17 Best Things to Do in Rio de Janeiro
We have been showing travelers around our city since 2012, and the same question comes up before every trip: what’s actually worth your time? Here is our short answer, born-and-raised Carioca edition. If this is your first trip to Rio, start at the top and work your way down.
1. Visit Christ the Redeemer Early in the Morning
Go up Corcovado on the first train of the day. By mid-morning the platform is shoulder to shoulder, and clouds tend to roll in after lunch. Early, you get clearer views and room to breathe. Capacity has changed this year, so check the current visiting rules at Christ the Redeemer before you go, or let us handle tickets on one of our private city tours of Rio.
2. Watch the Sunset from Sugar Loaf
Two cable cars take you from Urca to the top of Sugar Loaf. Arrive in the late afternoon, watch the city change color, and stay until the lights come on in Copacabana. We pair both icons on our Sunset Tour with Christ by train and Sugar Loaf.
3. Take a Sunset Boat Tour on Guanabara Bay
Rio looks completely different from the water. Sugar Loaf, the Niterói skyline, and the mountains all line up as the sun drops. If you like the bay, don’t miss the story of Ilha Fiscal, the green palace where the Empire threw its last ball.
4. Join the Samba at Pedra do Sal
On Monday and Friday evenings, musicians sit around a table at the foot of this old rock and the whole square sings along. It’s one of the most honest samba experiences in the city, rooted in Rio’s Afro-Brazilian history. We often end our private by-night tour here.
5. Bar-Hop in Lapa
Under the white Lapa Arches you’ll find old botecos, live music houses, and crowds spilling into the street. Go on a Thursday or Friday for the best energy. For more ideas, read our guide on where to go after dinner in Rio.
6. Find a Street Samba (Roda de Samba)
Beyond Pedra do Sal, rodas pop up in squares and neighborhood clubs every week. Cold beer, plastic chairs, and everyone knows the lyrics. Learn a few Carioca slang phrases and you’ll make friends fast.
7. Cycle Through Flamengo Park
Built on reclaimed land with landscaping by Roberto Burle Marx, Flamengo Park is Rio’s backyard. Rent a bike and ride the flat path along the bay with Sugar Loaf in front of you the whole way. It fits nicely into a tailored half-day tour.
8. Escape to Prainha and Grumari
These two beaches in the West Zone are protected areas: no high-rises, just green hills and clear water. It’s where Cariocas go when they want a real beach day. Our Prainha and Grumari private tour takes care of the drive.
9. Walk the Botanical Garden
Founded in 1808, the Jardim Botânico is famous for its avenue of imperial palms, orchid house, and the toucans and marmosets that hang around the trees. Combine it with the rainforest next door on our Botanical Garden and Tijuca Forest tour.
10. Try a Real Açaí Bowl
Forget what you’ve had back home. In Rio, açaí is served thick and frozen, topped with granola and banana, at juice bars on almost every corner. It’s the perfect post-beach snack, and a good start if you’re looking for vegetarian restaurants in Rio.
11. Explore Santa Teresa
Cobblestone streets, the yellow bonde tram, artist studios, and old mansions with views over the bay. Santa Teresa is Rio’s bohemian hilltop, and the sunset from Parque das Ruínas is one of our favorites. Explore it with a local on our private tour of Santa Teresa.
12. Discover Little Africa and the Valongo Wharf
The port district holds Valongo Wharf, the UNESCO-listed landing site where hundreds of thousands of enslaved Africans arrived in Brazil. It’s a moving, essential visit for understanding Rio. Read about all the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Rio, or join our Little Africa private tour.
13. Visit the Museum of Tomorrow and the Rio Art Museum
Both sit on Praça Mauá. The Museum of Tomorrow, with its striking white structure over the water, looks at science and the future; the Rio Art Museum (MAR) tells the city’s story through art, with a great rooftop view. Add them to a private walking tour of downtown Rio.
14. Hike Pedra Bonita in Tijuca National Park
Pedra Bonita is the easiest big-view hike in Rio: a short, steady climb through the forest to the hang-gliding ramp, with Pedra da Gávea, São Conrado, and the ocean below. Book one of our private hiking tours in Rio and we’ll pick the right trail for your fitness level.
15. Watch the Sunset at Arpoador
Sit on the rock between Ipanema and Copacabana as the sun sets behind Dois Irmãos. When it touches the horizon, the crowd applauds. Yes, really. It made our list of the best views in Rio de Janeiro.
16. Have Drinks at a Rooftop Bar
Rio’s hotel rooftops in Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon offer caipirinhas with the beach and mountains at your feet. Go just before sunset to get a good spot. Our Leblon neighborhood guide has more ideas for an evening out.
17. Go Shopping at Rio’s Street Markets
- Feira da Glória (Sundays): a local food market with fresh fruit, juices, and pastel.
- Feira do Rio Antigo, Rua do Lavradio (first Saturday of the month): antiques, vintage finds, and live music.
- Feira Hippie de Ipanema (Sundays): crafts, art, leather, and Brazilian design.
Not sure what to bring home? See what souvenirs to buy in Rio.
See Rio the Carioca Way
Seventeen things is a lot for one trip, so pick your favorites and pace yourself. If you have a few days, our 3 Days in Rio package puts the highlights in the right order. If you’d rather choose every stop yourself, we can design your own tour. Check our private tour prices and get in touch. We’d love to show you our city.
