Things To Do In Rio De Janeiro

Rio is a city full of contrasts. While it is renowned throughout the world for its carnival and party atmosphere, the city is also awash with culture and historical sights to visit. You will find impressive architecture, beautiful gardens, stunning beaches and fascinating historical monuments all located within easy reach of each other. To capture the true character of the city, many sights are best explored on foot.

Sugarloaf (Po de Acar)

This mountain offers spectacular views over the whole of Rio de Janeiro. Its most striking feature is an eerie green peak that juts out over the city. It is possible to climb the mountain, but there are cable cars on offer for the less adventurous. Many people reach the top just in time for the beautiful sunsets that are well worth watching from such a prime spot.

Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor)

This is a figure of Christ, located on top of a mountain at 2,300-feet high. It was placed on the peak of Corcovado in 1931 and is a statue of Christ with his arms apart, symbolising his embrace of the city.

Nova Cathedral

This controversial cathedral is unique in its design. The conical structure houses a very modern interior that does not please everybody. This makes it a fascinating sight to see.

Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Candelaria

This 18th century church has been built in a beautiful Baroque style, with an impressive figure-of-eight central area. Dom Pedro II was married here and his daughter baptized. The main features include the church’s ornate tiles and the striking altar.

Tijuca National Park

This park is the largest urban natural park in the world. There are many historical spots to be found here as well as spectacular views, a stunning waterfall and a small chapel, hidden away in the dense tropical park.

Botanical Gardens (Jardim Botnico)

This botanical garden is one of Rio’s most stunning natural attractions. The 340-acre garden contains over 5,000 species of plants and trees, which include over 900 types of palms. The garden is perfect for an afternoon stroll, especially when it is really hot, as the temperature is generally cooler here than it is on the city’s streets.

Maracan

This is Brazil’s ‘temple’ of football and home to one of the best football teams in the world. It can accommodate up to 100,000 spectators at a time and if you manage to be one of the thousands watching a game here, it will undoubtedly be an unforgettable experience.

Copacabana and Ipanema

These are both world-famous beaches that stretch for miles. They have golden sand and crystal clear water and a truly idyllic location. The locals spend hours playing football on the beach, which is great fun to watch, or if you fancy it, you can play with them. The locals always welcome tourists who join in.

Museums

Rio de Janeiro has many museums that will satisfy all interests including: The Museum of Modern Art (Museu de Arte Moderna) and the National Museum of Fine Arts (Museu Nacional de Belas Artes) for art lovers and the Museum of Native Arts (Museu Internacional de Arte Naif), which is a colonial mansion and home to the world’s largest collection of paintings dating back to the 15th century.  For lovers of all things military, there are two military museums - the Fortaleza Santa Cruz and Copacabana Fort (Forte de Copacabana) - each displaying information and artefacts from all of Rio’s conflicts. For history buffs, The National History Museum (Museu Histórico Nacional) offers displays of creation throughout the ages. The National Museum (Museu Nacional) exhibits some stunning relics from Brazil’s past including coins, cannons, religious art and documents. Finally, for lovers of theatre, the Carmen Miranda Museum (Museu Carmen Miranda) offers an insight into the life of this 1940s Hollywood star. There are displays of her costumes, shoes, movie memorabilia and information about her life.