Travel to Rio de Janeiro without any tourist traps! Here you will find a list of the top 10 attractions in Rio de Janeiro! Which highlights and attractions should you not miss on your holiday in Rio?
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil's second largest and probably best known city, is visited by millions of tourists every year. The "most beautiful city in the world" between Copacabana and Sugar Loaf Mountain enchants its visitors with the unmistakable flair of sun, sand and samba - nowhere else can you party better! In between, there may also be time for a little culture.
Table of contents
Statue of Christ "Cristo Redentor
Who doesn't know it, the statue of the Saviour spreading his arms over the city in a protective gesture. The 30m high Cristo Redentor in the forests of the Tijuca National Park is the largest Art Deco statue in the world and THE landmark of Rio de Janeiro. A 20-minute cable car ride takes you to the base of the statue and reveals a breathtaking view!
Article: Statue of Christ (Cristo Redentor) in Tijuca National Park, Rio de Janeiro
Photo gallery: Statue of Christ (Cristo Redentor) in Rio de Janeiro
Copacabana
Rio holidaymakers love to enjoy the idyllic flair of Brazil's most famous beach while sipping caipirinha on the beach promenade. The 4km long sandy beach in the Copacabana district is a relaxation zone and party mile in one and is located on the coast of the district with the highest population density in Rio. Also worth seeing is the Forte de Copacabana, which is steeped in history and includes an army museum, located directly on the beach.
Article: Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro
Photo gallery: Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro
Sugar loaf
Just as famous as Cristo Redentor and Copacabana is Sugar Loaf Mountain. This almost 400 m high granite rock on the coast of Rio de Janeiro can also be climbed by cable car and has been known worldwide at least since James Bond's "Moonraker - Top Secret". The panorama of Guanabara Bay is also unforgettable from here!
Article: Sugar Loaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro
Photo gallery: Sugar Loaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro
Ipanema neighbourhood and beach
Not quite as famous but at least as worth seeing is the beach of Ipanema. The neighbourhood of the same name is the most expensive place in Rio. Accordingly, the rich and beautiful of the city meet here to see and be seen - no wonder that Ipanema Beach has already been voted the "Sexiest Beach in the World".
Article: Ipanema district and beach in Rio de Janeiro
Photo gallery: Ipanema district and beach in Rio de Janeiro
Catedral Metropolitana
The Catedral Metropolitana, which is extremely controversial in terms of design, is also known as the "New Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro" because it was only completed in 1979. The 75m high cathedral is the largest church in Rio and is enthroned in the Lapa neighbourhood.
Article: Catedral Metropolitana in Rio de Janeiro
Santa Teresa Artists' Quarter
Santa Teresa is blessed with a magnificent view of the coast and is probably the most colourful district of Rio de Janeiro. Almost every square inch of wall has been used as a canvas, with samba music blaring from cosy bars and cafés. The rattling of the Bonde, the oldest tram in the world, can be heard again and again through the narrow, winding streets - a sight in itself!
Article: Santa Teresa district in Rio de Janeiro
Photo gallery: Santa Teresa district in Rio de Janeiro
Museu do Amanhã
Even the sight of the "Museum of Tomorrow" reveals its unusual focus. Since 2015, the futuristic building at Pier Maua on Rio's harbour has been presenting all kinds of future topics. The building itself consists of one hundred percent sustainable architecture and is embedded in a huge recreational area.
Article: Museu do Amanhã in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden
Every metropolis with millions of inhabitants has its green lungs. So does Rio, and one of the largest in South America. The Botanical Garden of Rio de Janeiro presents 7,000 different plants on more than 140 hectares and is considered a "living museum". UNESCO has designated it a biosphere reserve, and tourists appreciate it as an oasis of peace and relaxation in the otherwise noisy city of Rio.
Article: Botanical Garden in Rio de Janeiro
Favela Santa Marta
No wonder Michael Jackson chose this poor district of all places as the backdrop for the music video "They don't care about us"! The approximately 8,000 residents of the Santa Marta favela are also really something special, because they have transformed their wooden and tin huts into a real sight of Rio thanks to free wi-fi, their own radio station and colourful facades.
Article: Favelas in Rio de Janeiro
Photo gallery: Favela Santa Marta in Botafogo in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro Carnival
The world-famous carnival doesn't happen all year round, but it still has to be on the list of the top 10 sights in Rio. Every year at carnival time, the entire city is in a state of emergency when exuberant costume parades parade through the streets to meet at the Sambodromo for a breathtaking show.
Article: Carnival at the Sambodromo in Rio de Janeiro
Photo gallery: Carnival at Sambodromo in Rio de Janeiro
