We're an elderly couple who have lived in Rio de Janeiro all our lives! So, we know "something" around here 😊😊😊😊😊
Now, we're no professional tourist guides! We'll talk to you about Rio de Janeiro city and some other cool places around as if we were talking to friends.
We'll give tips and suggestions. In case you have doubts or other queries, just get in touch. If we can, we'll help.
We won't give many suggestions for places to eat or drink, as these are not our expertise. In fact, we prefer outdoors activities and these will be most of our tips.
Hope you have fun!
It may be a little confusing to find things in this blog, so here below is a map to help you:
Month
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Subject
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Julho (July)
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General tips about Rio, cariocas and how to go around
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Agosto (August)
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Places to go in the capital city (Rio de Janeiro)
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Setembro (September)
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Places to go nearby (in Rio de Janeiro state)
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So, let's start with some suggestions:
Places in Rio de Janeiro
1) One of the most famous all over the world: Tijuca Forest (Floresta da Tijuca)
Tijuca Forest is really a section of a National Park called "Tijuca National park" (PNT)
There you can go trekking, although even the highest peaks are not so hard to go, in case you're used to going trekking. There are some waterfalls too, but they're usually small.
How to get there? two ways, mainly: you can get into contact with an agency and ride their cars which take you there (the easiest way, but not so adventurous); or you can go on your own.
In the second case, get the subway to go to a place called "Saens Pena square". There you get a bus called 333 (Rodoviaria - Barra da Tijuca). You have to get off at Tijuca Forest (it's easy, the driver usually helps and there'll be other people getting there too).
When you get there, you start walking from the very beginning, because the "visitors' center" (centro de visitantes) is not at the entrance of the Forest. But it's easy to get information on how to get there.
Nowadays we suggest you go on a weekend.
Nowadays we suggest you go on a weekend.
The visitors' center (If you go on foot, it takes you about half an hour to get there from the gate)
Here are some examples of places to go which are not so difficult:
Cachoeira das almas
Easy to go. From "Centro de Visitantes" It takes about 30 minutes walking.
Mirante da Cascatinha
Mirante da Cascatinha is an Observation Deck. There you have a view of the most famous waterfall in the Forest: "cascatinha". And you can see the peaks,too (as the photo shows). Easy to go, it takes about 40 minutes from the visitors'center.
Here's the link to our film: SUBTITLED - https://youtu.be/ZzsuMJlFBnM
- Tijuca Peak, in Tijuca Forest:
It's the highest peak in the forest! Easy to go, although a bit tiring for people who are not used to go trekking. If you get an agency to take you to the forest, they probably won't take you there (you'll only go sightseeing a bit around) so we'll give you tips on how to go on your own:
- If you're staying in Zona Sul, take the subway to "Praça Saens Pena", in Tijuca. There you catch a bus number 301 or 302 (to Barra da Tijuca).
- Get off at Praça Afonso Viseu (or just look around and notice the people who look like they're going trekking too and follow them). This square is at the top of the road (it's a winding road which goes up, but very beautiful).
- The entance of the Forest is there. Just go up by the asphalt road until you get to a square called "Bom Retiro" (it's far! it will take you about 2 hours to get there, just follow the signs.)
- On the way, you'll pass by "Visitors Center". It's useful to stop there for a while. There you have water, toilets and information.
- When you get to "Bom Retiro" the trails to the main peaks start. Just follow the signs. It'll take you about 1 hour more to get to the peak.
- Don't forget: there are no snack bars in the forest, so you should take water and food.
If you want more information, take a look at this video (SUBTITLED):
2) The Forts:
Among the options, we suggest Copacabana Fort and Leme Fort
Perhaps easier places for a tourist, for they're both in "Zona Sul" (South Zone) at the beaches that name them.
