This photo is taken from the Christ the Redeemer statue.
Updated January 2024.
The Marvelous City
Rio de Janeiro literally translates to River of January. Supposedly, when Portuguese explorers sailed into the Bay of Guanabara for the first time, they thought the bay was a river. The discovery took place in January of 1502, so the area became known as Rio de Janeiro.
However, some historians say that the word Ria was first used, which means “Bay to a River”, so the city could have been known as “Ria de Janeiro” before the word “Ria” was shifted to “Rio”.
The city is known for many different reasons:
Fun Facts:
However, some historians say that the word Ria was first used, which means “Bay to a River”, so the city could have been known as “Ria de Janeiro” before the word “Ria” was shifted to “Rio”.
The city is known for many different reasons:
- The world's largest urban rainforest: Tijuca National Park.
- The former colonial capital starting in 1763 and the capital of independent Brazil from 1822-1960.
- Rio’s Carnaval is considered the biggest show on Earth and the largest Carnaval celebration.
- Réveillon is the largest New Year’s party on the planet, where they throw flowers into the ocean as a tribute to Yemoja, a deity that rules over the water.
- The bluest sky in the world, based on TV researcher, Anya Hohnbaun, who used a spectrometer developed by scientists at the British National Physical Laboratory to scientifically conclude the information.
Fun Facts:
- It is the only city outside of Europe that served as a European capital. The Portuguese royal family fled Napoleon’s rule in 1808 and sailed to Rio, where it became the de facto capital for 7 years of the Portuguese empire.
- Locals to Rio are called “Cariocas”. This comes from the Tupi-Guarani indigenous language when they referred to the houses of the white man “akari oka”, which became “Carioca”.
- In 2010, a law was passed making street art legal in Rio, as long as the artist receives permission from an owner of the wall or building..
Overview
- 7:00 - 8:30 AM: Christ the Redeemer - One of the Seven New Wonders of the World
- 9:00 - 10:30 AM: Sugarloaf Mountain - viewpoint
- 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Confeitaria Colombo - cafe
- 12:15 - 12:30 PM: Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading - beautiful library
- 12:45 - 2:15 PM: Museu do Amanhã- science museum
- 2:30 - 3:40 PM: Santa Teresa Tram - iconic neighborhood
- 4:00 - 4:15 PM: Escadaria Selarón - staircase
- 4:25 - 4:30 PM: Arcos da Lapa - former aqueduct
- 4:40 - 5:00 PM: Catedral Metropolitana de São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro - church
- 5:00 - 7:00 PM: Dinner or Downtime
- 7:00 - 9:00 PM: Rio Scenarium - samba club and bar
Click the star to add the map to your Google Maps! To view it, simply open Google Maps, navigate to the Menu, choose “Your Places,” click "Maps", and voila, the map should be added.
Tips
Safety Tips
Rio is notorious for being dangerous. However, from my experience, any well-seasoned traveler can traverse the streets safely, and it’s just as dangerous as any other big city like New York or Lima.
- Walk with a purpose.
- Don’t walk with your phone out. If you need directions, briefly glance down, but have your route already in mind.
- Be aware of your surroundings.
- Stay in brightly lit streets at night.
- Keep valuables out of sight.
- Almost everywhere in Rio, accepts credit card, so don’t carry a bulging wallet. R$50 is maybe all the cash you need to buy from street vendors.
- Steer clear of “favelas” (slums/ghettos), although some are known for their tourism, but one should go with a tour group.
Getting Into/Out the City
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Taxis or Ubers are the best methods of getting into the city from the airports.
Galeão International Airport (GIG), is the main international airport. For an Uber, there is a specific rideshare parking lot one needs to walk to in order to be picked up. Otherwise, one can take a taxi waiting right outside the departure area. |
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Getting Around the City
The city is surprisingly bikeable with many bike lanes crossing the city, but the metro system is also equally robust.
