32 Best Things to Do in Rio de Janeiro Brazil

Pedra da Gávea stands as Rio’s most challenging and rewarding hike. Once at the top, you’ll see panoramic views stretching from Pepino Beach to Barra, Leblon, and Ipanema beaches. Quite a hard one though.

• Hike to Pedra da Gavea with a Guide

I broke down every trail, difficulty level and access in my full guide to the best hikes in Rio de Janeiro.

For something less intense, Morro Dois Irmãos delivers incredible views with moderate effort. The trail starts in Vidigal favela and takes about 1 hour. You’ll pay around 10 BRL entry fee plus another 10 BRL for a motorcycle ride to the trailhead. But you can do it with a guide.

• Hike to Dois Irmaos for the sunrise

• Hike Dois Irmaos at Sunset with a Guide

Pedra Bonita works perfectly for families and beginners. The trail requires minimal technical skills and offers stunning coastal views without the intensity of Pedra da Gávea.

Pico da Tijuca gives you 360-degree views of Rio from its highest point in Tijuca Forest.

• Guided hike through Tijuca Forest

Pedra do Telegrafo, which is further south, is famous for people taking photos that look like they’re hanging above the cliff (that’s just a trick!). The hike is smooth and the 360° view is simply amazing.

• One-day visit to Pedra do Telegrafo + Beach

If you love trekking, Rio is only the start: here are the best hikes in South America.

Rio’s granite formations create world-class rock climbing opportunities right in the city. You don’t need previous climbing experience for beginner routes, as certified guides provide all equipment and instruction.

Sugarloaf Mountain offers dozens of routes across all difficulty levels. The famous Via dos Italianos (Italian Route) ranks as one of Brazil’s most classic climbs. For beginners, the Coringa Route (5.8/5a) provides three pitches totaling 100 meters with sweeping ocean views. Tours typically cost 310-510 BRL depending on route difficulty.

• Climbing the Sugarloaf with a Guide

Morro da Urca sits at 220 meters and welcomes first-timers with routes ranging from 5.4 to 5.8 difficulty. This mountain serves as the perfect introduction to Rio climbing before attempting harder routes.

• Climbing lesson on Morro da Urca

Pedra da Gávea has a side where you can do rock climbing. It lasts around 90 minutes, not so far from the top. The view is incredible !

Corcovado (the Christ the Redeemer mountain) has climbing routes like Via K2 for intermediate climbers at around 300 BRL.

• Climb the K2 Route on the Corcovado

Most climbing tours start early and last 3-6 hours.

Copacabana Beach stretches for 4 km and buzzes with energy from sunrise to sunset. Walk the iconic black-and-white wave-patterned promenade, join a beach soccer game, or just people-watch with fresh coconut water in hand.

Ipanema Beach sits next to Copacabana but attracts a younger, trendier crowd and maintains cleaner sand and water. You can reach it via General Osório, Nossa Senhora da Paz, or Jardim de Alah metro stations. With Copacabana, these are part of the best beaches in South America. You need to see them and experience the vibe.

Arpoador Beach occupies the small peninsula between Ipanema and Copacabana and offers the best surf in Rio for beginners and pros alike. Locals gather here to applaud as the sun dips below the horizon, creating one of Rio’s most magical moments.

Praia da Joatinga is one of the smallest beaches in Rio, and deserves your attention. It’s quite hidden – you need to enter the residence and go down from there. It can be crowded during the weekends.

Prainha delivers consistent waves surrounded by Atlantic Forest-covered hills. This small beach sits about 50 km from the South Zone in a protected environmental area, accessible only by car via Avenida Estado de Guanabara.

Grumari Beach remains largely undeveloped within Parque Natural Municipal de Grumari, offering golden sands backed by native Atlantic Forest.

Want a wilder beach? Lopes Mendes on Ilha Grande is worth the boat trip.

Mirante Dona Marta gives you one of Rio’s best panoramic views completely free. Visit at sunrise for golden light spreading across the city or late afternoon for sunset glow – both times offer clear views on good weather days. The viewpoint gets crowded on weekends and during sunset, so weekday mornings give you a more relaxed experience

Vista Chinesa sits 380 meters above Rio inside Tijuca National Park and showcases one of the city’s most expansive panoramas. The oriental-style pavilion honors Chinese immigrants who came to Brazil in the early 1800s to cultivate tea.

