Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide

Bjorn Koch: Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide

Rio de Janeiro is one of the most popular cities in Brazil. Over the past couple of years, the city’s global status has grown since it hosted both the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics. If you’re looking for a travel destination with beautiful beaches, glorious sunsets, and an unbeatable nightlife, Rio is for you. Keep reading to learn about some of the city’s top attractions.

Beaches

When you visit Rio it’s difficult to ignore the city’s beaches. Copacabana Beach is the city’s most famous and popular beach. It’s free to visit and residents use the beach to catch some sun, play soccer, and relax. Another popular beach is Ipanema Beach. The summer season, from December to March, is the most popular time to visit Brazil and its beaches. Packing your bathing suit is a must, though, regardless of when you visit Rio.

Corcovado Mountain

Standing tall above Rio is Corcovado Mountain. Corcovado means hunchback in Portuguese. The mountain is most famous for being the location of the Christ the Redeemer statue, one of Rio’s most famous landmarks in the city. While the statue is a popular attraction for Christians, it’s also worth visiting for non-Christians as well—especially if your goal is to visit each of the New7Wonders of the World.

Sugarloaf Mountain

If you really want a great view of Rio, you need to visit Sugarloaf Mountain. Visitors can take a cable car up to the peak of the mountain. The cable cars offer passengers a 360-degree view of the city below. Suffers of acrophobia will probably want to skip the cable car ride and remain on the beach instead.

National Museum of Fine Arts

Art lovers shouldn’t miss out on visiting the National Museum of Fine Arts. Its collection is the most thorough collection of Brazilian artwork. Inside the museum, you’ll find over 20,000 different pieces of artwork. In addition to Brazilian artwork, the museum also features a number of European paintings, sculptures, and prints.

Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden

The Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden was created in 1808 by King John VI of Portugal. King John VI originally wanted the garden to serve as a location where spices from the West Indies could grow. However, in 1822 the public was granted permission to enter the park. Inside the park, you’ll find over 6,000 different types of tropical plants. Since the majority of the park is uncultivated Atlantic Forest, it’s not uncommon to spot tropical birds and monkeys while strolling around.