Santa Teresa & Lapa
This tranquil estate served as the residence of one of Brazil's most influential politicians in the founding of the young republic. Benjamin Constant …
Santa Teresa & Lapa
This tranquil estate served as the residence of one of Brazil's most influential politicians in the founding of the young republic. Benjamin Constant …
Elevador do Morro do Cantagalo
Ipanema & Leblon
Connected to the metro station off Praça General Osório, this elevator whisks passengers up to Cantagalo, a favela that's wedged between Ipanema and…
Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Glória do Outeiro
Flamengo & Around
This tiny church atop Ladeira da Glória commands great views out over Parque do Flamengo and the bay. Considered one of the finest examples of religious…
Flamengo & Around
The brightly painted houses on this picturesque plaza date from the early 19th century. Largo do Boticário was named in honor of the Portuguese gentleman …
Rio de Janeiro
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…
Rio de Janeiro
Beautiful two-story colonial town houses line this narrow cobblestone street leading off Praça XV (Quinze) de Novembro. The archway (Arco de Teles)…
Rio de Janeiro
The heart of modern Rio, the Praça Floriano (known to cariocas simply as Cinelândia) comes to life at lunchtime and after work when its outdoor cafes fill…
Rio de Janeiro
Rio’s most dramatically set church, in a 17th-century double-steepled confection, offers dramatic 360-degree views from its clifftop perch. A renovated…
Rio de Janeiro
While CADEG doesn’t have quite the same ring to it as ‘Ipanema Beach,’ this voluminous market packs a treasure trove of fruits, vegetables, meats, fish,…
Rio de Janeiro
Campo de Santana is a pleasant green space that, on September 7, 1822, was the scene of the proclamation of Brazil's independence from Portugal by Emperor…
Centro Cultural Justiça Federal
Rio de Janeiro
The stately building overlooking the Praça Floriano served as the headquarters of the Supremo Tribunal Federal (Supreme Court) from 1909 to 1960…
Rio de Janeiro
More commonly known as Forte do Leme, this military base is open to the public. Visitors can walk to the top of Morro do Leme (Leme Mountain) along a…
Rio de Janeiro
This 40-hectare park was created in 1989 and named after the Brazilian ecological activist who was murdered for his work. The park protects the remaining…
Rio de Janeiro
At the southern end of Copacabana Beach you'll see fishing folk at work, if you go early enough, mending lines and hauling in the catch. There's a small…
Rio de Janeiro
Covering 50 hectares of salt-marsh vegetation, this park is a refuge and breeding area for many small birds and animals, and you might spy capybaras,…
Rio de Janeiro
In a neoclassical building dating from 1820, the Casa França-Brasil sponsors small-scale exhibitions that often deal with political and cultural facets of…
Santa Teresa & Lapa
This small museum in the basement of the Catedral Metropolitana contains some exquisite carvings by Mestre Valentim and a number of historical items. Don…
Flamengo & Around
Rio's beautifully sited marina saw a makeover in preparation for the 2016 Olympics – where it served as the venue for sailing events. Half a dozen…
Rio de Janeiro
In a grand edifice dating from the 1920s, this cultural center houses three spacious floors that host a creative lineup of changing exhibitions, mostly…
Santa Teresa & Lapa
Opened by a photographer in 2017, this new cultural space features a dynamic lineup of still-image and videography exhibitions, film screenings,…
Flamengo & Around
This small landscaped park on the grounds of the Palácio do Catete provides a quiet refuge from the city. Its pond and shade-covered walks are popular…
Rio de Janeiro
The former mansion of famous Brazilian journalist and diplomat Rui Barbosa is now a museum housing his library and personal belongings. Barbosa played a…
Ipanema & Leblon
This small park next to Ponta do Arpoador features a tiny playground, a concrete area popular with skaters, and a lookout with a view of Ipanema Beach. On…
Ipanema & Leblon
On the most upscale street in Ipanema, the Amsterdam Sauer Museum houses an impressive collection of precious stones: more than 3000 items in all…
Rio de Janeiro
This tiny hidden beach is located between Copacabana and Ipanema. Reach it by heading to the rocky outcropping of Arpoador and turning left. You'll see it…
Rio de Janeiro
Chronicling the history of the Brazilian navy from the 16th century to the present, this museum also has exhibitions of model warships, maps and…
Rio de Janeiro
The archway leading into Travessa do Comércio was once part of an old viaduct running between two buildings.
Rio de Janeiro
This was the epicenter of the 2016 Summer Olympics and the Paralympic Games. Sadly, the facilities now sit largely abandoned and are not open to the…
Rio de Janeiro
If work on this new museum is ever complete, Copacabana will finally have an outstanding rainy-day attraction. The building, designed by celebrated New…
Rio de Janeiro
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…
Rio de Janeiro
Covering over 12 hectares, the zoo at Quinta da Boa Vista has a wide variety of reptiles, mammals and birds, mostly indigenous to Brazil. Special…
Rio de Janeiro
Located north of Centro, near the port, Samba City is actually made up of 14 large buildings where the top Rio schools assemble their Carnaval floats. It…
Rio de Janeiro
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…
Rio de Janeiro
Housed in a century-old building, this modest museum is dedicated to the memory of Brazil’s greatest classical composer and founder of the Brazilian…
Rio de Janeiro
In a historic building overlooking Praça Tiradentes, this multifloor cultural space showcases a changing array of exhibitions relating to design, urbanism…
Rio de Janeiro
The Ponte Rio-Niterói (Ponte Presidente Costa e Silva) offers spectacular views of Baía de Guanabara. The bridge is 15.5km long, 60m high and 26.6m wide,…
Instituto Antônio Carlos Jobim
Gávea, Jardim Botânico & Lagoa
Bossa nova legend Tom Jobim was a big admirer of the botanical gardens. This Jardim Botânico was created as a memorial to him in 2008. A small museum…
Flamengo & Around
The state governor's residence (closed to the public) is in Parque Guinle. The palace overlooks the west side of the park and is partially hidden by a…
Rio de Janeiro
This striking theater, designed by famed architect Oscar Niemeyer, lies just a short distance from the ferry terminal in Niterói. It hosts a line-up of…
Gávea, Jardim Botânico & Lagoa
Situated just outside the entrance to the Jardim Botânico, the Museu do Meio Ambiente houses temporary exhibits with an environmental focus.