Rio de Janeiro
Discover Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro is the second largest city in Brazil, on the South Atlantic coast. Rio is famous for its breathtaking landscape, its laid-back beach culture and its annual carnival. The "Carioca Landscapes between the Mountain and the Sea" has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The harbour of Rio de Janeiro is comprised of a unique entry from the ocean that makes it appear as the mouth of a river. Additionally, the harbor is surrounded by spectacular geographic features including Sugarloaf mountain at 395 meters (1,296 feet), Corcovado Peak at 704 meters (2,310 feet), and the hills of Tijuca at 1,021 meters (3,350 feet). These features work together to collectively make the harbor one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
Taste of Rio de Janeiro...
In Rio de Janeiro you can probably find something to fit any craving. A good approach to local food is "comida a kilo" – buffet style restaurants where you pay by the weight of the food on your plate. Don't miss the most famous Brazilian dish, feijoada (fay-zho-AH-da), a black bean stew filled with big chunks of meat, like sausage, pork and beef. Along with the "feijoada", you also get some colorful side dishes that come with it, such as rice, cassava (roasted manioc), collard greens, fried pork rinds, and some orange slices, to sweeten things up a bit. This is bonafide, authentic carioca culinary excellence, almost worth the trip alone! Best while sipping down a "caipirinha". For the hungry, nothing beats a good rodízio (all-you-can-eat service). These are available in numerous types, although the most well-known are the churrascaria, all-you-can-eat grilled meats. At various restaurants around town, you can also find rodízio style dining featuring seafood, pizza, or various appetizer-style snacks. The defining element of rodízio is that unlike an all-you-can-eat buffet, the servers continuously bring skewers of various meats. If you like meat but want an alternative to the rodizios, a good place to eat at is Filé de Ouro (Rua Jardim Botânico, 731, Jardim Botânico; ☏ +55 21 2259-2396; see Google Maps for directions). The place is simple and cozy. During the weekends there are usually big lines, but the steak is delicious. Try "Filé à Oswaldo Aranha", with toasted garlic.
A Rich Past
Explore the historical roots that shaped Rio de Janeiro into what it is today.
Rio was founded in 1565 by the Portuguese as a fortification against French privateers who trafficked wood and goods from Brazil. Piracy played a major role in the city's history, and there are still colonial fortresses to be visited (check below). The Portuguese fought the French for nearly 10 years, both sides having rival native tribes as allies. For the next two centuries it was an unimportant outpost of the Portuguese Empire, until gold, diamonds, and ore were found in Minas Gerais in 1720. Then, as the nearest port, Rio became the port for these minerals and replaced Salvador as the main city in the colony in 1763. When Napoleon invaded Portugal, the Royal Family moved to Brazil and made Rio capital of the Kingdom (so it was the only city outside Europe to be capital of a European country). When Brazil became independent in 1822, it adopted Monarchy as its form of government (with Emperors Pedro I and Pedro II). Many historians and Brazilians from other places say cariocas are nostalgic of the Royal and Imperial times, which is reflected in many place names and shop names. In 2009, the city won their bid to host the games of the XXXI Olympics in the summer of 2016. This was the fifth bid by the city, whose 1936, 1940, 2004, and 2012 bids lost. The climate of the city of Rio de Janeiro is tropical with a hot, humid and sometimes rainy summer and a mild and dry winter....
