Things to do in Rio de Janeiro
From Christ the Redeemer to samba in Lapa: the city's attractions and outings, by theme.
Updated on October 7, 2026 ✓ Information verified on October 6, 2026 adapted version of the Portuguese original
Rio combines nature and city like few places on earth. To avoid getting lost, organize your trip by theme.
The two postcard sights
Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain are a must on a first trip. See the step-by-step guide in how to visit Christ the Redeemer.
Beaches
Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, Arpoador and the wild beaches of the West Zone. Compare them in Rio beaches.
Nature and views
Viewpoints, hiking trails, the Tijuca Forest and the Botanical Garden.
Culture and history
Historic downtown on foot, the museums, samba and nightlife in Lapa and the big celebrations: Carnival and New Year’s Eve.
By travel style
With kids, on a rainy day and for free.
Below are all the attractions in this guide.
Places mentioned
-
Paid South Zone Christ the Redeemer The statue on top of Corcovado, about 709 meters above sea level, inside Tijuca National Park. Go up by train, official van or on foot. See details -
PaidKids South Zone Sugarloaf Mountain and its cable car The cable car climbs from Praia Vermelha to Urca Hill and on to Sugarloaf, 396 meters above the bay. The sunset from the top is the most sought-after in town. See details -
Free access South Zone Mirante Dona Marta One of Rio's most beautiful viewpoints, on the way to Corcovado, with Sugarloaf and Botafogo Cove straight ahead. See details -
Free accessKids South Zone Copacabana Beach Rio’s most famous beach, with its Portuguese stone wave promenade, kiosks, beach sports and the world’s biggest New Year’s Eve party. See details -
Free accessKids South Zone Ipanema Beach The bossa nova beach between Arpoador and Leblon, with Dois Irmãos on the horizon and one of the most applauded sunsets in Rio. See details -
Free accessKids South Zone Leblon Beach The continuation of Ipanema to the foot of Dois Irmãos Hill: a calmer seafront, the Leblon lookout and a neighborhood of restaurants and bookshops. See details -
Free access South Zone Arpoador The rock between Copacabana and Ipanema where locals applaud the sunset. Below it, a small surf beach. See details -
Free accessKids South Zone Praia Vermelha and the Pista Cláudio Coutinho Next to the cable car station: a small cove beach and a flat walk between forest and sea, where marmosets are a common sight. See details -
Free accessKids West Zone Barra da Tijuca Beach A long, wide seafront with open sea and mountains behind, in a modern neighborhood further from the postcard sights. See details -
Free access West Zone Prainha and Grumari Two pale-sand beaches between forested hills, with no buildings on the seafront. They are far away and call for a car, but show an almost wild Rio. See details -
Kids North Zone Tijuca National Park The forest Emperor Pedro II ordered protected and replanted in 1861. Today it is home to Christ the Redeemer, waterfalls, viewpoints and the city's main trails. See details -
Kids South Zone Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden A research institute open to the public, with an avenue of imperial palms, greenhouses and the Tijuca Forest as a backdrop. See details -
Free accessKids South Zone Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon The stretch of water between Ipanema, Leblon and Jardim Botânico, with a cycle path around it, kiosks and Christ the Redeemer high above. See details -
Hike West Zone Pedra da Gávea One of the largest seaside monoliths in the world, at 842 meters. The trail is hard, has a climbing section and should only be done fit and with a guide. See details -
Hike South Zone Dois Irmãos Hill The two peaks that close off the Ipanema and Leblon seafront. The trail starts in Vidigal and ends at one of the fullest views in the South Zone. See details -
Kids Downtown and Lapa Santa Teresa and its tram The neighborhood of cobbled streets and old mansions above downtown, with the yellow tram that crosses the Lapa Arches. See details -
Free access Downtown and Lapa Lapa and the Lapa Arches The old aqueduct that became a postcard, and the bohemian neighborhood of samba circles at the foot of Santa Teresa. See details -
Free accessKids Downtown and Lapa Selarón Steps The staircase covered in colorful tiles between Lapa and Santa Teresa, the work of Chilean artist Jorge Selarón. See details -
Downtown and Lapa Rio de Janeiro Municipal Theater One of Brazil's most important theaters, in Cinelândia, with an illuminated facade and a program of opera, ballet and concerts. See details -
Downtown and Lapa Royal Portuguese Reading Room A Portuguese-language library in downtown Rio, with a hall of wooden shelves up to the ceiling and a stained-glass skylight. See details -
Kids Downtown and Lapa Confeitaria Colombo A traditional downtown confectionery with a hall of mirrors, display cases and chandeliers, a sight in its own right. See details -
Kids Downtown and Lapa Museum of Tomorrow A science museum about the future of the planet, in a Santiago Calatrava building on the shores of Guanabara Bay. See details -
Free accessKids Downtown and Lapa Olympic Boulevard and Praça Mauá The bayside promenade born from the port's renewal, with the Etnias mural and Praça Mauá. See details -
North Zone Maracanã Stadium The stadium opened in 1950, stage of two World Cup finals and the Rio 2016 Olympic ceremonies. Home of Flamengo and Fluminense. See details
Things to do
In this section
- Samba and nightlife in Lapa Samba circles, music venues and packed streets: how to enjoy carioca nightlife in Lapa and beyond. Read guide
-
Rio de Janeiro viewpoints From the top of Corcovado to the Arpoador rock: where to see Rio from above, and when. Read guide - Rio de Janeiro museums The museums and historic interiors worth a visit, especially downtown and in the Port Zone. Read guide
- Rio's historic downtown on foot A day on foot from Praça Mauá to the Selarón Steps, with the VLT tram and metro to save time. Read guide
- Hiking in Rio de Janeiro Walks in the Atlantic Forest with sea views, in order of difficulty, and the rules that apply to all of them. Read guide
- What to do in Rio de Janeiro when it rains Museums, historic interiors and covered outings so you do not lose the day. Read guide
- Free things to do in Rio de Janeiro Much of the best of Rio charges no entry: beaches, viewpoints, street art and the landscape itself. Read guide
-
Football in Rio de Janeiro for visitors Football (soccer) in Rio de Janeiro for visitors: the Maracanã, the big clubs and their stadiums, how to see a match safely and the stadium tour. Read guide -
The Girl from Ipanema and bossa nova The Girl from Ipanema and bossa nova: the 1962 song by Tom Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes, its worldwide success, the bar on Rua Vinicius de Moraes and what to see. Read guide
Share:
Keep reading
Keep planning
- Tours in Rio de Janeiro Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf, viewpoints and trams: the classic outings and how to fit them in. Read guide
- Rio de Janeiro beaches From the classic South Zone beachfront to the forest-framed beaches of the West Zone. Read guide
-
Rio de Janeiro itineraries Plans for 2 to 7 days, with a plan B for cloudy days. Read guide