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Trip to Niteroi (how do you go to Niteroi from ipanema?

1)Direct via bus. The 740D runs along Av Visconde de Pirajá all the way through to the ferry terminal (Charitas). There are other options for buses.

2) Via ferry. Take the metro to Carioca station and its about a 10 minute walk to the ferry terminal at Praça XV. Or you could take a bus or a taxi there.

Watch a football game live ( is there any leauge on going?)

Yes the main national competition runs until December.

Flamengo are playing São Paulo at Engenhão on the 20th

Vasco are playing Internacional at São Januário on the 24th

Flu are playing Coritiba at Engenhão on the 25th

Botafogo are playing Atlético-GO at Engenhão on the 27th.

First game is the best one to see. There are plenty of recent threads on how to get to the football by public transport, how to buy tickets etc.

Check out the "head" on botafogo beach (how do you got there from ipanema? and are there any other places worth visiting in this area)

Take the metro to Botafogo and you can walk there in 10 minutes from the station.

Plenty of options to eat for R$40,00 . For that you could have a substantial meal and a couple of beers at most of the por kilos in Copacabana. Cheap lanchonetes abound.

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M 22 Cristo Redentor, then Sugar loaf
Why are you going to both on the same day? Relax and take your time to visit them... if you can, go visit it around 3/4 PM and stay until it gets dark, to see the view by night and the city lights.

T 23 Botanical Garders- Parque Lage ( is a day too much time? if yes is there any other attraction near this area)
Near it, there´s the Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, a beautiful lagoon in one of the best areas of Rio. There, you can hire a bike and give some rides around it. A great plan for a sunny day.

Visit Petropolis
I wouldn´t bother going there, unless you´re looking for a pleasent weather in a mountain region and a few small palaces.

Trip to Niteroi (how do you go to Niteroi from ipanema?)
Take the ferry to Niterói at Praça XV. There are several bus lines from Ipanema to Praça XV, 415 and 413 are good options. Or take the metro, like said above.
Visit the Museum of Contemporary Art, an stunning Oscar Niemeyer´s construction:
http://www.macniteroi.com.br/

go to a samba rehearsal
That´s always fun. Reserve a saturday night to go to one. The South Zone (where Ipanema is located) doesn´t offer many options in that segment, so you will have to go to other places. I suggest you the rehearsals of Salgueiro, Vila Isabel or Mangueira.

Salgueiro:
http://maps.google.com.br/maps?hl=pt-BR&cp=13&gs_id=1l&xhr=t&q=quadra+salgueiro&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&biw=1366&bih=643&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl

Vila Isabel:
http://maps.google.com.br/maps?hl=pt-BR&q=quadra+vila+isabel&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&biw=1366&bih=608&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl

Mangueira:
http://maps.google.com.br/maps?hl=pt-BR&q=quadra+vila+isabel&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&biw=1366&bih=608&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl

Check out the "head" on botafogo beach (how do you got there from ipanema? and are there any other places worth visiting in this area)
From there you can walk until Aterro do Flamengo.
It´s a huge park in front of the Flamengo Beach, great for people watching and with a stunning view of the Sugar Loaf. Don´t go by night, because it gets very empty and not so safe.

So as you see i still have no concrete plan on what to do from Oct 27-30, in addition to the morning of Oct 20 and Afternoon of October 26.

• What about the beaches? I haven´t see you mentioning them.
• Take the metro to Cinelandia station to check a beautiful set of buildings: the Municipal Theatre, the National Library and the Municipal Chamber. After it you can take a walk around downtown, but don´t go on weekends because there won´t be no one around and it can be dangerous.
• Night life at Lapa district.
• A visit to a good churrascaria, to taste the brazilian barbecue.

The DSLR camera surely attracts a lot of attention, but I think it´s safe to use it. I would carry a backpack to keep it while I´m not using it, though. And always pay attention to who is around you.

R$ 40,00 is more than enough to have a great meal.

Rio offers a lot of great options in it´s surroundings (3/4 hours by car, depending on the city). There´s the Costa Verde region, where are located the beautiful Ilha Grande and Paraty. Or Regiao dos Lagos, where you will find Búzios, Arraial do Cabo and Cabo Frio.