Climate
The climate of the city of Rio de Janeiro is tropical with a hot, humid and sometimes rainy summer and a mild and dry winter. In December and January, the heat and humidity are usually constant, reaching up to 45 °C (113 °F), However, it rains less in Rio de Janeiro than in other cities in the Southeast (for example, São Paulo) and the rains are usually sudden and rapid, giving a welcoming relief from the sizzling afternoon temperatures. During winter in the southern hemisphere, temperatures in Rio are usually milder. In these months rainfall decreases, and average temperatures are typically 19 °C (66 °F) to maximums of 26 °C (79 °F). Rio is one of the country's major transportation hubs, second only to São Paulo. Metropolitan area airport code for the two airports of the city is unsurprisingly RIO . If the flight connections to Rio don't suit you, you can check flights to the airports of São Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Campinas or Vitoria. From there you can take an intercity bus to Rio.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsRio is one of the country's major transportation hubs, second only to São Paulo. Metropolitan area airport code for the two airports of the city is unsurprisingly RIO . If the flight connections to Rio don't suit you, you can check flights to the airports of São Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Campinas or Vitoria. From there you can take an intercity bus to Rio. From Galeão (GIG) two bus lines operated by Real depart from right outside the arrival section. Buses are air-conditioned and comfy, with ample luggage space. They run roughly every 30 minutes from 5:30AM to 10PM. For a slightly cheaper option, go ahead as follows. From the airport, take BRT (Bus Rapid Transport System) (R$4.70, RioCard needed, but can be used on Metro as well) to Vicente de Carvalho and transfer to the metro. The BRT does not go into the center, but north around Rio towards Alvorada Bus Terminal and Terminal Jardim Oceãnico. From Alvorada they connect to other BRT to Santa Cruz and Campo Grande west....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Rio de Janeiro possesses an extensive and complex, highly multi-modal public transportation system, adapted to the city's unique topography – large areas covered by mountains surrounded by pockets of densely populated flat lands. Among the public transportation modes, there is subway, heavy rail, light rail, bus rapid transit, local buses, microbuses, cable cars and ferry boats. The city uses a prepaid transport SmartCard, the RioCard Bilhete Único Carioca, which costs as much as a single ride (R$4,70) and gives access to nearly all available public transportation (mostly excluding tourist rides), also offering discounts if the user takes more than one transportation within a 2-hr time period and stays within the Rio de Janeiro municipality. Cards can be returned with getting the money on it back. This can be a good way to get cash off credit cards that have a minimum cash withdrawal of like US$40, but in case you only need another R$40 before leaving the country.
Where to Stay
In the Zona Sul, you will find Rio's fanciest and most popular hotels along the beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana, but there are lots of small, cheap, clean hotels around Flamengo and Catete. The street in front of the strip of tourist hotels in Copacabana can be seedy, due to both garishly-dressed tourists, and a few opportunistic locals ready to take advantage of them. The apart-hotels in Ipanema are a much more pleasant alternative, being both better appointed and in a nicer neighborhood with fewer tourists. Accommodation in the lower Centro can be convenient for business travellers. The surrounding areas, however, are far from pleasant at night, being nearly deserted and lacking decent restaurants and leisure options. The central Santa Teresa neighbourhood, however, is quite departed from the city centre life and has plenty of pleasant bed and breakfasts and a significant nightlife.
Money & Budget
Money change facilities are limited and high commissions are charged. Slightly better rates can be obtained, illegally, at the taxi booths but they may want you to use their cabs before changing money for you. In any event, don't change more than you have to as much better rates are available downtown. However, if you have a VISA or Mastercard Debit Card, you may use the Airport's ATMs (Banco 24 Horas) which will allow you to withdraw cash for a fee. IN this case, do not accept the suggest exchange rate but ask for it to be debited in Reals in your account since your bank will almost certainly have a better rate to offer. From Europe, LATAM Airlines offers direct flights from Paris (daily), London and Frankfurt (both three times a week).
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Rio de Janeiro's reputation as a dangerous city was cemented internationally by the critically acclaimed movie Cidade de Deus — a reputation that's not entirely unwarranted. Although most visitors to the city have a great time with no incidents, Rio can be dangerous. As a traveler, even if you don't leave the "Zona Sul" (which includes Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, Gávea, Jardim Botânico, Flamengo, Laranjeiras, Botafogo, Urca) or Western Suburbs (Barra, Recreio), you may experience a palpable tension over security. Generally, tourists (also called "gringos", which is not derogatory but means "outsiders") and teenagers are considered "easy" targets for criminals. Day-to-day living has also been affected by this. For example, banks all have security doors and armed guards. Rio can be a dangerous city and it is wise to follow the advice below even if it seems exaggerated. Don't walk around with lots of money in your pocket.
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Rio de Janeiro
Wildest sunset ever
Cristo iluminado
Cidade Maravilhosa
Escadaria Selaron
Copacabana.
Islet near city during daytime
Cristo Redentor
green mountains
an aerial view of a city and a body of water
Sunny Friday
Wildest sunset ever
Cristo iluminado
Cidade Maravilhosa