Choose from 189 Fun Things to Do in Brazil
Sambadrome
- The Sambadrome is accessible to the disabled and those in wheelchairs.
- Age limits for children depend on the event taking place; kids under 5 are not allowed to attend Carnival.
- The museum is the most interesting part of a visit during the offseason; visitors can also find a souvenir shop for some take-home goodies.
Ruins Park
Perched high atop one of the quieter hillsides of Santa Teresa, the restored complex features a beguiling mash-up of 19th- and 20th-century architecture, with an exposed brick façade and colonnaded veranda standing warmly next to Modernist metal and glass accents. During the summer, the outdoor concert series includes local jazz and samba bands, as well as children’s performances that add a decidedly familial air to an otherwise romantic ambiance. Be sure not to miss the marvelous weekend brunch served up with a stunning panorama of the marvelous city.
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Rocinha
- Some tours donate a portion of proceeds to Rochina nonprofits or employ local tour guides to give back to the community.
- A guided tour led by a local is the safest way to visit Rocinha.
- Wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes suitable for walking on uneven surfaces, or book a tour by bike or vehicle to stay off your feet.
- Favelas provide a stark contrast to Rio’s ritzy neighborhoods, such as Ipanema, and an educational tour of Rocinha can offer a well-rounded understanding of Rio’s varying socioeconomic environments.
Museu Afro-Brasileiro
The Museo Afro-Brasileiro is one of the few museums of its type in Brazil exclusively dedicated to African cultural heritage and its influence on contemporary Brazilian culture.
The museum’s collection of African artifacts ranges from maps (depicting the original slave trade routes), masks, jewelry and clothing to musical instruments, traditional games and pottery.
The candomblé exhibit is particularly fascinating as it explains the roots, icons and rituals of this colorful religion. Don’t miss the impressive wooden tablets sculpted by noted Bahian artist Carybé that depict the candomblé orixás of Bahia with their weapons and liturgical animal. Make sure you ask for an English translation booklet at the entrance.
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The Museo Afro-Brasileiro is in an historic building (built in 1808) that previously contained the first Brazilian School of Medicine.
Catch any bus marked Praça da Sé (Pelourinho). The museum is just to the right of the Catedral basilica.
Vila Velha Park
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Santa Teresa
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Vista Chinesa
Paraty Historic Center
Spend an afternoon people watching in the grassy lawns of quaint Martiz Square or wandering through streets lined with old colonial architecture. A handful of churches are worth a visit, including Ingera Marriz Nossa Senhora do Rosario, the largest church in Paraty, and Capela de Nossa Senhora das Dores, religious home to Paraty’s well-heeled. After church-hopping, head to Rua do Comercio, where local merchants hawk handicrafts and Brazilian cuisine. Then unwind with incredible bay views at the Shambhala Asian Day Spa, just a 10-minute walk from the Historic Center.
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Urca
The site of a Portuguese fort erected in 1565 to fend off the nascent city from French colonial ambitions, Urca developed as a neighborhood much more recently. In the 1920s, the amount of buildable land in the area was expanded with landfill and the first housing developments sprung up. By the end of the decade, the district was a thriving commercial and residential community with its own casino, built to compete against the luxe but barely-accessible Copacabana Palace Hotel. Much of the architecture in the area reflects the development of the 30s and 40s, with a mix of faux Spanish and Tudor-style stucco houses and apartment buildings that render the entire neighborhood a historical treasure.
Statue of Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor)
The Basics
- Skip-the-line tickets and exclusive early-access tours allow you to beat the crowds to the top.
- Choose between a private tour and a small-group tour for an exclusive experience.
- Tours include either cog train tickets or vehicle transportation to the top of the mountain.
- The Corcovado cog train departs every 20 to 30 minutes and is wheelchair accessible.
To reach the statue at the top of Corcovado, take the cog train or minibus from Santa Teresa. The train, which offers some spectacular views (especially if you sit on the right-hand side), leaves from the Cosme Velho train station at Rua Cosme Velho 513.
When to Get There
Opening hours vary seasonally, but the site is roughly open from 8am to 6 or 7pm. On a clear day, the views from the base of the statue include the beaches of Leblon, Copacabana, and Ipanema, Sugar Loaf Mountain, and Guanabara Bay. After dark, the statue is lit up and seems to hover over all of Rio. Expect heavy summer crowds; consider booking a skip-the-line ticket to save some time.
Visiting the Nearby Tijuca Rainforest
Sugarloaf Mountain (Pao de Acucar)
- Sugarloaf Mountain is a must-see for first-time visitors to Rio de Janeiro.
- Choose between skip-the-line admission and a small-group or private tour of the mountain.
- Kiosks at the top of the mountain serve snacks, sodas, ice cream, and caipirinhas.
- Remember to bring sunglasses and a hat, as it may be bright at the top of the mountain.
Museu do Seringal Vila Paraíso (Rubber Museum)
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Paraty Bay
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Sanctuary Waterfall
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Saara Shopping District
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Paraty House of Culture (Casa da Cultura)
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S e Cathedral
One of the largest neo-Gothic structures in the world and certainly the largest in Brazil, the cathedral’s massive dimensions include a length of 364 feet, a 98-foot dome, and a height of 301 feet from ground level to the tip of the twin spires. The 12,000-pipe organ is among the largest in South America and the church houses a vast number of religious artworks, including colorful mosaics and stained glass windows depicting biblical scenes. With capacity for 8,000 parishioners, there is plenty of room for the devout and the curious.
Tanguá Park (Parque Tanguá)
- Tangua Park is a must-see for nature lovers and those who would like a break from city life.
- A visit around the entire park takes about three hours, so wear comfortable shoes and sun protection for a pleasant experience.
- The paths and the public restrooms within the park are accessible to wheelchair users.
Sunset Square
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Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon
Named for a young Portuguese army official who lived in the area in the early 1700s, the history behind the glassy lagoon wasn’t always placid. The first Portuguese settler in the area, Rio governor Antonio Salema, slaughtered the indigenous Temoio Indians with smallpox-infected clothing when he arrived on the scene in 1575 to build a sugar mill. Subsequent conquests have been as recent as the 1960s, when residents of a favela built on a neighboring hillside were forcibly removed and the hill, along with the ramshackle dwellings, was flattened to make way for some of the high-class high-rises that exist today.