Whenever people think of traveling to Brazil, Rio de Janeiro is usually the first destination that comes to mind. It is not just one of the most popular places in South America; it made it to Forbes’ list of fifty places to visit in the whole world. Rio is the best place to come for the most authentic experience of Brazilian people. But what are the best things to do in Rio de Janeiro?
There are things to do in Rio de Janeiro for everyone, even if it is not your first time in town. From going to street parties to reaching the top of Corcovado Mountain, this article is here to help you see more than a few of our most famous landmarks. Take it from someone who lives in this marvelous city, there are so many things to do in Rio de Janeiro that it will feel like there isn’t enough time to do it all.
My local tip is to let planning be your best friend. Rio de Janeiro is a huge city with a hundred and sixty-three neighborhoods, with top attractions spread throughout all of them. So, let’s figure out what are your things to do in Rio de Janeiro!
Remember that this list doesn’t follow a particular order, it is mostly things I have done with friends and family who come to visit along with my specific bucket list of things to do in Rio de Janeiro gathered from local friends. Use it to make your itinerary and figure out which things are making it into your days here.
Climb up to Christ the Redeemer
Sitting atop Mount Corcovado, Christ the Redeemer is Rio de Janeiro’s most iconic sight. Although the idea came around in the late nineteenth century, it would take about eighty years before this beautiful monument towered over Guanabara Bay. But one of the best things about it is that you can see it watching over Rio de Janeiro from almost anywhere in town, all you have to do is look up. We all know the best way to see Cristo Redentor is from up close and there are a few ways to do it.
The first one is using the Paineiras Corcovado vans, this is the best way since it departs from a few points in town and the price will cover both transportation plus admittance to the monument. You could also take the Corcovado Train, its downside being it departs from a specific spot and reaching it might not be easy. The last way to reach our iconic monument is by climbing up to it.
Climbing up is not recommended for most people since it is a pretty advanced trail. If you are used to such activities, put on your best sneakers and get on with it! Your path will begin at Parque Lage and should last about four hours, there is no need to worry since plenty of visitors and locals climb up every day. My only advice is to pack plenty of water along with snacks, the view from up there is well worth it!
If you choose the latter option, be sure to purchase your Cristo Redentor tickets in advance from their website. The subway station closest to the park is Cantagalo but you exit at Largo do Machado if you want to take the train up. In both cases, you will need to get an Uber from the station or take a bus.
Sunbathe at Copacabana Beach (Or Other Famous Beaches)
There is no way to compile a list of things to do in Rio de Janeiro without talking about the many stunning beaches we have here. Choosing the best place to spend your day, or even just a portion of it, will depend a lot on what you would like to get out of the experience. So the best way to go about choosing one is to get to know a little bit more about all of them! In this case, let’s stay in Rio de Janeiro because there are enough options here.
Another iconic beach to visit is Ipanema, the same one from Antรดnio Carlos Jobim’s song ‘Girl From Ipanema’. While Copacabana is more appealing to all visitors, there is a clear difference between beachgoers from there to Ipanema. It is more popular among young people who want a more lively environment. It has more than a few bars for you to have a cold beer! Oh, this is also the more queer-friendly beach option.
Continuing on Ipanema, you get to Leblon Beach. This can be one of your things to do in Rio de Janeiro if you want a Barra da Tijuca feeling without having to leave the most central part of town. Although there aren’t many restaurants around, you can walk a little on the streets parallel to the coast for more options or have some finger foods at the beachside kiosks. It is often used for our famous telenovelas and you can take the subway to reach it!
Now, for people with a taste for adventure, Barra da Tijuca is great for practicing all kinds of water sports, you will have about five kilometers to enjoy great waters! If any sports are on your list of things to do in Rio de Janeiro, don’t forget to get a good insurance policy as well since accidents can happen anywhere.
I think one of the best things to do in Rio de Janeiro isn’t exactly a thing, it is more of an experience. Always bring some cash with you when heading down to the sand! That way you will be able to get some cold ‘Chรก Mate’ to drink from vendors, along with the most iconic snack you could get in Rio: the Biscoito Globo. It is not a day at the beach in Rio without either of them.
