One of the most popular landmarks in Brazil, the Selaron Steps are a highlight of the Lapa…read moreneighborhood. we were lucky to be able to stop by twice first time at night which was great because there were not that many people around & the next time during the day so glad we came before just way too many people during the day hard to really enjoy the area. The steps are a fun colorful display of different countries, art, bright colors & traditions infused together to make these crazy colorful steps. This was a nice stop for sure & definitely worth the look.

This is one of the major tourist spots (after Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mt) in Rio. It's…read morejust as crowded but not as much? Maybe I'm used to the chaos of Rio by now haha. It's mainly crowded at the bottom of the steps (duh, you have to walk up the steps). I think it's actually better at the top with the Brazil flag. Also, it's fun to find the tiles with the different cities from all over the world. I loved the Paris ones. You have to go to the other sites early in the morning but this one is fine if you can just walk to the top.

Pão de Açúcar is one of the main sightseeing sites in Rio, As an attraction itself, it is very cool…read moreto see. In order to reach the top u take two trams, these are an experience on their own as the views going up/down are amazing. Once u reach the top it's like a small park area, u can get food, drinks do a little shopping. Nice walk through that looks like a mini forest, past the good luck tree as they say. There's a small museum u can see some of the history. The mountain has an observation deck that offers amazing views of the whole city. The views from the top are just incredible, really makes u think & helps u appreciate all the beauty that is around you, this was an amazing excursions & for sure worth taking the time to explore.

Sugarloaf Mountain is a must-see if you are in Rio. We were able to tour it and Christian's the…read moreRedeemer (another location) in one day. There are two sets of cable cars. The first takes you up to a different mountain. From there, one catches another sky tram to the viewing deck of Sugar Loaf Mount. There are numerous vantage points to view the surrounding areas. Go when the skies are clear, or your vision will be of the clouds!

Yes, it is far. Yes, it takes you a while to get here. Totally worth it. The Niemeyer building is…read morethe perfect way for the nature to express its glory. Those big glasses all over the museum makes you feel you are floating on an island in the middle of nowhere. Just come and see it for yourself. Even all the way driving here it's amazing the views you'll get. The collection is not the best, it's short and I only enjoyed the 3rd floor. Si, es lejos. Si, te toma tiempo llegar hasta acá. Vale la pena totalmente. El edificio de Niemeyer es la forma perfecta para que la naturaleza se despliegue y exprese en toda su gloria. Esos ventanales enormes en todos los pasillos hace que te sientas flotando en una isla en el medio de la nada. Veni y experiméntalo vos. Incluso, todo el camino en auto hasta aquí tendrás unas vistas impresionantes. La colección no es la mejor, no hay mucho y solo disfrute el 3er piso.

We were recommended to eat at MAC by a local while visiting Camino de Neimeyer in Niteroi. What a…read morepleasant experience! It is located below the Museum of Contemporary Art. First of all you will see a breathtaking view of Rio (Sugar Loaf, Christ Redemer). It is an excellent place for pictures and to know Oscar Niemeyer's (architect) work. Once you have finished taken pictures and visiting the museum, step down into the restaurant MAC. Very classy, elegant and also with a view. The menu it is not long and you have variety. We ordered fish, chicken and beef. All flavors were delicious with the perfect side to match. Fish covered with tapioca crust with dark quinoa and steamed veggies. Curry chicken with almond rice and potato balls. Beef bourguignon with linguini. Lemon Pie. All flavors were amazing and we could not choose a favorite! It is pricier compared to previous experiences at other places, but it is definitely worth it!!!

Our concierge recommended that place. It's both a tourist and local spot. It's a huge space…read moreboasting 3 floors and a speakeasy nightclub inside. Live band and service is good. Pretty good system - There's an entrance fee. You then receive a card which you must present to any server to order food and drinks. That tracks your tab which allows you to walk around freely after you eat. Multiple bars. To settle your tab, you pay upfront as they have several cashiers to cash you out. They take credit cards including Amex. Fun times and great cocktails. The passion fruit caipirinhas were delicious!!!

Stunning interior, lively music, delicious and strong drinks, friendly staff, great way to spend an…read moreevening dancing and singing. This used to be an antique store, and there are still beautiful antique items throughout the place. Absolutely adored this spot.

I loved this huge botanical garden, which was like a beautiful tropical paradise. It was my first…read morestop after checking my luggage at the hotel. The cost was around $15 for US residents (less for locals) and only cash is accepted. Upon entering, I noticed black monkeys walking around the rainforest-esque environment, as well as climbing trees. There were palm trees, bright and colorful flowers, bodies of water, lovely little bridges, gorgeous fountain, yellow and green state house, greenhouses with rare and award winning orchids, a wonderful cafe serving fancy coffee & beverages, playground, and more. There were plenty of breathtaking views of the many natural wonders. I really enjoyed my time exploring the vast expanse of the garden. The place was sprawling and easy to get lost in. It tops the list as one of my favorite botanical gardens that I have visited.

After visiting Christ the Redeemer and Parque Lage, we made our way to Jardim Botanico. I've been…read moreto quite a few botanical gardens in my day and most of them are free. This one is not. And they charge a higher entrance fee for foreigners. A little more than I expected but it was still worth it. One of the most beautiful things about Brazil is nature. And you get a good dose of that here. Spectacular trees, bushes, and other foliage. Waterfalls. Bodies of water. The park is large and you can easily get lost exploring it all. There is also quite a bit of history with statues interspersed throughout the park. And plenty to read while you're at it. A few hours here is time well spent.

