Open left menu Rio de Janeiro. City of rio de janeiro, brazil rio de janeiro was the capital

Rio is the city that will host the 2016 Summer Olympics. For the first time in South America Events of this format will be held. B is a wonderful attraction.

5 most beautiful places in Rio de Janeiro

1. The statue of Christ the Redeemer is the main city symbol, located on Mount Corcovado. The scale and grandeur of the monument do not require comment, since its size is enormous. You can get to the foot by excursion bus, by car or on foot.
2. Mount Pan de Azúcar, or as the Brazilians also call “sugarloaf,” is located in the eastern part of Rio. From the top of the mountain there are magnificent views of the beach, the bay, the bridge and the world-famous monument.
3. Sambadromo is a famous carnival avenue. A street fenced on both sides with stands for spectators is almost a kilometer long. Every year, Brazilian samba carnivals take place along this street. Bright costume performances attract hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world.
4. The Green Garden of Rio is the oldest botanical garden in Brazil. You can take a break from a hot day and enjoy magnificent views of exotic flowers, shrubs and trees to the sounds of a waterfall or under centuries-old palm trees in this fabulous park.
5. Copacabana Beach is the main symbol of Brazilian souvenirs. The specially designed embankment design is a stone mosaic of black and white waves.

Getting to Rio de Janeiro

Galean International Airport, whose name is associated with the nearby beach, is the main airport serving the city. There are no direct flights from Russia to Rio. You have to make transfers to get there. With one transfer if you fly through London, Paris and Dubai, or with several connections in other cities. To save time, you can get to Sao Paulo, and from there take an internal flight to Rio de Janeiro. The total flight time excluding transfers is almost 16 hours.

Shopping in Rio de Janeiro

We recommend visiting the diverse Hippie Fair in Ipanema. By visiting it, you will be able to purchase unique handmade souvenirs, choose and try local cuisine. In this area, in addition to the fair, there are a great many shops that are also worth visiting.

Rio de Janeiro is famous for its precious stones, including diamonds, the quality of which has remained high for a long time. Those wishing to purchase jewelry should consider the offered assortment at “H. Stern.”

The largest shopping center in Rio, “Moll RioSul,” combines expensive boutiques of elite brands with departments of less popular companies. Rio de Janeiro has shopping centers and shops to suit every taste and budget. The opening hours of many of them are from 09:00 to 18:00, except weekends.

After the carnival, promotions and discounts begin in all stores and shopping centers. The rest of the time, boutiques themselves set a discount period that does not depend on the time of year or any other factors.

Hotels in Rio de Janeiro

There are a lot of hotels in Rio. During the Brazilian Samba Carnival, the city is crowded, so if you decide to visit this wonderful city at this time, we advise you to book a room in advance.

The Copacabana palace hotel is located next to tourist center and Monkey Island with 24-hour service. The hotel offers its guests all kinds of entertainment and everything necessary for a business visit.

The Protel Rio Flat Service Hotel has an excellent location in Rio's prestigious Leblon area. A landscaped area with a large number of cafes, bars, restaurants, and a large shopping center nearby.

The hotel chain at the Buzios resort offers its guests aquatic species sports, discos, bars and restaurants. In this area - a stunningly beautiful beach, crystal water, bay, and plants, all this makes this resort a real paradise. The tourist part of Rio de Janeiro is valued for its picturesque views of nature; small islands can be explored while walking on the water.

Rio de Janeiro Carnival

A separate chapter should be devoted to such a world-famous event as the Brazilian Samba Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. The official celebration begins on the last Friday before the start of Lent. The organization of the holiday is undertaken by the Ministry of Tourism and the League of Samba Schools. Each school assigns a costume theme for its participants and prepares the details of the procession. The parade starts at 21:00 and can last up to 10 hours. Samba schools perform in small groups, the order of the procession is determined by lot.

The winners are announced on Ash Wednesday and the winning school celebrates with a stunning fireworks display. First place winners receive a cash prize. Schools that take second and third place also receive small cash gifts.

Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) is the second largest city in Brazil and the most famous city countries, mainly tourist destination Southern Hemisphere and cultural capital Brazil. Rio de Janeiro is one of the main economic and financial centers of Brazil, known throughout the world for its natural beauties, such as Sugar Loaf, Mount Corcovado with the statue of Christ, the beaches of Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, as well as the Maracanã Stadium, Carnival, Bossa Nova and Samba. Rio de Janeiro in Brazil is called the “Wonderful City” (Cidade Maravilhosa).

Rio de Janeiro is a unique city that harmoniously combines three spheres of human activity: work, leisure, sports. Firstly, the Rio business center provides excellent opportunities for doing business and working in Brazil, as it is one of the country's economic development policies (the headquarters of companies such as Petrobras, Globo and Vale are located in Rio de Janeiro). Secondly, in the southern zone of the city there are world-famous beaches of Brazil, such as Copacabana and Ipanema, as well as the world's largest tropical park inside the city - Tijuca Forest - which makes Rio de Janeiro and Brazil attractive for leisure and recreation and tourism. As for the third area - sports - in Rio there is a cult of sports and a healthy lifestyle: there are bicycle paths almost everywhere, volleyball and football are actively practiced on the beaches, and fitness centers are very common. All this is in harmony with unique nature Rio de Janeiro, with its mountains, forests and coastline Atlantic Ocean(Rio de Janeiro's landscape has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site).

In the same time, Rio de Janeiro And Brazil- a city and a country of contrasts. We are talking about deep socio-economic inequality, about the huge gap between rich and poor in Rio and Brazil as a whole. While the standard of living in the elite areas of the city (Leblon, Gavea, Ipanema) corresponds to those in Scandinavian countries, the favelas, or slums of Rio and Brazil, are home to extremely poor people. 22% of the city's population lives in favelas, which are mostly located on the mountains.

Rio de Janeiro is an international city that annually hosts significant international events and activities: world championships in various sports (including the FIFA World Cup, which will be held in Brazil in 2014), international summits and conferences, such such as the UN Conference on Sustainable Development, important music festivals such as Rock in Rio, and world religious summits (World Youth Day was held here in July 2013).

Rio de Janeiro was the capital of Brazil from 1763 to 1960. In 1960, the capital was moved to the geographical center of Brazil - the city of Brasilia, in order to ensure a more even development of the country, as well as national security in the context of the Cold War. Today Rio-de Janeiro— capital of Brazil culturally, having rich history, a huge number of monuments, attractions and museums.

The population of the city of Rio de Janeiro as of 2010 was 6,323,037, and the Rio metropolitan area has 11,711,233. Rio is second largest city Brazil (after Sao Paulo), ranks 3rd in South America and 23rd in the world. According to data on the ethnic composition of the population, whites make up 53.3%, mulattoes 33.6%, blacks 12.3%, and yellows and Indians 0.5%. Regarding the religious composition of Rio de Janeiro, the majority is Catholic (60.71%), followed by Protestants (17.65%) and no religion (13.33%).

Time in Rio de Janeiro differs from Moscow time by 7 hours (from the third Sunday of February to the third Sunday of October), or 6 hours (from the third Sunday of October to the third Sunday of February).

In conclusion, it is worth noting that Rio And Brazil, despite problems of socio-economic inequality, are an excellent place to live, work, study and relax in South America, which residents are proud of and tourists admire.

Sugar Loaf and Botafogo Bay, Rio de Janeiro famous mountain Sugar Loaf in Rio de Janeiro

The South American country of Brazil is remote and very colorful. Rio de Janeiro is the main city of this country, which is considered the second capital and also the largest resort center on the entire east coast of South America. Its name is literally translated into Russian as “January river”. It was in this month that, many centuries ago, the famous navigator Gaspar de Lemos landed on such distant shores. Swimming across the bay, he thought it was a river. Since then the name has stuck to this region and has become the world standard for summer, fun and bright colors.

How far is Brazil from us?

Rio de Janeiro is a metropolis to which there are no direct flights from any city in Russia. Therefore, everyone who wants to relax there will have to make at least one transfer, or even two. A more economical option is to stop in Sao Paulo, from where domestic flights depart every few hours to Rio. Such a trip will only take you an extra hour of time, and financially it will cost no more than $70. You can also fly through Miami, but in this case you will have to sort out many nuances related to visas and other documents, because you will also be crossing the US border. And, of course, America as a state will require a much higher fee for flight services than Brazil. Rio de Janeiro, paradoxically, is a city where you can have a cheap holiday, but in order to get there you will need to shell out a considerable amount of money.