Use a Cable Car to Get to the Top of Sugarloaf Mountain
One of Rio’s main postal card views, the Pรฃo de Aรงucar cable cars connect the famous Sugar Loaf Mountain to Morro da Urca in what is a ride surely worth every bit of money you spend on it. It is the perfect activity to have on your itinerary for those days when you want to do something exciting but don’t feel like putting all that much physical effort into it. You can take a guided tour to make the most out of your visit! It lasts for about an hour before you’re free to keep exploring.
I am a huge fan of guided tours, they are the best way to get the lay of the land wherever you are! There are a few options for this park: you can take a historical tour to understand over a century of history, an ecological tour for insights into the Atlantic Forest, and a backstage tour for all of those behind-the-scenes secrets. And there is no need to worry since the entire park is very accessible to all kinds of people.
You might be wondering what is the best time to take this ride and it depends on what you want to get out of this experience. To avoid larger crowds of tourists, your best bet is to arrive as close to the opening hour of 8 AM as possible. For breathtaking views of Guanabara Bay under the sunset, quickly look up what time the sun is going down that day but be ready for some considerable crowds.
To live the kind of thing that only happens once in your lifetime, why not try their super exclusive sunrise experience? People go up in the cable car around 4 AM to watch the sunrise over South America’s marvelous city. It will be well worth a considerable price tag in reais.
My top tip is to get your tickets beforehand whenever you can! It will probably generate a QR code which you can ask your hotel’s front desk to print out for you. The best way to get there will depend on where in town you’re staying at. If you are taking the subway, exit at the Botafogo station. You know I won’t recommend you take the bus there so get a travel esim with plenty of coverage, that way you can quickly hail an Uber.
Go to Santa Teresa in the Cable Car
While a lot of Rio de Janeiro is surrounded by hills, not much of it is in height advantage points which is what makes the Santa Teresa Neighborhood so interesting. It was founded by the elite of Rio’s eighteenth-century society, explaining the beautiful townhouses we see there. They decorate the margins of very steep streets, another staple of Santa.
The twentieth century brought transformation to this neighborhood and made it a mandatory stop in every list of things to do in Rio de Janeiro. It became the home for artists and scholars, beloved by mostly young people who wanted to experiment with the bohemian lifestyle.
The best way to reach this beautiful area is to take the iconic Santa Teresa cable car, the one that goes over the Lapa Arches! You just hop on the subway and get off at Carioca Station, from there it is about five minutes to the boarding station. There is no way to get the tickets in advance so get there early!
With twenty reais, about four dollars, you are all set for a scenic round trip to Santa Teresa! This cable car goes through some of Santa’s most iconic streets, with strategically placed stops so you can reach tourist attractions. I recomend you go to the Rato Molhado Lookout! It is the best place to view the Guanabara Bay, the Santos Dumond Airport, and almost the entire city.
To round up your trip, make a stop at Parque das Ruรญnas. Located at one of the easier-to-reach spots in the neighborhood, this is the place to take as many pictures as you want because it is beautiful. The name comes from the fact this park is mostly made up of ruins from an old mansion.
There is a small stage where cultural presentations happen sometimes just beside a lookout with a breathtaking view even on rainy days. There is also an art gallery built on the lower levels, filled with works from local artists. Since expositions tend to rotate often, you will never see the same thing twice.
I don’t know about you but I am the kind of person who gets snacky very often. My personal favorite part at this park is the small cafรฉ where you can get it all, from mixed drinks to lunch sandwiches for very reasonable prices.
Climb down From Santa Teresa Through the Escadaria Selarรณn
You will have two ways to leave Santa Teresa, taking the cable car you have already paid for or the Selarรณn Stairs. These stairs are another must on your list of things to do in Rio de Janeiro! They began when an artist called Jorge Selarรณn decided to create something with all the tiles he’d collected from travels around the world.
