There isn't much to see in this park except for a few playground equipment and exercise stations…read more The entire park has a solid sand floor which is very uninviting, though a few grassy areas can be had here and there. Seating is plentiful via a low perimeter wall that is shaded in most areas with quite a few trees. Other than that, most people use this park as access onto Ipanema Beach from the main road.

Except for the fact that its on the beach, at first glance it appears like any other park. But if…read moreyou climb the hill you'll find a skate park with amazing views of the city. During carnaval there were fitness dance parties, live music, etc. Good times. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bf1luu2BD2E/

La Plage at the Botanical Gardens. Although this has been around for a long time, this was a new…read morefind for us. The mansion that houses the restaurant is old-world elegant. The crowds lined up to take photos in the iconic courtyard, which encircles an old roman styled pool: The ambiance was beautiful, and the food was exquisite! I had one of the best steaks I've ever eaten in Brazil; it was so tender I would have cut it with a fork. My wife had grilled chicken Caesar salad which was very tasty. Then came dessert, along with a full-flavored cup of coffee. After the enjoyable meal, we explored the mansion, which abuts the rainforest. There are walking trails and other scenic areas to sit in and enjoy the plush greenery. I would highly recommend that this stop is on everyone's list of things to see in Rio.

You're coming here strictly for the views/vibe. The food is decent but it's nothing special. If…read moreyou're coming here strictly for the food you'll be disappointed. That's not to say the food is bad, it's alright. But on a Monday morning the wait to get a table was over an hour. It's outdoors so it can get really hot too. Even after we were seated it took FOREVER to get our food. Luckily we were just killing time until our flight. If you have other things to do it could be annoying. I got a burger and it was ok. It was cooked alright but it was a little bland. The fries were also just ok too. It's a nice experience but temper your expectations.

Yelp Review 2025 #193:…read more Between Copacabana, Botafogo and Ipanema - I still can't decide which neighborhood I like most. Each place has its own character and charm. I started my day on the beach in Copacabana and I took a leisurely walk to Ipanema which took under 45 minutes. What a pleasant walk that was. People watching, sightseeing and just enjoying a beautiful day by the beach. There's a reason why there are songs about Copacabana and Ipanema. They're both beautiful places and the Cariocas are very proud of them. Copacabana has more beach activities: volleyball, pickleball, futebol, surfing, swimming, and any water sport you can think of. Ipanema is more chill with people sunbathing, walking and playing with their dogs. In short, if you want less people and chill vibes, go to Ipanema.

So in rio there are two big famous beaches One is…read moreCopacabana which is the main tourist beach and you see cariocas and vendors hustling And mainly for young folks or singles or partying This one is Ipanema which is next door and this is where all the locals come to and it's packed and more family oriented and relaxed It's a nice vibe

This was our first time here. We took at cab to the park entrance. You go through a small…read moreneighborhood and up a windy road. The park itself is quite big and is very beautiful. You can see a different side of Dois Irmãos. It has a lot of parking, wide open spaces, plenty of shade and grassy area. There are picnic benches and a kids playground. There used to be a museum but it's closed according to the website. They also have a huge lake. It seems like a beautiful place to spend the day with family and friends. It's in the heart of Tijuca forest. We used it as a starting point to a hike up Vista Chinesa. There's a trail that starts on the right side as you walk in (past the parking, children's playground, and rest area). It starts off paved and the road eventually turns into cobble stone and then dirt. As you start getting deep into the forest you'll eventually see some houses in the distance. There's a clearly marked sign for Vista Chinesa trail which turns off and it's clearly defined all the way to the top. Definitely worth the view!

Rodrigo de Freitas is a huge lake that is in the middle of Rio surrounded by Copacabana, Ipanema,…read moreand Leblon. The surrounding paths around the lake are much quieter than the beach areas of the city. It is a good area to go jogging, bike riding, and there are swan pedal boats for rental too. I also noticed a few restaurants and food carts along the lakefront as well. I wouldn't call this place a must see for visitors, but you should pass by in a car to see what it looks like. The lake is also supposedly very polluted however, so it would be advisable to avoid swimming or jumping in.

It's not until you're drinking in the view from the top of Corcovado (aka Christ the Redeemer) that…read moreyou take in just how large this lake actually is. From that viewpoint though, you see every step of the 4.5+ miles of flat perimeter trail that surrounds it and you begin to understand how it is that this can be the venue for canoeing and rowing competitions during the 2016 Summer Olympics. Before my trip to Brazil I'd been led to believe that there was danger around every corner but my family walked around this lake late in the day, concluding after dark, without hint of incident. In fact, the scariest thing that happened was suddenly coming upon a giant Capybara mere feet from the footpath. He was not armed. The path around the lake is perfect for walking, jogging or bike riding and is well patrolled by trios of bike-riding police and never for a minute did I fear for my safety. As you make your way around there are numerous opportunities to stop for drinks or food. There's a Cine-plex, a food truck, bars/cafes, and even swan-shaped pedal boats for rent (in the daytime). If you're there in December, the lake sports a giant floating, moving, lit Christmas tree which is quite the attraction. The perimeter path around Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas is well-lit and well-used and is a great place to get in some non beach-based exercise. The water here is supposedly polluted (something that's being worked on) so contain your swimming to the nearby shores of Ipanema.

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.