Rio de Janeiro
Travel Guide Tips: Carnival, Sugarloaf Mountain, Copacabana.
Rio is more than samba and carnival. Buildings steeped in history and modern architecture await at every turn. It is also the theaters and cultural sites that magically attract visitors. Rio also has a lot to offer in terms of scenery, such as the gorgeous sandy beaches and the densely covered hills and forests. Visitors need many days to discover the sights of the city.
Corcovado
High atop the Morro do Corcovado is the statue of Christ, one of the most visited monuments in the world. The 7100 meter high mountain belongs to the Tijuca National Park. The summit is easily reached by train and from the top you have a breathtaking view of the city. Behind the forests and granite rocks hides a unique flora and fauna. Those who want to observe the local wild and forest animals can also explore the mountain on foot. With a little luck, visitors can see coatis or anteaters and indulge in the fascinating and colorful fauna.
Cristo Redentor (Christ Statue).
The statue of Christ is the landmark of Rio de Janeiro. It not only towers over the city, but spreads its arms protectively above it. It weighs no less than 1145 tons, is 38 meters high and was made of concrete. Sculptor Paul Landowski created this masterpiece and the French donated it to the city of Rio de Janeiro in 1931. The statue was included in the list of the new wonders of the modern world, where it occupies the 3rd place. On some days, more than half a million visitors come to admire the statue.
Theatro Municipal
The Theatro Municipal is one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. The magnificent building was built as early as 1905. The architectural style is based on the Paris Opera. The interiors are no less fascinating. The spacious interior is the symbol of times gone by. Even the stage curtain by the Italian artist Eliseu Visconti represents a work of art in its own right. It shows the portraits of 75 great artists such as Rembrandt and Richard Wagner. The theater can be visited within a multilingual guided tour. However, the true flair can only be experienced when attending a performance.
Cosme Velho Quarter
The traditional and colorful Cosme Velho neighborhood is located in the south of Rio de Janeiro. Actually, the neighborhood consists only of the extended main street Rua Cosme Velho and the small square Largo do Boticário. The square is surrounded by beautiful neo-colonial style houses built as early as the 1920s. Parts of the elite residential neighborhood extend along Corcovado Hill. Many houses on the hill are almost overgrown by the lush green plants. Climbing plants grow over roofs and down balconies and building facades.
Avenida Rio Branco
Avenida Rio Branco is a boulevard built in the early 20th century. It was officially opened in 1905 as Avenida Central and has been somewhat modified within urban planning measures. What has remained, however, are the many buildings from the colonial era, behind whose facades many business premises are hidden. In between, modern office and commercial buildings rise. Av. Rio Branco begins at Praça Mauá and extends to Praça da Cinelândia. The street is busy only on weekdays and then many people crowd here. On weekends, the stores are closed here.
Museum of Fine Arts
The National Museum of Fine Arts (Museu Nacional de Belas Artes) is the most famous art museum in Brazil. The works of art are hidden behind a magnificent neoclassical building. The highlight of the museum is the Portuguese royal collection of King John VI, imported to Rio de Janeiro in the early 19th century. At that time, Rio was still the capital of the Portuguese Empire. In total, the museum houses nearly 20,000 works of art. It also has a library with almost the same number of books.
Museum of Contemporary Art of Niteroi
The Museum of Contemporary Art is located in the Niteroi district and is called Museu de Arte Contemporânea in the local language. It stands out with its extravagant architecture and catches the eye from afar. The four-story building was designed by Oscar Niemeyer. The floors are filled with over 1600 works of art from all over the world. Among them are exhibits by Mira Schendel and Antonio Dias. The highlight is the private collection of João Sattamini. Many works were donated and the works of new artists can be admired in the gallery.
Maracanã Stadium
Every soccer fan knows this stadium, in which Götze shot Germany to the World Cup title in 2014. It's also where Brazilian soccer god Pelé scored his thousandth goal and where artists like the Rolling Stones and Madonna have performed. Even the Pope held a mass here. The soccer temple was inaugurated in 1950 and can seat over 78,000 people. The stadium has been sustainably modernized several times and uses solar energy as well as rainwater to operate bathrooms and toilets. Spectators reach the stands via numerous escalators and elevators. Visitors can explore the stadium within one tour.
Paineiras Street
The Estrada das Paineiras is a scenic and very winding road that paves the way for visitors to reach the Statue of Christ. It is only three miles long and winds through the hills. In many places you can enjoy a beautiful view. It also passes through dense forests and past breathtaking waterfalls. On weekends, all motorized vehicles are banned from the road. Then the panoramic road belongs to pedestrians and cyclists. Some designated viewpoints offer a perfect view of the Rio de Janeiro skyline.
Afonso Vizeu Square
Afonso Vizeu Square forms the entrance to the Tijuca Forest. Tourists gather here throughout the year to explore the forest. On weekends, locals gather in the square to hike or bike. The Cascatinha Gate opens the Tijuca Forest. It was inaugurated in 1903 by Mayor Pereira Passos and is also known as Largo da Boa Vista. The centerpiece of the square is the French fountain Grandjean de Montigny. The restaurants and cafes around the square invite you to linger. From here you can observe the hustle and bustle very well.
