With its white sandy beaches, soaring mountains
and picturesque harbor, it’s no wonder that
Rio de Janeiro is known as the marvelous city.
Facing the South Atlantic coast, the second-largest
city in Brazil is blessed with one of the
most beautiful natural settings for a metropolis
in the world.
The dazzling landscape is just one of the
reasons that visitors flock to Rio.
During carnival season, the streets fill with
music and ornately costumed dancers, attracting
revelers from all over the globe.
At any time of year, visitors won’t want
to miss the top tourist attractions in Rio
de Janeiro.
Number 10.
Barra da Tijuca Beach.
This beautiful beach, which is the longest
in Rio de Janeiro, boasts clean white sand
and tends to be less crowded and attracts
fewer tourists than Ipanema and Copacabana.
Its waters are also said to be cleaner than
those two more famous beaches.
Barra da Tijuca attracts active beach goers,
so you’ll find many kite surfers and body
surfers here.
The area surrounding Barra da Tijuca Beach
is also the youngest in Rio, having been developed
approximately 30 years ago.
Number 9.
Lagoa Neighborhood.
The Lagoa area is not only the most exclusive
neighborhood in the affluent Zona Sul district
but is the third-most expensive neighborhood
in all of South America.
It is also home to a large lagoon known as
the Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas.
The four-mile path encircling the lagoon is
a favorite spot for joggers and cyclists.
Open-air cafés and restaurants along the
shore offer stunning views of the lagoon and
the beaches beyond.
Number 8.
Maracana Stadium.
Soccer is by far the most important sport
in Brazil and the Maracanã Stadium is one
of Rio’s most important landmarks.
It was able to hold nearly 200,000 people
when it opened in 1950.
In modern times, the capacity has been reduced
because of safety considerations, and the
introduction of seating for all fans.
It was partially rebuilt in preparation for
the 2014 World Cup and is currently able to
seat 80,000 spectators making it the largest
stadium in South America.
Number 7.
Tijuca National Park
One of the largest urban forest in the world,
the Tijuca National Park covers a huge area
of a mostly mountainous landscape.
Visitors can hike to Rio’s highest peak
to enjoy expansive views of Guanabara Bay
and the city below.
Nearly destroyed in the early 1800s by encroaching
coffee plantations, much of the forest was
replanted by hand in the latter half of the
century with as many as nine million trees.
Attractions include the pink Mayrink Chapel
and several beautiful waterfalls.
Number 6.
Lapa Neighborhood
Located in the downtown section of Rio, the
Lapa neighborhood was once the city’s red-light
district.
Today, the area is known for its vibrant nightlife.
Lined with samba and choro bars, the music
and dancing spills out into the street on
weekend nights.
Most of the architecture dates back to the
1800s, providing a scenic backdrop to all
the festivities.
It’s the perfect place to meet up with friends
to sip caipirinha, the national cocktail made
with sugarcane hard liquor and lime.
Escadaria Selarón, a set of famous steps
connects both the Lapa and Santa Teresa neighborhoods.
Number 5.
Jardim Botanico.
Located to the west of the Lagoa neighborhood,
the Botanical Garden houses more than 8,000
species of plants.
Built in the early 1800s, the garden features
many mature specimens, including avenues of
towering palm trees.
Visitors flock to the park to view the 600
species of orchids.
The garden includes a number of monuments,
fountains and features, including a Japanese
garden, a pond filled with water lilies and
a museum which displays exhibits that focus
on the environment.
Number 4.
Sugarloaf Mountain.
Rising 1,300 feet above the mouth of Guanabara
Bay, Sugarloaf mountain is a monolith of quartz
and granite that visitors can crest via a
glass-walled cable car known as a “bondinho”
or “teleférico.”
The cable car departs every 20 minutes from
the base of Babilônia hill and climbs to
the top of the Morro da Urca hill.
From there, visitors can take a second cable
car up to the mountain’s summit.
Number 3.
Ipanema.
The beach made famous in the bossa nova song
“The Girl from Ipanema” in the 1960s remains
one of Rio’s most popular tourist spots
today.
A long, arcing expanse of soft white sand
and rolling waves, Ipanema routinely reaches
the top of the “Best Beaches in the World”
lists year after year.
The beach is bordered by a well-organized
grid of shops and restaurants as well as an
array of art galleries and clubs.
Posts mark off the beach into section; families
favor the section between posts 11 and 12
while the area near post 9 attracts dedicated
sunbathers and free-wheeling artists.
Number 2.
Copacabana.
Separated from Ipanema to the west by surfer-favored
Arpoador beach, Copacabana has a more active
vibe than its equally famous neighbor.
Rio locals, called “cariocas,” always
seem to have a game of soccer or volleyball
in play, while vendors vociferously hawk their
drinks and snacks.
Visitors and cariocas alike love to stroll
along the promenade that borders the 2.5 mile
long beach.
Originally built in the 1930s, the walkway
features a wave-like design laid out in black
and white stones.
Inland from the promenade are closely-packed
multistoried hotels and apartments.
Number 1.
Christ the Redeemer.
Perched atop the 2,330 feet high peak of Corcovado
Peak, the statue of “Cristo Redentor”
stands with arms outstretched, gazing serenely
out over the city.
Construction of the statue began in 1922 during
the heyday of the Art Deco movement, and the
concrete and soapstone statue is considered
the largest statue designed in the genre in
the world.
Most visitors take a vertical cog train to
reach the base of the summit.
From there, visitors to the monument once
had to climb hundreds of steps to reach the
top.
Today, elevators and escalators are available
to shorten the trip.