Bike
Like other large Brazilian cities, one can use the Bike Itaú app. One can buy a 48-hour plan for ~R$25 that allows one to bike for unlimited 2-hour segments.
Like other large Brazilian cities, one can use the Bike Itaú app. One can buy a 48-hour plan for ~R$25 that allows one to bike for unlimited 2-hour segments.
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MetrôRio There are 3 metro lines [1 (Orange), 2 (Green), and 4 (Yellow)] that cross the city, although Lines 1 and 4 are surprisingly similar. The Metro is open daily from 5 AM to midnight; however, different stations open at different times. The fare for the Metro also ranges from R$4.60 - R$6.80 depending on the time. Like modern cities, one can use Apple Pay or Google Pay to pay from one's phone. Otherwise, one can purchase a reloadable value card (which can also be used on the light rail). |
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Light Rail
Inaugurated before the 2016 Olympics, there are now 3 lines that run mainly through downtown Rio. One can purchase a card from any of the stations, which can then also be used on the Metro. Each trip costs $4.30, but buying a card requires paying for 2 rides. |
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Bus Various bus lines run through Rio. Their schedules and routes can be accessed through Google Maps, but if one doesn't speak Portuguese, it can be hard to use/navigate them. Prices vary based on route and costs can range from R$4 to R$5. |
Bus
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1-Day Plan
7:00 - 8:30 AM: Christ the Redeemer
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One of the New Seven Wonders of the World, this 30 meter tall statue overlooking Corcovado Mountain that was built in 1931 to reaffirm Brazilian’s faith in Christianity. The arms stretch 28 meters wide and weighs 635 tons.
Your best bet is to get on the first Cog train to avoid the crowds. When purchasing a ticket, select 7:20 or 7:40 and arrive at the station around 7:00 AM to board the first train. If possible, sit on the right side for a spectacular viewpoint; however, the same view can be seen from the top. Methods of Transit:
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Christ the Redeemer
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FUN FACT: The statue of Christ gets struck by lightning multiple times each year, so continuous repairs are needed.
9:00 - 10:30 AM: Sugarloaf Mountain (R$185)
Sugarloaf Mountain from the Cable Car
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A natural wonder with a 360-degree view of Rio and Guanabara Bay. At ~1,300 feet tall, its notoriety can be attributed to the tramway installed in 1912. At the time, the third in the world. Its name Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf) is because the hill resembles a sugarloaf, which is the refinement of sugarcane into a cone-like shape.
Today, the top of the mountain provides scenic pictures, different shops, restaurants, and gift shops. One takes two cable car rides to the top of the mountain, with a stopover at Morro da Urca. A round-trip ticket can be booked here or if one goes early enough, one can buy tickets at the counter. While people recommend visiting at sunset for the views, to avoid the crowds, early in the morning is the best bet. Of course, there are also skip-the-line tickets for ~R$100 more. If one doesn’t want to buy tickets, hiking up Morro da Urca can be a great way to see some stunning views. While just over 1 mile long, the hike can take 40 minutes. One can then take the second cable car from the top of Morro da Urca to the top of Sugarloaf. |
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Confeitaria Colombo
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Founded in 1894, this historic and elegant café is known for its ornate mirrors, the stained-glass ceiling, and vintage silverware. One can either dine on the bottom floor or take the elevator to the second-floor to be able to dine and see through the hole in the ceiling.
If one decides not to dine at Sugarloaf Mountain, this would be a better alternative with reasonable prices and a wide assortment of delicious pastries with Brazilian and French origins. |
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12:15 - 12:30 PM: Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading
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Note: All the pictures are taken from Wikipedia.
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Library and Lusophone (Portuguese-speaking) cultural institution that was voted the fourth most beautiful library in the world by Time magazine and has the largest collection of Portuguese literature outside of Portugal.
