Rio de Janeiro

Q: What are the best things to do in Rio de Janeiro?

Browse the local picks, from a locals-led pub crawl to the city's legendary cheap-eats canteen.

Baroque Old Town lanes, Uzupis art & honest cheap eats

Browse Rio de Janeiro

Find hotels in Rio de Janeiro Book tours & experiences

Rio de Janeiro rewards travellers who wander: one of Europe’s largest baroque Old Towns, the self-declared artists’ republic of Uzupis, and some of the cheapest honest food on the continent. Our local picks so far include the Rio de Janeiro Pub Crawl for a night out with locals and the legendary bus station canteen (Autobusu stoties valgykla) for a true Braziln lunch at Soviet-era prices. More hand-picked recommendations are on the way – filter by category and budget below.

Rio de Janeiro at a glance

Ideal stay: 2 to 3 days
Best time to visit: May to September
Highlights: the baroque Old Town and Uzupis
Where to stay: Old Town and Uzupis
Local picks: a growing set of hand-chosen tips
Getting around: very walkable centre

Where to stay in Rio de Janeiro

Compare live hotel prices and availability on the map. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Ipanema / Copacabana

Arpoador

Urca

Bar Urca

Leblon / Copacabana

Bibi Sucos

Botafogo

Canastra Rose

Canastra Rose is a two-story Botafogo mansion turned parrilla bar, helmed by Uruguayan chef Alejandro Nunez, with a rooftop grill turning out the sinfonia do assador — ribeye, shoulder steak, and chimichurri-doused sweet potato and pineapple. It’s a proper local hangout: live music, strong cocktails, and a cover charge that depends on whether you’re drinking. Open Wednesday to Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons, but it doesn’t really fill up until after 9pm. Tip: book ahead on weekends, it’s one of the most packed bars in Botafogo.

Humaitá

Cobal do Humaitá

Centro

Coopa-Roca

Why it matters: founded in 1987 by Maria Teresa Leal (with roots reaching back to 1981), Coopa-Roca is a textile cooperative built to let women in the Rocinha favela earn income through skilled needlework without leaving their households and children behind. Over four decades its artisans have produced patchwork and crochet pieces for fashion names including Christian Lacroix and Carlos Miele, and today the cooperative’s own Centro storefront sells the totes, beaded bags and crocheted jewelry its network of artisans makes. Stop by for a one-of-a-kind bag or necklace, and look for the raw-edge patchwork technique that is the cooperative’s signature.

Rocinha & Vila Canoas

Favela Tour – Marcelo Armstrong

Why it matters: Marcelo Armstrong pioneered favela tourism in Rio in 1992, and roughly a quarter of every tour’s price still goes to fund two community schools with no government support – Para Ti and Saci Sabe Tudo – which teach local kids computer skills, English, music and capoeira. The three-hour minivan-and-walking tour (departing 9am and 2pm from hotel pickups) moves through Rocinha, Latin America’s largest favela, and the smaller community of Vila Canoas, stopping at a handcraft center, a hillside viewpoint over the city, and one of the schools it funds. Book directly through the operator’s own site or WhatsApp rather than a generic reseller, and bring small bills for the handcraft stalls.

Feira da Glória

Feira do Lavradio

It’s like a tradition. Every first saturday of each month cariocas go to feira do lavradio to buy some stuff as cool clothes, antique articles (from furniture to clothes), craftwork, vinyl records,…

Lapa

Refettorio Gastromotiva

Why it matters: opened in 2016 during the Rio Olympics by the NGO Gastromotiva (founded 2006 by chef David Hertz) in partnership with Massimo Bottura’s Food for Soul, this restaurant-school rescues surplus ingredients and trains young cooks from vulnerable communities while serving vulnerable Rio residents each evening. At lunch, Monday to Friday, the same kitchen opens to the public with a set menu – starter, main, dessert, drink – designed by rotating guest chefs. Order the daily set menu (there’s no a la carte) and go early since seating is limited. It is one of the few places in Rio where your meal directly funds culinary training and food-waste reduction.

Andaraí

Samba do Trabalhador

Before you go

Things we recommend sorting before any trip. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Travel medical insuranceSafetyWing's Nomad Insurance works like a subscription: pay by the month, cover in most countries worldwide, and you can sign up even after your trip has started.Check prices on SafetyWing

Data the moment you landAn Airalo eSIM gets your phone online in 200+ destinations before you even leave the airport - no SIM swap, no surprise roaming bill. Use code UNLIMITED4YOU for 15% off your first Unlimited eSIM (through Sept 30, 2026).Get an eSIM on Airalo

Book your trip to Rio de Janeiro

Find the best hotels and book tours and experiences, all in one place.

Find hotels in Rio de Janeiro Book tours and experiences

Rio de Janeiro travel FAQ

How many days do you need in Rio de Janeiro?

Two to three days covers the Old Town, Uzupis and a relaxed food crawl, with time left for a day trip to Trakai Castle.

Where is the best area to stay in Rio de Janeiro?

The Old Town keeps everything walkable; Uzupis is the arty, bohemian alternative right next door.

What are the best things to do in Rio de Janeiro?

Browse the local picks above, from a locals-led pub crawl to the city's legendary cheap-eats canteen.

What is the best time to visit Rio de Janeiro?

Late spring to early autumn brings long days and terrace weather; December has a famously cosy Christmas market.