Rio de Janeiro

Perched 710 meters up at the summit of Corcovado mountain, Christ the Redeemer has towered over Rio de Janeiro and Guanabara Bay since 1931. This 38-meter Art Deco statue (pedestal included), its arms spread 28 meters wide, was designed by Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa and sculpted by Frenchman Paul Landowski. Named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007, it offers a 360-degree panorama from its viewpoint over Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, Sugarloaf Mountain, and the surrounding Tijuca Forest. The climb up is by cog train from Cosme Velho station, a 20-minute ride through the rainforest, or by official van from Largo do Machado. It's best to go early in the morning, before clouds - which frequently roll in over the summit later in the day - arrive. Allow about 2 hours for the full round trip including time on site.

Cog train from Cosme Velho station (20 min), or official van from Largo do Machado - no metro access.

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Sugarloaf Mountain is a 396-meter granite peak rising at the entrance to Guanabara Bay, its rounded profile having inspired its name among early Portuguese settlers. The ascent runs in two cable car stages: the first links Morro da Urca (220m), which already has a viewpoint and restaurants, up to the summit of Sugarloaf itself. Opened in 1912, this cable car was one of the first in the world built for tourism, well before Europe's alpine resorts. From the top, the panorama takes in Christ the Redeemer, Copacabana and Botafogo beaches, and planes taking off from Santos Dumont airport just below. Sunset here is spectacular but very crowded: plan to arrive at least an hour early to secure a good spot.

Bus or Uber to the Praia Vermelha cable car station (Urca neighborhood) - no direct metro access.

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Copacabana is Brazil's most famous beach, a 4-kilometer arc of sand bordered by Avenida Atlântica and its iconic wave-patterned black-and-white mosaic sidewalk, designed by landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx in 1970. Every December 31st, millions of Cariocas and tourists gather here dressed in white for New Year's Eve and its massive fireworks display fired from barges offshore. By day, the beach is divided into numbered 'postos' (lifeguard posts), each with its own vibe, from families to footvolley players and street vendors selling coconut water, cheese biscuits, and swimwear. Copacabana Fort, at the southern tip, is worth the detour for its small military museum and views over neighboring Ipanema beach. As everywhere in Rio, it's best to leave nothing unattended and avoid flashing valuables on the sand.

Metro line 1, Cardeal Arcoverde or Siqueira Campos stations - several exits lead straight onto the beach.

Guided tour Copacabana

Ipanema is Rio's chicest and most photogenic beach, made world-famous by the bossa nova song 'Garota de Ipanema' ('The Girl from Ipanema'), written by Tom Jobim and Vinícius de Moraes after watching a young woman walk past the Veloso bar, now renamed in its honor. The beach is traditionally divided by 'postos': posto 9, near Rua Farme de Amoedo, is the liveliest spot and the favorite of Rio's trendy youth and LGBTQ+ community. Late in the day, hundreds of Cariocas gather on the sand facing the Two Brothers hills (Dois Irmãos) to applaud the sunset, a local tradition not to be missed. Just behind the beach, shopping streets are packed with fashion boutiques, jewelers, and trendy cafes, especially around Praça General Osório, home to a Sunday craft market.

Metro line 1, General Osório or Nossa Senhora da Paz station - a few minutes' walk to the beach.

Guided tour Ipanema

Founded in 1808 by King Dom João VI to acclimatize spices brought from the Indies, Rio's Botanical Garden now spans 54 hectares at the foot of the Tijuca massif and holds over 6,500 plant species. Its central avenue lined with imperial palms, originally planted by the king himself, has become the garden's signature image, extended by greenhouses of bromeliads and orchids and a pond where giant Amazonian water lilies (Vitória-régia) float, some reaching two meters across. The garden is also a sanctuary for local wildlife: marmoset monkeys, toucans, and a wide variety of tropical birds are easily spotted, especially early in the morning. A Japanese garden, gifted by Rio's Japanese community, and a memorial to Charles Darwin, who collected plants here during his 1832 visit, round out the visit. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours for a stroll, in an atmosphere far more peaceful than the bustle of the nearby beaches.

Bus from Jardim de Alah (Leblon) or Uber - no metro station nearby.

