Guide to
Rio De Janeiro
Destinations don’t get much more iconic than Rio! Stunning beaches, mountains and Jesus himself looking down over you and the rest of the city. It’s also a key gateway destination to the rest of Brazil and other parts of South America.
From top locations, multi-day itinerary ideas and regional insights, this guide is a must read for anyone wanting to explore Rio and is surroundings.
Carnaval
The image of extravagantly-dressed dancers gyrating their way through the streets is synonymous with Rio, when the entire city comes to life for three days leading up to Ash Wednesday. The official parade culminates in a competition at the specially constructed 30,000-seater Sambódromo, but there are plenty of smaller parades and parties going on across the city.
Be warned, this is also a very busy time for Rio so expect everything to be book way in advance and for prices to be a lot higher than any other time. There are lots of pre-carnaval events going on from mid January, the madness seems to grow as you get closer to carnaval week.
Olinda, Recife and Ouro Preto are also worth visiting for their carnaval, they are much smaller cities, but still know how to throw a party.
Image credit: Celso Pupo (Shutterstock.com)
Corcovado and Christ the Redeemer statue
The icon of Rio, this huge statue towers over the city, arms spread as though embracing it in all its chaotic, exuberant splendour.
The view from the top of Corcorvado is a postcard-perfect spectacle of the city strung along sandy bays backed with deep green forests. You can catch a taxi to the top, but the cog railway is much more fun which leaves every 30 mins from the station on Rua Cosme Velho.
Tickets can be purchased online at Trem do Corocovado website for around R$128 – please note weekends are considered High Season throughout the year.
Beaches
Copacabana
If ever a strip of sand and surf summed up a nation, it’s Copacabana. Here you’ll find Brazilian life in glorious technicolour, from bronzed bods in microscopic swimsuits to kids from the favelas playing football on the sand.
Bars and restaurants overlooking the beach serve up mean caipirinhas. An essential stop on any visit, but best avoided after nightfall.
Ipanema
One of a constellation of classic beaches, Ipanema is the home of the well-heeled, where the beautiful people gather to soak up the sun in between dips in the Atlantic.
The adjacent beach at Leblon is equally good.
Image credit: Sergio Shumoff (Shutterstock.com)
Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf Mountain)
The icon of Rio, after the statue of Christ the Redeemer, this chunk of rock soars out of Guanabara Bay, offering magical views of the city from the top.
Catch the cable car or – if you’re feeling adventurous – various companies offer climbing trips to the top. The views are especially good at sunset. The cable car runs between 8am – 9pm, tickets are R$195 Adult.
Parque Nacional da Tijuca
It seems unbelievable that this wonderful expanse of tropical rainforest should be almost in the middle of a city of more than 6 million.
And yet this 120km2 park boasts mountains, waterfalls and a good network of trails. A great escape from the bustle of the city.
Santa Teresa
This bohemian enclave in the heights overlooking Rio can seem like a world apart. Laced with colonial mansions, studios and galleries, half of the fun of visiting Santa Teresa is the ride in battered old open-sided trams that run from the Cathedral.
Costa Verde
West of Rio, the Costa Verde is one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in the country. Here, pretty colonial towns and small fishing villages are dotted along a string of forested ridges, in turn giving way to white sandy beaches and clusters of islands.
Itinerary Inspiration
Rio in 2 –3 days
A whistlestop tour of Rio should definitely include a day beach-hopping on Copacabana and Ipanema. In the evening take a boat cruise out into Guanabara bay to watch the sun set and the city lights twinkling to life.
Spend your second day scaling the heights – catch the cable car to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain in the morning, and the funicular to the top of Corcorvado, in the shadow of Christ the Redeemer statue in the evening.
In 7-9 days
See more of the city by visiting Santa Teresa, and hiking amongst the natural wonders of Parque Nacional da Tijuca.
Spend a day exploring Rio’s best museums and galleries, around Centro district. The historic centre of the city, it’s home to a number of fine colonial buildings and wide plazas.
The Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil hosts exhibitions, theatre, film screenings and cultural events, Museu Histórico Nacional tells the history of the country, while the Centro de Arte Hélio Oiticica stages contemporary art exhibitions. Museu Folclórico Edson Carneiro has good displays of indigenous and folk art.
Escape the hubbub of the city by exploring the quiet streets of Urca and the paths around the base of the Sugarloaf, where tracts of forest hide secret coves.
If fixtures permit, see if you can get to a match at the home of Brazilian football – the Maracanã stadium. These are colourful, boisterous affairs, so try to go with a Portuguese speaker, and have your wits about you.
A favela tour opens up parts of Rio that most tourists simply ignore. These sprawling slums clinging to the edges of the city can be extremely dangerous, but they are also rich with the genuine spirit of the place. Only go with a recognised, respected tour company.
If you time it right, you may be able to join a tour to one of Rio’s famous Samba schools as they prepare for Carnaval.
Two weeks +
After visiting all the major sites – and sunning yourself to crisp on the Copacabana, head a little further afield at some these attractions within striking distance of Rio:
Itiaia
A wonderful park that protects steep-sided valleys covered in pristine rainforest, clear rivers and a huge variety of flora and fauna, Itiaia is perfect for those who can’t get to the Amazon, but want to experience something of Brazil’s natural riches. Walking trails range from a few hours to a few days.
Costa Verde
A beautiful stretch of coastline offering beaches, fishing villages and colonial towns set along forested ridges.
Paraty
A real gem, the cobbled streets of this colonial city buzz with cafes, bars and live music. If the ornate churches and colonial mansions aren’t your thing, head for one of the 65 islands or 300 beaches nearby.
Ilha Grande
150km southwest of Rio, this large island boasts lush forests and tropical beaches. There’s good hiking, swimming and diving to be done here.
TNT’s Top tips!
When to visit?
Between December and March is the best for very hot weather. September – November is still nice, and the crowds are much lesss manic.
Recommended Bars and Restaurants?
Classico Beach Club Urca: This place has fantastic food and a sensational views oveer the city. It’s worth a visit just for the view alone.
Rio Scenarium: Lively location with good regional food and plenty of music and atmosphere.
Nosso: One for the true foodies, this place will blow your mind! Not far from Ipanema beach.
Getting there?
BA flies direct if you have the budget. There are also connecting flights from Lisbon which is a popular route saving a fair bit off a direct flight. Prices vary so much throughout the year, best to check skyscanner for best options.
What else should I do?
Brazil is a massive place, so the options are endless. Paraty is a great place with much of the charm of Rio, but more traditional and bursting with charater.
Is it safe?
It’s a massive city in Brazil with a huge tourist population and many poor areas, so it’s not without it’s petty crime. If you wonder about looking like a tourist brandishing a brand new iphone then you probably deserve to get unwanted attention. If you’re mindful of your surroundings and keep out of the favelas at night, then you should find it as safe as any other big city in the world.