Morro da Urca – Sugarloaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar). The Sugarloaf is made of two rocks. Morro da Urca is the first one, and you can climb it, while the Sugarloaf, the highest, you need to use the cable car. To climb to Morro da Urca, start at “Praia Vermelha” and after 30-45 minutes you’ll arrive at the top. The view is quite beautiful up there.

Parque da Cidade in neighboring Niterói delivers what many consider the best hidden view of Rio. This rarely-visited viewpoint sits across Guanabara Bay and provides a panoramic perspective of Rio’s entire skyline including Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf, Pedra da Gávea, and Morro Dois Irmãos.

Jardim Botanico (Rio’s Botanical Garden) gives you a peaceful escape from the city’s energy without leaving town. The garden sprawls across 137 acres with over 6,500 species of tropical and subtropical plants, including a famous avenue lined with royal palms.

You can spend a whole afternoon there – the park is big, with very beautiful plants and trees. I’ve spotted some toucans or even Sapajou and Titi monkeys, which makes the visit even better. That’s some of the easiest monkeys you can spot accross South America.

Entry costs 80 BRL for foreign visitors (adults, and cheaper for kids, seniors, or students). The garden opens Tuesday through Sunday from 8 AM to 5 PM, and Mondays from noon to 5 PM. You can only pay cash at the ticket office, though Brazilian residents with CPF can buy tickets online via Pix or credit card.

Confirm current prices and payment options on the official ticket page.

Rio’s golf scene centers around two world-class courses that welcome visitors most days of the week.

Gavea Golf & Country Club sits dramatically between mountains and beaches, with views that’ll distract you from your game. Green fees run 600 BRL on weekdays and jump to 900 BRL on weekends and holidays. You’ll need to add mandatory caddy fees of 100 BRL and can rent clubs for about 50 BRL. The course closes Mondays.

Itanhanga Golf Club ranks among Golf Digest’s top 100 courses worldwide outside the USA. Weekday green fees cost 500 BRL while weekend rates hit 630 BRL.

Both courses offer full amenities including driving ranges, putting greens, pro shops, restaurants, pools, and saunas.

Hang gliding (deltaplane) in Rio launches from Pedra Bonita at 520 meters elevation and lands on Pepino Beach in São Conrado. You don’t need any experience, certified pilots come along with you, you just need to enjoy the view. The flight typically lasts 8-12 minutes depending on wind conditions. It’s not very long but quite worth it.

Prices range from 800 BRL to about 1,200 BRL depending on the operator and photo packages. Weight limits typically max out around 100-120 kg for safety reasons, and operators may cancel flights during poor weather conditions

• Fly over Rio with a deltaplane

Paragliding (parapente) uses the same Pedra Bonita launch site and Pepino Beach landing zone as hang gliding. The main difference is the equipment. Flight times and views remain similar, with tandem flights lasting 10-15 minutes over Rio’s coastline.

Paragliding tours cost between 650-950 BRL depending on the package. Most operators include club fees, mandatory insurance, transportation to the ramp, and 4K GoPro video footage.

• Fly with a parapente over Rio de janeiro

A helicopter in Rio gives you the most comprehensive aerial view of the city’s landmarks in one flight.

Various tours exist – some start at Lagoa, at Morro da Urca, or further away at Barra da Tijuca. Depending on which one you choose, you’ll see various parts of Rio. But most, if not all, will pass by Christ the Redeemer, Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, or Sugarloaf Mountain, Maracanã Stadium, and Guanabara Bay.

You have 15-30 minute flights that start around 600-700 BRL per person and cover the main South Zone attractions including Christ the Redeemer and the famous beaches.

I did this one with Vertical Rio, with the doors open.

30 minutes of pure joy!

That was just incredible. It’s an expensive activity but definitely worth it. I detail the operators, prices and flight routes in my helicopter tour in Rio guide.

You also have 40-60 minute flights that cost from 1,000 BRL per person and extend to include Sugarloaf Mountain, downtown Rio, Guanabara Bay, and Maracanã Stadium. That may feel a bit long, but with this one you know you’ve covered all the beautiful parts of Rio.

• Fly over Rio on a open door helicopter !

Arpoador Beach sits between Copacabana and Ipanema and delivers the best surf conditions in Rio’s South Zone. The waves form cleanly in crystal-clear water against a stunning backdrop, making it perfect for beginners and intermediate surfers. Surf lessons at Arpoador cost around 200-300 BRL per person for a 1-1.5 hour session with board included.

