Rio de Janeiro

Mountain-backed beaches, samba, a giant Christ and carnival spirit

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Rio de Janeiro is set between mountains and the sea, its beaches at Copacabana and Ipanema framed by the peaks of Sugarloaf and Corcovado with its arms-wide Christ the Redeemer. Add samba, botecos and carnival and few cities feel so alive. Our local picks run from the beaches to feijoada and caipirinhas. More hand-picked recommendations are on the way – filter by category and budget below.

Rio de Janeiro at a glance

Ideal stay: 3 to 4 days
Best time to visit: May to October
Highlights: Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf and the beaches
Where to stay: beachfront Ipanema or Copacabana, or historic Santa Teresa
Local picks: a growing set of hand-chosen tips
Getting around: the metro plus taxis and ride-hailing

Where to stay in Rio de Janeiro

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Ipanema / Copacabana

Arpoador

Urca

Bar Urca

Leblon / Copacabana

Bibi Sucos

★ 4.4

Botafogo Praia Shopping Food Court

The food court on the top floor of Botafogo Praia Shopping is one of Rio’s great little secrets — an ordinary shopping-mall food hall with a genuinely extraordinary view. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame…

★ 4.4

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.

★ 4.2

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.

★ 4.7

Andaraí

Samba do Trabalhador

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Rio de Janeiro travel FAQ

How many days do you need in Rio de Janeiro?

Three to four days covers the beaches, Sugarloaf and Corcovado, the historic centre and a samba night, with time to relax.

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

Ipanema and Leblon are the smartest beach neighbourhoods; Copacabana is livelier, while Santa Teresa is bohemian and hilly.

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

Browse the local picks above, from Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf to Ipanema beach, the Selaron Steps and a night of samba in Lapa.

What is the best time to visit Rio de Janeiro?

The cooler, drier months from May to October are most comfortable; carnival in February or March is the wildest and busiest time.