A visa... is it needed to travel to Rio?

Since lately Russian tourists Traveling abroad has become much more accessible than in previous decades, and the visa issue is now also much more acute. Today, not every state can be reached just like that, even just to relax for one or two weeks. You need to provide the embassy with a lot of papers, certificates and permits, and only then you will be able to receive the long-awaited visa, which will allow you to see a new corner of the World. Sunny Brazil provided much simpler conditions for domestic travelers. You can visit Rio de Janeiro only if you have a passport, return tickets and a document confirming your hotel room reservation. You can stay in the territory of this state for 90 days every six months.

A climate that allows you to sunbathe all year round

The weather in Rio de Janeiro is a real boon for those who love summer that never ends. It is always sunny and hot here, both in winter and in summer, especially since there is not much difference between these seasons. Since the metropolis is located in the Southern Hemisphere of our planet, winter here is always characterized by higher temperatures, and summer delights local residents with cool evenings and a fresh ocean breeze. The hottest month in Rio is January. The temperature during the day rises above 30, the ocean bay warms up to 26-27 degrees. A gradual decline in this heat begins in April-May, and in summer the daytime temperature no longer exceeds 27 Celsius. Also in the summer, the wind rises here, which creates waves that are ideal for windsurfing. That is why the second - Rio de Janeiro - is a resort city in which you can ideally relax at any time of the year.

What to do if you just arrived in Rio?

The first thing every tourist who finds himself in is supposed to do is unfamiliar city, is to get to the hotel. To do this, you can use public transport, namely the bus, because there are a dime a dozen of them here. In order to get into the salon, you just need to wave your hand, and the driver will stop, and he will drop you off where you ask. Public transport in the metropolis is very comfortable, and the fare is mere trifles. Buses run in almost all areas of the city, including the narrowest streets, and, as a rule, you don’t have to wait long for them. Also, the resort capital of Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, is full of private taxis. The driver will quickly and efficiently take you to the hotel and will be extremely grateful if you leave him a tip. Just like in a restaurant, you deduct ten percent from the amount on the meter and give it to the driver.

Hotel centers of the resort capital of Brazil

Hotels in Rio de Janeiro remain a separate topic for all travelers. Brazil, in principle, is an inexpensive country where you don’t have to spend a fortune just to have a proper rest. However, in Rio the cost of temporary accommodation is incredibly high. The best hotel complexes built along the most famous coast of Copacabana, where it is always fun and noisy. Living in such an area, you will be aware of all the events, will not miss a single party and will be able to make a lot of new acquaintances. A quieter, but no less expensive and luxurious place to relax is the Ipanema coast. Citizens of the USA, Europe, and some Russians prefer to relax here. It is also worth remembering that during the winter months, rates in all hotels increase several times due to the New Year and Carnival.

Local cuisine and its features

The metropolis of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) boasts special culinary traditions. Photos of many culinary masterpieces repeatedly flashed before us on blue screens, but their recipes and even taste remained a big secret for us. Going to East Coast in the South Atlantic, you can finally taste it all, and perhaps learn how to cook it yourself. Since slaves from Africa were exiled to Brazilian territory for centuries, the state became a stronghold of Arab and European traditions, which were supplemented by the customs of local Indians. Therefore, the “signature” dish of Rio is feijoada, which consists of beans, smoked meats, spices and many other components. You can taste this miracle in any restaurant in the city, and everywhere it will have its own special, different taste.

Other gastronomic benefits of Rio

In addition to the unique cuisine, which contains a synthesis of the traditions of the East, Europe and the Amazon, local drinks also deserve special applause. The resort and very warm Brazilian capital of Rio de Janeiro is a storehouse of various wines, both dry, which will be an excellent addition to a meat dinner, and sweet, nutmeg, which will continue your enjoyment of any dessert. This drink is served in restaurants here and can also be purchased in local stores. Coffee occupies an important place in Brazilian culture, which is simply masterfully brewed here. Even in a beach cafe where everyone comes, they will brew these fragrant grains for you so that you will never forget their aroma. Let’s also not forget that Brazil also produces first-class beer. Locals prefer the Brama brand, a drink that is moderately foamy and very pleasant to the taste. Well, the “alcohol symbol” of Rio and all of Brazil is cachaca. This is a high-volume drink that is comparable to Mexican tequila.

