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Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro sits comfortably between mountains and the sea, providing a breathtaking backdrop to its vibrant culture and nightlife. Home of the 2016 Summer Olympics and some of South America’s most recognizable landmarks, Rio is the perfect vacation spot. Here are ten of the best places to visit during your stay.

Christ the Redeemer

You’ve probably seen pictures of this massive Christ statue, but it’s worth seeing up close. At 30 meters tall, and with arms that stretch 28 meters wide, this is a cultural icon overlooking all of Rio. It’s also listed as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. While visitors once needed to climb hundreds of steps to reach the summit, escalators and elevators were installed in 2003.

Copacabana

Copacabana is far more than a Barry Manilow song.  It is a neighborhood, that is known for the 4km beach on the shore of the Atlantic. With vibrant blue waters and a lovely promenade bordering the white sand, it’s no wonder this is one of the world’s most famous beaches. Whether you’re swimming, sunbathing, stopping at one of the many kiosks, or just taking a stroll in the sun, Copacabana could be the very definition of ‘vacation.’

Sugar Loaf

Sugar Loaf vies with Christ the Redeemer for Rio’s most well-known landmark. Located above the mouth of Guanabara Bay, and towering 400 meters above the waters below, Sugar Loaf’s summit is the perfect place for a scenic view. A glass-walled cable car takes you from the Babilonia hill to the Morro da Urca hill, and from there a second car takes you to the summit. We recommend you bring your camera!  A fun fact is that the cable car was featured in 1979 during an action scene for the James Bond film Moonraker.

Quinta da Boa Vista

Quinta da Boa Vista translates as ‘Estate with the Good View’ in English, and this is indeed a fitting name. Now a park, it used to be part of the Sao Cristovao Palace, home to Brazilian emperors in the 19th century. The main palace building now houses the National Museum, and if you want a good view of some Brazilian wildlife the park’s Zoological Garden of Rio de Janeiro is worth a visit. You can also take a miniature railway through a scattering of gardens, woodlands, and caves.

Sao Bento

For a taste of the sublime, visit Sao Bento. A Benedictine monastery built in 1617, it was decorated by some of the finest artisans of the Benedictine order. Featuring exquisite carvings as well as paintings, visit Sao Bento if you want a transcendent experience.

Santa Teresa

Santa Teresa is the perfect place to experience what is left of colonial Rio de Janeiro. Cobblestone streets transport you to a simpler time, and you’ll fall in love with the old houses and quaint boutiques. You’ll also find Santa Teresa to be a modern bohemia, a haven for artists and arts-lovers. Stop by Parque das Ruinas, a wealthy socialite’s mansion that fell into disrepair and has since become an art and music venue.

Lapa

For a taste of the Rio nightlife, head over the Lapa neighborhood. Located in Rio’s downtown, it was once the city’s red-light district. These days it is marked by samba and choro bars, local cuisine, and architecture dating back to the 1800s. Rio Scenarium is the one of the most popular spots, a classy three-story club featuring vintage décor and a wide variety of cocktails. Lapa is also home to the Escadaria Selaron, a famous set of brightly-colored steps connecting Lapa to the Santa Teresa neighborhood.

Maracana Stadium

If you’re a sports fan, or at least a soccer fan, don’t miss Maracana Stadium. It was originally opened in 1950 to host the World Cup, and hosted the Cup again in 2014, making it the only venue to host two World Cup finals. Once the world’s highest-capacity soccer venue, able to hold almost 200,000 people, it can currently seat 80,000 spectators. Brazilians love soccer, so attending a game at Maracana is bound to be quite the experience.

Ipanema

Ipanema is another popular tourist spot, an affluent neighborhood with an exquisite beach made famous by the 60s bossa nova song ‘The Girl from Ipanema.’ It’s a great area for people-watching, filled with sunbathers, artists, and people playing a variety of sports. You can also venture off the sand and check out one of the many shops, restaurants, and cafes that border the beach.

Tijuca National Park

Tijuca National Park is a great place to visit if you’re looking for a taste of nature. Comprising 3,300 hectares of mostly native tree species, Tijuca Forest is one of the world’s largest forests within a city. You’ll find all manner of colorful birds, as well as Capuchin monkeys, beautiful butterflies, and coatis, a racoon-like creature found only in South America. The park is also home to some great views, with Morro da Vista Chinesa and Mirante Dona Marta having some of the best.

No matter what you plan to see and do in Rio de Janeiro you will fall in love with the cultural, nightlife and the tropical beauty of this city by the sea.

Thinking about an executive meeting or travel incentive to Brazil?  Contact Gavel International to learn more about your meeting and incentive travel programs.

Jeff Richards
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