Parque das Ruenas
As the name suggests, Parque das Ruenas is a park of ruins. It is located in a beautiful park. The ruins refer to the former residence Palacete Murtinho Nobre of Laurinda Santos Lobo. The lady of the house invited artists and intellectuals to her salon from 1920 to 1946, giving them the opportunity to find themselves. Already at that time the artists were enthusiastic about the beautiful view. From up here Rio de Janeiro shines in a picturesque splendor. The park is open until nightfall.
Mayrink Chapel
Graceful is the pink chapel, located in the middle of the Tijuca forest. It was built in 1855 by Visconde Antônio Alves Souto. When it was opened, the place of worship was called Our Lady of Belém. The current name Capela Mayrink was given to the chapel only in 1896, when it was named after the city councilor Francisco Paula Mayrink, who acquired the building. Inside the building there are some paintings by famous artists such as Cândido Portinari. The chapel can be visited daily between 2 and 4 pm. A church service is held every Sunday at 12 noon.
Tijuca Forest
The Tijuca Forest covers 3300 hectares, making it the largest urban national park in Brazil. It is also known as Florenta da Tijuca. It is the green lung of Rio de Janeiro and is home to numerous animals and plants that are threatened with extinction. Everywhere in the forest you can find lookout points from which you can have a dreamlike view of Rio. The lakes and grottos invite you to linger and relax. The park also houses several chapels and the Cascatinha waterfalls.
Flamengo Park
Rio de Janeiro's Flamengo Park is known to locals only by the name Attero. The word translated means landfill. However, this has nothing to do with a garbage dump, but refers to a piece of land with which the park was filled up. The park has an area of 300 hectares and is a popular meeting place for amateur athletes. In the morning the park belongs to joggers and from noon on people play soccer or basketball here. The park promenade is a real promenade. Muscles and beauty are flaunted here. Families use the green areas for a picnic.
Sugarloaf
Its appearance is reminiscent of a sugar loaf, and so the 396-meter-high mountain was given the name Pão de Açúcar. Sugar Loaf is the city's landmark and thousands of people are drawn here every day. In the early morning it is still quiet and then you can enjoy beautiful sunrises here. Two cable cars lead up to Morro da Urca and to Pão de Açúcar. At the top there is also a bar where typical South American cocktails are served. Throughout the summer, the amphitheater atop Sugarloaf Mountain hosts many concerts and evening stage shows.
Urca Hills
The Urca Hills are home to Rio de Janeiro's eponymous neighborhood and are located at the foot of Sugarloaf Mountain. The Urca district is an affluent neighborhood with magnificent mansions and quaint low-rise buildings. Most of the houses were built between 1920 and 1940 and many were later modernized. Urca's picturesque residential streets lead to the small beaches of Urca and Vermelha. There are many bars on the beaches of Guanabara Bay, which are a popular meeting place for locals in the evening. In the past, Urca was home to many casinos and the area was known as an entertainment district after gambling was legalized.
Copacabana
Copacabana is the most famous beach in South America and the strolling and party mile of the city. All nations and generations meet here. The beach is paradisiacal and the samba sets the pace. Those who don't dance enjoy a drink, sunbathe or play soccer. In the 19th century, fishermen brought their catch ashore here. Today, artists and vendors bustle along the promenade, waiting for customers. Magicians and jugglers also demonstrate their skills, and tattoo artists turn Copacabana into an open-air studio.
Botafogo
The beach has made Botafogo the hip district of Rio de Janeiro. Along the beach are quirky and unique bars where the coolest parties in the city are held. Botafogo is the little Copacabana and here artists, individualists and intellectuals meet. Everything is one size smaller and seems experimental. From the bay you can enjoy a fantastic view of the Sugarloaf Mountain. In the evening the beach is dominated by samba sounds. Then you get a cold beer or a caipirinha, sit on the wall opposite the beach and give in to the party mood.
Ipanema Beach
The beach of Ipanema is the meeting point of the rich and beautiful of the city. It is also known as the little Paris of Rio. Galleries and jewelry stores line the promenade. The beach section Ipanema Farme is the rainbow beach. This is where the city's gay scene meets. Vendors lurk on every corner waiting for a good deal. Sold are everything from coke water to folding chairs to massages, all part of an exciting day at the beach. Rua Vinicius de Moraes, which is part of the beach, is a lookout point. This is where people gather in the evening to enjoy the sunset.
Rio Botanical Garden
The Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro brings together the entire plant world of Brazil. Highlights include the imperial palms, planted by Portuguese Emperor João VI in 1809. Also worth seeing are many plants that can otherwise only be found on the banks of the Amazon. In total, more than 6500 plants from all over the world grow in the 54-hectare garden. Sometimes marmosets scurry by or toucans stroll along the paths. The garden also includes a botanical library and a research facility dedicated to the study of plants.
Where is Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro is a city in Brazil. It is located about 931 km southeast of the capital Brasília. There are about 6.748.000 inhabitants living in Rio de Janeiro.
