A cultural guide to Rio de Janeiro
Sun-soaked and steeped in samba rhythms, Rio promises endless beach days and, once a year, the world’s largest carnival celebration
Your essential guide to the best things to see and do in Rio de Janeiro. Find more travel inspiration for more amazing cities here.
Also known as the Cidade Maravilhosa (“Marvellous City”), Rio is a truly beautiful place enhanced by its contagious energy, stylish restaurants, fantastic museums and, of course, samba culture. Few cities could rival its cinematic setting, world-famous sights, iconic Carnival and 45 miles of beaches, including Copacabana and Ipanema. Rio life is beach life, and if you head to any of the city’s stunning stretches of sand, you’ll gain an instant snapshot of Carioca culture: Think lively games of footvolley, relaxed sunbathers sipping from coconuts, fearless surfers catching waves, and scrappy entrepreneurs hawking everything from kickballs to bikinis.
Discovered by Portuguese explorers in 1502, the bay around which Rio is built is still the heart of the city. Serving as the capital of Brazil between 1822 and 1960, Rio’s beauty belies its social inequality, with around 20% of the population living in run-down favelas. The culture is a mix of influences, from Portuguese to African to Indigenous, but the things that unite everyone are the beach and football. No trip is complete without experiencing a game at the Maracanã, one of the most famous stadiums in the world.
Art & architecture
From its numerous condos and tiled houses, to modernist masterpieces and breathtaking landmarks, Rio is a city of contrasts. Perched atop Corcovado mountain, Christ the Redeemer is arguably its most famous attraction.
Legendary architect Oscar Niemeyer left his stamp on the city of his birth with modernist structures such as Casa das Canoas, his former home, and the Sambadrome (where parades happen during Carnival, typically in February or March; in 2024 it runs from February 9–17).
The Museum of Modern Art (MAM) is set in stunning gardens by Roberto Burle Marx, who also designed Copacabana’s famous promenade. Take time to wander past iconic hotel Copacabana Palace and the beautiful Municipal Theater, and visit the futuristic Museum of Tomorrow in the revamped port at Praça Mauá.
Expert tips
The essentials
Fly into Rio de Janeiro–Galeão International Airport (GIG). The quickest way from the airport to the city center is a 20-minute taxi. Drivers accept cash or card. A bus from the airport to the city center takes 40 minutes to one hour. A 10% tip is customary in restaurants and bars but check if a service charge is included. While some English is spoken in tourist areas, basic phrases like obrigado/a (thank you) can be helpful. Sunscreen and bug repellent are essential.
Getting around
Buses are the easiest and most cost-efficient way to get around Rio. They run at 15-minute intervals and only accept cash, so make sure you have small change. Rio’s air-conditioned Metro has three lines. The orange line passes most tourist attractions. Buy a Giro card to travel, which can be topped up at machines or online. SuperVia is the regional train system in Rio de Janeiro, with eight lines. Buy a single ticket or prepaid card at any station kiosk. Contactless is also accepted at most stations.
Accessibility
Rio de Janeiro’s buses, trams, and Metro are all accessible. The subway has lifts and tactile flooring for visually impaired travelers. Sugarloaf Mountain Cable Car, Copacabana Beach, and the Museum of Tomorrow are all fully accessible.
LGBTQ+
Pride in June is one of the city’s largest events, stretching along 1.3 miles of Copacabana Beach and much of the city. Farme de Amoedo is a popular street with LGBTQ+ friendly bars and clubs. Ipanema Beach is also known for its LGBTQ+ scene.
Food & drink
Kiosks abound in Rio and dining on the street or beach is a Carioca pastime. Enjoy delicious Peruvian fusion at La Carioca Cevicheria in Ipanema, or sample fresh seafood at SO•GA Beach at São Conrado. Grab a cheap snack and a beer at a boteco, one of the tiny bars dotted all over the city. Chanchada in Botafogo is known for its empanadas and batidas.
High in the hills in Santa Teresa, Aprazível is a gorgeous spot serving pan-Brazilian cuisine. Grab a table in the lantern-lit garden, full of plants, birds, and the odd monkey. Afterwards head to Bar do Mineiro for a caipirinha or three. Largo da Prainha is a great plaza in which to hang out—Friday night is party night.
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Music
Samba is an ever-present soundtrack to city life in Rio. To experience its magic, visit one of the city’s main samba schools such as Salgueiro or Mangueira. Spread over three floors, Rio Scenarium is one of the city’s best-loved clubs, with live samba almost every night. Bar Carioca da Gema and Clube dos Democraticos host live bands and are great for dancing.
Watch before you go
Rio’s striking appearance has seen it crop up in everything from The Incredible Hulk and Moonraker to Twilight: Breaking Dawn. Not forgetting, of course, the Academy Award-winning City of God—widely acclaimed for its realistic depiction of favela life, it’s a modern classic. Meanwhile, Rio, I Love You is a series of short films set in different neighborhoods of the city.
Away from the beach, pretty Santa Teresa is a hillside neighborhood with a bohemian heart. To get there in style, catch a yellow bondinho (tram) from downtown over the 18th-century aqueduct, the Lapa Arches (go early, as it gets busy). Ocean views and cobbled, leafy streets lined with galleries, crumbling mansions, and chic restaurants make Santa Teresa a thoroughly lovely place to explore and stay. Book a room at Vila Santa Teresa.
If you want to get a real taste of what makes the city tick, then stay near the beach. Centrally located Ipanema lies close to Copacabana and Leblon with easy access to the city center. It’s known for restaurants, shops (hit Farme de Amoedo for boutiques and Sunday’s weekly Hippie Fair for trinkets), and of course, the beach. At the end of Ipanema lies the rocky Arpoador outcrop, a popular spot for surfing and watching the sunset.
Alex Gorton is a freelance writer, as well as the former travel editor of Condé Nast Brides. She has visited countries all over the globe, from Chile to Namibia, and lived in France, Canada, and the U.S.
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