What to do in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil!

Thinking about Rio de Janeiro, aka “Cidade Maravilhosa” (in English: the Marvelous City), is often equal to thinking about football, samba, beautiful beaches, and happiness! Of course, that thought isn’t wrong at all, but Rio is a very rich city to be limited to just those things! The place that was once the country’s capital city is home to wonderful neighborhoods, beautiful museums, restaurants, and incredible attractions^[1]Shardlow, E. (2018, December 10). Things To Do In Rio De Janeiro | 20 Top Attractions. Time Out Rio de Janeiro. https://www.timeout.com/rio-de-janeiro/things-to-do/best-things-to-do-in-rio-de-janeiro.

Today we are going to show you 8 places you can’t miss when you come to Rio de Janeiro! But we already warn you: we will leave the beaches, like Ipanema, Copacabana, and Barra da Tijuca, for example, and well-known touristic points like Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer far from our list. We’ll show you unique places that you may not have heard of^[2]Brown, S. (2017, April 28). 20 Must-Visit Attractions in Rio De Janeiro. Culture Trip. https://theculturetrip.com/south-america/brazil/articles/20-must-visit-attractions-in-rio-de-janeiro/! Let’s go?

1. Escadaria Selarón – Selarón Staircase

Between the neighborhoods of Lapa and Santa Teresa, the Selarón Staircase enchants everyone who passes by it for its vibrant colors and unique mosaics. The Staircase has a total length of 125 meters of pure art! And if you are wondering about the name of the staircase, it is a tribute to the Chilean artist who financed the project as a thank you to Brazil and the Brazilian people: Jorge Selarón! Awesome, right?

2. Jardim Botânico – Botanical Garden

Rio de Janeiro is not just lush beaches! If you love nature, you must visit the Botanical Garden of the Marvelous City. Created by the Prince Regent of Brazil in 1808, the place is home to more than 9,000 species of native and exotic plants, as well as countless species of animals!

And don’t worry: if you feel hungry or thirsty during your visit, the Garden has a beautiful cafe. In addition, there is a museum and a restaurant! 

3. Parque Lage – Lage Park

Before it became a public place, Parque Lage was a private estate. Located at the foot of Corcovado Mountain, the park is known for having appeared in some music videos, but mainly for its natural beauty! Just like in the Botanical Garden, in Parque Lage you can get to know the local nature (and even take pictures of tamarins, who are not afraid of tourists!), and enjoy a unique experience!

4. Largo do Boticário – Apothecary’s Square

Located in the Cosme Velho neighborhood, Largo do Boticário is an easily overlooked place. However, the square that was once home to the artistic elite of Rio is a treasure you MUST visit! Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your taste), Largo do Boticário houses were abandoned and dominated by the local nature. However, today there are art galleries and unique stores on site! Also, if you are a fan of the 007 films, you will probably recognize the place from one of the scenes of the movie Moonraker!

5. Real Gabinete Português da Leitura – Royal Portuguese Reading Room

This is the place that any bookworm should visit in Rio! The Real Gabinete Português da Leitura is simply a dream come true! In addition to its wonderful architecture, the library is home to the largest collection of Portuguese literary works outside Portugal. Built in 1880, the place remains a secret to many tourists!

6. Museu de Arte Moderna (MAM) – Museum of Modern Art

Located in Guanabara Bay, it is hard to miss MAM! Its indistinct architecture houses numerous works from the 20th and 21st centuries, by Brazilian and foreign artists such as Tarsila do Amaral, Joan Miró, and Jackson Pollock! In addition to the works of art, on weekends you can enjoy live artistic interventions, in the form of music and crafts!

7. Teatro Municipal – Municipal Theatre

Right in the center of the Marvelous City, the Municipal Theater sets up a vision that can remind Paris – after all, the city used to be inspired by the French capital city’s architecture. Today, the theater in Rio features plays, operas, shows, and ballet performances! You can either go check out one of these presentations or choose to just visit the place.

8. Bairro de Santa Teresa – Santa Teresa Neighborhood

Close to downtown Rio and accessible via the Selarón Staircase, the Santa Teresa neighborhood is known for its many hillsides and beautiful antique houses! Quiet but full of shops, bars, and restaurants, the place also has the famous cable cars (popularly called “bondinhos” by the Brazilians)! The neighborhood is home to incredible sites such as the Chácara do Céu Museum and the Parque das Ruínas, which are worth visiting! But be prepared to walk a lot, okay?

See how Rio de Janeiro is much more than beaches, samba, and football? Well, now you know what places you need to include in your list of visits to be made in the Marvelous City! And if for the time being, you can’t come to Brazil, you can already get into the Brazilian spirit with the products of incredible brands of the country, available on the website of Metro Brazil!