But if the weather is stunning and it’s the weekend, be ready to have huge crowds in the sea, not only surfers but people enjoying the beach as well.

For more challenging surf in Rio, head to Prainha Beach about 50 km west where consistent swells create better waves for experienced surfers.

Barra da Tijuca also offers good conditions with multiple surf schools operating along its 18 km stretch of beach.

• Surf class lesson at Arpoador , Ipanema

• Arpex surf school at Ipanema

Stand-up paddle at Copacabana works perfectly for experiencing Rio’s famous beach from the water.

Most days the sea is calm enough to do paddle. You can spot people doing it, most doing it early in the morning or at sunset. The sun in Rio is very hard – if you’re not used to the sun here, don’t do it in the middle of the day or you’ll literally fry.

Sunrise sessions start early at Posto 6 with rental prices around 200 BRL including photos and drone video, or 150 BRL for a 1-hour lesson with photos. The calm morning waters combined with soft golden light make sunrise the ideal time for paddling.

All-day rentals are available at both Copacabana and Ipanema beaches for 50 BRL per 30 minutes or 80 BRL per hour.

• Paddle during sunrise or sunset at Copacabana

Sometimes the waves aren’t there, but the wind is. And then that’s kitesurf day!

Barra da Tijuca Beach offers Rio’s best kitesurfing conditions with consistent wind and wide-open space. You can easily find schools providing lessons, equipment rental, storage, showers, and kite inflation compressors.

Beginner kitesurfing lessons cost 320 BRL per hour and include all equipment. The school has experienced instructors who work with complete beginners as well as advanced riders looking to improve their skills.

For even stronger wind, Brazil’s northeast is hard to beat: check Jericoacoara and Barra Grande.

That wouldn’t be fair if non-sporty people didn’t have an activity for themselves on the water!

Schooner tours through Guanabara Bay give you comprehensive views of Rio’s landmarks from the water.

Tours start at Marina da Gloria and typically cost 149-200 BRL per person for 3-4 hour trips. You’ll sail past Sugarloaf Mountain, Christ the Redeemer, Fiscal Island, Cobras Island, the Rio-Niterói bridge, and multiple beaches while a guide explains the history of each landmark.

Honestly, you have a lot of various types of boat tours that run all day – schooners, speedboats, private ones. Pick the one you want!

• Boat tour in Guanabara Bay

• Private Speedboat tour in Rio de Janeiro

Sunset sailboat tours on Guanabara Bay create one of Rio’s most romantic experiences.

Three-hour tours depart from Marina da Gloria in the late afternoon, cruising past Urca, Botafogo, and the Niterói coastline as the sun sets. You’ll see Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain silhouetted against the changing sky while sipping caipirinhas from the open bar.

Prices range from 300-500 BRL per person depending on the boat type and group size.

It’s a romantic vibe, but also a party vibe, depending on the boat you’re on. Most sailboat tours include unlimited drinks (caipirinhas, beer, wine), snacks, and sometimes the opportunity to swim in the bay at a designated spot.

• Rio de janeiro : Boat Tour at sunset

You have various museums to visit in Rio, but here are the best to go to.

Museum of Tomorrow (Museu do Amanhã) sits along the waterfront in downtown Rio and focuses on science, innovation, and sustainability. The building itself is an attraction – walk around first to take some cool pictures.

Art Museum of Rio is next to the Museum of Tomorrow, and has really interesting things to show. It mixes old art, history and new ones, and what’s happening in Rio nowadays. I really like this museum as it blends a lot of movement and history in one place.

Real Gabinete Português de Leitura (Royal Portuguese Reading Room) ranks among the world’s most beautiful libraries with its stunning neomanueline-style architecture. To be honest, it’s not really a museum, just a beautiful place to pass by. It’s free, but you cannot visit a lot too, just one big room.

Walking tours run daily through Rio’s historic neighborhoods including Centro, Lapa, and Santa Teresa.

These tip-based tours typically last 3-4 hours and connect you with local guides who share stories about Rio’s history, culture, and architecture.

Tours often include stops at the Arcos da Lapa, Escadaria Selarón, Metropolitan Cathedral, and various viewpoints.

The combination of downtown historical tours with cultural neighborhood walks gives you complementary perspectives without repeating content.

But some of the other places I’m gonna list below are part of the walking tours, so if you think of doing a city tour in Rio, do it first. That way you’ll have already seen some places with the tours, and you won’t be repeating your activities.

