise and sunset hours. There are also several outdoor gyms and a number of opportunities to play beach sports. If you're looking for a way to stay active while enjoying the beaches, stop off at one of these outdoor gyms to get a little more active during your trip to Rio.
Running along the Rio beaches
Garota de Ipanema
Brazilians have made countless contributions to worldwide art and culture, but few songs are as associated with Rio de Janeiro as "The Girl from Ipanema," made famous by Astrud Gilberto in 1963. Legend has it that the song was written by two patrons sitting in Garota de Ipanema, a popular snack bar located just a few blocks from the beach in a residential part of Ipanema. Even today, you might come here for the bites and beer, rather than the Bossa Nova both of which are on offer.
Garota de Ipanema
Visit Sugarloaf Mountain
The Pão do Açúcar, Sugarloaf Mountain rises high over Rio de Janeiro and is one of the city's most stunning and iconic landmarks. You can look down on it from the Corcovado or up at it from the Copacabana beach, this ever-present marvel on the Rio skyline is in most postcard pictures. You can take a ride on a cable car to the top of the Sugarloaf to watch the sunset. Arrive a few hours before the sun goes down so that you have time to walk around Urca, the underrated and very local neighborhood that surrounds the cable car station.
Sugarloaf Sunset
See the sunset from the Arpoador
Whether you're afraid of heights or simply don´t have the time to take the Sugarloaf cable car to the top of the mountain before the sun sets, there's another great place to catch the final rays of sunshine, just a few steps from both Ipanema and Copacabana beaches. Known simply as Arpoador, this rocky peninsula juts out into the sea between Rio's main beaches and offers a beautiful view over Ipanema and Leblon, with Morro dois Irmãos towering in the background.
Sunset from the Arpoador
Visit the biggest football stadium in the world - The Maracanã
It's no secret that Brazil is famous for its football and has been a leader in world football even before the 2014 World Cup. In fact, you can see this almost everywhere you look in Rio because it's more than just the national sport of Brazil, it's a lifestyle. People play football on Ipanema and Copacabana beaches, the people of Rio wear strips of their favorite football players and games are always playing on televisions in bars and restaurants across the city. One way to discover this on a deeper level is to take a tour of Maracanã Stadium, Rio's enormous football venue or try and catch a match when the local teams Flamengo, Fluminense, Vasco do Gama or Botafogo are playing for the most immersive and downright fun experience.
Maracanã Stadium
Take a Favela Tour
If the only idea you have of the favelas that exist through Rio is the 2002 film "City of God," then you probably have a different idea than the actuality. Although poverty and violence does exist in the favelas, most of the people who call them home are simply trying to build a better life for themselves and their children. One increasingly lucrative way for them to do this is to invite touristic visits to the favelas. You should be careful when choosing a favela tour as some of these tours focus heavily on drinking and partying, which can leave you vulnerable if something should happen, however these types of favela tours don't give much or any money to the communities they visit. When in doubt, speak with the receptionist or concierge at your hotel in Rio and ask him or her to recommend a decent tour.
Rio Favela
Visit Brazil´s Museum of Contemporary Art
Oscar Niemeyer was a visionary architect and one of the most influential figures not only in the construction of 20th century Brazil but in the world as a whole. In fact, he was responsible for many structures in Brasilia, the country's meticulously planned capital. If you want to see his work closer to Rio, you can head just over Guanabara Bay to Niterói, the site of the Niterói Contemporary Art Museum. Niemeyer designed and constructed this unique museum in 1996 to look like a UFO standing 16 meters high and 50 meters wide. It now houses a collection of 1,217 works from art collector João Sattamini featuring art work from over the years since the 1950s.
Museum of Contemporary Art in Rio
Take a Walk (or Swim) on the Wild Side
Although still technically in Rio de Janeiro, there are a number of beaches that feel much further away from the city where you can spend the day hiking or swimming. These include Prainha, which is located far to the west of the city, and Arraial do Cabo, whose "blue cave" more than lives up to its mysterious name. However, if you prefer a walk instead of a swim, head into Tijuca National Park, a massive rainforest where you can enjoy glorious views over the ocean.
