Overall, the vibe is lush hiking trails, friendly people, killer sunsets and a beach party vibe, all steeped in rich colonial history.
Where I stayed:
During my visit, I stayed at two different boutique hotels. The Emiliano, located right on Copacabana Beach, had a stunning rooftop pool with 360 degree views of Rio’s most impressive sites. If you love spas and chic interiors, this one is a must.
The Janeiro Hotel, located in Leblon, was an architectural marvel. With Instagram-worthy design and a partnership with Brazilian fashion brand Osklen, it was a designer’s dream.
The location, right across from Ipanema Beach, has easy access to sun and surf but also the upscale restaurants and trendy shopping offered by the lively Leblon neighborhood.
Be prepared to be awestruck by the amazing pool, with its views of both the beach and the famous Two Brothers mountains. I could have stayed there for weeks!
Where I Went:
For daytime excursions, I highly recommend booking a private tour guide through a company such as getyourguide.com or toursbylocals.com. Rio is a huge city with lots of traffic. Private tour guides will make sure you maximize your experience by ordering the destinations based on your route, location and timing preferences.
Plus, it’s not much more expensive than a group tour. My two guides had connections, which allowed us to skip lines and reserve hard-to-get passes for certain popular attractions.
I learned so much about the city by spending the day with these local guides—plus tours were so efficient that we were able to end earlier than planned. Extra time for the pool and beach!
Some must-see sites when you’re in Rio include:
Christ the Redeemer: This statue is a cultural icon, built by a French sculptor and easily the most well-known attraction in Rio. The statue is visible from almost everywhere in the city on a clear day, and it’s one of the tallest statues in the world. I recommend getting there early in the day to avoid lines and crowds of other tourists. If you’re in a hurry, skip the slower train and travel by car up to the peak.
Parque Lage: Built by a member of the Lage family for his true love (similar to the Taj Mahal), t’s safe to say it is one of the most beautiful and romantic homes I have ever seen. The property surrounding the home is expansive so make sure to allow time to explore the natural caves and verdant paths while also soaking in the views of the mountains.
If you want to tour the house, book an appointment in advance as the queue can get quite long. My tour guide arrange for my appointment. Once inside the mansion, you can wait in another line for photos or relax poolside for lunch. If you're short on time, you can definitely capture amazing photos from the outside of the house as well throughout the surrounding grounds.
The Botanical Garden: At this famous attraction, you'll be surrounded by natural beauty, including massive trees, exotic plants, and over 6,500 species of animals. Check out the bee hives and orchid sanctuary, if you have time.
The Botanical Garden is the site of major historical, archeological, and artistic significance, and the property spans 350 acres, which is about the size of four football fields. There are multiple Instagram-worthy backgrounds and it is definitely a must-see during your visit.
The Royal Portuguese Reading Room: In a word, stunning. One of my favorite places that I visited in Rio. This amazing library is considered the most beautiful in the world (according to Time Magazine). It houses significant colonial history and was founded to promote culture among the Portuguese community. I was fortunate that there was no line at the time that I visited as the wait can often exceed one hour.
Telegraph Rock: Before my trip, I planned to visit the famous Telegraph Rock. Based on my research, it seemed like a photo that I needed for this blog. However, after speaking with my tour guides, I decided my schedule didn’t allow for the 5-hour excursion. From Rio, it is a 3-hour round-trip car ride, a 45-minute hike up to the rock, and up to a one-hour wait for the photo. I’ll look forward to checking it out on my next trip to Brazil!
Sugar Loaf Mountain: Another must-see attraction. You can easily take a tram up to the top of the mountain for some of the best views of the city. Go early to skip the lines and start at the upper tram stop for the best photos and thinner crowds, then head back to the lower tram stop to enjoy the atmosphere. If the lines are long, consider purchasing a fast pass.
Also, if you’d like to enjoy the famous sunset view, plan some extra time for a meal at Clássico Sunset Club (picture to the left) or visit the disco at the lower tram stop. A fun way to start your evening!
Selaron Steps: Talk about a pop of color for your social media posts! Jorge Selaron, a Chilean ceramic artist, covered a staircase with 2,000 tiles from over 60 countries to create a beautiful tribute to Brazil in the heart of downtown Rio. Many famous people, including Barack Obama, have visited the stairs and contributed tiles. Snoop Dogg also filmed his well-known music video for his song “Beautiful” at these stairs.
