What to do
What to do in Rio de Janeiro
Pão de Açúcar
A complex of hills located in the Urca neighborhood, near the Christ the Redeemer statue, which is Rio de Janeiro's most famous landmark. One of its main attractions is the cable car ride, known as the "Bondinho do Pão de Açúcar." The cable car was conceived in 1908 and inaugurated in 1912,
becoming the first cable car in the country
and the third in the world.
Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer)
Voted one of the seven wonders of the modern world, it stands 38 meters tall. As Tom Jobim sang, it stands with open arms overlooking Guanabara Bay.
Visit Parque Lage and Jardim Botânico
Located at the foot of Corcovado, Parque Lage is one of Rio de Janeiro’s main public parks and has been designated a historical and landscape heritage site by Iphan. Today, the park is home to the Parque Lage Visual Arts School, created in 1975 by the Department of Culture of the State Secretary of Education. Next to the park is another city icon: the stunning Jardim Botânico (Botanical Garden).
Museu do Amanhã
Museu do Amanhã is a science museum that explores the opportunities and challenges humanity may face in the coming decades, offering a fascinating
perspective on sustainability.
Confeitaria Colombo
Founded in 1894, Confeitaria Colombo is a part of Rio de Janeiro’s history. Today, it is a cultural and artistic heritage site of the city.
What to visit
Bike around Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon
Watch sunset at Arpoador
(beginning of Ipanema Beach)
Escadaria Selaron and Santa Teresa cable car
Hike to Pedra da Gávea
Hike to Pedra bonita
Hike to Pedra do Telégrafo
Hike to Twin Brothers
Visit Tijuca National Park
Visit Quinta da Boa Vista
Beco das Garrafas
(where Bossa Nova was born! Rua Duvivier, 37 - Lojas J, K, L - Copacabana)
Best beaches to go by car rental or uber
Grumari beach
Macumba beach
Reserva beach
Recreio beach
Joatinga beach
Leblon beach
San Conrado
Barra
Nearby towns for short trips
Ilha grande
Angra dos Reis
Paraty
Búzios
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What to visit in other places in Brazil
Popular Destinations in Brazil
Floresta Amazônica (Amazon Rainforest)
To get to the Amazon, you’ll first need to fly to Manaus, the largest city in the heart of the Amazon jungle. You might have to connect in Brasília to reach Manaus, which is at least a 3-hour flight.
Foz do Iguaçu
Foz do Iguaçu is home to the largest waterfall in South America, located at the border of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. On the Brazilian side, you can walk along walkways that bring you very close to the falls (prepare to get soaked; bring a raincoat or buy one there). On the Argentine side, you can take a boat ride that goes right to the base of the falls. Plan for one or two days to visit Iguaçu National Park (one day for the Brazilian side and another for the Argentine side). You can also cross the border to visit Argentina or Paraguay, or check out Itaipu Dam, the largest hydroelectric plant in the world in terms of energy production. The Bird Park (Parque das Aves) is another great spot to see the region’s diverse bird species.
Bahia
Salvador: Known as "Salvador da Bahia," it was Brazil’s first capital and is famous for its natural beauty, friendly people, and strong African cultural influence. The Historic Center of Salvador is a place where visitors will find streets and architectural monuments dating back to the colonial period, the Empire, and the First Republic of Brazil. Morro de São Paulo: A small island two hours by ferry from Salvador’s port. There are no cars, and you can walk across the entire island in a single day. Chapada Diamantina: Incredible hiking and biking trails, plus lakes and waterfalls. You’ll need a guide (they can also organize packages for your entire stay, with different tours each day). Since it takes time to get there, plan to stay for at least four days. It’ll be an intense journey, with daily hikes and car transfers to different areas. On some trails, you’ll be walking under the hot sun, but guides will let you know how much water to bring. Don’t miss Buracão Falls. There are direct flights from Salvador to Lençóis (the main village inside the park).
Alagoas
Maragogi: If you enjoy snorkeling or scuba diving, don’t miss Maragogi! It’s a Brazilian destination that rivals the Caribbean. It’s near Maceió and about 1.5 hours by car from Porto de Galinhas.
Ceará
Fortaleza is a tourist city and one of the largest in the Northeast. There are beautiful beaches outside the city, like Canoa Quebrada, and the largest water park in Latin America, Beach Park, which also features the tallest water slide in the world, standing 14 stories high and reaching speeds of over 100 km/h. You can reach Fortaleza by plane (about 3.5 hours) considering departure from São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro.
Fernando de Noronha
There are paradise beaches in Fernando de Noronha, an island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, about an hour’s flight from Recife or Natal.It’s a national park of unparalleled beauty. You can hike, surf, dive, and take boat trips to see dolphins!
São Paulo
The largest city in Brazil (with about 11.5 million people), São Paulo, known colloquially as "Sampa," is one of those cities that never sleeps. There’s always something going on. From theater performances and cultural exhibitions to 24-hour bars and restaurants, visitors will have no trouble finding things to do.