The steps are free to visit whenever best to reach if you exit the subway at Carioca station. Climbing up them can be so tiring, I recommend you do what I did and climb down from Santa Teresa through them while sipping an ice-cold beer. For less crowds around, you should go there as early as you can! However, you should consider going just before lunchtime to sit down at one of the restaurants there.
Enjoy a Scenic Flight Over Guanabara Bay
There are many ways you can get to know a city, but such a marvelous city like Rio de Janeiro deserves a grand tour. Most well-experienced travelers will recommend you take an aerial tour if you can splurge on it! They leave from strategic points in town so you won’t have to worry about reaching your meeting point.
If this is going to be on your list of things to do in Rio de Janeiro, be ready for some research. You will need to be very careful with service providers since flying is already risky enough. We also have to look at what each tour includes. For this part of your planning, you can always ask your hotel’s front desk for some indications of providers or look at trustworthy sites like Viator and TripAdvisor.
Take a City Tour for the Best Way to See It All
If you have read any of my other articles on Brazil City Guides, especially the ones talking about things to do in a specific city, you know how much I love taking a city tour. If that is already a must in smaller towns, imagine in places like Rio with so many neighborhoods. Going on a city tour is the best way to have a little bit of everything!
This is another thing on your list of things to do in Rio de Janeiro that will require some research. You can easily find some free walking itineraries online, some hotels even offer them. But if you want to have a comprehensive tour, you should look for companies that offer English-speaking guides, along with transportation to save you the trouble of figuring that out as well.
Watch a Soccer Match at Maracanรฃ Stadium
When we ask people from other countries what things represent Brazil, everyone says carnival, samba music, and soccer. You simply can’t come to Rio and not have to watch a soccer match at Maracanรฃ Stadium on your list of things to do in Rio de Janeiro. There is nothing wrong with early championship matches.
It is arguably one of the most iconic stadiums in South America, perfect for everyone. I don’t even like soccer that much but watching Flamengo win a game against Volta Redonda there is one of my favorite memories ever. You can check out the stadium’s website for the calendar then head over to the team’s own websites for tickets. Or you could stop at the ticket office once you’re here! Policies for what you can bring in are the same as every other stadium but always check it to be sure.
Visit the Museum of Tomorrow (Or Any Other Museum)
Did you know that Rio was once Brazil’s capital? That only changed once Juscelino Kubischek came up with the idea for a town named Brasรญlia. This was people’s reference for almost two hundred years and because of that so much of our history is told in museums around here. There is something for all kinds of people! So I urge you to visit at least one even if museums aren’t your thing.
For an insight into Brazil’s history, consider hitting up the National Historic Museum which should reopen soon! For a modern take on art, my favorite one is MAR (Museu de Arte do Rio)! It has a gorgeous lookout on the top floor with rotating exhibitions on the other floors. Right across from it is our famous Museum of Tomorrow, filled with interactive displays focused on talking about the future of mankind.
See the Churches That Are Also Tourist Attractions
Seeing as Rio de Janeiro used to be our capital city as our country grew under the catholic church, you could bet that there are a few churches that should be on your list of things to do in Rio de Janeiro. They won’t take up much time on your day so check out addresses to fit them in your day.
The first one on your list has to be the Metropolitan Catedral. Within walking distance from both the Santa Teresa Cable Car and the Selarรณn Steps, the brutal outside doesn’t do justice to the beautiful inside. I always step inside when I am walking by. The Sรฃo Francisco da Penitรชncia Cathedral is also close by and it houses breathtaking golden accents. Just don’t forget to check working hours before heading over.
Listen to Live Music
Just as iconic as soccer matches, listening to live music while in Rio de Janeiro is something you end up doing without even realizing it. You will see, that as soon as you sit down at a bar or climb up to a rooftop, the chances of having a band there are high. If you aren’t really picky about the style of music you are going to listen to all night, just pick somewhere where you see instruments.
If you would rather know beforehand, most well-established places have an Instagram page where clients can check the program beforehand. Fair warning, it will probably be pagode-style music! I recommend you head to your favorite music streaming service to prepare. And just as in the US, you can expect to pay a small artistic couvert fee.
