English 
German Rio de Janeiro is a truly impressive city: in this article, I'll tell you what you can do in Rio in a short time and which sights you should definitely not miss.
Rio de Janeiro is one of the most impressive cities in the country and should not be missed on any trip to Brazil, even as a half-Brazilian, the beauty of Rio knocks me off my feet every time. And I’m not alone in this. Everyone knows the famous sights in Rio de Janeiro, such as Sugar Loaf Mountain and the Christ the Redeemer statue! In this article, I’ll tell you what you shouldn’t miss in Rio. So off to the best Rio sights! By the way: At the end of the article you will find some very helpful tips for your stay in Rio, read them carefully!
#1 Cristo Redentor / Christ the Redeemer
From here you have the perfect view of the Cidade Maravilhosa, the great city, as Rio de Janeiro is often called. You can get to the Corcovado by car (or coach), the Corcovado train or even on foot via a hiking trail.
An excursion to the Cristo Redentor is only worthwhile in good weather, in Rio the weather can change quickly and on cloudy days you really can’t see anything. But when the sun shines, you have the complete Rio panorama: breathtaking! It’s worth coming early as it’s a little emptier then.
Buy your ticket for the Corcovado cable car and Christ the Redeemer in advance & avoid the queue*
#2 Tijuca National Park / Floresta da Tijuca
Rio de Janeiro is surrounded by lush nature, vast forests, and green mountains. Right in the heart of the city lies Tijuca National Park, known as the Floresta da Tijuca. Corcovado, home to the Cristo Redentor statue, is also part of the national park. In the past, almost the entire area was cleared by coffee farmers; in the mid-18th century, the clearing was halted and the land was reforested. Today, it is home to dense forest with many waterfalls and beautiful hiking trails. It’s hard to believe you’re in the middle of a major city!
Are you planning a trip to Brazil?
Check out my Brazil blog for even more helpful tips and inspiration!
Hi, I’m Tatiana, the blogger behind The Happy Jetlagger. I love sharing honest, passionate, and authentic stories about my travels. All tips are carefully researched by me.
#3 Pão de Açúcar / Sugarloaf Mountain
Unfortunately, I had a bit of bad luck with the weather this time: In the pouring rain, it’s not worth taking the cable car up to Pão de Açúcar (Sugar Loaf). However, I’ve already been up there twice on previous visits. The best time to go up is at sunset! Down below, at the foot of Pão de Açúcar, in the Urca neighborhood, is Praia Vermelha, a beautiful little city beach.
#4 Escadaria Selarón
Jorge Seláron, a Chilean artist, began renovating the dilapidated staircase in front of his house in the 1990s. Not just like that, he covered them with thousands of pieces of tile, mainly in the colors yellow, green, red, white and blue, the national colors of Brazil and Chile. His small work of art grew in size and popularity, and many tourists brought back tiles with motifs from their hometowns, which Selarón then also used.
Selarón died a few years ago, but his staircase is now one of Rio de Janeiro’s visitor magnets. Incidentally, the Escadaria Selarón can also be seen in a fairly well-known music video: “Beautiful” by Pharell Williams feat. Snoop Dogg.
#5 Arcos da Lapa
Near the Escadaria Selarón are the Arcos da Lapa, an imposing white aqueduct. At the top of the narrow Arcos da Lapa, after a long period of restoration (there was a serious accident years ago), the old streetcar, “o bonde”, is running again, and you shouldn’t miss a ride on it! It’s best to take it straight up to Santa Teresa!
Ad / *affiliate links
#6 Santa Teresa
Santa Teresa is the neighborhood of creatives and bohemians in Rio de Janeiro! The historic streetcar (called bonde or bondinho) also runs along this route. In Santa Teresa, you can stroll through the streets around Largo do Guimarães, discover small stores and studios and enjoy a pleasant meal in the surrounding restaurants and bars.
#7 Rocinha, Vidigal, Complexo do Alemão & Co.
Rocinha, Vidigal, Complexo do Alemao—you’ll come across these names of favelas from time to time. However, never, ever go into a favela on your own! If you’re interested in what life is like there, join a favela tour*. You’ll be safe there. Some people may see this as “poverty tourism,” but the favelas are part of Rio’s cityscape, and a tour like this can also help you understand the lives of the local people a little better.
Many favelas also showcase the ingenuity and improvisational skills of Brazilians. Since these are illegal settlements, the entire infrastructure is maintained by the residents themselves. Electricity, water, cable TV, internet access, trash collection, streets, and paths: everything is organized by the residents themselves. And all of this on the steepest slopes!