The Gothic-Renaisstance style institution was founded in 1837 and completed in 1887. The façade is built with Lisbon stone with medallions of Portuguese writers. Inside, the Reading Room is the most beautiful with a chandelier and stained-glass skylight, while books line the entire room up to the ceiling. |
12:45 - 2:15 PM: Museu do Amanhã
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The Museum of Tomorrow is a unique science museum that was designed by Spanish neofuturist architect Santiago Calatrava.
Its main exhibition is to educate people about the Anthorpocene and the impact people will have on the future, promoting innovation, scientific information, and new ways of thinking for a more sustainable world. It consists of five areas with interactive exhibits. |
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One can take the Light Rail into the Historic Center or walk
2:30 - 3:40 PM: Santa Teresa
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Santa Teresa is the historic and artsy district west of downtown. The historic tramline brings one up the hills and is one of the oldest street railway lines in the world, running since 1877 (with a suspension from 2011-2015 due to a major accident due to a brake failure). One can take the circuit route over the aqueduct arches, through the Santa Teresa hill, before heading back down.
Note that once one disembarks, it may be hard to get back on as everyone needs a seat, so take the circuit ride around to Largo do Guimarães, disembark here, and explore the area. |
4:00 - 4:15 PM: Escadaria Selarón
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Otherwise known as the “Lapa Steps”, these tiled steps are created by Chilean-born artist Jorge Selarón, who first started renovating the steps in front of his house using tiles with colors of the Brazilian flag that were scavenged from construction sites and urban waste, before donations started coming in. Over 215 steps are covered with 2000 tiles that are collected from 60+ countries in the world. There are a few cool San Francisco ones that I really enjoyed. NOTE: it can be really crowded and hard to get a good photo during this time of day, so one might want to return in the morning for the "perfect" picture. |
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4:25 - 4:30 PM: Arcos da Lapa
Arcos da Lapa
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The Carioca aqueduct was originally built back in 1723 to transport water from the Carioca River into the city using colonial architecture and engineering. Today, it is a bridge for the Santa Teresa tramway. Unfortunately, the first aqueduct became to deteriorate, so the new one was built and completed in 1750. The aqueduct has 42 arches, spans 886 feet, and has a height of almost 58 feet. |
4:40 - 5:00 PM: Catedral Metropolitana de São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro
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Dedicated to St. Sebastian, the patron saint of Rio, this unique and modern cathedral, built in 1964, drew inspiration from the architectural style of Mayan pyramids, but with a conical shape to represent the equidistance and proximity of people to God and the conical miters bishops use in ceremonies.
It’s 315 feet In diameter and rises 246 feet into the air. There is seating for 5,000 people and a capacity of 20,000 people for standing room. |
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The most notable feature are the four 210 feet tall rectilinear stained glass windows that rise from floor to ceiling that represent the four fundamental characteristics of the church:
There is a sacred art museum underneath the museum that one can pay to visit.
NOTE: Make sure to get here before 5, since that’s when they close; however, when I visited, they were open until 6. But just to be sure, one should visit beforehand.
- One: Color green represents unity of the church
- Holy: Color red showcases sanctification
- Catholic: Color blue of the church’s mission to save men
- Apostle: Color yellow representing the Catholic Church’s hierarchy.
There is a sacred art museum underneath the museum that one can pay to visit.
NOTE: Make sure to get here before 5, since that’s when they close; however, when I visited, they were open until 6. But just to be sure, one should visit beforehand.
5:00 - 7:00 PM: Dinner
One can also choose to eat at Rio Scenarium and take this time for another leisurely activity, like visiting a beach.
7:00 - 9:00 PM: Rio Scenarium
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A 19th-century 3-story mansion with eclectic and vintage designs and objects hanging from the walls. One pays a cover charge to enter and hear different bands and music shows perform throughout the night. There are supposedly 7 different environments and is considered one of the 10 best bars in the world by the Guardian newspaper.
