Rio de Janeiro studio apartment for rent Copacabana

Rio is a unique city, you will realize this from the airplane window during landing ! Nowhere in the world you will find this exceptional combination of pulsating urban life with the beauty of exuberant nature, as the city hosts some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, mountains, rocky islands, tropical forests, national parks, impressive waterfalls and unspoilt regions. Even the most brilliant photos fail to capture the thrills and magic of actually being present in this marvelous city!

A boat trip through the Guanabara Bay is an excellent way to get a first impression of the natural beauty of this Marvelous City.

2. Sugar Loaf (Pão de Açúcar)

Pão de Açúcar (Sugar Loaf) on the shores of Guanabara Bay, is a privileged spot for observing the surrounding natural beauty and almost too beautiful to be real. Two cable cars lift you 396m above Rio and the Baía de Guanabara. From here, Rio is the most dazzling place in the world. Sunset on a clear day is the best time to make the ascent, when the city lights start to twinkle…

3. The Christ statue at Corcovado hill

For another fabulous postcard view of Rio, you should visit the top of Corcovado, the 750m mountain peak with the statue of Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor) at its summit. From here, as well as from the mirante Dona Marta which you can visit on your way to the top, you will enjoy spectacular 360° views of Rio and its surroundings. At night, the brightly lit Christ statue is visible from all over the city.

4. Beaches

You should at least spend one day at one of Rio’s beaches, enough beaches to choose from! The world famous Copacabana beach or Ipanema beach, Rio's richest and most chic beach. Other popular beaches within and near the city include Pepino, Barra da Tijuca, Flamengo and Arpoador. Our favourite beaches are the more isolated and unspoiled surfing beaches of Prainha and Grumari.

In Rio de Janeiro, going to the beach is good during any season! Even without sunshine, the beach is where Carioca’s (Rio residents) meet their friends, sit and chat, practice sports, do their exercises, or simply dive in for a swim. On Sunday, the beaches become a show of their own and turn into one huge recreation area since the main streets are blocked off to traffic and the area fills up with keep-fit fanatics and families or couples just out for some fresh air.

5. Carnaval

Rio’s carnaval is the biggest carnaval of the world and gets celebrated all over the city. Local bands (blocos), samba schools and local organizations have been rehearsing intensively during months and anxiously wait for this time of the year. Although expensive to get in and grown commercial, the official samba schools parade in the Sambadrome (a special stadium built by Oscar Niemeyer) is still a fantastic visual spectacle. However, if you really want to participate and dance, I would recommend to join the street parades of the local blocos, spread around the city.

On the other hand, you don’t have to wait until carnaval week to feel the authentic “carnaval spirit”, since the rehearsals of the samba schools and blocos (“ensaios”), start from September on! The best time to go is actually from then until Xmas - when you will only meet local people from the community. During that period the competition between composers goes on, until the finals when the schools choose their theme song for the parade. After Xmas, Cariocas and tourists start to go, and each Saturday until Carnaval it gets more crowded.

6. Maracana Stadium

The world largest and probably most famous football stadium, Maracana, is Brazil’s temple of soccer. Officially able to hold 100,000 spectators, yet it has seen over 180,000 at some popular soccer finals.
Going to the Maracana is an unforgettable experience, if only for the spectators’ samba bands and the adrenalin charged atmosphere. Most games take place on Sundays, but only those involving the big local teams (Flamengo, Vasco, Fluminense or Botafogo) will give you the kind of atmosphere that Maracana is famous for.

7. Historical centre & Santa Teresa

The down town area is where the 400-year-old city started to grow and is nowadays a very busy trade center. Despite the hectic movement of people and despite the changes made over the years in architectural design (the center may appear an inherent collection of ultra modern, neo classical and colonial styles), you can discover the most interesting places, combining colonial baroque and modern architecture, traditional cafes, and pedestrian streets.

Some of the places of interest in the city center are the Sao Bento Monastery, the Candelaria church, the Paço Imperial, the Teatro Municipal, the National Library and the modern Petrobras building and Catedral metropolitana.

After visiting the city center it is great to take the old streetcar (“bondinho”) which leads you over Lapa’s arches up the hill to the district of Santa Teresa, a nice lively area with a great bohemian atmosphere, beautiful ancient houses, nice bars and excellent restaurants and from where you have an excellent view over the centre’s architectural highlights.

