U City Guides THE ULTIMATE URBAN TRAVEL GUIDES
THE ESSENTIAL TOOLS AND INFORMATION FOR GREAT SHORT CITY BREAKS
TOP ATTRACTIONS. HOTELS. HOSTELS. RESTAURANTS. NIGHTLIFE. SHOPS.
facebook twitter

Rio de Janeiro Brazil

Life's a Beach

Rio de Janeiro

Rio is too busy at the beach to compete with São Paulo or Buenos Aires as Latin America's most stylish and dynamic metropolis. And who can blame it? After all, this is the city of tanned beauties living between lush mountains and golden beaches, so beauty and sensuality wins over urban sophistication.

It is also stunningly beautiful when seen from the top of the famous Corcovado statue or the Sugar Loaf mountain. Its matchless location earned it the name of "the marvellous city" and you'll agree as you lay in Copacabana or Ipanema beaches gazing at the surrounding hills and mountains -- that is, if you're not too distracted by the flawless bodies sunbathing or playing volleyball.

The smart Leblon neighborhood offers fashionable boutiques and restaurants, and in Ipanema you'll find the swankiest bars and shops. Then there's the colonial charm in its oldest districts (from the architecture of downtown to the Lisbon-like pavements), and the more bohemian Lapa and Santa Teresa neighborhoods.

So pack your Havaianas and your sexiest beachwear, and whether you'll be heading to the beach, to a colorful dance venue, or crossing over to Niteroi's contemporary art museum, you'll always be surrounded by an irresistible and constant motion in Rio.


Sugar Loaf, Rio de Janeiro
SEARCH FOR YOUR HOTEL
FREE, EASY BOOKINGS
(Guarantee a room but pay only at the hotel)

Destination (City):
From:
To:
Guests: Rooms:

Rio de Janeiro Hotels »
Rio de Janeiro Hostels »



TOP 10 RIO DE JANEIRO

  1. Extend your arms at the CORCOVADO.
  2. Overlook the city from the SUGAR LOAF.
  3. Sunbathe in IPANEMA and shop down its Rua Garcia D'Avila.
  4. Lay on the world's most famous beach, COPACABANA.
  5. Check out the "spaceship" building of the Niteroi Contemporary Art Museum and the exhibits inside.
  6. Hang out in LEBLON and its Rua Dias Ferreira.
  7. Admire the space inside the METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL.
  8. The best of modern Brazilian and Latin American art at the Modern Art Museum.
  9. The mixture of old colonial and ultramodern architecture in CENTRO.
  10. A stroll around LAGOA RODRIGO DE FREITAS.






Share






HOTELS & HOSTELS


The city's best design, boutique, luxury, and beach hotels, as well as cheap hostels with easy online booking at special rates. All of the best, special, and hip places to stay are HERE (Rio de Janeiro Hotels & Hostels Guide)>>

SIGHTS & ACTIVITIES


The Corcovado and all of the city's must-see landmarks, Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, street life, daytrips and tours -- it's all HERE (Rio de Janeiro Sightseeing Guide)>>

RESTAURANTS & CAFÉS


The best way to start the day or to refresh after a day at the beach is with a freshly squeezed juice. You're in a country blessed with an endless variety of fruits, so take advantage of Rio's cafés which will offer you everything from açaí to coconut juices. For dinner head to Rua Dias Ferreira in the Leblon neighborhood for the city's hottest restaurants. Once you've checked all of those off your list, look for all of Rio's other gastronomic highlights which we tell you about HERE (Rio de Janeiro Restaurants Guide)>>

BARS & CLUBS


You haven't been to Rio if you haven't had a caipirinha with the Cariocas, or enjoyed a samba show. And you don't even have to wait until late at night for that, as drinking and dancing seem to happen at any time of the day in this city. Where to go for that is found HERE (Rio de Janeiro Nightlife Guide)>>

BODY & SOUL


Physical activity is part of everyday life in Rio. There's jogging, volleyball or soccer at the beach, and the gym to sculpt the body and show it off in swimwear. At the end of the day, many also look for the services of a spa:
InterContinental Rio Spa - This spa is complete with a number of therapies to serve your every need. Choose from reiki, magnified healing, aromatherapy, crystal healing, holistic massages, among others.
Rio 180 Spa - Spoil yourself in the Zen spa of this hotel that allows you to relax with a massage or at the sauna.

SHOPPING


Rio is the birthplace of the sexy Brazilian style, from where thongs and Havaianas went on to conquer the world. You'll have a lot of those to choose from in the city's shops, but there are also other tempting choices in Rio's major shopping streets. Know where to look for them HERE (Rio de Janeiro Shopping Guide)>>

GAY & LESBIAN


From the world-famous Carnival celebrations to the over 1 million people found at the beaches during Gay Pride, Rio is known as the world's party city, and you don't even have to be in town during those special days to feel the joyous (and gay) spirit of the city. Simply head to Ipanema beach and its gay epicenter, and you can be enjoying the city as its best. Later at night show off your tan at the many bars and clubs in the neighborhood. Find out where you should go HERE (Rio de Janeiro Gay Guide)>>

AIRPORT & TRANSPORTATION


How to go from the airport to the center of the city and back, how to get around using public transportation, and city map HERE (Rio de Janeiro Airport & Transportation Guide)>>