Rio de Janeiro is a very large city. The part of Rio de Janeiro most known to tourists is
very beautiful, it certainly has one of the most beautiful landscapes in the entire world.
For European patterns, Rio de Janeiro's area is overwhelmingly large. It could fit at least
ten other cities within if it were in Europe. The suburbs, which constitute the major part
of the city is not bent on tourism. There are just constructions and no beautiful spots to see.
Just like the great majority of Latin American major cities, Rio de Janeiro suffers from
urban violence. Fortunately, what we see abroad on TV is far distant from reality. Surely
you got to be cautious, but there is no reason to panic. Rio de Janeiro surely deserves
to be visited.
What to See and Where to Go
Rio de Janeiro nature is very, very beautiful. The mix of beaches, mountains and forests
strikes the eye. The images speak for themselves.
The most famous beach is Copacabana. One of the main streets of Copacabana is Barata Ribeiro.
Copacana beach.
Barata Ribeiro street in Copacabana.
Next to Copacabana, southwards, there is Arpoador beach.
Arpoador Beach.
Leblon and São Conrado Beaches.
Barra da Tijuca is a beach more distant to Copacabana, but also worths a visit.
One of Rio de Janeiro icons is Jesus's statue on the top of Corcovado hill, with open arms,
as if embracing the city. The statue is known as "Christ The Redeemer" (Cristo Redentor).
Another very know spot is the Sugar Loaf ("Pão de Açúcar"). It is a pair of small mountains
connected by cable cars. The view is simply astonishing. One of the most beautiful landscapes
I have ever seen.
Brazilian football players are worldwide known by their skills. Rio de Janeiro has the largest
football stadium of the world, the Maracanã Stadium. It has been constructed for the
1950 World Cup, which the Brazlians lost to the Uruguays in the final match.
Rio de Janeiro has the largest urban forest of the world. It is called Floresta da Tijuca. It
is impressive to see how many different environments they have within the same city. If you
are in good phusical conditions, I suggest you a walk in the woods up to the top of the
mountain. The track is easy to walk and provides a beautiful view of the entire city.
The center of city also worths a visit. There are beautiful buildings and the most important
museums of Rio de Janeiro.
Theatro Municipal - Theatre of the City (despite its name it is not the only theatre of Rio de
Janeiro)
Arcos da Lapa
Harbour
Marina da Gloria
Things I Advise You Not To Do
Do not go to Rio de Janeiro's suburbs (i.e., places served by the subway line number 2).
These are ugly, poor, dirty and violent places. Stick to the districts served by
subway line number 1.
Avoid dressing football shirts. Football hooligans can be dangerous.
Hints
When going to the beach, take with you little money and a xerox copy of some document. A
card or flier of your hotel can also be helpful. Take only what it is necessary to avoid
pickpockets.
Rio de Janeiro has a lot of good restaurants specialised in barbecue. They serve many
varieties of meat, tender and really delicious, for a price not found anywhere in
Europe or in the USA. It is really worth to try. I persnally recommend the restaurant
"Porcão" (there are many branches in the city, I have been to the one in Parque do Flamengo).
The customer pays once and eats as much as he can (drinks not included). They have even
salmon barbecue !
Three star hotels are actually the best option of logding. Since Rio de Janeiro's entertainment
is mainly outdoors, you will need the hotel just to sleep. Three star hotels are adequate,
for they offer confort and a resonable breakfast at a good price. Moreover it is easier to drag
some local company in a 3 star then in 4 star or above. Hostels are not good, not even the
official Youth Hostel located in Botafogo district (it is just OK for backpackers, but it is
not as good as Youth Hostels in Europe).
If possible, rent a bike. It is possible to know the best part of the city by bike.
Curiosities
The most popular football club in Brazil is Flamengo, from Rio de Janeiro. About 35 million people stand for this team.
It is an amount higher than the population of some European countries.
Rio de Janeiro IS NOT the capital of Brazil, eventhough it is the most famous city. It has been from imperial times until 1964.
Then the capital was transfered to Brasilia, a city in the center of the country. The reason
for the move was to avoid contact with people and, thus, avoid riots.
It is said Brazilian women are beautiful. They are really not. What happens is that women from
Rio de Janeiro and southern Brazil are gorgeous and those spots are more known to tourists who
concluded, erroneously, that Brazilian women are beautiful as rule. Much on the contrary,
women from Rio de Janeiro and southern Brazil are exceptions.
Contrary from Europe, topless in the beach is not a practice. Even though it is not outlawed
anymore, women do not have the use of going topless in the beach (but they go on V lines).
The safest public means of transportation is the subway (otherwise known as underground, tube
or metro). It has the disadvantage of not allowing sightseeing along the path. They do not
have "tourist tickets" like in Europe, those that allows the passengers to travel as much
as he wants during a certain period of time. On the other hand, the Brazilian currency is
so devaluated in comparison to the American dollar or the Euro, that the price is really
peanuts for foreigners. They only have 2 subway lines, so the subway cannot get you
everywhere in town.
The most expensive time of the year to visit Rio de Janeiro is during carnival. The festivity
does not have a fixed date. It takes place 40 days before Christian Easter (which in turn
does not have a fixed date every year). People go really crazy in Carnival (in the good sense
of the expression). Dating women is easier than usual.