Prices are reasonable for both food and drinks, and it is a lovely place to watch people samba on the dance floor. One should purchase tickets in advance to save up to 30%. |
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Museums
- Museu de Arte Moderna do Rio de Janeiro: Modern art museum known for its architecture and hosts both Brazilian and international contemporary art. Here, one can also find a water garden, theater, and lecture halls.
- Museu Histórico Nacional: National Historical museum that preserves and exhibits Brazil’s history through artifacts, documents, and artwork.
- Museu da República: In the former presidential palace of Palácio do Catete), this museum showcases Brazil’s political history seeing the grand architecture, historical rooms, and different exhibits.
- Paço Imperial: Colonial-era building that also served as a royal residence and then a governmental and cultural center. It hosts art exhibits, cultural events, and provides insight not Brazil’s colonial history.
- Palácio Tiradentes: Neoclassical palace that once held the Brazilian parliament, which now is a history museum.
- Naval Museum: Dedicated to Brazil’s maritime history with naval artifacts, ship models, and documents.
- Rio Museum of Art: Housed in an architectural novelty, the museum focuses on both contemporary and historic Brazilian art.
Other Activities
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Maracaña Stadium/Sambadrome: The famous soccer stadium holds the record for the largest football game attendance in history with nearly 200,000 fans there for the 1950 World Cup. It is also the largest stadium in Brazil. Check out tickets online for any games to visit.
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Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro: Inaugurated in 1909 with a performance of the “Hamlet” opera, the theater house has elements of Art Nouveau and Art Deco. The interior has a horseshoe shape and can hold up to 2,000 spectators with luxurious decorations and marble staircases. One can take a guided tour or see one of the performances. |
Municipal Theater
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Copacabana Beach
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Beaches
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Hiking Trails
- Pedra Bonita (EASY; 25 MINUTES): One of the best views of all the hikes with panoramic views of Barra de Tijuca and Western Rio.
- Pedra da Gávea (HARD; 2.5 HOURS): Taller than Pedro Bonita, but with great views. A part of the trail requires rock climbing and ropes. There are sometimes people there to share their ropes, but this trail is not for the faint of heart.
- Pico da Tijuca (MODERATE; 2.5 HOURS): Highest peak in Rio with great signage, beautiful wildlife, and one of the coolest 360 views of the entire area.
- Morro Dois Irmãos (MODERATE; 40 MINUTES): A steep trail that provides an alternate view of Rio from the West side.
Restaurants
Fine Dining
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View from the terrace of Aprazível
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Mid-Range
- Gurumê: Sushi restaurant where seating feels like dining in a fishing boat. Outside of classics like sashimi and nigiri, one can also try ceviches, tuna burrata, and vegan sushi!
- Empório Jardim na Praia: Breakfast restaurant known for the best pão de queijo in Rio and their eggs benedict.
- Carretão (R$149): With multiple locations throughout Rio, one can enjoy a more affordable AYCE rodizio option.
- Restaurant Estrelas da Babilonia: Located in a hotel, it has delicious homecooked food and fresh juice, while having beautiful views of Copacabana from the terrace table. Recommend the Latino platter!
- Miam Miam: Bistro-style menu that has lighter dishes. Their best dish is black rice with shrimp and mango cutney. Other recommendations include broccoli rice with roasted garlic, rice with pork and caramelized pineapple, and duck with watercress risotto. One should also check out their ginger caiprinhas.
- Didier: French restaurant serving some delicious seafood. Would recommend the duck confit!
Budget
- Dianna Bakery: Small shop with limited seating, but it provides incredible desserts and small food dishes too.
- Braseiro: Churrascaria known for its delicious chicken.
- Garota de Ipanema: Renamed after the famous song, since this is where Tom & Vinicius wrote the song, it serves seafood, fried food, and beers.
- Bar Carioca da Gema: Bar and pizzeria where samba and choro music can be heard.
- Tin Tin Botequim: Boteco located in Leblon that is a fun place to check out.
- Bar do Mineiro: Boteco serving some of the best feijoada.
