Rio de Janeiro

Brazil

South America Travel Guide

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View from Pão de Açúcar in Rio de Janeiro.

©Raphael Koerich/500px

Why visit Rio de Janeiro

Golden beaches and lush mountains, samba-fueled nightlife and spectacular football matches: welcome to the Cidade Maravilhosa (Marvelous City).

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Top places to visit in Rio de Janeiro

Discover the best attractions in Rio de Janeiro from must-see sights to unexpected hidden gems.

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Rio de Janeiro travel tips from Lonely Planet experts

Find practical guidance from our team of contributors around the world who bring their decades of first-hand travel experience to your next trip.

Best Things to Do

A city that famously embraces joyous pleasure, Rio de Janeiro is always a dynamic place to visit. Here are a few fabulous things to do while you’re there.

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Best Time to Visit

From avoiding crowds and cooler weather to joining the hottest parties, this is what you need to know about the best time to visit Rio de Janeiro.

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Things to Know

Leave your worries at home and embrace the Carioca way of living with these top tips from a local.

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Transportation

As the second largest city in Brazil, Rio's size can be intimidating to visitors. Here's everything you need to know about getting around Rio de Janeiro.

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Best Neighborhoods

You may not have heard of all of these Rio neighborhoods. But you’ll never forget them once you visit.

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Day Trips

See wilderness-backed beaches, ancient sites and smaller-scale cities of Rio de Janeiro state on these top day trips from Rio de Janeiro.

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Money and Costs

Rio may not be the most budget friendly destination in South America, but these tips will help you make your reais go farther in the Marvelous City.

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Traveling with Kids

Brazil is home to a family-centric culture, and Rio de Janeiro is no exception – here's our guide to help you plan a great trip to Rio with kids.

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Spending Diaries

In December, Joe Revill flew to Rio to visit his girlfriend for a romantic weekend. Here's how they stretched their Real.

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