You have to buy a ticket but not expensive. The views are wonderful. Copacabana Fort is more sophisticated in terms of places to eat and you don't have to go up very much to appreciate the view. Leme Fort is for the ones who like walking, because you'll have to go up a hill. There are no restaurants.
Both Forts have permanent expositions related to the Army.
Copacabana Fort
Leme Fort (Duque de Caxias Fort)
link to our video (not subtitled yet) - https://youtu.be/AobVOyMHyFY
3) Two other cool suggestions: Trips around Guanabara Bay by boat.
There are two very good ones, which are a mixture of History, Geography and beautiful landscapes. Both of them start at "Praça Mauá" (Mauá square), at the Navy Cultural center.
The first one is called "Passeio Marítimo pela Baía de Guanabara" (Guanabara Bay sea trip). It takes about 1 hour in a comfortable boat. It costs about 30 reais. From Thursday to Sunday.
View of the bay, from the boat.
The other one is to "Ilha Fiscal" (Fiscal Island). This is shorter and less expensive. But also very interesting.
Rio de Janeiro seen from Ilha Fiscal
Links to our videos: (not subtitled yet)
https://youtu.be/i3He4eGms5g - Guanabara Bay
https://youtu.be/pLPpf8KU_tM - Fiscal Island
4) Famous all over the world and you can't miss: The Botanical Garden
Easy to go, because it's in "Zona Sul", where tourists usually stay. Next to the Jockey Club and Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas. In case you prefer, a taxi shouldn't be so expensive.
A perfect place for a nice stroll and relax, it's more than just "seeing plants". It's just nice and beautiful! Usually small monkeys can be seen, as well as squirrels and birds.
There's an entrance fee (not so cheap) and also a snack bar (near the children's park). There's also a souvenir shop at the entrance.
In the Japanese part of the Botanical Garden, a contrast of the the lotus flowers. First in winter; second, in spring.
SUBTITLED VIDEO : https://youtu.be/pQOsHXNJxtI
5) Near the Botanical Garden and free: Parque Lage (Lage park)
Once it belonged to a family and the original house is still there. (now an Art school ). A nice place for a stroll as well, and also to watch the fauna - monkeys can be seen easily.
The trail do Corcovado starts there, (but it's never advisible to go alone because unfortunately you may be robbed at the trail).
There's a nice cafe in the park, not so cheap, but very interesting. On weekends, it gets crowded, so you should arrive early.
One of the caves in the park
6) If you don't have time to visit the Northeast of Brazil, then you should visit the "Northeastern Traditions Fair" (or simply "São Cristóvão fair")
A piece of the Northeast in Rio de Janeiro, this fair is in São Cristõvão, in Zona Norte. A little bit far from where tourists usually stay, but worth a visit. I suggest you take a taxi, which, to be frank, will not be so cheap. There are taxis available to come back to your hotel, too.
You will find good places to try Northeastern food (I suggest "Baião de dois", which is not expensive and easy to be found. In this dish you have meat, "farofa", beans, cassava and sauce). Is also easy to find coconut sweets, "rapadura" (a sweet made of sugar cane) and things to drink, like cachaça and so.
The fair is also well known as a place to dance and listen to "forró" (a wonderful hot rhythm, we love it!) and as a place to listen to the "repentistas" (usually men, who improvise verses and recite them) and "cordelistas" (people who write "Cordel" literature, which tells short stories based on typical legends).
In case you like "karaoke", then it's the best place we know in Rio for that!
The fair is noisy, spontaneous and popular. It's not dangerous at all (there's security) and the entrance fee is cheap. On weekends it gets very crowded, specially in winter months, when you can watch the "quadrilhas", typical dances of this part of the year devoted to Saints Anthony, John and Peter (these are called "junina" parties).
The fair opens from afternoon on. But the best things happen at night!
At the entrance, there's a statue of "Luiz Gonzaga", a singer who's considered the king of "baião" (a kind of rhythm from the Northeast).
