| Check out our free interactive Rio de Janeiro holiday guide and discover Rio de Janeiro's biggest attractions, best restaurants and much more. If you've visited Rio de Janeiro before tell us your holiday tips and help other travellers enjoy great holidays in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. |
| Free Rio de Janeiro Holiday Guide |
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Corcovado – this is one of the world’s most easily recognisable landmarks; Christ the Redeemer stands with his arms outstretched on this mountain which rises 710 metres above the city of Rio de Janeiro below. The statue originally was thought out to Commemorate 100 years of independence from Portugal, but without funding at the time, it was only completed in 1931. Do take the cog train up from the station at Rua Cosme Velho 513; the trains run every 30 minutes during the high season and are open from 0830 to 1830.
Pao de Acucar – Sugar Loaf Mountain, almost everyone in the world instantly recognises this mountain of Rio’s. It’s 396 metres high and you can access the summit by way of 2 cable cars. Once on top and you look down on Rio far below, it springs to mind that you’re looking at the most beautiful city in the world. The cable cars leave every 30 minutes from Praca General Tiburcio in Urca; it’s truly a most memorable trip on any holiday you take.
Teatro Municipal – found on Praca Floriano; it's the home of Rio’s opera and orchestra, built in 1905 and updated in 1934 to reflect the Paris opera. While you are here, try the Assyrian Room Restaurant and Bar downstairs – you can get to it from Avenida Rio Branco.
Museu Nacional de Belas Artes – located at Avenida Rio Branco 199; it’s the best museum in Rio with over 800 original paintings and sculptures. Galeria de Arte Brazileria is the most important gallery in the museum; it houses 20th century classic paintings all completed by Brazilian artists.
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Adega do Valentim – located at Rua da Passagem 176; a highly recommended Portuguese restaurant serving baked rabbit accompanied by spicy rice, really delicious.
Confiteria Colombo – found at Rua Goncalves Dias 34; it’s a large restaurant/coffee house which serves superb coffee and cakes – you can snack on these or sit down for a full Viennese meal.
Restaurant Amazonia – located upstairs at Rua do Catete 234; here, you can get great steaks and a succulent broiled chicken with cream-corn sauce. It’s a very popular place and is very reasonably priced.
Cafe Lamas – found at Rua Marques de Abrantes 18-A; it’s been in operation since 1874 and is one of Rio’s best-loved and famous restaurants. While here, do try the grilled linguica or filet mignon.
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Bar Luis – found at Rua da Carioca 39; opened in 1887 and the oldest pub in Rio’s oldest street. It serves very good German food and excellent dark draft beer at really reasonable prices.
Fundacao Progresso – located on Aqueduto da Carioca – a lovely music club, licensed, very popular and well attended.
Asa Branca – found on Avenida Mem de Sa; very good for music and drink, open ‘till very late on Fridays and Saturdays, and is hugely popular
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Copacabana – on par with Bondai, Waikiki, and Acapulco beaches. It is Rio’s best tourist beach with top hotels and restaurants in abundance. Look out for the local volley-ball and football boys, maybe this was where Pele trained!
Ipanema – Rio’s richest beach; it’s not so crowded as Copacabana, and is a little cleaner and safer.
Arpoador – found between Copacabana and Ipanema; good surfing can be found here – even at night you can surf, illuminated by the floodlit beach.
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| Barra Da Tijuca - by Luis Baldomar from Brazil - 2007-12-07 | | The beach of Barra da Tijuca, known to locals simply as BARRA and pronounced like "Baja" or "ba-ha"extends for 18km/11mi with almost completely untouched stretches favored by surfers. This popular area and beach deserves a visit. Probably the best reason to come here, however, is the beach itself, the water is clean, perfect for "Surfing", Kiitesurf, Windsurfing and Body-Boarding, and it doesn't get quite as crowded as Copacabana or Ipanema. Avoid the weekends and enjoy this between mountains-beauty of the nature on the week-days, Surfers love it. The visitor can come here to enjoy discotheques, shopping, good restaurants and bars.
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Parque Nacional da Tijuka – it lies 15 minutes away from Copacabana, a short bus ride takes you here. It’s a 33 square kilometre park of tropical forest with waterfalls and creeks. You can see monkeys, birds, and iguanas; if you walk to the heart of the forest along the walkways, you’ll find several restaurants to refresh in.
Jardin Botanico – located at Rua Jardin Botanico 1008; it was first planted in 1808 and has over 6000 varieties of plants. It also has beautiful palm trees and a lake with huge water-lilies – do take your insect spray.
Quinta da Boa Vista – it’s Rio’s main park and Museu Nacional; it’s great to be here on a Sunday, with it’s zoo, Nordeste Fair and Maracana soccer stadium close by.
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