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Pasmado Overlook
Sweeping views of Enseada de Botafogo, Pão de Açúcar and Corcovado await visitors who make the journey up Pasmado. It's best reached in early morning or late afternoon, when the light is at its best for capturing the postcard panorama. Visitors will also be able to see details of a favela from above. The overlook is best reached by taxi via Rua General Severiano.
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Passeio Público
The oldest park in Rio, the Passeio Público was built in 1783 by Mestre Valentim, a famous Brazilian sculptor, who designed it after Lisbon's botanical gardens. In 1860 the park was remodeled by French landscaper Glaziou. The park features some large trees, a pond with islands and an interesting crocodile-shaped fountain. The entrance gate was built by Valentim. Before the Parque do Flamengo landfill, the sea came right up to the edge of the park.
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Pista Cláudio Coutinho
Everyone loves this paved 2km trail winding along the southern contour of Morro do Urca. It's a lush treed area, with the waves crashing on the rocks below. Look out for families of capuchin monkeys with their gray fur, striped tails and tiny faces. About 300m along the path, there's a small unmarked trail leading off the path to Morro da Urca. From there you can go up to Pão de Açúcar by cable car, saving a few reais . Pão de Açúcar can also be climbed - but it's not recommended without climbing gear.
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Planetário
Gávea's stellar attraction, the Planetário (Planetarium) features a museum, a praça dos telescópios (telescopes' square) and a couple of state-of-the-art operating domes, each capable of projecting over 6000 stars onto its walls (40-minute sessions in the domes are at and Saturday, Sunday and holidays). Visitors can also take a peak at the night sky through the far-seeing telescopes on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from to ( to in winter).
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Ponta do Arpoador
This rocky point juts out into the water and serves as one of Rio's best places for watching the sunset. Throughout the day, you'll spot fishermen casting off the rock, couples stealing a few kisses and photographers snapping that iconic stretch of Ipanema beach stretching off toward the towering peaks of Dois Irmãos. You'll also see large flocks of surfers jockeying for position offshore.
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Ponte Rio-Niterói
The Ponte (bridge) Rio-Niterói (Ponte Pres Costa E Silva) offers spectacular views of Baía de Guanabara. It is 15.5km long, 60m high and 26.6m wide, with two three-lane roads. There's a tollbooth 3km from the Niterói city center.
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Praça Floriano
The heart of modern Rio, the Praça Floriano comes to life at lunchtime and after work when the outdoor cafés are filled with beer drinkers, samba musicians and political debate. The square is also Rio's political marketplace. There are daily speechmaking, literature sales and street theater. Most city marches and rallies culminate here on the steps of the old Câmara Municipal (Town Hall) in the northwestern corner of the plaza.
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Praça Quinze de Novembro
The first residents on this historic site were Carmelite fathers who built a convent here in 1590. It later came under the property of the Portuguese crown and became Largo do Paço, which surrounded the royal palace (Paço Imperial). The square was later renamed Praça Quinze de Novembro after Brazil declared itself a republic on 15 November 1822.
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Praia da Barra da Tijuca
The best thing about Barra is the beach. It's 12km long, with the lovely blue sea lapping at the shore. The first few kilometers of the eastern end of the beach are filled with bars and seafood restaurants. The young and hip hang out in front of barraca No 1 - also known as the barraca do Pepê, after the famous Carioca hang-gliding champion who died during a competition in Japan in 1991.
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Praia da Urca
This tiny beach is popular with neighborhood kids who gather here for pick-up soccer games when school is not in session (and sometimes when it is). A small restaurant, Garota da Urca, lies near the beach.
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Praia do Botafogo
Although the waters of the bay are too polluted for swimming, the beach overlooking the Enseada de Botafogo (Botafogo Inlet) makes a photogenic setting for a stroll. Hopeful soccer stars play pick-up games along the shore against the backdrop of sailboats bobbing on the water and Pão de Açúcar off in the background.
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Praia Vermelha
Beneath Morro da Urca, narrow Praia Vermelha has superb views of the rocky coastline from the shore. Its coarse sand gives the beach the name vermelha (red). Because the beach is protected by the headland, the water is usually calm.
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Quinta da Boa Vista
Quinta da Boa Vista was the residence of the Portuguese imperial family until the Republic was proclaimed. Today, it's a large and busy park with gardens and lakes. At weekends it's crowded with soccer games and families from the Zona Norte. The former imperial mansion houses the Museu Nacional and Museu da Fauna. The Jardim Zoológico Rio's zoo, is 200m away.
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Real Gabinete Português de Leitura
Built in the Portuguese manueline style in 1837, the gorgeous Portuguese Reading Room houses over 350,000 works, many dating from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. It also has a small collection of paintings, sculptures and ancient coins.
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Rio Water Planet
Rio Water Planet claims to be the biggest aquatic park in Latin America. Waterfalls, artificial beaches (a bit surprising in this part of the world) and lazy rafting rivers are some of the attractions. And there is also Rio Kart Planet (an open-air kart track), Rio Show Planet (an area for shows) and Rio Circus Planet.
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Sambódromo
The epicenter of Rio's Carnaval, the Sambódromo was designed by Oscar Niemeyer and completed in 1984. The small Museu do Carnaval has information on the history of Rio's samba schools, and you can try on costumes, but aside from that, there isn't much to see when the parades aren't happening.
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Sitio Burle Marx
This huge 350,000-sq-meter estate was once the home of Brazil's most famous landscape architect, Roberto Burle Marx. The estate's lush vegetation includes thousands of plant species, some of which are rare varieties from different corners of the globe. A 17th-century Benedictine chapel also lies on the estate, along with Burle Marx's original farmhouse and studio, where you can see displays of paintings, furniture and sculptures by the talented designer.
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Teatro Municipal
Built in 1905 in the style of the Paris Opera, the magnificent Teatro Municipal is the home of Rio's opera, orchestra and ballet. It's well worth booking a tour if you don't attend a performance there.
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Terra Encantada
The Enchanted Land is a large amusement park in Barra. It includes Cabhum (a 64m, 100km/h free fall), Ressaca (a toboggan ride that goes over a waterfall) and many other rides.
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Theatro Municipal
Built in 1905 in the style of the Paris Opera, the magnificent Municipal Theater is the home of Rio's opera, orchestra and ballet. Its lavish interior contains many beautiful details - including the stage curtain painted by Italian artist Eliseu Visconti, which contains portraits of 75 major figures from the arts: Carlos Gomes, Wagner and Rembrandt among others. Guided tours are a good way to see the theater, call 2299 1667 to book one. If you get a chance, come to a performance here.
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Travessa do Comércio
Beautiful two-story colonial townhouses line this narrow cobblestone street leading off Praça Quinze de Novembro. The archway, called Arco de Teles, leading into the area was once part of an old viaduct running between two buildings. Today, Travessa do Comércio contains half a dozen restaurants and drinking spots that open onto the streets. It's a favorite spot for Cariocas after work.