Sights of the resort capital

You definitely won’t be able to explore and understand the secrets of this city in a few days. There is almost everything here: museums, ancient squares, buildings and places for active rest. If you decide to explore all of Rio de Janeiro on foot, a map is the first thing you need. You can buy it at any kiosk or store, both in Portuguese and in English. Usually, hiking trips they start with noisy ones where there are cafes, discotheques, shops, and even botanical areas. At night, a market opens here where you can buy everything from spices to jewelry. In the old part of the city you will find colonial buildings, adjacent to which are sculptural masterpieces that tell the history of the city and the country. On the outskirts of the city there are favelas - slums in which poor people and mainly the Rio mafia live. Be sure to climb the mountain to Jesus, who has been protecting this wondrous city from adversity for many centuries.

New Year and Carnival are the main events of the country

Almost every inhabitant of the planet knows perfectly well what the city of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) looks like on New Year's Eve. The carnival that takes place here brings together on the streets not only all residents of the metropolis, but also tourists from all over the world. They come here early to get at least a glimpse of the most colorful and noisy action that has ever existed in the world. According to the rules, this holiday should be held 40 days before Easter, in honor of the beginning of Lent. It seems to be a symbol of farewell to carnal pleasures, the last day when you can eat meat and perform fiery dances. However, it always coincides with the date of the New Year, which makes it possible to combine two such significant holidays. In this city, this celebration is the day of the national dance - samba, and during it the best choreographic achievements of the year are demonstrated, as well as the most unique and colorful costumes.

What exactly happens at this holiday?

In fact, preparations for the celebration begin several days before it begins. The jury, which includes not only local choreographers, but also foreigners, selects dance groups that demonstrate the best skills in the art of samba performance. The chosen ones make it to the finals, that is, to the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, where a single winner is also determined. However, all those dancers who make it to this final are, in fact, considered the best, since they can be said to represent their country on the international stage. Every year, costumes are sewn for everyone who takes part in this event, which are used only once. After the Carnival, the decorations and clothes are simply thrown into a landfill, and the city plunges into its daily affairs and worries, and the dancers multiply their strength to show better results a year later.

What to remember if you want to go to Carnival

During the event, the prices for housing, food, and travel instantly rise in the main city and the whole country. First of all, tourists have problems finding a hotel. Therefore, it is worth booking seats a month in advance, or even earlier, along with plane tickets. We also do not forget that all hotels exclusively rent out rooms only on a four-day package. Therefore, if you want to stay in Rio for only two days, you will still have to pay for four days. It is recommended to buy tickets for the Carnival itself in Rio de Janeiro in advance so that you can take the most comfortable seats from which you can see everything. And then this competition, which takes place throughout the night, and is accompanied by a parade of beautiful scenery and costumes, will be remembered by you for many years. Finally, it is worth noting that during this celebration many local residents leave the city. Therefore, on the streets you will encounter a lot of tourists who have come here from all over the world. Remember that each person has his own mentality and his own views on life, so it is not recommended to enter into an argument. Crime also increases during Carnival in Rio, so be careful not to wander into the favelas.

Horizons you can't forget

We can say with complete confidence that the real eighth wonder of the world is the city of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). The world map places it far from our lands, on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, but it is still worth getting to it and inspecting it. Despite the fact that Europeans brought their religion and traditions here, the local charm and mystery have remained in these lands. And in addition to those monuments that were left in Rio by different eras, it deserves special attention natural wealth. You just need to climb Sugar Loaf to see the endless horizon, where sky and ocean, clouds and blue waters merge.

Rio is the second largest, but the leading city in Brazil in terms of annual influx of tourists. Some people believe that Rio is the capital of the state, but this is not true. Rio was the capital until 1960. This year it was moved to the center of the country. However, Rio de Janeiro has always been the cultural capital, as well as the economic and financial center of Brazil.