Sing Your Heart Out at Feira de Sรฃo Cristรณvรฃo
There are so many little things to do in Rio de Janeiro that a lifetime won’t feel like enough. For a different kind of evening out, head over to a place called Luiz Gonzaga Center of Northeastern Traditions. Inside this big pavilion, you will find a fair that sells everything from traditional cakes to distilled drinks typical to Brazil’s Northeastern Region.
The real attraction is the karaoke bars spread through every corridor here. In each bar, you will find traditional bar foods and drinks, along with old-fashioned machines to sing your heart out. I try to go there at least once a year to stock up on some goodies and have a night of fun. Just a tip from personal experience: don’t take any loose cards or hotel keys. It is so easy to lose stuff!
Walk Through the Botanical Gardens
There are so many things to do in Rio de Janeiro that can be so tiring, it is important to have other options for when you want to relax. A good place to do that in Rio is at the Jardim Botรขnico! In a neighborhood that shares the same name, it’s perfect for when you want a respite from city life.
You can exit the subway at Jardim Botรขnico station and head to the entrance. It is open from 11 AM to 5 PM on Wednesdays, all other days it is open from 8 AM until 5 PM. As for admittance fees, they are almost symbolic and the same for everyone. They cost about three dollars (eighteen reais), there is a website if you prefer to get tickets in advance. You can also get them with cash at the ticket booth.
Spend Some Time at a Park
Because their marvelous city doesn’t do anything in halves, there are over twenty-five different parks to go to. But there are places like that everywhere, so why should you waste precious time hitting up a carioca park? While not all of them deserve a visit, Quinta da Boa Vista needs to be on your itinerary. Located in a neighborhood called Sรฃo Cristรณvรฃo, you can easily get there by subway.
Once you have arrived, there are many things to do. You can rent “pedalinhos” to glide over the lakes, or simply walk around to view this park’s imperial heritage. My favorite part is the zoo! I go there at least once a year to see all the animals. Each of them is being taken care of so they can be returned to nature which makes things even more special.
Get Your Souvenirs From Locals:
You definitely can’t come back from an international trip without bringing a few souvenirs. Those traditional keychains and magnets are fun but isn’t it so much better to get them from locals for a special touch? There are fewer things more typical than having some draft beer while browsing a crafts fair.
There usually is a street fair at Saenz Pena Square where vendors treat their stalls like proper stores, you will find plenty of different options to gift your friends with. Botafogo has a street fair close to the Travessa bookshop on Saturdays. But on Saturdays, my favorite (and the most traditional) is Feira do Lavradio, in downtown Rio. I highly recommend going in the late morning and then grabbing lunch at one of many restaurants.
The famous Rio Scenarium is at Lavradio Street as well, you should definitely stop there if you can! There are huge queues there even on normal weekends, I recommend you get tickets on their website so you’re not stuck in the heat.
Quickly Visit the Royal Portuguese Reading Room
About ten minutes on foot from two major subway stations, the Royal Portuguese Reading Room is another small activity perfect for when you need something to do between stops in your itinerary. Located at Luรญs de Camรตes Street, you can see things like original copies of classic Brazilian novels. There is an adorable souvenir shop right next door with plenty of cute items like notebooks and eco bags!
I love coming here to renew my social media pictures since it looks absolutely stunning inside. And once I’m done there, there is nothing better than having a coffee along with some sweet treats.
Buy a Sweet Treat at Colombo Bakery
When the topic is having a sweet treat in downtown Rio, everyone will automatically recommend you go to Colombo Bakery. It was founded in 1894, giving its surroundings that Belle รpoque feeling from Rio in the late nineteenth century. I love the fact that it still is in the very same spot where it was founded over a hundred and thirty years ago.
But just as it happens with Rio Scenarium, there are absurdly long queues depending on when you come over. It is probably better to be there as close to the opening time as possible, you might even be able to snag a table to have a late breakfast at. The downtown unity is open from Monday to Saturday, starting 11 AM until 6 PM. You can find other unities spread through town, each one with its particular working hours.