A couple of days relaxing in Ilha Grande is always a great option. Maybe you could go there in 27-30 Oct.

Edited by: inaciomartinelli

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DjalmaUlrich thanks! I'll be free for the matches on the 20th and 27th, im leaning on the match on the 20th as you suggested. ( Just wondering why you suggested that game is it a more important game? better atmosphere? or maybe your a fan of one of the teams? :D) My question is is it ok(safe) to watch a game alone? What are the team colors, I wouldn't want to get caught wearing the colors of a team just in case i sit on the wrong side of the stadium.

inaciomartinelli Thanks!

Cristo -Sugarloaf - I was under the impression that it was easy to go to sugarloaf from cristo. Thats the only reason. I would love to catch the sunset at sugarloaf im just wondering if it would be too crowded by that time.

Petropolis - It seemed to be the only real day trip possible from rio... i guess i will look into Ilha Grande and Paraty.

Samba rehearsal - what would be the best mode of transport going to this sites and how much would be the estimated costs? do you have any tours you can recommend? I'm guessing it would be a little more safer with a group given the time.

what churrascaria would you recommend?

THANKS!

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Ilha Grande and Paraty aren´t worth for day trips... you need to stay at least 2 days in Paraty and 3 in Ilha Grande. If you have to choose one, go to the island.

Rehearsals:
I don´t know about tours, just ask in your hotel/hostel.
Mangueira is the most expensive of the ones I mentioned, I guess the ticket nowadays costs around R$ 30.
The Mangueira rehearsal is inside the favela, but it´s very safe, don´t worry about it. You could take the metro to Praça Saens Pena Station and grab a taxi from there to Mangueira, Salgueiro or Vila Isabel, the three of them are located in Tijuca neighbourhood and it´s surroundings. Taking the metro until Saens Pena would save around R$ 20.

Churrascaria:

Porcão and Fogo de Chão are the bests in town, though very expensive (around R$ 90, without counting drinks and 10% for the service).
In these places, you pay the fee and eat as much as you can. It´s expensive but really worth it, if you love meat, of course.

Estrela do Sul is a good cheaper option, in my opinion.

Porcão:
http://maps.google.com.br/maps?hl=pt-BR&q=porcao+ipanema&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&biw=1366&bih=608&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl

Fogo de Chao:
http://maps.google.com.br/maps?hl=pt-BR&q=Av.+Rep%C3%B3rter+Nestor+Moreira,+s/n++Botafogo,+Rio+de+Janeiro+-+RJ,+22290-210+(0xx)21+2542-1545&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&biw=1366&bih=643&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl

Estrela do Sul:
http://maps.google.com.br/maps?hl=pt-BR&q=Botafogo+-+Rio+Plaza+-+(21)+2275-6280+-+Rua+General+Severiano,+97+-+Botafogo&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&biw=1366&bih=643&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl

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I wouldn't have an itinerary like this. Not because I'm unplanned but because its more about what you feel like doing that day.

If you wake up on the 22nd and its all cloudly and rainy, do you really want to go up to Corcovado or Sugarloaf? The view won't be great and sometimes the whole viewing platform is covered in cloud. A day like this is good for walking through Centro and Santa Teresa.

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Why the game on the 20th? ............Flamengo. Wear red and black and you will be embraced not spurned.
It will also be a lot easier to get to than São Januário. You simply catch the metro to Central and then take a train from there to Engenho de Dentro. Make sure you leave early, its often a lengthy wait on the train.

Going alone? Quite safe but in truth you won't be going alone, you will be with several thousand flamenguistas. There is very little chance of entering with the wrong crowd, visiting supporters are corralled off to one end of the stadium. SP's strip is basically white with red and black embellishments. Of course that's the basic palette for our away strip.

You won't have much of problem avoiding looking like a fan of either team if you go the 27th. Basically if you are bipedal you won't be mistaken. To make doubly sure, avoid dressing like a clown.

