Bruna + William Warner
Things To Do in Rio/Brazil
Food and Drink to Try
Here's our recommended list for things to eat and drink before you leave Brazil: - Caipirinha: The national cocktail, made with cachaça (kinda like rum), lime, and sugar - Guaraná Antarctica: The national soda, flavored with guaraná fruit - Picanha: The most famous Brazilian cut of steak, available at any churrasco (steakhouse) - Brigadeiro: chocolate dessert ball - Pão de Quiejo: small fluffy cheese-bread rolls - Feijoada: thick stew of black beans and meat, served over rice with a slice of orange - Moqueca: creamy fish stew made with coconut milk, tomatoes, and spices, often finished with cilantro and served with rice - Coxinha: A popular snack made of shredded chicken wrapped in potato dough, shaped like a teardrop, and fried until crispy - Kibe: a middle-eastern street food brought to Brazil by Lebanese immigrants (such as Bruna's grandmother!) consisting of ground beef and bulgur wheat mashed with spices and lightly fried - Catupiry: a spreadable cheese unique to Brazil
Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer)
If you only do one thing in Rio, go here. The most famous landmark in Brazil, the overlook from this statue offers great views of the city. You can take the train up from Cosme Velho (best to reserve in advance as it gets busy), or, if you're feeling adventurous, hike up the Corcovado mountain from Parque Lage - or take the train up and hike down ;) Make sure to check the weather before you go - the earlier in the day you go, the more likely you'll have a clear view, but also the sunsets from here can't be beat.
Pão de Açucar (Sugarloaf Mountain)
The second most famous landmark in Rio, Sugarloaf Mountain also offers great views of the city via the famous cable car rides. There are cafes on top of each 'loaf' if you want to enjoy a meal with a view.
Escadaria Selarón
This famous stairway is colorfully decorated with tiles sent in from all over the world. The artist Jorge Selarón worked obsessively on the mosaic for 23 years until his mysterious death on the steps themselves in 2013. Stop by for your insta on the way to nearby Lapa and the Aqueduto da Carioca arches.
Museu do Amanhã (Museum of Tomorrow)
Cool interactive museum with unique architecture that was opened alongside the Olympics in 2016. Best to reserve tickets ahead of time as it gets busy.
Futebol!
No country loves soccer like Brazil. You could try to catch a game of one of the local teams (Flamengo, Fluminense, Botafogo, or Vasco da Gama) - make sure you wear the right colors! Or try playing along one of the beaches, where you'll even see Futevôlei: like beach volleyball but you can't use your hands! The Maracanã, one the world's most storied stadiums that's played host to the Olympics and multiple World Cup Finals, runs tours as well.
Hang Gliding
For the adventurous types, Rio's unique mountains provide some of the best 'asa delta' (hang gliding) in the world. The most exciting way to go to the beach!
Go for a hike
There are tons of beautiful hikes in the mountains within Rio. Morro Dois Irmãos is one of the most popular, while Pedra da Gávea is the world's tallest ocean-side mountain. Mirante Dona Marta offers good views of Cristo Redentor and Pão de Açucar. You can also hike up Corcovado mountain to Cristo Redentor from Parque Lage.
A Day at the Beach!
Copacabana and Ipanema are two of the world's most famous beaches. Here in Brazil, you can sit at pre-staged chairs on the beach and be waited on with food and drinks from a nearby 'barraca' while you enjoy the sun and waves. The Calçadão (boardwalk) is also lined with outdoor restaurants in 'quiosques.' The link below will tell you more about Brazilian beach etiquette.
Centro Luiz Gonzaga de Tradições Nordestinas
Near the Maracanā, this sprawling market is filled with handicraft stalls & restaurants serving Northeastern dishes with music.
Espaço Cultural da Marinha
For the Navy folks (or anyone else interested), this Brazilian navy museum offers you the opportunity to tour ships, helicopters, and even a submarine! Plus, the cauldron from the 2016 Olympic games is in the plaza in front of the museum.
