The Best Things to Do in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Planning a trip to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil?
Rio de Janeiro is a bucket list destination for so many people and with good reason! From Ipanema Beach and Copacabana Beach to the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue, and the mix of urban life with nature and wildlife, everyone will find something to enjoy.
I visited Rio in August of 2018 as part of a press trip hosted by RIOgaleão Airport in partnership with American Airlines and Hilton to promote the Rio de Janeiro airport as the gateway for US travelers to enter Brazil.
From the moment I landed in Rio to meet up with my fellow journalists, I could feel the pulse of life and excitement coursing through the city. (Or maybe I was just excited to be attending my first international press trip as a travel writer!)
Either way, the energy radiating from the city and a cup of Brazilian coffee beneath the Cristo Redentor brought me to life after a night in an airport hotel in Miami followed by an overnight flight thanks to a canceled flight out of Orlando. Thunderstorms are no joke in Florida!
Keep in mind that we packed as much as we could into a short stay in the city before moving on to Iguazu Falls, so my experiences were more surface-level, but I think I can give you a good overview of what to check out when you’re in Rio.
Rio de Janeiro is a great place to kick off your trip to Brazil, and one of the most exciting destinations in South America! Here are the top things to do on your first trip to Rio!
Related: Travel to Brazil: What to Know about Visas, Vaccinations, and What to Pack
Best Things to Do in Rio de Janeiro
There are so many things to do in Rio, but if you're just visiting for a few days as part of a larger tour of Brazil you'll need to narrow down the options.
We spent half the week exploring Rio de Janeiro before taking a short flight to Foz do Iguacu to see Iguazu Falls.
Rio has some of the best beaches in the world, an urban rainforest, street art in Downtown Rio, legendary landmarks, live music, and educational museums among its must-see attractions.
Christ the Redeemer Statue
Cristo Redentor is one of the most iconic destinations in Rio and its most famous landmark. Because my flight out of Orlando was canceled and I missed the entire first day of the trip, I went straight from the Rio Galleo airport to Christ the Redeemer and met the rest of the group there.
I would highly recommend taking the Corcovado Train to the monument at the top of Corcovado Mountain. The views are incredible as the train winds through Tijuca National Forest, and the trip takes about 20 minutes. Bring some water - the train can get pretty warm.
Buy your tickets ahead of time, as I’ve read that you can’t buy tickets on the same day. Plan to visit early in the morning for fewer crowds and cooler weather at the top. By the afternoon the sun is behind the statue making pictures difficult.
Once you get to the top you can climb the stairs up to the base of the Cristo Redentor and take in the panoramic views of the city.
You’ll also find some cafés with coffee and snacks at the top. After admiring the spectacular views and taking tons of pictures it was nice to enjoy a cappuccino before taking the train back down.
Museum of Tomorrow
If you admire great architecture you’ll want to add the Museum of Tomorrow to your itinerary. It was designed by the great Santiago Calatrava, and I loved the look of the white futuristic building jutting into the sky against the port area of Rio de Janeiro. A reflecting pool completes the serene setting of this environmentally friendly building.
As a former resident of a Milwaukee suburb, I immediately recognized Calatrava’s work, as my wedding photos were taken right outside the Milwaukee Art Museum designed by the same man.
Inside you’ll learn about the effects of humanity on the environment and how we can work together to be part of a solution. How we can work together for a better tomorrow. (Hence the name of the museum).
This museum is great for both kids and adults!
Sugarloaf Mountain
When I arrived at the Orlando airport, my flight from Orlando to Miami was canceled due to weather, which meant I missed my flight from Miami to Rio. I had to wait 24 hours for the next flight, so I missed everything scheduled for Day 1, including Sugar Loaf Mountain. I was devastated!
Sugarloaf Mountain is one of the most iconic sights in Rio, and the best place to go for views of the Cristo Redentor and Guanabara Bay from afar. It's a large rock jutting out of the Atlantic Ocean named after Pao de Acucar, or a sugar loaf!
To see Sugarloaf Mountain, take the cable car from Praia Vermelha to Urca Hill then finally to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain. From here you’ll have a great view of Rio with the Christ statue in view. If I had the chance to return to Rio this would be my first stop!
Once you arrive after the cable car ride there are restaurants, cafes, and bars where you can grab a meal or a drink and enjoy the views before heading back.
Tijuca National Park
Tijuca is one of the world’s largest urban rainforests located in the Tijuca and Barra de Tijuca neighborhoods of Rio. We took a guided Jeep Tour through the forest. The tour stops at Chinese View, Emperor’s Table, Cascatinha waterfalls, and an easy hiking trail.
During the guided tour you’ll likely see some wildlife such as monkeys and birds and learn a lot about the history of the forest.
You sit in the back of an open-air Jeep, but there are seat belts. You could bring children on the tour, and I think they would love it! It’s a little long - about 4 hours - but it goes by quickly since you’re constantly getting in and out of the Jeep to explore.
Bring a hat, good walking shoes, and a camera. The tour is fairly active with some light hiking, and there are lots of photo opportunities! I think a guided tour is the best way to see Tijuca National Park, especially if it's your first time in Rio.
An alternative to this tour would be a half-day Tijuca Forest and Botanical Garden tour to see the Jardim Botânico of Rio.
Copacabana
Copacabana is one of the most renowned districts in Rio thanks to the popular beach by the same name. Stroll the beachside promenade or sip some coconut water on the famous beach. We stayed at the Hilton Copacabana which was right across the street from all the action. I could see locals and tourists biking, walking, and buying food and souvenirs at the stands along the path.
Of course, the beach is only a small part of this neighborhood, but an essential part of the Rio de Janeiro experience.