The staircase is located in a bohemian district with lots of handicraft, if you want to shop after taking your iconic photo.
The lines for photos are often long, but our tour guide had access to some faux tiles that allowed us to recreate the photo on another level of the stairs. It saved me so much time, and you’d never know the difference. Except, of course, I just spilled the secret!
Santa Teresa District/Ruins Park: If you have the time, take the tram through the Santa Teresa neighborhood and visit Ruins Park. The architecture is stunning, and the views are remarkable. If you’re on a budget, there are many nice hostels in this area.
Special Events: Regardless of the time of year you visit, there will be many tourists at these popular sights. If you want to avoid the crowds, the best time to visit is during the shoulder seasons of April/May and September/October. The weather is still nice, but there are fewer large events to attract the crowds.
From the middle of December through mid-March, Rio is bustling with visitors who are there to experience Christmas, Rio’s famous New Year’s Eve celebration (millions of people dressed in white flood the beaches for free live music and midnight fireworks) and of course, Carnival. Remember, these are the summer vacation months and also the busiest cruise season. I visited during the second week of December, and the timing was ideal. Fewer crowds but perfect beach weather!
Beaches: If you’re planning to stay near Ipanema Beach in Rio, here are some tips for choosing where to stake your umbrella in the sand. If your hotel provides free chairs and towels, that’s your best option. Otherwise, let the lifeguard station numbers be your guide. For example, the fitness fanatics stay near post-10, and post-9 is LGBTQ+ friendly.
You’ll probably see more families near post-8. But anywhere you go, you’ll find plenty of workout equipment, nets for games of volleyball or pickleball, and a variety of food, drinks, DJs and equipment rentals (surfboards, bikes, etc.). Other great beaches include Copacabana, Barra Tijuca and Joa—some of which provide additional activities for adrenaline junkies such as jet skis and hang gliding.
Nightlife: I definitely recommend dancing and live music in the Lapa region of the city. I found an affordable pub-crawl tour (freewalkertours.com), which included free cocktails, drinking games and visits to several well-known bars and nightclubs in the area such as Leviano Bar and Booze Bar.
The group I joined was a fun mix of twenty-something Brazilians and Germans, and we enjoyed awesome live music and LOTS of samba dancing!
Pro Tip: You can pick up drinks along the way at local street carts. Vendors have an assortment of liquor bottles, mixers, ice and fresh fruits. These street bartenders will whip up tasty cocktails for you on the spot. In addition to Lapa, you can also find these carts along the beaches during the day. It’s a non-stop party in Rio!
What I Ate/Drank:
During my first night in Rio, I booked a group cooking class through a private company, Cook in Rio. We made delicious caipirinha cocktails, grilled cheese skewers, farofa (Brazilian stuffing) and moqueca (fish stew).
And I learned the art of flambé! It was a great way to kick off my trip and shake off the jet lag.
If you're looking for convenient and cost-effective dining, check out the Garota de Ipanema. This restaurant is where “The Girl from Ipanema” originated, and the food was incredible!
What I Wore:
For the most part, I packed flowy and breathable dresses. I made a point of purchasing some Farm Rio dresses in advance of the trip. It’s a Brazilian brand that promotes reforestation by using a portion of the sales proceeds to plant trees. The dresses were perfect for the hot weather, and they looked great in photos.
For my clothing choices, I primarily opted for a combination of understated whites (to allow the beauty of Rio to take center stage) mixed with exotic prints, which I paired with oversized accessories (scarves, hats, belts and sunglasses. I mostly went for a chunky gold jewelry vibe, but be careful when you’re out late at night. Rio has its share of petty theft so hold on tightly to your mobile phones and leave any valuable jewelry at the hotel!
Also, don’t forget you’re in a tropical environment, so pack that sunscreen and bug spray. You’ll thank me later!
Fun Fact: Both hotels where I stayed gifted their guests with specially branded pairs of Havaianas flip flops. Perfect for the beach and pool—plus they fit nicely in my luggage for the trip home😊
On a final note, I found Rio to be very accessible by foot, taxi and Uber. While many people have limited English language familiarity, it’s amazing how much you can communicate with a big smile, hand gestures and a few key words in Portuguese. The Brazilian people are warm, friendly and full of life so leave your watch at home and live in the moment. You’ll love every minute you spend in this vibrant city!
My travel playlist:
They Don’t Care About Us - Michael Jackson (music video filmed in Rio)
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