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.

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.

Yelp Review 2025 #187:…read more Arcos do Lapa also known as Carioca Aqueduct because that was the original function of this structure when it was built in the 17th-18th century. It brought fresh water from Carioca River. But because of technical and financial issues, the project was put to a halt. By the 19th century, it served as a bridge for Santa Teresa tram I was walking around Lapa on my first day in Rio at 9am and 6am the next day. Of course, you can take better pictures at 6am while the city is still asleep. No cars, only a handful of people. There's a lot of homeless people in this area. Watch your step because there's plenty of poop here both from dogs and humans - not something you'd read on travel blogs and travel guides. The aqueduct is in between the cathedral and Escadaria Selaron. Check it out at night too when it's lit up.

I went here pretty quickly thanks to a friend I knew and met up with on another trip so I didn't…read morespend that much time here but there's a bunch of bars and things around here which we did have a beer at but these arches are famous here It's cool to see this kind of tech because you mainly see it in Europe so to see it so far away in Brazil is cool

Yelp Review 2025 #185:…read more Another free, quick and beautiful thing to see and visit in Rio. It can be quite tricky to find as evidenced by one elderly Italian tourist frantically asking me where this place was staying she's already walked up and down the street looking for this place. You're not going to immediately see the ruins of a brick building you'd see pictures of online. It's behind the gate with a facade of half a house that's yellow. The gate that says Gloria Maria Park just to make it even more confusing - you're at the right spot. Brazilians like to give places multiple names. Named after Glória Maria, a well-known Brazilian journalist/ reporter/ tv personality. You'll see murals of Glória Maria on the walls. Take the steps to the side to go up and you'll find the ruins of a mansion. A socialite once owned this building and would have artists and musicians over. The mansion has several floors. Currently, the mansion grounds have been used for concerts, exhibits, etc. There's a bar and a terrace where you can see a nice view of Rio.

Beautiful panoramic views of the city and mountains from Santa Teresa…read more A little bit of a drive up some winding roads but the views are excellent once you arrive. We met people from all over the world

Take a moment to stop in to this cathedral- it's stunning. No entrance fee, just take off your hat…read moreand follow the rules. Our guide said this cathedral can hold 21,000 people standing and they fill it to capacity when the pope visits. Absolutely stunning architecture!!

I did not have any expectations for this place and it really exceeded my non-existent expectations…read more It's free entry and easy to find (totally sticks out in Centro). It looks like a spaceship from the outside and definitely does not look like a church. The stained glass windows were huge and it's a sight to see. I think it's worth a visit if you have time, definitely a unique sight in Rio.

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.

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

I really love this park! It's so beautiful and there's something for everyone. First there's the…read morebeach of course, with spectacular views of sugarloaf on one side and the city on the other. There are also several playgrounds just across the bridge, one of them being the "cat kingdom" because there's literally dozens and dozens of stray cats just hanging out there... Also really an interesting sight.