Rio de Janeiro – the synonym for sunny weather, good-humored people and pure joie de vivre.
I want adventure, joy, unforgettable stories and a big smile on my face when I think back. Following this principle, I also experienced Rio de Janeiro during my visit to Brazil and yes… I have a big grin on my face right now.
The mountain Corcovado with the statue of Christ as a landmark of the city, is the first port of call in the sunny city. For this, I would recommend necessarily select a sunny day for the visit, otherwise there is a cloudy affair, which would be much too bad for the overall experience and also gives no beautiful photos.
Through people we met in Rio de Janeiro, we got the tip that we should definitely book a ticket in advance. Even if there are other points of sale, it is definitely much more relaxed to already have one in the bag and only have to run through the control
Get on and go up with the Swiss mountain railroad.
Likewise, without a ticket, you may end up empty-handed on the day you want to go and have to come back another time. So buy a ticket in advance and look forward to the excursion in a deeply relaxed way.
Personally, I would advise you to take the very first ride if possible, since you can still avoid the many tourists to some extent and the trip is a bit more pleasant.
The Sugar Loaf of Rio de Janeiro is probably the second most famous sight and also worth a visit.
To make the day of the trip as ideal as possible, I can recommend you, after you have seen the statue of Christ, to take an Uber (much cheaper than a taxi) and to be driven to the valley station of the Sugar Loaf.
After the already exciting ride with the gondola, you will get to the middle station as well as the very top to enjoy wonderful views that you will not forget so quickly. Once at the top, buy yourself a delicious drink and enjoy the moment for a while.
The drinks are not even overpriced, as I feared at the beginning.
You can easily buy the ticket at the bottom station. The Sugarloaf Mountain is very popular and therefore well attended, but there is enough space for everyone at the top.
Lapa is the lively city center of Rio. This is where all the parties take place. This is where life happens on the streets.
But not only for the party people among us Lapa is worth a visit. Here is also a quite historic district with the probably most famous staircase in the world – Escadaria Selarón.
This staircase consists of many colorful plates, some of which were delivered from all over the world to be immortalized. Thus, there are also numerous coats of arms and other typical images from all over the world. Getting a photo without the numerous people can prove to be quite difficult, but it is worth the effort.
By the way, on the street below the stairs there is a huge world map on the wall, on which travelers from all over the world have immortalized themselves.
My family name is immortalized forever.
Copacabana is probably the epitome of Rio de Janeiro. Miles of white beach with wonderful people.
Totally overrated if you ask me.
I think everyone who has ever been to Rio and compared Copacabana to Ipanema beach chooses the second as the clear favorite.
Ipanema offers a beautiful beach, hot Latinas, a wonderful view, many small bays and an unforgettable sunset.
Copacabana, on the other hand, is perhaps a bit more lively away from the sand. Many small bars invite you to a delicious drink or a fine snack. There is also a lot going on here in the evening and certainly worth a walk. Copacabana also offers many beautiful sand figures to look at. Really great what the people have conjured up there.
Nevertheless, I would rather recommend the Ipanema beach to everyone. Was also the beach where I personally preferred to stay.
Tip: Absolutely in good weather on the Ipanema at the stone rocks to wait for the sunset with all the other travel crazies and gossip. Kitschy, but beautiful.
PS: I don’t drink alcohol, but according to my traveling cousin and many other Rio visitors, there is the best and strongest caipirinha on the beach itself.
At least since the animated movie “Rio” everyone associates hang gliding with Rio de Janeiro.
I have already jumped in Hawaii with a parachute. I’ve been up close and personal with sharks and bungee jumped. So it is not far-fetched that I had to get my little adrenaline kick in Rio in the most original way.
To run from a mountain over the ramp and to float on it over forests, skyscrapers and the sea like a bird is simply unforgettable. To top it off, you land on a wonderful beach with the sun shining in your face.
Unforgettable.
Hang Gliding is a bit expensive fun. However, I would recommend it to you if you are also a little adrenaline junkie like me.
If you’re looking for a truly authentic Rio, don’t miss the favelas. During a day trip, you will see how the inhabitants cope with their everyday life away from the comfort of civilization and what their daily worries are.
An excursion that moved me personally very much and will remain in my memory forever.
The greatest attraction in Rio de Janeiro is probably the Brazilian joie de vivre itself. In Rio de Janeiro, the people are hospitable and cosmopolitan. Here you will get to talk to locals in many everyday situations and get interesting insider tips.
Be it the sometimes a bit stressful vendors on the beach, the people in everyday life, the cab driver or the night owls. Brazilians are a loving people that I really enjoyed getting to know during my stay.
Try as much as possible to use every situation to approach people and get to know them. This is how we got so many great insider tips that are not in any travel guide or blog.
Rio de Janeiro is joie de vivre with a big portion of unforgettable moments.
As the largest country in South America, Brazil enjoys the privilege of being very well connected internationally by air.
Much more affordable and often the better choice, Uber is highly recommended to get around in Rio de Janeiro. Due to unfortunately existing crime, public transport is not recommended as a tourist.
Rio de Janeiro is a popular tourist destination all year round, but the best time to visit really depends on your personal preferences and what you want to do during your trip.
Rio de Janeiro has a tropical climate with temperatures that typically range from the 18 – 30°C. The summer months of December to March can be very hot and humid, with occasional rain showers. The winter months of June to August are generally cooler and drier.
Keep in mind, that the famous Carnival takes place in February or March every year.
We stayed in an appealing hotel in Rio de Janeiro close to Copacabana and can highly recommend it.
As beautiful and vibrant as Rio de Janeiro is, unfortunately crime is a problem in the city and throughout Brazil.
You don’t have to be deterred by the big crimes like shootings or kidnapping, as this will rather not affect you as a tourist.
Petty crime like pickpocketing is unfortunately the order of the day. Keep the following in mind:
It is not my goal to frighten you, but I want you to have an beautiful stay in Rio de Janeiro.
If you are traveling to Brazil from Europe, you will not need a visa in most cases. If you are coming from the USA, a visa is required.
Check the current visa requirements for Brazil in advance of your trip.