Dennis has described what such a favela tour can look like on his blog Awesome Wild:
favelarocinha, a detour to the other rio de janeiro
#8 Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon: the beaches of Rio
Rio is also mega famous for its wonderful beaches in the middle of the city! Copacabana and Ipanema are the top addresses for swimming. The hip Cariocas meet at Posto 9 in Ipanema. Unfortunately, for once it wasn’t beach weather when I visited. Beach life in Rio is definitely something special: the whole city meets here, the beach belongs to everyone! Be careful with the strong currents: They are not without! Tip: It’s best to go to the beach with just a towel and a few reais for a guaraná (Brazilian soda), a coconut or a caipirinha and enjoy the hustle and bustle!
#9 Catedral Metropolitana
Not particularly beautiful, but special: Rio’s cathedral, which was only built in 1979, can hold 20,000 people standing up. If you don’t have that much time and aren’t particularly religious, this is a location that you can skip if necessary. Nearby, however, is the Confeitaria Colombo!
#10 Confeitaria Colombo
The Confeitaria Colombo is the oldest coffee house in Rio de Janeiro! Founded in 1894, it is reminiscent of European coffee houses – a total contrast to tropical Rio. Cariocas find the prices overpriced, but as Europeans they are okay – the ambience is worth it. It’s also a great opportunity to sample Brazilian specialties! In addition to sweet pastries and cakes, there is also typically a large selection of salgadinhos (small balls, croquettes or pastry pockets – salty, hence the name), which are also eaten in Brazil with coffee or as a snack between meals.
You can explore the locations mentioned above on your own (except for the favelas, of course, which only require a tour! You can easily get around the city with Uber, buses and the metro. However, I wanted to take carefree photos with my flashy camera, so this time I decided to go on a day trip.
The downside, of course, is that you often end up at a location at the same time as other tour groups, which can be a bit stressful. However, everything is planned out, so you can completely relax when it comes to safety and organization.
One-Day Sightseeing Tour of Rio*(Full itinerary—the expensive tickets for Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer are included!)
Safety in Rio de Janeiro
Unfortunately, crime is always an issue in Rio de Janeiro and one that does not go unnoticed by tourists. Increased caution is required! However, the Cariocas are always very nice and helpful, often giving you spontaneous tips on where you should pay a little more attention. Even if no danger is immediately visible, take all the advice from the locals to heart, it’s no coincidence.
You can read more about my personal assessment of the safety situation and my experiences in this article: A Woman Traveling Alone in Rio de Janeiro—Is It Really That Dangerous?
Arrival & onward journey
Rio de Janeiro has two airports: Galeão, which is farther away, primarily handles international flights, while Santos Dumont Airport, located closer to the city, is reserved for domestic flights within Brazil. Many European airlines offer direct flights to Rio de Janeiro. Tip: Take an Uber into the city (there’s a separate Uber pickup area where you can meet your driver) or a regular taxi. Although there is a bus service, I wouldn’t recommend taking public transportation with luggage for safety reasons.
Best time to visit Rio de Janeiro
During the Brazilian summer, from December through March/April, Rio de Janeiro is a hive of activity. Weather-wise, you might experience summer downpours, but they usually pass quickly. It can get very hot! But on the other hand, you get to experience Rio in full summer mode! The other months are just as great, though: It can be a bit cooler in the winter, but in Rio that still means 25 degrees—perfect for sightseeing and hiking. Unfortunately, I happened to visit in September when it rained a few days.
Accommodation in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro has some of the highest accommodation prices in Brazil! Prices rise dramatically, especially during the Brazilian high summer from December through March/April. Not to mention events like New Year’s Eve and Carnival: You’ll need to book well in advance for those dates!
In addition, many accommodations require a minimum stay during these times. The Copacabana neighborhood is the most popular among tourists; this is where most of the hotels are located. It’s very touristy there, but you’re also staying in a very central location. Recently, however, locations like the artistic neighborhood of Santa Teresa and some accommodations in pacified favelas have also become trendy. In both cases, though, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend these places to every visitor to Rio. I’ve written more about my experiences in Santa Teresa in my article on safety in Rio.
Among other places, I stayed at the B+B Copacabana Hotel: It’s in a perfect location near the beach and right between Copacabana and Ipanema!
Excursions from Rio de Janeiro
From Rio, you can also take a number of great day trips to the surrounding areas of Rio de Janeiro! Beaches, islands, nature, culture—you could actually spend two weeks in Rio and still have things left to see. If you’re planning a longer trip, you can, of course, travel directly to places like Paraty or Búzios instead of taking day trips. Many intercity buses depart from the bus station in Rio to all parts of the country.
*Links marked with an asterisk (*) are affiliate links. If you book or buy something through them, I will receive a small commission. Thank you for your support!