The city has an advantageous location for tourists - the shore of the Atlantic Ocean, around the world's largest bay, Guanabara. The city itself is divided into two parts: northern and southern. The northern zone is located on numerous mountains and cliffs, and southern zone presents endless beaches. In the northern part of the city, on the slopes of the mountains, you can see squalid and poor dwellings. The poor and beggars from the poorest areas of the city, called favelas, live there. There are several thousand of these areas in Rio. Naturally, the standard of living here is noticeably lower than in the city center. It happens that some favelas do not even have schools or hospitals. Hence the high percentage of crime and complete unsanitary conditions. Rio de Janeiro is a city of criminals. So for the sake of personal safety, you need to be attentive and extremely careful while on the street. The fact is that the state practically does not deal with favelas. As a result, they are completely uncontrolled by the police. These areas are usually controlled by the most powerful drug traffickers.

Rio is a great place to run your own business, because the city is not called the business center of Brazil for nothing. It provides enormous opportunities for entrepreneurs.

Story

The history of the name of the city is considered very comical. From Portuguese it is translated as “January river”. This is due to the fact that the Portuguese initially mistook the bay in which present-day Rio de Janeiro is located for the mouth of the river. The discoverer of this bay is considered to be the Portuguese navigator Gaspar de Lemos. The year of opening is considered to be 1502. During its history, the city was the capital of Brazil for many centuries, but in 1960 it was moved to the center of the state in order to ensure a more even development of the country. Coffee has always been in great demand in Rio. It was its export in the 19th century that literally pulled the city out of crisis. The population grew rapidly, new areas appeared, and industry actively developed. And by the end of the 20th century, the city became one of the largest and economically leading cities in the world, as well as the financial center of the country.

Attractions

Many people associate Rio primarily with their traditional annual carnival. This is a solemn and colorful procession through the streets of the city. In addition to artistic entertainment, football plays a huge role in the life of every Brazilian. Almost every city has its own stadium. The most famous stadium in Rio is called the Maracana.

You can start exploring the city by visiting the beaches. For example, from the world-famous four-kilometer Copacabana beach. However, it is worth considering that it is always popular, not only among tourists, but also among local residents. Therefore, it is always noisy and crowded. Copacabana is the center of parties.

From the beach you can see another attraction - Sugar Loaf. This is a huge mountain, the appearance of which really resembles someone's head. It offers a stunning view of the entire city. You can get to the top of the mountain using a cable car.

Another well-known mountain is called Corcovado. It houses the pride and most famous landmark not only of Rio, but throughout South America - the statue of Christ the Redeemer large sizes. There is also an extensive Observation deck, which allows you to view the city from all sides.

For history and art lovers, this part of the city is home to many different thematic museums and cathedrals. So-called " Old city" Of the attractions in this area, the most famous is the Archbishop's Cathedral of St. Sebastian, the pride of Brazil - the Museum of Modern Art and the Museum of the Republic.

I always pronounce the name of this city with a smile - it’s as if you can hear the fluttering of a thousand colorful butterflies, who can’t wait to fly out and spin to the rhythms of bossa nova (“bossa nova” is a special style of Brazilian music, which is a mixture of jazz and samba).

Rio de Janeiro is amazing!

Passions rage in the hearts of people here no more quietly than in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It seemed to me that the city lives according to the yin-yang principle, without realizing it. All extremes coexist harmoniously here: poverty and prosperity, beauty and ugliness, spiritual kindness with blatant aggression. Next to the elite, very green and beautiful areas of the city, there are always neighborhoods of the poor - favelas, with sun-scorched exteriors, graffiti and endless poverty. One townsman will happily change his route to show you the way if you get lost, while another will steal your bag and threaten you with a gun. Just like in the movies, honestly. And all this to the rhythms of bossa nova.

And by the way, don’t forget to take a phrasebook with you. Because everyone here speaks Portuguese. And there is no more beautiful, completely incomprehensible, waffle-crunching language in the world.

Short video about Rio de Janeiro

How to get there

How to get to Rio de Janeiro if you, like me, live in Moscow? This sunny metropolis is located in South America, and it is very far away. The words “very far” mean the figure 11,543 km - this is exactly the distance from Moscow to Rio de Janeiro. Therefore, the main way to get to Rio is by plane.