Favela Tour
If you would like to venture into a favela, you should only go with an organized tour. Rocinha is the most frequently visited neighborhood, and many companies bring tourists through every day. You'll get to explore the patchwork maze of houses sprouting out the side of a mountain, meet and talk to some locals, and get a nice view from the top of Rocinha.
Royal Portuguese Reading Room
This nearly 200-year old library houses hundreds of thousands of Portuguese texts in ornate settings that will make you think you're in Europe. It's free to visit, so worth stopping by for a minute while you're in downtown Rio.
Catedral Metropolitana de São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro
This pyramid shaped cathedral has impressive stained glass running up the sides. It's in downtown right near Lapa and the Escadaria Selaron.
Santa Teresa Cable Car Ride
An old symbol of Rio were the 'bondes' that scooted people throughout the city. While most of the trolleys have been retired, this line will take you from downtown, over the Lapa arches, and up into the bohemian neighborhood of Santa Teresa that has some nice bars and restaurants (and where the wedding venue is) and provide some nice views along the way. Get there early as the lines get long, especially on weekends (don't plan on using the trolley to get to the wedding).
Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí
This street-turned-arena serves as the home of the Samba parades during Rio's famous Carnival in February.
Jardim Botânico
If you can't swing a trip through the Amazon rain forest, take a stroll through Rio's enormous botanical gardens instead. Here you'll find some Brazil trees and their distinctive red pigment, after which the country was named. You'll likely run into some monkeys among the trees here too!
Lapa
This vibrant neighborhood is decorated with street art, and is the place to go for nightlife. We recommend checking out the Scenarium in particular.
Beco do Rato
If you want to experience some live Samba music, this local watering hole is the place to go! Located near Lapa, you'll find entertainment here every night of the week.
Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Niterói
Designed by Brazil's most famous architect, Oscar Niemeyer, this flying saucer-shaped museum sits across Guanabara Bay in Niterói.
Confeitaria Colombo
This famous cafe opened in the 1800s and serves traditional Brazilian snacks and treats. They have opened a second location at the south end of Copacabana as well.
Restaurante e Bar Garota de Ipanema
Bar where the iconic Bossa Nova song was written (and now named after it), come enjoy some food and drink on the patio and maybe you'll see you own Girl from Ipanema walk by...
Petrópolis
Situated about an hour north of Rio in the mountains, this small city housed the Imperial Palace during Brazil's 19th century monarchy after getting independence from Portugal. There are several cool spots to check out here, including the palace which is now a museum.
Paraty, Ilha Grande, Cabo Frio, or Búzios
If you're looking to make a longer vacation out of the trip to Brazil, these are some very nice beach towns within a couple of hours of Rio de Janeiro. To the west, Paraty and Ilha Grande are quieter and among some incredible nature (along a bay with 365 islands - "one for each day of the year!"), while over to the east, Buzios (aka Armação dos Búzios) and Cabo Frio are more lively beaches with lots of bars and restaurants.
Foz do Iguaçu
Another option for a longer trip in Brazil is Foz do Iguaçu, one of the largest waterfalls in the world right on the border with Argentina and Paraguay. You can usually find a non-stop, 2 hour flight from Rio to IGU airport for around just $50.
Lençóis Maranhenses
Another excellent option for extended trips to Brazil, this UNESCO World Heritage Site spans over 250,000 acres of stunning lagoons nestled among rolling sand dunes. Often considered the most breathtaking place in Brazil, it offers activities like hiking, surfing, canoeing, kayaking, off-roading, and horseback riding. The nearest airport is in São Luís (SLZ), and July is the best time of year to visit!
The Amazon
While Rio is pretty far from the world's largest rain forest (ask Dub about his fun fact about how big Brazil is), you could try to work in a stop to Manaus on the way to/from the USA to see the jungle and the famous 'encontro das águas' where two rivers reluctantly combine to form the Amazon river.