Top 10 Best Things to do in Rio de Janeiro

By chensiyuan – Wikimedia

Top 10 Best Things to do in Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro is famous for Copacabana beach and the massive Christ the Redeemer statue. These are some of the main attractions of the city, but there is more to this Brazilian city.

The sugarloaf mountain is another attraction alongside other natural beauty like the Tijuca national park. There are charming neighbourhoods to explore in this city.

Cultural events like annual carnivals, samba dances are some of the exciting things to indulge in while here. The locals here are friendly and you will get to experience African rhythms on the streets.

Rio offers stunning coastline and edgy vibrant nightlife. There is not a single dull moment in this city. As you plan your next vacation to Rio, here are the top 10 best things to do.

1. Climb up to the Christ the Redeemer Statue

Photo by Kelly Repreza on Unsplash

We start the list with the crown jewel of the city. This giant statue of Christ The Redeemer overlooks the city from 709 metres above sea level.

The summit on which it stands is known as Corcovado, sugarloaf-shaped, famously known as a symbol of Rio.

Christ The Redeemer statue was erected in the early 20^th century courtesy of the Brazilian Catholics. The art deco statue was created by Polish-French sculptor Paul Landowski.

Engineers, Hector da Silva Costa from Brazil and Albert Caquot from France, built it using concrete and soapstone.

There’s a chapel inside its eight-meter-high base, popular with weddings and baptisms. You can reach the top by hiking, train, or van. Once at the top enjoy vistas of the city and beyond.

2. Marvel at Sugarloaf Mountain

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The next thing to do while in this city is to head over to the Sugarloaf mountains.  It is found in the Urca neighbourhood and is surrounded by the ocean.

This mountain is only accessible by cable car, or rock climbing if you are up for a thrilling adventure. Hiking up the mountain through the forest, a home for monkeys, can be done before taking the cable car.

The cable cars are found at beach Praia Vermelha up to Morro da Urca which connects you to another cable car that will take you the mountain.

Once you are at the top, you will be awed by the panoramic view of the city and the ocean. It is even most rewarding if you went up the mountain just before sunset.

3. Head over to Copacabana Beach

You cannot be in Rio and not visit its famous beach that is at the centre of the city. Rio de Janeiro is one of the few cities that is blessed with a beautiful beach stretching along with its downtown.

The golden sands on Avenida Atlântica, Avenida Nossa Senhora de Copacabana, will usher you to the neighbouring streets with appealing centennial buildings, fine hotels, and popular restaurants and cafés.

One building you cannot miss is the famous Copacabana Palace that was built in the 1920s. It is now a national monument and a protected area. This Palace is a representation of the days when Rio was the capital city.

4. Relax by the Ipanema and Leblon Beaches

By chensiyuan – Wikimedia

Next to Copacabana’s four-kilometre stretch of golden sand are the beaches of Ipanema and Leblon. The two beaches are separated by the Jardim de Alá Canal.

There are several hotels, quaint sidewalk cafés and restaurants lined up along the promenade. These two beaches are famous for its dynamic culture.

You will find several art galleries, cinema halls, and avant-garde theatres here. If you happen to be in Leblon on a Sunday, check out the antique market at Praca de Quental.

In Ipanema, Praca General Osorio hosts Feira de Artesanato that exhibits crafts, music art and local foods.

5. Mangueira’s Palacio de Samba

This is one of Rio’s oldest samba schools in Brazil that has 19 parade prizes under its shiny belt. They host annual parties filled with carnival magic such as the Ash Wednesday celebrations.

Schools hold evening performances and offer behind the scenes tour of the practice halls and workshops. While here, you can watch samba dancers practice new routines.

There are samba nights too where you can join the locals in a dance, enjoy delicious feijoada and chilled beer.

6. Stroll through Santa Teresa neighbourhood

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This is a bohemian neighbourhood that has wide-ranging art and eclectic architecture.

Strolling along Santa Teresa’s cobblestone streets, you’ll be enthralled by the sidewalk mosaics, palatial mansions and artsy galleries.

It is southwest of Lapa and has some of the best traditional Brazilian restaurants, bars and handicraft stores. For a good picture of what the colonial Rio looked like, this is the neighbourhood to visit.

It exudes vibrant streets life and charming ambience, what’s more, is that the streets are safer at night.

The streets here are quiet and very atmospheric lined with cafes that are frequented by artists and intellectuals.

7. Scale the Escadaria Selaron steps

These are the famous Lapa steps that feature a multi-coloured mosaic.

The mosaic was handmade by Chilean-born Jorge Selaron who fell in love with Brazil. He dedicated his time to produce this innovative art in Rio’s honour and the Brazilian people.

He chose to use the colours of the Brazilian flag, which many weren’t a fan of at first. In total, he painted 250 steps covered with more than 2000 tiles that were collected from over 60 countries.

The steps start in Lapa and each is carefully decorated with colourful patterns leading to Santa Teresa. These steps featured in the music video Beautiful by Snoop Dogg and Pharrell Williams.

8. Attend a Carnaval (Carnival)

Photo by Ferran Feixas on Unsplash

One event that you cannot afford to miss while in Brazil is a carnival. Rio hosts one of the world’s famous pre-Lenten celebrations each winter.

These festivals begin after New Year to Ash Wednesday. The four days preceding Ash Wednesday feature the splendour of the festival.

Thousands of spectators fill the streets during the parades, samba parties and shows. This happens to be a major tourist attraction because of its lavishness.

The parades are held on designated routes like Sambodromo. It gets lined with stadium-style boxes where more than 50,000 spectators watch the dancers compete.

The samba dances are held in a unique venue that was designed by Oscar Niemeyer, a Brazilian architect.

9. Relax at Jardim Botânico

This one of Rio’s parks that will not require you to break a sweat. The garden is set on 140-hectares and is home to over 9,000 plant species. It was created by Brazil’s Prince in 1808.

This garden offers tranquillity away from the bustle of the city.   There are tall palm trees, delicate orchids and Amazonian lily ponds. You will also find toucans, tortoises and sloths too.

It is loved by both the locals and tourists and it serves as a botany and ecology research centre.

10. Go to the Maracanã

Whether you are a football fan or not, the Maracanã football stadium is worth checking out. It has a seating capacity of 80,000 spectators.

It is not only reserved for football, some of the famous clubs that play here include Flamengo, Botafogo, Fluminense, and Vasco da Gama, as well as for concerts.