But there is another option - to go on a cruise and arrive in Rio on a multi-deck white ship. This is exactly how my idol Ostap Bender dreamed of being in the sultry city of happiness.

And if you are already in South America, then there is nothing easier than getting to former capital Brazil by bus. In general, bus service is very developed in South American cities; they are quite comfortable and allow you to save money and sometimes time.

By plane

There are no direct flights from Moscow to Rio. You need to fly with a transfer. The minimum duration of the entire flight is usually 16 hours or more, depending on the chosen connection.

Having monitored the proposals of various airlines (Lufthansa, KLM, Emirates, Etihad, Delta participated in the tender), I came to the conclusion that plane tickets to Rio de Janeiro should be purchased from the airline Air France with a connection in Paris.

1. Firstly, this is the most budgetary flight option (my boyfriend paid for the trip, and this point was the most important for him :-)).
2. Secondly, a convenient connection at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport.

If you attend an airline promotion, the ticket will cost you 38,000 rubles (round trip).

Air France flies daily to Rio de Janeiro. I advise you to choose flight AF 1745 from Moscow with an arrival in Charles de Gaulle at 21:45 and then departure from Paris at 23:35 and arrival in Rio de Janeiro at 05:40 in the morning. Choose a return flight depending on price and preferences. There are 1 or sometimes 2 flights a day from Rio de Janeiro (the schedule is constantly changing). There are morning flights and evening flights.

You can view flight schedules, connection times, and air ticket prices.

Arrival airport for international flights ()

All international flights head to Rio de Janeiro airport Galeão Rio De Janeiro. At the airport you will find exchange offices, taxis and everything you need. The center is 20 km away.
At the airport, many employees speak English, so you definitely won’t be lost here :-)

Airport of arrival for domestic flights ()

A charming airport with a runway directly along the Atlantic Ocean. Is located in historical center cities.

By bus

In Brazil, as in many other countries in South America, bus services between cities are very well developed. Traveling by bus to Rio de Janeiro is a smart alternative to renting a car if, for example, you are afraid to drive in such an exotic country.

The main cities of keen interest to the traveler, from which you can get to Rio by regular buses:

• Sao Paulo.
• Florianapolis.
• Belo Horizonte.
• Arraial do Cabo.
• Buzios.
• Iguazu.

And even from neighboring countries such as Paraguay you can come to Rio by bus. But it’s very far away, about 2 days on the road.

Major bus companies

The bus service in Rio (as in Brazil in general) is organized super competently, and I envied it, to be honest (I wish it were like that here!). There are several large bus companies, each with its own website with an English version, and on the website you can easily get directions from point A to point B.

For myself, I highlighted these bus companies (their websites seem to be created for non-Portuguese-speaking tourists :-))

Travel and bus logistics

The logistics of your bus trip will be like this. Go to the website, choose the desired direction, buy a ticket, come to the station and pick up your tickets. It is very easy to understand where to pick up tickets: at the station, look for a kiosk with the name of the bus company, which will be indicated in large letters on the booking sheet.

I advise you to buy the tickets themselves on the website also because promotional rates are published there, which the cashiers often know nothing about. Well, besides, it will be difficult to communicate with the cashiers if you do not speak Portuguese.

Bus stations

Now as for the bus stations themselves. There are several of them in Rio. Foremost - .
The station is located in the city center at: Av. Francisco Bicalho, 1, Santo Cristo.
I recommend getting here by taxi. Although it is located in the center, this part of the city is not safe. Bus stop It’s quite far from the station, and you’ll have to walk to get there. Judging by the faces that I saw on the street at the entrance to the station, I would not have walked.

And the station building itself is beautiful - very clean, cozy, a lot of shops, the smell of cheese pies (Pão de queijo) and freshly brewed coffee in the air. And yes, there are charging stations for all gadgets. By the way, this service is free, unlike at Moscow train stations. As I remember now, I arrived on the morning train from St. Petersburg to Moscow, the phone rang out, and recharging cost 100 rubles. Fi.

