If you’re looking for what to do in Rio de Janeiro, it’s time to start getting ready to put together a complete itinerary with special tips on tourist spots.
The Marvelous City goes far beyond the beaches and offers a wide variety of attractions for tourists.
Whether in cultural facilities, in nature or in the historic center with its colonial architecture, there are many places to be explored.
Therefore, in this matter, we are going to present a list of 14 places to visit in Rio de Janeiro.
What to do in Rio de Janeiro: main sights of the city
For those in doubt about what to do in Rio de Janeiro, it is worth mentioning that the city offers options for all tastes.
With several tourist, cultural and historical attractions, the city reserves many beaches, museums and instagrammable places to serve all tourists.
Below, you can find a list of the main attractions and tips on what to do in Rio de Janeiro.
Christ the Redeemer
One of the first sights that comes to mind when we think about what to do in Rio de Janeiro is the Christ the Redeemerone of the best known attractions in the city.
Located on Corcovado Mountain, Christ the Redeemer was inaugurated in 1931 and is 38 meters high, which is equivalent to a 13-story building.
The attraction, which turned 91 in 2022, is also one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World and receives around 1.9 million people a year.
The tourist point is open every day for visitation, from 8am to 7pm. To get there, the most common thing is to take a van or take the Corcovado train, which departs from Cosme Damião Station. There is no car parking on site.
Lapa and surrounding bars
For those wondering what to do in Rio de Janeiro in this region close to Escadaria Selarón, exploring the Lapa neighborhood is a good option.
With busy nightlife, the place has options to know the gastronomic diversity From Rio. There are several restaurants, bars, ballads and dance halls.
There, it is also possible to find open-air samba circles, held below the Arcos da Lapa.
Parque Lage
Located at the foot of Morro do Corcovado, in Jardim Botânico, Parque Lage brings together nature, art and culture in one place.
In addition to having a privileged view of Corcovado, the place also has 52 hectares of green area.
The Park was part of an old sugar mill in the region, but it was bought by an English nobleman and later, in 1957, it became a listed and public heritage.
Entrance to the Park is free, but a visit to the palace – which gives access to the café and cultural programs – must be scheduled by the sympla website.
Maracana Stadium
For those looking for what to do in Rio de Janeiro, visiting the Maracanã Stadium is an option with a lot of history, architecture and emotion for those who like football.
The venue was the stage for Pelé’s 1,000th goal, hosted several matches and historic events, including the 1950 and 2014 World Cups.
It is possible to take a guided tour of the stadium or watch a football match.
Museum of Tomorrow
Inaugurated in 2015, the Museum of Tomorrow is located next to Mauá square, housed in the old Mauá pier, and uses technology to promote interactive science experiences.
The place was designed by the architect Santiago Calatrava and has about 30 thousand square meters of built area.
The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 am to 6 pm, with the last entry at 5 pm.
Botanical Garden
Founded in 1808, the Botanical Garden has more than 500 thousand square meters of preserved green area and is a listed heritage.
The Garden is located in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro and brings together several natural attractions, including trails, exotic plant greenhouses and an archaeological site, the Casa dos Pilões Museum – which preserves an old gunpowder factory.
Sugar Loaf
O cable car to Sugarloaf Mountain is one of the main places to visit in Rio de Janeiro.
Overlooking the Copacabana waterfront, the Botafogo cove and Guanabara Bay, the cable car connects Morro da Urca to Morro do Pão de Açúcar.
Inaugurated in 1912, it was the first cable car in Brazil and the third in the world. The attraction operates daily from 9 am to 8 pm, with the last boarding at 6:30 pm.
Telegraph Stone
For adventurous tourists looking for what to do in Rio de Janeiro, the trail to Pedra do Telégrafo is one of the most visited attractions.
The place is known for providing an optical illusion, allowing tourists to take photos that give the impression of being on the edge of an abyss, depending on the angle.
Pedra do Telégrafo is located in the Barra de Guaratiba neighborhood, in the Pedra Branca State Park.
There are 354 meters of altitude and approximately one hour of walking, starting from Nossa Senhora das Dores Church, in front of Praia Grande.
Selaron Staircase
Located between the neighborhoods of Lapa and Santa Teresathe Escadaria Selarón is an attraction for those who enjoy architecture.
The work, created by the Chilean artist Jorge Selarón, brings together a colorful tile mosaic – some hand-painted by Selarón.
In addition to the colors of the Brazilian flag, the staircase also features special tiles from different parts of the world, gifts that Selarón received while carrying out the project. The attraction is free.
