Statue of Christ the Redeemer
Sights
A monument to Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro, which was included in the New Seven Wonders of the World.
architecture
6/10
entertainments
7/10
nature
9/10
restaurants
6/10
tourist popularity
9/10
Top things to do in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro is the most vibrant and dynamic city in Latin America. We have undoubtedly placed it in our TOP cities in the world and, of course, in our hearts.
Rio is considered one of the most dangerous cities on the planet due to the frequent attacks on tourists and thefts. At first, it was scary to go outside, we didn't take anything with us except an old phone with a camera and a small amount of cash. But in general, it is safety, because locals and other city guests around are quite relaxed, and the police and military are every 100 meters away. Therefore, we recommend simply following the basic safety standards.
We believe that Rio de Janeiro is a city that everyone needs to see, despite the long flight and all sorts of Internet horror stories. Therefore, go down to the guide and save the main places to visit in Rio.
Sugarloaf Mountain
Sights
A strange cone-shaped mountain in Rio. Several centuries ago, sugar was packaged and sold in such cone-shaped heads all over Europe.
It is the most expensive attraction, entrance and ascent by cable car cost about $40 per person. But Rio de Janeiro is known for its fantastic views and the most beautiful sunsets, for which it is worth visiting such places.
Sugarloaf offers an overview of the key areas of the city, the famous beaches and the statue of Christ the Redeemer.
By the way, there is a cool souvenir shop at the top, we advise you to look for something there as a souvenir from Rio.
Copacabana Beach
Entertainments
One of the most famous beaches in the world, 4 km of white sand and the famous Portuguese cobblestone waves on the promenade.
A magnificent clean beach with views of Jesus Christ and Sugar Loaf. The ocean is always raging here, so it will be funny to swim in the waves. And along the embankment there are many playgrounds for football and volleyball.
By the way, the Copacabana area is considered the safest in Rio de Janeiro. We recommend staying there.
Favela Rocinha
Sights
The largest and most populous favela in Rio de Janeiro.
We are sure that every tourist to Rio thinks about visiting the world-famous Brazilian favelas. We managed to visit Rocinha quite safely with a local guide, having booked an excursion on airbnb.
The guide warned us in advance where it is strictly forbidden to take pictures (mostly, these are places where they sell illegal stuff or where local gangsters with huge machine guns gather - a sight not for the faint of heart).
The excursion also included a visit to a local apartment. The view from there is definitely fantastic.
Carioca Aqueduct
Sights
The bridge that connected the city with the Carioca River in the 18th century to deliver water.
The aqueduct is located in the center of Rio, in the Lapa area. The general atmosphere here seems slightly unsafe due to the large number of homeless people living under the arches. Just walk by without staying long.
A tourist tram route has now been launched across the bridge, and you can view the city center from the height.
Escadaria Selarón
Insta places
A colourful hand-painted staircase that has become a symbol of Rio de Janeiro.
This is a staircase with an amazing history! Chilean artist Jorge Selarón dedicated 23 years of his life to decorating the steps.
The staircase is completely covered with tiles, which he decorated with his drawings. And just a few years after the start of work, this bright place became popular with tourists, and they began to bring Selarón pieces of tiles from all over the world.
We recommend walking the entire staircase from start to finish to examine each piece.
Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian
Sights
Main Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro in modernist style.
The most unusual Catholic cathedral in the world. It's hard to say for sure how attractive it is, as it looks a bit gloomy for Rio, but it's definitely worth a visit. Inside, you can see the huge stained glass windows in the full height of the sloping walls, which is not visible from the outside — come in, admission is free.
Museum of Tomorrow
Entertainments
The modern Science Museum in Rio, dedicated to the environmental and social issues of Brazil and the world.
The building looks quite futuristic both inside and outside. The idea of the museum is cool — to consider the key problems of humanity through the prism of the past, present and future. But unfortunately, the museum is designed only for native Portuguese and Spanish speakers (we didn't understand everything, and we couldn't fully enjoy the visit).
It was good to spend time on the embankment near the museum and wander around the neighborhood.
Ipanema Beach
Entertainments
A picturesque beach in a prestigious area of Rio de Janeiro.
This beach is a continuation of Copacabana and accurately reflects the mood of Rio — music plays around, tourists dance and have fun, and advertising biplanes fly in the sky.
Botafogo Beach
Entertainments
A small quiet beach in Rio de Janeiro with a view of the Sugar Loaf.
Almost nobody swim here. The water in the cove stagnates a little and seems less clean than in the open areas. Plus, there are yachts parked here, and they probably also pollute the water a little. But we would like to note that this is the most peaceful place in Rio with a beautiful open view of the Sugar Loaf.
Pão & Companhia
Restaurant
A cozy Brazilian cafe in a canteen format.
We tried here both breakfast and lunch—a great place with affordable prices.
Most importantly, buy as much as possible cheese buns, they are the freshest here! These are local pastries that even Brazilian Starbucks sell.
We ate kilograms of these buns!
Leblon Shopping Mall
Entertainments
A shopping complex near the Leblon metro station.
Shopping malls in Rio de Janeiro are, of course, a delight! The food courts have panoramic windows with views of Jesus Christ. And the most interesting thing about clothing stores—there are a lot of local brands that sell bright, stylish and high-quality summer clothes. We recommend you to take a closer look!
If you dream of being in sunny Rio de Janeiro, do not delay! And do not hesitate to ask questions in the comments — we will help you decide on housing, transport and answer all questions about a trip to Brazil.
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The Christ the Redeemer statue is a unique landmark, without which it is impossible to imagine Rio de Janeiro. Here, a whole adventure has been created for tourists, which we highly recommend visiting.
How to get there: come to the Cosme Velho train station and buy entrance tickets at the ticket machines. From there, bright red carriages will take you straight to the monument of Jesus Christ. The railway tracks will lead through the jungles, and from the window there will be a breathtaking view of the ocean.
Before visiting, it is important to make sure that the weather conditions are appropriate and there is good visibility in the monument area. To do this, you can watch a live broadcast - youtube.com/@PaineirasCorcovadoRio.