Olympic Boulevard
I love this spot in Rio because it doesn’t cost anything to do and it tells a story. Located in the New Port area, Olympic Boulevard features a series of murals painted by street artist Eduardo Kobra. He completed the series of murals right before the Rio Games in 2016 to show indigenous people from all around the world.
It’s a beautiful message of unity which I think captures the spirit of the Olympics in the first place - the whole world coming together to share in friendly competition.
Fun fact - it’s also the world’s largest spray-painted mural (he had a team to help him), so if you’ve got a bucket list of Guinness World Records, you can check this one off.
Selaron Steps
Ok, I’ll admit it. Before I went to Rio I did the requisite Instagram “research” to find the most Instagrammable spots in the city. Naturally, I was very excited when our guide told us we were making a stop at the Selaron Steps, and intrigued when she told us the story of how she personally knew the man, Jorge Selarón, who singlehandedly created the beautifully painted tile stairs.
He was a Chilean artist who ended up living in Rio and loved the Brazilian people and culture so much that he dedicated his life to beautifying his neighborhood in Lapa with painted tiles he collected. He died right in his own neighborhood, and suspicion still clouds the circumstances of his death.
Anyway, I loved that our guide shared the history of the Escadaria Selarón with us, giving it so much more meaning than just a colorful place to Instagram (although there’s nothing wrong with that!).
Our guide informed us that it’s not a great neighborhood, so go during daylight hours and be aware of your surroundings.
You could also combine a visit to the Selarón Steps with Christ the Redeemer in a guided van tour. The tour also includes a drive through the Santa Teresa neighborhood known for its cobblestone streets and yellow tram.
It’s very crowded at the bottom of the steps, but if you walk up a few flights you’ll have a lot more space to get a good picture!
Barra de Tijuca Beach
It’s not as famous as Copacabana or Ipanema, but I found Barra de Tijuca beach to be much more relaxing. It was far less crowded and there were some chill tiki bars and kiosks along the beach where you could grab food or drink.
We stopped at K08 Bungalow and enjoyed lounging in the shade while eating an açai bowl and feeling the ocean breeze. This was probably one of the most relaxing moments of the entire trip. I would highly recommend this spot if you want to plan a “down day” into your itinerary.
What To Eat & Drink in Rio De Janeiro
I wouldn’t presume to know all of the best restaurants in the city after only a few days there, but I’ll give you some of the highlights, along with recommendations for what to try while you’re there.
Confeitaria Colombo
Not only is the buffet at Confeitaria Colombo incredible, but the restaurant is part of Rio’s history. It was founded in 1894 and is one of the oldest restaurants in the city. Head to Rio Antigo to find this gem, and don’t sleep on the pastries. So so good.
Rio Scenarium
Rio Scenarium was one of the most unique spots we visited during our time in Rio. It’s a multilevel bar where people come to dance the Samba. If you’re there on a weekend it will be crowded with people dancing from wall to wall. Enjoy the lively scene and this cornerstone of Carioca culture!
If you’re there on a weeknight when it’s quiet and far less crowded, take a walk around and check out the eclectic decor.
We got a few appetizers to share and, of course, some caipirinhas. The food and drinks were great, but you’re really coming here for the atmosphere. It’s located in the Lapa neighborhood.
Pao de Queijo
If you only take one of my recommendations from this blog post, let it be this: try the pao de queijo while you are in Brazil. I will not recommend a specific place, because basically every restaurant sells them.
Pao de queijo is Brazilian cheese bread made with tapioca flour instead of wheat. So. Dang. Good. Our whole group couldn’t stop snacking on them throughout our trip. I’m so sorry I don’t have a picture. I guess I was too busy eating it to think about photographing it.
Caipirinha
These sweet alcoholic beverages are delicious and strong - the best and most dangerous combination in a cocktail. The caipirinha is Brazil’s national cocktail, and it is made with cachaça, lime, and sugar (super easy to make at home, by the way, but not the same). We had a few tasty variations on the theme, and I think the mango caipirinha we had was my favorite.
Churrascaria
A churrascaria is one of those amazing Brazilian barbecue restaurants where the waiters go from table to table carrying various cuts of meat on a sword. Every cut of meat I ate was delicious while in Brazil, and I don’t typically eat tons of meat. (I needed the protein to balance out all the pao de queijo I was eating). We ate at Fogo de Chao in Rio, as well as a few buffet-type restaurants that also offered churrasco-style meat.
Where to Stay in Rio
Hilton Copacabana
As I mentioned above, we had the pleasure of staying at the Hilton Copacabana for the first part of our stay in Rio. The view of Copacabana beach was amazing, and it truly felt like a safe haven at the end of a day of exploring. It had all the typical amenities such as a pool, fitness center, and even breakfast served daily.
The location is great - it’s within walking distance of the beach and some nightlife (although I would probably still recommend taking a cab), as well as the metro.
Hilton Barra de Tijuca
Hilton Barra is a little bit farther away from the action of Rio, but that can be part of its charm. It’s a beautiful hotel, and you notice right away how natural elements are woven into the decor, reflecting the surrounding rainforest.
The rooms were at once cozy and chic, and one big draw was the rooftop pool and bar along with the up-to-date fitness center.
There is a free shuttle to the beach for Hilton Barra guests, so if hitting up the beach in Rio is high on your list, this might be the hotel for you.
Rio was truly a dream destination for me, and I’m so glad I had the chance to experience it. If you’ve been and have anything you loved doing or seeing that I didn’t include in this travel guide, please leave your suggestion in a comment below!
Rio was truly a dream destination for me, and I’m so glad I had the chance to experience it. If you’ve been and have anything you loved doing or seeing that I didn’t include in this travel guide, please leave your suggestion in a comment below!
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