Image by Fabio Ito / 500px Images

Rio de Janeiro

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

Tropical Landscapes

Looking out from the 2329ft (710m) peak of Corcovado, you will see why Rio is called the Cidade Maravilhosa. Lushly forested mountains fringe the city, shimmering beaches trace the shoreline and a string of tiny islands lie scattered along the seafront. Far from being mere cinematic backdrop, this seaside beauty hosts outstanding outdoor adventures: hiking in the Tijuca rainforest, cycling alongside the lake and beaches, sailing across Baía de Guanabara (Guanabara Bay), and surfing, rock climbing and hang gliding amid one of the world's most stunning urban landscapes.

Captivating Beaches

Rio's beaches have long seduced visitors. Copacabana Beach became a symbol of Rio during the 1940s, when international starlets would jet in for the weekend. Hogging the spotlight these days is Ipanema Beach, its fame and beauty unabated since bossa nova stars Tom Jobim and Vinícius de Moraes introduced the world to its allure in the 1960s. For cariocas (residents of Rio), the beach is Rio's backyard – a playground that's free and open to all, offering endless enjoyment in the form of football, volleyball, surfing, snacking, drinking or simply relaxing amid the passing parade of people.

The Rhythms of Rio

Music is Rio's lifeblood, and the city's soundtrack comprises rock, old-school bossa nova, hip-hop, funk and Brazil's many regional styles. Above all there's samba, a rapid-fire style of music with African influences and an infectious beat that is synonymous with Rio. You can hear it all over town, but the soul of samba resides in Lapa, the red-light district that's home to dozens of live-music halls and an enormous weekend street party that draws revelers from all walks of life. Samba is also the integral sound during Carnaval, and the danceable backing music to street parties and all-night parades.

Joie de Vivre

Speaking of Carnaval, Rio knows how to party. Whether you call it joie de vivre, Lebensfreude or lust for life, cariocas have it in spades. Carnaval, and the buildup to it, is the most obvious manifestation of this celebratory spirit. But Rio has many other occasions for revelry: celebrations after a big Flamengo (or Vasco, Fluminense or Botafogo) soccer match; weekend samba parties around town; baile funk parties in the favelas (slums, informal communities); and boat parties on the bay – not to mention major fests such as Réveillon (New Year's Eve) and the Festas Juninas.

Must see in
Rio de Janeiro

  • Carnaval

    Get plenty of sleep before you board the plane to Rio, because Carnaval means nonstop revelry until Ash Wednesday (sort of) brings it all to a close. With nearly 500 street parties happening in every corner of town, you will not lack for options. For the full experience, join a samba school and parade amid pounding drum corps and mechanized smoke-breathing dragons before thousands of roaring fans in the Sambódromo. Or assemble a costume and hit one of the Carnaval balls around town. The buildup starts weeks in advance.

  • Copacabana Beach

    The Copacabana experience is about many things: rising early and going for a run along the sands; playing in the waves on a sun-drenched afternoon; or whiling away the evening over cocktails and appetizers at a beachfront kiosk. Regardless, you'll probably notice the incredibly seductive view: 4km of wide, curving sands framed by Rio's ubiquitous green peaks. Head uphill for even better views; rooftop bars and forts at either end of the beach make great settings for taking it all in.

  • Pão de Açúcar

    Some will tell you to arrive around sunset for the best views from this absurd confection of a mountain. But in truth, no matter what time you come, you're unlikely to look at Rio in the same way again. From up here on Sugarloaf Mountain the landscape is one of undulating green hills and golden beaches lapped by blue sea, with rows of skyscrapers sprouting along the shore. The ride up on an all-glass aerial tram is good fun, too. Adventurous visitors can rock climb their way to the summit.

  • Ipanema Beach

    This enchanting beachfront attracts a wide mix of cariocas (Rio residents). Different crowds – surfers, volleyballers, bohemians, muscle boys – congregate at each posto (section), including famous posto 9, where Ipanema's young and beautiful frolic. The principal activities of the day are people-watching, surf-side walks and sunset-watching – best from Arpoador, at Ipanema's east end. You can also eat and drink on the sand. Roaming vendors will come to you, and barracas (beach stalls) will set you up with chairs, umbrellas and caipirinhas. All you need do is show up.

  • Cristo Redentor

    The open-armed savior has stood atop his lofty perch (710m-high Corcovado), gazing peacefully over Rio, since 1931. The statue of Christ the Redeemer is a remarkable work of artistry, but most people don't come up here to admire the art deco design. They come for the mesmerizing panorama, a combination of tropical rainforest, beaches, islands, ocean, bay and verdant peaks, that surrounds this unlikely metropolis. There are various ways to reach the top, including a memorable (and steep!) ascent on a cog train.

  • Nightlife in Lapa

    The Lapa Arches form the gateway to Rio’s most animated nightlife. Pass through the 64m-high portal and stroll the packed, bar-lined streets while the rhythms of samba spill out of 19th-century facades. While there are drinks (curbside beer and caipirinha vendors) and music (impromptu jam sessions) all around, venture inside an old-school dance hall to see the city at its most dynamic. From the band on stage comes the rhythms of samba – one of the world’s most infectious beats. Grab a partner and join the mayhem on the dance floor.

  • Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas

    'Saltwater lagoon' may not be the first thing you think of when you hear the words 'Rio de Janeiro,' but this picturesque body of water plays a key role in the city's psyche. By day cariocas cycle, jog and stroll the 7km path that loops around it. At nightfall a different crowd arrives to eat and drink in the open-air kiosks scattered along the shore. In December Lagoa is home to a massive floating Christmas tree, its glittering lights and nightly displays pure magic for kids and adults alike.

  • Floresta da Tijuca

    New York has Central Park; Rio has the Floresta da Tijuca, a vast swath of rainforest with hiking trails, sparkling waterfalls and abundant greenery. There are a number of fine walks, as well as climbs up rocky 900m peaks, where rewarding views await. If you prefer flying to walking, take a hang-gliding flight from Pedra Bonita inside the Tijuca boundaries for a magnificent (if somewhat terrifying) view over Rio's wondrously green backyard.

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