• Walking tour through Lapa & Santa Teresa

• Private guided tour through Rio de Janeiro

• 6 Must-do spot in Rio + lunch

Of course, a very classic thing to do. This, to my point of view, is not the most beautiful place in Rio, but if you don’t go there, your friends won’t understand why you didn’t go to this iconic place. It’s a must-do for a first-timer.

Christ the Redeemer opens daily from 8 AM to 6 PM, 365 days a year.

Check opening hours and buy tickets on the official Christ the Redeemer website.

You can reach the statue by Uber, train (Trem do Corcovado), or van. You can do an organized tour – this way no stress.

You can even do a hike from Parque Lage to reach it. I did this one. It was intense but very, very nice!

• Sunrise at Dona Marta viewpoint and visit of Cristo Redentor

• Entry ticket + train to the Cristo Redentor

This is also one of the classic postcard landscapes of Rio de Janeiro.

The Sugar Loaf is these two mountains with the cable car going to the top of it. Sugar Loaf is the name of the higher mountain, the smaller one is Morro da Urca.

The Sugarloaf Mountain cable car system operates all days, but with some various opening times. Check that out before going there, just in case.

Check schedules and book on the official Sugarloaf cable car website.

You’ll take two cable cars, first to Morro da Urca, then to the 396-meter Sugarloaf peak. Standard tickets cost 160 BRL per person, with some discounts for seniors, students, etc.

Another alternative is that you can hike up to Morro da Urca, the first mountain, and then take the cable car to the Sugarloaf. It’s kinda cool actually – you see a bit of the Atlantic Forest and may even see titi monkeys, some of the easiest monkeys to spot in South America.

The view on the top is absolutely stunning, don’t miss this one !

• Official cable car ticket of SugarLoaf

Niterói is the city you see on the other side of the bay from the city center.

The ferry from Praça XV in downtown Rio to Niterói’s Praça Arariboia runs frequently throughout the day.

It’s very nice to take this boat. You see that it’s the public transport for many people living in Niterói but working in Rio. The view is nice and you can breathe some fresh air.

Once in Niterói, you can visit MAC (Museum of Contemporary Art), explore Parque da Cidade for panoramic Rio views, or head to Niterói’s ocean beaches like Itacoatiara.

Rio de Janeiro nightlife is quite unique. You have many neighborhoods with local bars, fancy stylish bars, or nightclubs you can go to.

I mean, if you’re in Rio and on holidays, you need at least once to go out at night to see what it’s like. Brazilians are quite friendly and you can make new friends there.

I’ve made a more extended guide post about where to go out in Rio de Janeiro.

The Escadaria Selarón connects Lapa to Santa Teresa with 215 colorful steps stretching 125 meters.

Chilean artist Jorge Selarón spent over 20 years covering the staircase with around 5,000 tiles from 120+ countries.

The steps are free to visit 24/7, but don’t go in the middle of the night please.

You can make incredible photos any time of day, but as it’s quite famous, the earlier, the better.

Plage Café sits in the courtyard of Parque Lage’s historic palacete with views of the neoclassical pool, columns, and Christ the Redeemer rising behind the property.

I’m sure you’ve seen some photos on Instagram. It became a famous spot for that lately.

If you come early enough, you can take a brunch there, or just a coffee as there is a restaurant inside the patio.

But I need to warn you, you won’t be the only one, and you’ll have a lot of foot traffic as many people come here to take that picture.

Rio’s bike paths run continuously along Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon beaches, plus around the 7 km Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas circuit.

These are really great places to do a bit of biking and appreciate the views. Cariocas (people of Rio) are quite sporty and you’ll see many people running or biking along those paths.

You can rent a bike on the app Bike Itaú, or with private rental shops for a few hours.

Sundays bring a special atmosphere when the beach-side lanes close to cars, filling with cyclists, runners, skaters, and families.

• Bike tour in Rio de Janeiro

The historic Santa Teresa tram (bondinho) connects downtown Rio to the hilltop Santa Teresa neighborhood, passing over the top of the Arcos da Lapa.

This vintage streetcar system ranks among the world’s oldest still-operating trams. The ride takes you through cobblestone streets past colonial mansions, artist studios, cultural centers, hidden viewpoints, and excellent restaurants.

Take the tram at Lapa – you may have to wait a bit. Then visit Santa Teresa up to the last station, and get off there. Then walk down and appreciate the district even more. Stop at some shops, eat an ice cream at some places, and feel the bohemian vibe of Santa Teresa.

