We arrived at Christ the Redeemer only to find out that there is a 2.5 hour wait for the tram. But…read moreno trip to Rio is complete without it so we reluctantly bought our tickets. To kill time, we turned to Yelp and Tripadvisor to figure out what we can do. Boticario Square seemed like the nearest decently interesting spot. It's super tiny and is accessible down a narrow alley. There are only about 5 buildings and you can "see" it in about 30 seconds. We took a few photos (including a mandatory selfie) and looked for more things to do to kill time in the Rio heat.

Best way to experience it is to take the tram near the Cathedral all the way up for just BR20 both…read moreways, and then walk down to Guimaraes, where you get great views of the northern part of the city as you stroll down the hill, but beware of your surroundings as the cars here go around the bends like maniacs and you are in a favela after all, even though they are mostly harmless, just get down to Centro or Guimaraes before dark.

It's a very beautiful area. Feels like the heart of Rio. Must ride the train. Very cool. Stayed…read morehere for only 4 night and man, it's abundant of mosquitos and the air bnb we stayed in was a older house, 1900s (like most houses in Santa Teresa) and the mosquitos would slip in through all the doors and windows. I was trying to avoid them but it was a remarkable city. Has a lot of little monkeys and cool shops and the pubs are great!

Fort of Copacabana offers a beautiful view of Copacabana and the ocean and with it's spectacular 14…read morein guns it offered adequate protection as well This museum is free to all military personnel from around the world which is a nice touch for military travelers

The museum is at the southern end of the Copacabana, and where the Colombo is. I think most people…read moregoing there is for the cafes and meals.  The Fort charges a nominal fee to get in and they don't take credit card. When we asked if USD would do, the guard kindly let us in. Thank you. The ground is neatly kept. We walked around briefly after lunch. It's scene.

I live here and I love it - the beach is long, clean, and beautiful. There are plenty of…read morerestaurants, of course the mall is great. The biggest downside is the inSANE traffic on the Avenida. Hopefully the new construction for the Olympics helps to clear some of that up somehow. The new BRTs are coming along quickly and I have high hopes for those!

The beach and entire area are a welcome reprieve from the rest of chaotic Rio. The boulevards are…read morewide, and the properties upscale adding to the vibe of one of the most beautiful, sandy beaches. Some days the waves are gigantic, lovely for watching (but too dangerous to swim). It starts at Barra and continues to Recrieo, many KMs to the SE. I'd recommend to anyone who wants to get away from the ridiculous crowds and 'crime' at Ipanema and Copacabana

This place was recommended to us by our Uber driver. This was a very lively area with bars,…read morerestaurants and free samba outdoors during the evening. I had never heard of this place so I did not know what to expect. I only knew they had good samba on Monday nights. So, we got there about 9pm. Went to a bar, had some food and drink. The bar we were at was having a book signing and lecture by an author. Very eclectic crowd. Once we departed, we went on to find the outdoor music. It was crowded, but not overwhelming. There were mini-food stands with all sorts of drinks, beer, and hot food made to order, like hot dogs, sausage, etc. I was told the people behind the drink stands did not appreciate me taking pictures because I didn't buy anything from them....oops. As we walked further we noticed 2 very steep hills and they were both packed with people standing, sitting, squeezing in where ever they could fit. We grabbed a few beers, found a good spot to stand and see the music and started having conversations with people around us. At the center, we noticed the live samba, or pagode. There were about 5 or 6 musicians in total, sitting in a circle, with a space for donations in the middle. It was so cool because everyone was singing along. It was so chill, laid back and peaceful. Using the bathroom was a bit of a production. You could either use the 1 Port-a-john, or you could buy a beer from the bar nearby, wait on the line that people tried to squeeze to the front of, and use one of the two bathrooms they had up two flights of stairs. So, just be prepared for that. Or use the bathroom at one of the bars/restaurants nearby. I am sure there were other bathrooms nearby, but it was my first time there and it was sort of confusing to figure out.

Great area full of rich Afro-Brazilian history! The block party would be an amazing thing to…read moreexperience. Take a walking tour and learn more about the area.

Never quite made it this far out to Leme before but wanted to check out the forte. The gates at the…read moreend of the driving road are pretty easy to spot and there are signs the whole way directing you into the fort and up the cobblestone path to the top of the fort which provides you with excellent. views of Pão de Açúcar, Niterói, and Copacabana. On clear days you can also see Cristo, Dois Irmãos and Pedra da Gávea. Entrance was free and hours are clearly listed on the booth. The guard gave us tickets but no one collected them. Along the way, the school and buildings are to the left while the huge Pedra de Leme towers in front with the beach to your right. There headquarters are carved in the side of the mountain and it looks impressive. The cobblestone path leads steeply up to the top, surrounded by newly restored vegetation which provides a home for many local fauna. Micos (tiny marmosets) make noises and follow you along the electrical wires and branches above, often curious of the human encounter. There's also plenty of cute little birds singing, beautiful butterflies, sneaky lizards and vultures flying overhead. Bring bug spray because the mosquitos are aggressive. There were a series of religious plaques that line the path but many have not been kept up. At the top you are rewarded with excellent panoramic views that provide a perspective that can't be view anywhere else. There's also a couple of old rotating binoculars to look at the scenery but they're a little difficult to maneuver. Inside the fort, there's a couple of videos highlighting the history and attacks that the forte engaged in. Everything is well labeled and translated in both Portuguese and English. There are bathrooms and a water fountain at the far end of the fort. Definitely a great place to get some exercise up the hill (not too strenuous only 1.2km) check out some views and relax.

The entrance to the fort is located on the extreme end of Leme Beach (near Posto 1), and costs R$4…read moreto enter. The fort and surrounding area are owned and operated by the Brazilian Army, so what you have is a natural area that's clean, safe, and beautiful. After entering the complex, follow the signs that say "visitação do forte" and walk up a long (and a bit steep) brick road. Along the way you'll see lots of wildlife, including monkeys, lizards, birds, and butterflies. There are markers along the walkway that explain the history of Leme Hill (Morro do Leme) and the fort. The fort is at the top and is pretty well preserved, with a few art exhibits and views of Pão de Açúcar, the Atlantic Ocean, and Copacabana that can't be beat. It also explains some of the military history of Brazil and the role the fort played in a few of the revolutions. There are howitzers on the top which have been maintained very well, and a scope which is free of charge. Someone has been feeding the monkeys up there, because they are extremely tame and will let you get very close - but be careful, I've heard that they bite. The "hike" up should only take 10 min or so, and the entire visit is definitely worth a trip. Not many people seem to know about the fort, so it seems a bit underutilized and therefore not crowded.

I visited Cidade do Samba as part of a work event and found it to be an interesting place to learn…read moreabout the history of Carnaval. Although I am not a dancer and have a bit of social anxiety, I managed to get through the experience. The information presented about Carnaval's traditions and significance was enlightening. If you enjoy learning about cultural events and don't mind a bit of dancing, this place is worth a visit.