Have a Picnic at Tijuca National Park
Brazil has seventy-four national parks spread throughout its large territory, Rio is lucky enough to have one in town. These parks are different from your usual urban green spaces since the purpose is to preserve animals and greenery, you won’t find much in terms of landscaping. It is the most visited one in our country, with over three million people coming every year.
This is a place for people who want to connect with a natural version of Brazil, walk among the Atlantic forest, and feel a little more alive. All three sectors can be accessed on foot starting at 6 AM and no later than 5 PM. There are specific rules for motorized vehicles on their website! You don’t have to pay for entrance but be mindful of weather conditions, they will affect this park’s working hours.
Eat Our Traditional Latin America Barbecue
You can’t leave our country without having some of our famous barbecues. Rio has a lot of steakhouses to visit, I recommend you look for the ones where you pay a fixed amount to eat as much as you can. To find what spot will work best for you, open your maps app! Like that, you will be able to filter by ratings and distance from where you’re at.
Dance the Night Away at Lapa
Remember how I mentioned that Rio de Janeiro has over a hundred and fifty neighborhoods? They are all divided into four different zones: the South Zone has iconic ones geared towards tourism like Copacabana and Botafogo; the Northern Zone is more about Rio’s historical past while the Western parts are the residential areas. What about central Riode Janeiro?
The neighborhoods in Central Rio de Janeiro are where the night comes alive on weekends. There are hangouts for all kinds of people from Thursday night until Sunday’s wee hours come around. Lapa is famous worldwide as a great place to experience the wild Brazilian nights Cariocas are famous for.
You just need to find the famous white arches that are our postcard and from there on, all you need to do is have fun! If you want some indications of places to go, as usual, it will depend on what kind of night you’d like to have.
For a fun but low-key evening, I recommend you go to Selina’s rooftop bar. It gives you a nice view of the area and removes you from the chaos the street has! Since this is a nicer spot, you will be able to even have some proper dinner along with drinks.
Should you be looking for something on a more traditional side of things, head over to Bar da Lapa. It is one of the more lively spots in the area, with two spaces for live music and plenty of space to dance if you want to. Open until 4 AM, you can get your drink along with traditional Brazilian snack foods.
Speaking of live music, Lapa is also famous for having great smaller venues. You simply can’t leave Rio without feeling the energy of a Brazilian concert. Concerts at Fundiรงรฃo Progresso have a more chaotic vibe with parties right after they’re done. Circo Voador is known for receiving big names before they rose to fame, think people like Halsey or bands like the 1975. Both places offer ticket sales in advance which makes life easier.
Just remember to be safe on nights out! Drink water as you drink alcohol to avoid getting sick. I recommend wearing a bag that stays close to your body so no one can get in it without you noticing! Oh, also take as little as possible with you to avoid losing important items.
Wrap-Up
Twenty things to do in Rio de Janeiro may seem like a lot but remember that this is a big city, it is no wonder it once was the capital of our country. No matter what you end up doing, you just need to be smart about it. I wouldn’t recommend taking the buses since it can be a little tricky to figure them out without a local guide. Mixing the subway system with ride-share apps is a great way to get around.
Uber works very well here, it is the app I generally use whenever I don’t want to face public transit. Other apps work pretty well too! 99 is great for when rates on Uber are too high and Taxi Rio is perfect for when you want to catch a cab safely, it is like Uber for Rio de Janeiro’s taxi cabs. Using any of these along with the subway and VLT is the secret to seeing all the main attractions.
No matter which neighborhood you’re considering staying in, from Ipanema Beach to Barra da Tijuca, the secret to success is staying near the subway!
If you still need some help figuring out some details of your trip to Rio de Janeiro, head over to our blog for a comprehensive Rio de Janeiro travel guide. You will find travel must-haves, a document checklist, and even a list of neighborhoods to stay at based on the kind o trip you’re taking. Our marvelous city will be waiting for you to arrive!