8. Musea & cultural centers

There are a variety of musea in Rio to cater for all interests. Local newspapers, magazines and tourist brochures will inform you of what is available and of any temporary exhibitions not to be missed.

Recommended musea are the Chacara do Ceu museum in Santa Teresa, the Museum of Modern Art (built by Oscar Niemeyer) in the city center and the International Museum of Naive Art. Excellent temporary exhibitions can be found in the Centro Cultural do Banco do Brasil , the Centro Cultural Correios, the Casa França-Brasil and the Paço Imperial.

The Comtemporary Art Museum in Niteroi, is another great example of Niemeyers talent. The art collection is not overwhelming but the building itself and the 360 ° view from its location over Guanabara Bay make it definitely worth the trip. Excellent pictures from the museum can also be taken while taking the boattrip through Guanabara Bay.

9. Parks and gardens

In the forest of Parque Nacional da Tijuca located in the heart of the city, it is easy to forget you are actually in an urban area, because the contrast with the city is so rapid and drastic. The forest is exuberant green, with beautiful trees, creeks and waterfalls, mountainous terrain and high peaks. It is home to several different species of birds and animals, including iguanas and monkeys. The park also has an excellent trail system, with several good day hikes.

Another must for nature lovers and all those who are looking for peace and tranquility, is a visit to Rio’s Botanical Garden, 141 hectares showing some of the principal examples of Brazilian and world flora.

Travelers with more time should also schedule a visit to the Sitio of Roberto Burle Marx, one of Brazil’s most important landscape artists. His country home, in Barra de Guaratiba at 1 hours drive from Rio, has over 3.500 species of plants, many endangered, with an interesting collection of artworks and an enormous library.

10. Outdoors and adventure activities

Rio is a great place for the active visitor. Excellent hiking and climbing are possible in and close to the city, in the various national parks. There are also good walking, jogging and cycling paths in the Zona Sul, around the Lagoa de Freitas and along the oceanfront from Ipanema to Flamengo. And you can always try to join the volleyball teams on the beach...

Surfing is pretty popular with the locals as well - Arpoador, between Copacabana and Ipanema, is where most surfers congregate, though there are some fun breaks further out (Prainha, Grumari).

Adventurous travelers should go hang-gliding or para-gliding off the 510m Pedra Bonita ramp. Less windblown are helicopter flights over the city. Several dive schools also organize scuba diving excursions to Arraial do Cabo, Angra dos Reis and Guanabara Bay.

Excursions from Rio

Paraty

A very charming, romantic colonial town on the stunning Costa Esmeralda, which is not to be missed! The town has been declared a national historic monument and is Brazil’s sailing capital. There are dozens of tiny beaches and islands which can be visited on a boat trip through the bay. The surrounding hills are covered in tropical forest, offering hikes to pristine waterfalls and along an historic Gold trail. Other great beaches in the neighbourhood, such as Trinidade beach, are within easy reach by car or bus.

Ilha grande

This island, which can be reached by ferry from Angra dos Reis (at 3 h drive from Rio) is an ideal place for total relaxation: mountainous, covered in Atlantic forest, surrounded by transparent green waters and about 100 beaches, no cars and largely unspoilt…

Buzios

Two hours' drive north of Rio, on the Costa do Sol, is the peninsula of Cabo Frio and the sophisticated resort of Armação de Buzios. Buzios was 'discovered' by tourism after Brigitte Bardot visited in 1964 and is situated on a penisula with more than enough beaches to choose from (about 27). It is the perfect choice for those who want to enjoy the sun and the sea by day and, after dark, its internationally famous nightlife and gastronomy. Out of season, the secluded beaches and little boats beyond the headlands evoke the feel of a fishing village.

Other less touristy options around Buzios are Cabo Frio and Arraial do Cabo, with beautiful white sand beaches and dunes, scenery, sailing and good scuba diving.

Petropolis

The imperial city of Petropolis is a lovely mountain retreat 68 km north of Rio, popular for hiking and horse riding. It was chosen by the Emperor of Brazil (Pedro II) at the time of the monarchy, to be the place of his summer resicence. The town hosts Brazil’s finest museum (Museo Imperial) and reflects history on almost every corner.