Confeitaria Colombo
Among the list of things to do in Rio de Janeiro, having a coffee at the traditional pastry shop Colombo is an item that cannot be left out of the itinerary.
With more than 100 years of history, the place is inspired by European cafes and draws attention to its architecture.
It is possible to find four branches of coffee in Rio, but the headquarters is in the center of the city and is the historic headquarters, considered cultural heritage.
Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro
Who likes history, culture and architecture and is wondering what to do in Rio de Janeiro, the tip is to visit the city’s Theatro Municipal.
Located in the central region of Cidade Maravilhosa, in Cinelândia, Theatro Municipal offers guided tours from Wednesday to Saturday for the general public.
The tour has specific times and must be booked directly on the website of the Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro.
Wall of Urca
About 1km long, Mureta da Urca is known for providing a privileged view of the sunset over Guanabara Bay and the Sugarloaf Mountain.
The place also has restaurants and bars to accompany the late afternoon scene. There is Bar da Urca, one of the most traditional bars in Rio de Janeiro.
Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas
With about 7km of bike path, Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas is an ideal area to enjoy nature, walk or have a picnic.
It is possible to rent bicycles and ATVs to explore the shores of the lagoon, in addition to taking advantage of pedal boat or stand up paddle rides.
The tourist spot is in the Lagoa neighborhood, close to several attractions in Rio de Janeiro, such as the beaches of Ipanema and Leblon.
Morro do Vidigal
Located in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro, Morro do Vidigal reserves attractions for the most diverse tastes, from adventurers to those who enjoy nightlife.
For those wondering what to do in Rio de Janeiro, this is a good option to enjoy different experiences.
It is possible, for example, to do the Morro Dois Irmãos trail, which ends with a beautiful view of the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon.
The hill also offers a great view of the city. At the top of Vidigal, is Bar da Laje, known for its feijoada and the privileged view.
Best beaches in Rio de Janeiro
Among the tourist places in Rio de Janeiro, the beaches are some of the most popular attractions for tourists.
Therefore, those looking for what to do in Rio de Janeiro cannot fail to include trips to the main beaches of the city.
The best known are:
- Little beach;
- Devil’s Beach;
- Leblon Beach;
- Grumari Beach;
- Ipanema beach;
- Arpoador Beach;
- Barra da Tijuca Beach.
Learn more about Rio de Janeiro
In addition to knowing what to do in Rio de Janeiro, it is important to know other details about the city to plan your trip with peace of mind.
Accommodation, climate and how to get there are some essential points for those who are organizing a tour of the Marvelous City.
How to get to Rio?
To get to Rio, the main means of transport are bus, plane and car. The city has two airports to welcome tourists: Santos Dumont and Galeão, the first being closer to the central region.
The city has a wide range of flights, available on three airlines: Gol, Azul and Latam.
In addition to the airports, Rio de Janeiro has a bus station close to the city center, with easy access to the neighborhoods.
For those going by bus, just turn right when leaving the bus station to find a municipal terminal, which offers bus lines to various points in the Marvelous City.
A trip by car from São Paulo, for example, covers a distance of 442 km – just over five hours of travel.
Where to stay in Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro is a big city and has accommodation options for all tastes and budgets, but it is important to consider the location of the accommodation to facilitate displacement during the trip.
For those traveling to see the historic attractions of the Marvelous City, the tip is to stay in the center of Rio, which has good transport options and is close to Santos Dumont airport.
The city center is also close to many tourist attractions, such as the Museum of Tomorrow, the Royal Portuguese Reading Office and the Municipal Theater, for example. At this point, the neighborhood of Santa Teresa is usually quite popular for the most affordable prices.
For those who prefer more excitement, Lapa is another interesting option for accommodation in downtown Rio de Janeiro.
If the trip is to enjoy the beaches of Rio, the ideal is to stay in the South Zone. In this region are the neighborhoods of Ipanema, Copacabana and Leblon.
In addition to being close to the beaches, the neighborhoods offer options for restaurants, shopping malls and shops. They also have easy access to other parts of Rio and several subway stations to make getting around easier.
How is the weather in Rio de Janeiro during the year?
The climate in Rio de Janeiro has an annual average of 24º C, and the winter period, between June and August, is the one with milder temperatures. During the summer, thermometers rise and can exceed 40º C.
In early 2023, for example, thermometers registered 40.3º, with a thermal sensation of 54º C.
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Source: CNN Brasil
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