All You Need to Know to Travel Around Rio de Janeiro
So, you’re planning a trip to Rio de Janeiro – How exciting! Planning some Rio travel should be on everyones bucket list.
We spent 6 nights in total exploring Brazil’s most popular city. From the world-famous beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema to the incredible summit of Corcovado, topped with the legendary Wonder of the World Christ the Redeemer, Rio combines an incredible natural backdrop with a sprawling city at its core. Spend a week travelling in Rio, you won’t regret it.
Rio de Janeiro, translating to River of January, caters to all types of tourists from budget to luxury whilst also being popular with backpackers and Carnival goers. So, it’s no wonder it houses so many different visitors every year.
Rio is a huge city of contrasts. It’s home to the pristine, world-famous Christ the Redeemer statue, but also some of the worst large shantytowns, known as favelas, in Brazil. Around 130,000 people currently live in the favelas in poverty. The city is also home to large amounts of petty crime, especially in the more tourist areas such as Copacabana, and whilst most tourists don’t face any issues (us included in this) it is always recommended to be cautious when visiting.
When is the best time to visit Rio de Janeiro?
The best time to travel Rio is between December and March when the weather is warm and sunny enough to hit the beaches and fully enjoy your Rio travel.
We visited during early April and the weather was questionable most days in Rio, however, down the coast in Buzios it was beautiful. So, I guess it kind of depends on which days you visit and how lucky you get. Just bear this in mind as the weather can make visiting some of the tourist attractions almost pointless *See our photos from Christ the Redeemer.
Where did we stay in Rio de Janeiro? – Rio travel
Rio is certainly home to accommodation priced for all budgets. There is a multitude of different areas that you can stay in, depending on what you’re looking for. We opted to stay in Copacabana, right near the most famous beach, within driving distance of all of the tourist attractions plus tons of restaurants to choose from. Perfect!
We stayed in two different accommodation types in Rio and both we would highly recommend both. The first one is Premier Copacabana set just back from the beach but with a panoramic rooftop featuring a pool and sauna plus breakfast included it’s hard to beat Premier Copacabana’s price – which starts from around £38 per night for a double.
The second accommodation we stayed in was Selina Copacabana. Right on the beachfront, this hostel is home to a communal kitchen, reading room, co-working space and cinema room. Oh and a top-floor bar/ restaurant with incredible views over Copacabana. You can opt for a private room or dorm, we went for a dorm here and were pleasantly surprised by the comfort of the bed, privacy and convenience of everything.
You could also opt to stay in the areas of Ipanema or Leblon; these, along with Copacabana, are home to some of the safest neighbourhoods in Rio and great places to add to your Rio travel list.
Visa and entry requirements for visiting Brazil:
Visitors from most countries do not need a visa for a visit of up to 90 days. Brazil requires proof of full Covid vaccination and a completed Traveller’s Health Declaration (DSV). It has recently April 2022 removed the need for proof of a negative PCR or Antigen. Be sure to always check current restrictions before travelling.
The official unit of currency: The Brazilian Real (BRL)
How to get around Rio de Janeiro:
We opted to use a mixture of taxis and Ubers for sightseeing around the city. These were very reasonably priced and convenient. For a hassle-free means of transportation from Rio de Janeiro International Airport (GIG), it’s also easiest to catch a taxi and nowhere near as expensive as you might think (we’re talking around £11 to Copacabana). For longer journeys out of the city, we headed to the main bus station (Novo Rio Bus Station – RJ).
Travelling to Brazil? Also read Lagoinha Do Leste Beach Hike In Florianopolis, Brazil
Must-sees when visiting Rio de Janeiro:
Sugarloaf Mountain – A must-see when planning your Rio travel
Pão de Açúca (or Sugarloaf Mountain as it’s known to most people) is one of Rio de Janeiro’s most iconic landmarks. Standing at 1299 ft / 396 m tall you can either opt to hike to the top or take a cable cart. Tickets for the cable car cost R$ 116 around £19 for adults. The ride is divided into two stages, each lasting three minutes. The cable car takes you to an altitude of 220 metres.
Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor)
If Sugarloaf Mountain isn’t the view you picture when you think of Rio, then it is bound to be Corcovado, home to Christ the Redeemer.
There are multiple ways to get to the top these include:
By train – The most traditional way and the way we went – tickets cost either R$87.50 or R$109.50 depending on the low and high season.
Hiking – Hike through Tijuca Forest – The hike is fairly hard and takes around 3 hours
Driving – You can drive up to Paineiras where you can park your car and hop in an organised van or walk the rest of the way
Taking an organised tour bus
Escadaria Selarón
The famous staircase in Lapa, you’ve probably seen photos of it and for very good reason. Created by Chilean-born artist Jorge Selarón who claimed it as “my tribute to the Brazilian people”. Visit here early in the morning to miss the crowds, then explore the bohemian neighbourhood of Lapa.
Experience Carnaval
An unforgettable experience and one of the most famous things to do in Rio de Janeiro. Attend carnival of course! is a festival held every year before Lent; it is considered the biggest carnival in the world, with two million people per day on the streets. Time your trip right and you could be celebrating next year with glitter in your hair and feathers on your arms (or whatever fancy dress you fancy).
École d’Art in Parque Lage
École d’Art located in Parque Lage is possibly the most beautiful cafe in Brazil. You can book a slot here beforehand to enjoy a coffee or lunch here or simply admire it from the outside and take a walk around the beautiful grounds on which it is set in.
Take a boat trip to the nearby islands
We spent an incredible day visiting the islands around Rio de Janeiro.
We were picked up from our hotel at 8:30 am and taken to Arraial do Cabo, around a 2hr drive from Rio. On the boat trip, we visited a whole range of spots including Praia dos Anjos, Pontal do Atalaia, Gruta Azul, Fenda de Nossa Senhora, Ilha do Farol and Praia do Forno.
The boat trip cost R$ 150 per person, around £23.
Visit the Botanical Gardens
We didn’t get the chance to visit the botanical gardens in Rio, however, we have heard that they are beautiful. Located in the South zone of the city and are home to over 6,500 species of different plants.
Visit Ipanema or Copacabana beach
Two of the most famous beaches in Brazil. Both beaches have huge pros and cons. Copacabana remains the centrepiece of Rio’s beach scene with the looming site of Sugar Loaf Mountain at one end. Copacabana over the years has had a completely mixed reputation, some will only talk about how dangerous it is and others how incredible it is. We think the latter, although it pays to be cautious, always.
Ipanema, in comparison, is the much more affluent of the two and is considered far safer.
If you have time then you should visit both and see which one you prefer!
Bonus tip – Stay for at least four days
Rio de Janeiro has so much to offer that you really won’t touch the sides if you stay less than 4 days. When planning to travel Rio ensure that you spend at least 4 days here!
Spend one day exploring the city, another checking out all the beaches, and a third can be dedicated to visiting all of the top attractions, choose what you like most for the 4th day or plan an epic boat trip and see some of the incredible nearby beaches. A perfect Rio itinerary when you plan your Rio travel.