A longish day trip but one well worth the time is to head out to Sitio Burle Marx in Grumari to see the gardens. Do make sure that they are open by phoning before you go. There is a bus that runs from Ipanema through to Grumari.

Personally I'd suggest spending a day in São Cristóvão, there's a lot to see and do there. The national museum is located in the old Quinta da Boa Vista palace, the zoo is there and you can walk through the park to the excellent military museum of Conde de Linhares. You can have lunch at the Feira de São Cristóvão for a taste of northeastern cuisine. If you go on a Friday or the weekend you can have dinner there and there will be live forro music on the stage. Best place to buy handicarfts and souvenirs, like hammocks.

Enjoy.

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Eating in Feira de São Cristóvão is a great tip. Lots of restaurants of regional food.

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@DjalmaUlrich i saw the other thread containing info on how to go to the stadium and buy tickets and you advised to get tickets one day before but the thing is i will be arriving on the 19th and may have not enought time to go to the stadium. Are there tickets sold elsewhere? near ipanema preferably.

and i just want to confirm the date of the match because these sites show that the match is on the 21st

http://www.futbol24.com/team/Brasil/Sao-PauloSP/

http://fourfourtwo.com/clubs/fixtures/brazilseriea.aspx

while this one says its on the 20th as you said.

http://www.wsn.com/football/brazil/flamengo-rj/

Sao Cristovao seems to be interesting.

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The club website is showing the Saturday, Globo is showing the Saturday, Lance.net is showing the Sunday. Traditionally games are Sundays and Wednesdays but it's not uncommon to get Saturday games. Personally I'd be inclined to believe what the Fla website is showing. Then again it's likely to be televised so Sunday is equally likely.

Tickets. Well you can either head over to the club headquarters in Gávea, whcih is not far from Ipanema or buy them at the Fla shop in Centro as the two simplest options.

Here's a list of places selling tickets. http://www.flamengo.com.br/site/noticia/subcategoria/39/ingressos.

Bear in mind that prices vary according to the match.

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If worse comes to worse and you can't get a ticket. You can always just wander outside and buy one off a scalper. It'll be at an inflated price though.

We did it this way as the ticket line was massive. It was only an extra 20 reais on the ticket price so not too bad.

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"I would love to catch the sunset at sugarloaf im just wondering if it would be too crowded by that time."
Crowded with whom? October is not exactly high season for tourists. Perhaps if you were there at Carnaval time or just before, there might be a line for tickets to go up.
If you follow a visit to the Cristo with a visit to Sugarloaf, you might be bored silly of city views by the end, especially if you don't know the city well enough to find the landmarks from above. On Sugarloaf, be sure to get off the paved paths and try to see some miko monkeys and buzzards,

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Oh ok great, I thought there would always be crowds at the Cristo and sugarloaf all year round. so what place would be logical to visit after seeing the cristo. as well as sugarloaf what would be a nice nearby place to go before going up?

and regarding football game tickets i plan to visit the Flamengo HQ since it seems to be near my hostel at barao torre. will anyone at the store understand english? if not how do i say i woul like to buy a ticket for the game in portuguese?

Thanks

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I would head up to either Cristo or Sugarloaf in the afternoon. Though I did Cristo in the morning (weather was a problem most of my trip there) and came down. We just went to the beach, enjoyed the sand and surf. And then headed over to Praia do Arproador where you can catch a great sunset (probably the only time I've heard an applause for a sunset).

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Eu quero de comprar um ingresso, por favor ( U kerOH gee comPRAR oom ingrESS-oo por favOR)

You will be asked where you want to sit; Setor Oeste. Leste, Sul or Norte. Inferior (lower) or superior (upper) stands. They will have a map but north (norte) and south (sul) seats are behind the respective goals. Depending on numbers, visitors are usually squeezed in behind the goal at one end. Upper level is where you will find most of the hardcore fans, the supporters groups. This is a lot of fun and quite noisy. Flamengo has a number. Lower seats give you a closer look at the match and are a bit more relaxed, you'll find a lot of families here.

Might as well get yourself a shirt whilst you are there. Uma vez Flamengo, sempre Flamengo.

Enjoy.