SUBTITLED VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdRNdeCd3nU
7) Another fair: I'm sure when you hear the name "Lapa" it rings a bell. You probably think of night clubs and restaurants. Ok, all of them are there!
But did you know that there's a very stylish fair in Lapa? You can find antiques, arts and craft of very good quality and fashionable itens.
It happens every first Saturday of every month, and starts in the morning.
Oh, did I tell you that you can eat traditional "feijoada" there, too? And what about Brazilian music, like "samba" and "forró"?
Antiques for sale
8) Morro da Urca trail:
Sure you've heard about Sugarloaf. But the thing is: when you take the cable car to get there, your first stop is not Sugarloaf itself, but a hill called "Morro da Urca". It's a cool place, with beautiful views and snack bars. We usually go there once a month. But we go on the trail. If you're a little bit more adventurous, the trail is a good option. It's not difficult for people used to this kind of exercise, although a bit tiring for people who are not, but even kids can do it.
Tips:
- It starts near the cable car station, in Praia Vermelha. (Red beach). There is a place on the left called 'pista Claudio Coutinho" (the name honours a famous sportsman). It's a place where people usually go running or walking and appreciating the view.
- After about 200 meters from the beginning of this track, the trail to Morro da Urca starts. There's a sign indicating it.
- It takes about 40 minutos to go up (or less), and it's safe and easy.
- When you get to the hill, (Morro da Urca), you can buy the ticket to get to Sugarloaf.
- ENJOY
We have a video with details, ( it's not been subtitled yet, but it may be of help anyway)
PRAIA VERMELHA ("red beach")
The sign indicating the beginning of the trail, in "Pista Claudio Coutinho)
The trail
A view from "Morro da Urca"
Sugar Loaf from Morro da Urca
10) Again in Zona Norte - Quinta da Boa Vista
It's a park of great Historical value in São Cristóvão, North Zone of Rio. The royal family used to live there between 1822 and 1889. Nowadays there is a Museum of Anthropology and the Zoo.
In my opinion, as it's not situated in "Zona Sul", it doesn't get as much attention by the governments we've had lately as it should, given its importance.However, it's still a lovely place!
I myself enjoy a lot going running there because it's a varied place, where you have short hills, and different kinds of tracks, like grass, asphalt, etc..so it's good to train.
Getting there is not difficult, as there are both a subway and a train station in right in front. You should get off at São Cristóvão station.
11) Cultural Corridors:
Normally downtown Rio, and we'll be talking about some of them.
- The first one is around Praça XV de Novembro (15th november square) and 1º de Março (1st March) street. There you can find: Paço Imperial (cultural center with bistrô); Ferryboat stations (which takes you to Niterói or Paquetá island); CCBB (Cultural center of Banco do Brazil - expositions, café, cinema, theater, bookstore) Casa França Brasil (cultural center - expositions); Centro Cultural da Marinha (Navy Cultural Center, where you take the boats to visit Guanabara Bay).
- Link to Cultural Corridor 1 (narrated in English) : https://youtu.be/l0MPP5ogJ1E
An exposition in Paço Imperial
- Cultural Corridor 2: Cinelândia and Largo da Carioca: The Most important place there is perhaps the Municipal Theater, built in the beginning of the twentieth century. It is considered to be one of the most beautiful and important theatres in the country.The building is designed in an eclectic style, inspired by the Paris Opéra of Charles Garnier. The outside walls are inscribed with the names of classic Eurocentric & Brazilian artists. It is located near the National Library and the National Fine Arts Museum, overlooking the spacious Cinelândia Square. We consider the theater to be a place of great glamour! However, perhaps because it was built so long ago, the seats are not so comfortable. We suggest you buy your tickets for a section called "balcão nobre". It's the best (in our opinion) although not so cheap...
- In this Cultural Corridor you can also find: CAIXA Cultural Center, Odeon Cinema, Saint Anthony Convent and Church. The VLT (light rail) passes there,too.
