Rio de Janeiro is a fantastic exotic megapolis and a Must-Visit place in the world. Let’s the best places of Rio!
Read also: Top-7 delicious foods you have to try in Brazil
1. Pedra do Telegrafo
This is probably one of the most Instagram places of Brazil. On Pedra Do Telegrafo, you can make famous “the most dangerous photo in Rio.” With the right angle it looks really epic, but in reality to make a photo is more than safe.
For dizzying snapshots, tourists and bloggers are ready to shake 1.5 hours on the bus from Rio to the city of Barra Guaratiba, and then hike uphill through jungles and favela.
Having reached the top, you expect to be alone with nature, and in reality get to the end of the long-line queue of those who wish to take pictures. At least the place is not very affordable, it is still very popular.
Read more about my experience at Pedra do Telegrafo in the following article: Pedra do Telegrafo – the most instagram place of Rio de Janeiro.
2. Pedra bonita
A spectacular view-point with above Rio de Janeiro. It’s a very popular sport to meet the sunrise. To get to the stone you need to take a one hour hiking trail at Tijuca National Park.
The place is also very popular starting point for paragliding.
3. Corcovado
The statue of The Christ Redeemer on the Corcovado mountain is not only a symbol of Rio de Janeiro, but also the whole Brazil. The sculpture appeared on the top of the mountain at the beginning of the 20th century in honor of the 100th anniversary of the independence of the country and every year attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists.
From the top of the mountain, an incredible view of the coast and the city opens. However, it is necessary to carefully track the weather, as even with the slightest clouds, the statue is covered by the fog, and the whole review disappears.
Добраться до статуи Иисуса самостоятельно очень просто.
There are buses to Corcovado from Copacabana (No. 583 and No. 584) and Ipanema (№570, 583, 574) beaches. You need the stop Cosmo Velho. There you will find the starting point. There are 2 ways to get to the top:
- Regular bus;
- The authentic train that goes through the jungle. Watch tickets here.
By the way, at the ticket office just there is a screen with Live broadcast of what is happening at the top. Be sure to check before buying tickets, if it’s cloudy, then better come back another time.
4. Beaches of Rio de Janeiro
The beaches in Rio are points of attraction of tourists and locals. On the beach the whole active life is happening: people play volleyball, football, do workouts, relax in cafes hugging the coconut.
Those are my favorite beaches in the city.
- Leblon
- Ipanema
- Copacabana
- Barra
- Prainha
- Praia Vermelha
By the way, while on the beach beware of pickpockets!
5. Museu do Amanha
This museum is completely new and has been opened specifically for guests of the 2016 Olympics. Outside this is a futuristic building. And inside the exposure divided into 5 sections: Cosmos, Earth, Anthropocene Future and us.
The idea is to form a narrative story answering the questions “How did we come from? Who are we? Where are we? Where are we going? How do we want to go? “.
Follow this link for the museum website
6. Sugarloaf mountain
It’s also called Pao de Acucar. 2nd popular location in Rio after the Corcovado and definitely a must-visit. Its obvious advantage is a spectacular view over Corcovado. Especially beautiful at sunset, so I recommend to come in the afternoon and stay for a few hours. The viewing platforms are pretty comfortable, equipped with cafes, walking paths and WiFi.
The mountain is called so due to its shape resembling a piece of sugar. Its height is almost 400 meters. To get to the top you need to take a cable car consisting of 2 parts.
Follow this link to see its prices and timetable
7. Botanical Garden
I would not call the Botanical Garden as the Must-Visit place, but it is impossible not to mention it. Rio is a very noisy and dirty city, so if you are here for a long time, at some point you will want to be in a quiet green oasis. And botanical garden is just that place: long alleys, high palm trees and rare tropical plants.
8. Great Graffiti at Boulevard Olimpico
Another modern place is the biggest graffiti fresco in the world, which was drawn specifically to the Olympic Games in 2016. This masterpiece is located within walking distance from the Museu do Amanha.
Separately, it is worth saying about the area of Boulevard Olimpico. It’s a modern district that more refers to Spain that Brazil: a modern tram, stops with an electronic timetable, quiet clean streets,
9. Escadaria Selaron
Escadaria Selaron is also known as “Selaron steps” is one of the most well-known attractions around the world. And yet it’s an example of spontaneous hand-maid attraction.
Jorge Selaron is a Chilean artist and sculptor. He was born in 1947 and traveled all his life until he stopped in Rio. In 1990, he decided to renovate the staircase near his house in the Lapa district and began to lay out it with a multicolored mosaic. Subsequently, it turned into a hobby, and then in an obsessive idea. At first, the artist picked up a piece of ceramics, and subsequently, tourists began to bring him material from all over the world.
By the death of the artist in 2013, his work consisted of 250 steps with a length of 125 meters, and covered by 2,000 pieces of ceramics brought from more than 60 countries of the world.
Today, Escadaria Selaron is one of the informal attractions of Rio de Janeiro. You may see it in the videoclips of U2 and Snoop Dogg. Every day it attracts crowds of tourists from all over the world. Therefore, it’s not simple to make a good photo here.
10. Parque Lage
Another quiet green oasis of Rio is located right under the slopes of Mount Corcovado. The Park is located directly on the outskirts of the Botanical Garden, but the entrance is free. Inside visitors can walk along the romantic alleys and see the ancient mansion.
Until the 1960s, these lands were a property of the financial magnate Enrique LagE. Nowadays in the building of the historical mansion there is a school of arts and a cute photogenic cafe, where you may have a nice breakfast or brunch.
Follow the link to find out more about the park.
11. Niteroi
Directly opposite Rio de Janeiro there is an another city – Niteroi. It is famous for its beautiful beaches and crazy sunsets overlooking Rio.
If you plan a trip to Brazil I recommend you to read the following article: Iguazu Falls – the masterpiese of nature.
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