The monument was incredible - the views from the top were absolutely amazing!…read more The lack of organization and zero crowd control was very frustrating. There were no queues for the train, nor for the entrance into the statue making it a total free for all.

During our visit to Brazil this of course was on our list of something we needed to see…read more We had a tour nice & early, getting in we took the elevator up so it doesn't take long once u are up there it's just simply .. WOW! The views from up here are insane, we had the lovely surprised of seeing monkey which was fun. The worse part is the crowds, we were here early morning like 8am & it was unfortunately crazy jammed packed so many people it's annoying & u pretty much just kinda deal with it. There's a gift shop, bathrooms & area for drinks. This was amazing to see in person, the crist statue, the insane views it really gives u such perspective at the beauty around u. Definitely worth the visit & one of those things that I would say are a must see.

The cable lift of Complexo do Alemão was inaugurated in July 2011 and is part of the public…read moretransport in the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro. You can hop on at the train station in the neighborhood Bonsucesso. Inhabitants of the Favelas that are connected to the cable lift have the right to one round trip a day, owners of the Rio Card pay one real for a single trip and the regular price for a single ticket is 5 reais. To arrive at the train station of Bonsucesso, you can take any train from the Central Station that departs from platform 12 (Direction Saracuruna or Gramacho). A taxi, however, isn't that expensive either (around 30 reais from Central) and just tell the cab driver you want to go to the train station of Bonsucesso (estação do Bonsucesso). When you are inside the train station, you can buy two tickets. One to go to Palmeiras and another one to return to the train station. Although the Teleférico was also bound to be a touristic attraction (because of its amazing view over the biggest complex of Favelas in Rio) not much tourists take the effort to go here. Understandable, because there are relatively a small amount off guides going there and it is pretty difficult to get there on your own if you don't know the city. But with the directions I gave you above, you should manage. The Teleférico has six stations and the last station is Palmeiras, where you have to step out of the cable lift. There you can enjoy a great view of the complex of Favelas. It is not recommended that you explore the Favela on your own, just enjoy the view close to the station. If you are done watching, you can even buy a souvenir at one of the kiosks stationed at the station Palmeiras.

I recently traveled solo to Rio de Janeiro, and stayed at JW Marriott. My main takeaway is where…read morethis hotel lacks in modern, aesthetic amenities and updates in comparison to the Hilton and others, it made up for it more than 5x over with excellent customer service, comfortable/clean rooms, and great onsite restaurant. As a Bonvoy Gold Elite member I received early check in, late check out, and room upgrade to the 15th floor overlooking the illustrious Copacabana. The hotel met my needs well and the staff went above and beyond for me, even assisting with getting around and selecting the right options during booking an excursion. I had compared JW to the Sheraton in Leblon but ultimately made a final decision based on location. Special thanks to Fernando, Julio, and the entire Carioca restaurant staff. Tip: There's no a full length mirror in some rooms, just be prepared to check yourself out in the elevator mirrors instead ;)

My husband and I stayed 11 nights here from Dec 14 to 25, 2025. This is a great hotel. It's located…read morehalfway between Sugarloaf Mountain & the fort, so you get a great view of everything. The staff is really nice- the pool lifeguard & bar staff plus the folks in the Executive Lounge- all so friendly and helpful. The rooftop bar & pool are awesome- we spent many hours there. Overall, we highly recommend this hotel if you are staying in Rio.

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 took two great tours with Be A Local when I was visiting Rio. I found the agency through Green…read moreToad Tours, which works with Be A Local to provide Rio sightseeing. Both of my tours were in January 2019. First I joined the Complete Rio City Tour, which lasted about 7 hours and included visits to: - Christ the Redeemer - Santa Teresa - Steps - Municipal Cathedral - Sugarloaf Mountain and Cable car Everything was included except water and snacks. Fernando was our guide, and he did a great job with an informative and humorous commentary. Aside from as few sexist remarks, it was very well done. Just please stop talking about women's "purity" Fernando, that's a sexist social construction. Two days later, I took the Favela Tour, which lasted about 5 hours. The tour visits the Rocinha Favela and includes: - Art gallery - Short "samba" drumming and kids dancing - Bakery - Artisan jewellery stand - Community Centre Tipping and purchases are not included. While it felt oddly voyeuristic to visit a favela, and was the closes to dark tourism I've ever been, I am glad I went. It was raining a bit but this wasn't a problem. If anything, it made the weather more bearable. I happened to have Fernando again and he was on the spot with a lot of his insightful political commentary. Only problem was that he only talked about men in the favelas. We had to ask about women's quality of life to get Fernando to include info about women. That's something the company should work into its script. Altogether these tours helped me get to know Rio. I'm glad I took them, and would recommend them. They were a fair value for the price and Fernando was quite a pleasant guide. Happy travels!

While in brasil, I found this great company for day trips…read more I did the citytour (5hrs) and favela trip. The citytour involved seeing the major highlights of rio in one day and the favela tour was a walk down the hill in one of the favela. What I liked: - small group (we were with 3 on citytrip and 5 on favela trip) - even though rio is not a safe city, I felt save at all time with our guide - the company does tours but also supports the local community - good price quality - focus on the young at heart (as tours involve some exercise in walking) - knowledgeable guides - pick up and drop off at hostel reception