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The Selarón Steps are the lifelong work of Chilean artist Jorge Selarón, who in 1990 began covering the 215 steps linking the Lapa and Santa Teresa neighborhoods with colorful mosaics, initially just as a hobby facing his own house. The project became an obsession that occupied him until his death in 2013: over 2,000 ceramic tiles from more than 60 countries, sent by admirers worldwide, now cover the staircase alongside the artist's original creations, including his recurring portraits of pregnant women. Yellow, green, and blue from the Brazilian flag dominate the composition, but every step reveals different details to those who take the time to look. Now a symbol of Carioca folk art, the staircase draws both photographers and international music video shoots. The visit is free and open at all times, ideally in late morning for the best light.

Metro line 1, Cinelândia station - 10 min walk, or the Santa Teresa tram to Arcos da Lapa.

Selarón Steps audio guide

Perched on the hills above downtown Rio, Santa Teresa has kept the charm of its cobbled lanes and 19th-century colonial mansions, away from the tourist bustle of the beaches. Spared from real estate speculation by its steep terrain, the neighborhood has become, since the 1980s, a haven for artists, with art studios and galleries multiplying inside former bourgeois houses. The legendary bondinho, a yellow tram dating from 1896, links downtown to Santa Teresa while crossing the arches of the Carioca Aqueduct (Arcos da Lapa) - a must-do experience, despite frequent service interruptions for maintenance. Rua Almirante Alexandrino and Rua Aprazível are home to the best cafes, restaurants, and local designer shops, with sweeping views over Guanabara Bay from several terraces. On weekends, the neighborhood takes on the air of a lively village, with craft markets and impromptu concerts in the bars.

Historic tram (bondinho) from Carioca station downtown - an iconic roughly 20-minute ride.

Guided tour Santa Teresa

The Arcos da Lapa, or Carioca Aqueduct, were built in the 18th century to carry water from the Santa Teresa forest into downtown, modeled after Roman aqueducts with their 42 white-stone arches. Decommissioned as an aqueduct in the late 19th century, the structure was repurposed to carry the Santa Teresa tram's tracks, a role it still serves today. At its foot spreads the Lapa district, the historic epicenter of Carioca nightlife since the 1930s, where samba bars, gafieiras (traditional dance halls), and forró clubs line Rua Mem de Sá one after another. On Wednesday and especially Friday and Saturday nights, the street turns into an open-air party, with street musicians, roaming caipirinha vendors, and a crowd mixing tourists and Cariocas of all ages. The district is also worth a daytime visit for the Metropolitan Cathedral, a futuristic concrete cone visible from the arches, just minutes away on foot.

Metro line 1, Cinelândia station, or the Santa Teresa tram - right in the heart of downtown.

Guided tour Lapa

Maracanã Stadium, opened in 1950 to host that year's football World Cup, is one of the most legendary temples in world sport. It was here that the 'Maracanazo' unfolded, Brazil's defeat to Uruguay in the final in front of nearly 200,000 spectators, a national trauma still referenced today. Fully renovated for the 2014 World Cup, which it also hosted the final of, and again for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2016 Olympics, the stadium has seen the greatest legends of Brazilian football pass through, from Pelé to Zico. Outside of match days, a guided tour gives access to the locker rooms, the players' tunnel, and the pitch itself, along with a small museum tracing the history of the stadium and Carioca football. Watching a Flamengo, Fluminense, Botafogo, or Vasco da Gama match in this electric atmosphere remains a one-of-a-kind experience, provided you choose your seating section carefully for safety.

Metro line 2, Maracanã station - direct exit in front of the stadium.

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At 32 square kilometers, Tijuca Forest is the largest urban forest in the world, a spectacular result of deliberate reforestation launched in 1861 by Emperor Pedro II to restore Rio's water sources, ravaged by 19th-century coffee plantation deforestation. Hundreds of thousands of trees were replanted by hand, recreating an Atlantic Forest ecosystem now home to howler monkeys, toucans, and dense tropical flora. Taunay Waterfall, a 30-meter cascade tucked deep in the forest, and the Vista Chinesa viewpoint, an oriental-style pavilion overlooking the lagoons and beaches of southern Rio, rank among the most popular stops. More seasoned hikers climb to Pico da Tijuca (1,021m) for a 360-degree view over the entire city, about a 2-hour round trip from the nearest parking area. The forest is best visited by car, Uber, or an organized tour, since no public transport serves the interior of the park.

Uber or organized excursion from Santa Teresa or downtown - no direct public transport access.

Tijuca Forest excursion