Learning samba from a local instructor gives you insight into Brazil’s most iconic dance. One-hour beginner classes cost around 120-150 BRL per person for group sessions or 150 BRL for private instruction.

No dance experience is necessary and you don’t need a partner – instructors teach both men’s and women’s steps in English, Spanish, or Portuguese.

• Samba class lesson for beginners at Ipanema

• Samba class lesson for beginners at Copacabana

Watching a match at Maracanã Stadium ranks among Rio’s most electric experiences. Standard tours of the empty stadium cost around 200 BRL, but attending an actual game brings a completely different energy.

Shared tour packages for matches start at 790 BRL per person and include East/West sector tickets with midfield views, round-trip transportation from South Zone hotels, and a bilingual guide who explains the game and stadium history.

This may be worth it to not get lost in the crowd of supporters that can feel overwhelming, except if you’re with a carioca friend, then go with him!

• Ticket for next football game at Maracana with transfer

Açaí in Rio comes thick, creamy, and often served as a meal rather than a light snack.

Casa do Açaí, Tacacá do Norte, Amazônia Soul or ASA Açaí offer premium açaí blended to a grain-free, seamless consistency for 20-40 BRL depending on size and toppings.

Most shops let you customize your bowl with toppings like granola, banana, strawberry, condensed milk, or powdered milk.

Sipping a caipirinha while watching sunset at Arpoador creates one of those perfect Rio moments.

The beach bars just below Pedra do Arpoador serve drinks directly on the sand as the sky transforms into shades of orange and pink.

Locals and tourists gather along the shoreline and rocks, and when the sun finally dips below the horizon, everyone applauds.

Prato feito (or “PF”) represents everyday Brazilian eating – a simple plate with rice, beans, meat (usually beef or chicken), salad, and sometimes fries or farofa. You’ll find prato feito at corner restaurants throughout Rio for 20-40 BRL, offering authentic local food without tourist markup.

Feijoada – the national dish – combines black beans slow-cooked with various pork cuts, beef, and spices, served with rice, farofa (toasted cassava flour), collard greens, and orange slices. Traditionally eaten on weekends, especially Saturdays, feijoada is rich, hearty, and best enjoyed over a long leisurely meal.

Pastel comes as a thin, crispy fried pastry filled with cheese, meat, shrimp, palm hearts, or creative combinations.

Coxinha – the beloved teardrop-shaped snack – wraps shredded chicken (sometimes with cream cheese) in dough, breads it, and deep-fries it until golden.

If you’ve never heard about that word “favela”, it’s basically a district in Rio where people from lower class are living.

Most of the houses are kinda illegal, built on top of the others, with narrow streets and illegal activities going on.

But not only – I don’t want to draw a bad image of those places. Most people living there are quite normal, having regular jobs and everything else. It’s just that rent is cheaper, there can be fewer constraints and other things.

Rocinha – South America’s largest favela – offers 3-4 hour walking tours costing 100-120 BRL per person in small groups. Tours visit social projects, local businesses, viewpoints, and community facilities while guides explain favela history and current realities.

• Rocinha Tour with local guide

• Favela Santa Marta Tour with local guide

Blocos (street carnival parties) capture the true essence of Rio’s Carnival. These street bands mobilize crowds throughout the city from late January through the week after official Carnival dates.

Over 400 blocos perform more than 600 free street parties across Rio’s neighborhoods during Carnival week.

Each bloco has its own vibe, music style, and route through specific neighborhoods. You simply show up, follow the band through the streets, dance, drink caipirinhas from street vendors, and celebrate with thousands of others.

No tickets are required – just wear comfortable shoes, bring cash for drinks, and prepare for intense crowds and energy.

If you plan to come to Rio during Carnival, I’ve made an extended guide about all the things you should know before dancing till the end of the night.

If you want something a bit different, the sunflower plantation near Magé is a nice stop outside Rio.

Open from 7 AM to 6 PM, it’s a seasonal activity, so the flowers are only there during the warmer months when they need plenty of sun.

Beyond the sunflower field, you can also walk around the whole sítio, which covers about 30,000 square meters and has animals like peacocks, goats, chickens, and ducks.

Entry costs 50 BRL per person, but children under 10, pregnant women, and photographers go free. You need to book through their official Instagram account at @plantação.girassol