About buses

The buses themselves are very comfortable. When booking tickets, you can choose a bus class:

• VIP, which means this bus is air conditioned.
• STANDARD. There will be no air conditioning.

By the way, the Antarctic climate prevails on buses. I strongly advise you to take the precaution of having warm clothes with you.

By car

In general, in Brazil everything is fine with the roads. In theory, motorists can reach Rio de Janeiro by car from any Brazilian city. And even from other countries in South America, subject to successful passage through customs points.
Personally, I am sure that traveling by car to the “outback” parts of the country may not have the most favorable consequences; after all, the country is not very rich, you can easily be robbed. Well, there’s really no one to ask for advice on the road - no one “speaks” in English.
If you are a fan of road trips, then try to build a route that runs along safe and modern highways.
So, you can come to Rio de Janeiro from Sao Paulo along the largest highway BR-116

By ferry

Rio owes much of its stunning landscapes to the amazing geographical location. The city stretched along the southeastern coast of Brazil and seemed to be squeezed between the mountains on one side and Guanabara Bay (the most beautiful bay in Rio de Janeiro) on the other. Such a good location means that you can get to the city by water - on a luxurious white ship, if you want to make Ostap Bender’s dream come true, or on a small cozy ferry.

By the way, the first sailors sailed to Rio on ships and thought that the bay was the January river in Rio de Janeiro, after which the city was named.

The ferry connects Rio with other Brazilian cities and islands - Niteroi, Cocota, Mangaratiba, Angra dos Reis, Paqueta Island, Ilha Grande Island. These ferries dock at the sea terminal in Rio (by the way, they depart from there). This station is called Estação das Barca and it is located in the city center close to Praça XV near Carioca/Cinelandia metro station.

Travel time, schedule and cost can be viewed on the carrier. As a bonus, everyone traveling on the ferry is offered a gorgeous view of the city and the great statue of Christ from Guanabara Bay.

Cruise ships

If speak about cruise ships, then they sail from various cities of the world to a huge and significant port for the whole country - Port of Rio de Janeiro, to the terminal. The port is located not very far from the city center, at Av. Rodrigues Alves, 10 - Centro, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 20081-250. The nearest metro station is Retiro. Here's the terminal.

In general, the terminal is cool - modern, functional, with all the infrastructure necessary for a traveler. By the way, if you are already in Rio and do not intend to sail anywhere on any ships, there is still a reason to come here - at night, incendiary night parties with samba and caipirinha are often held here. Everything is as it should be.

Private yachts

And, if suddenly you are traveling on your private yacht and don’t know where to drop anchor, then head for the beautiful port. By the way, it was in this harbor that races for yachtsmen from all over the world took place at the 2016 Olympic Games. The Marina da Gloria port is located in the charming Flamengo Park near the city center and, believe me, absolutely fantastic panoramas of Rio open up from here. There are nice restaurants in the harbor, where you can learn sailing, or go diving or fishing with a small group.

Clue:

Rio de Janeiro - the time is now

Hour difference:

Moscow 6

Kazan 6

Samara 7

Ekaterinburg 8

Novosibirsk 10

Vladivostok 13

When is the season? When is the best time to go

Just the name of the city radiates sunlight, right? But it also rains here.

During our Russian summer in Rio, winter brings intermittent rain to the city, and the sunny metropolis is plunged into a haze of gray clouds. At the same time, the air temperature rarely drops below +23, and the rains are most often short-lived and warm. So bad weather in Rio is a relative concept. Another thing is that in the gray haze you can’t see the incredibly bright colors of the city. The clearest days in Rio de Janeiro are between November and March.

When planning our trip, we avoided the New Year period, just as we were afraid of fire in February (carnival takes place in February). These are the most expensive periods; prices for holidays in Rio de Janeiro soar several times. And if we talk about prices, then Rio is by no means a cheap city.

We flew to Rio during the season - March 10, a couple of weeks after the carnival. By the time we arrived, the last carnival decorations had, fortunately, been dismantled and prices returned to normal. The weather was good, hot, +38. Sometimes there were long rains during the day (and we were grateful to them), and in the evening the sun invariably appeared, which, when leaving, gave us incredible sunsets - so many heavenly colors, perhaps, can only be found in Monet’s fictional paintings.

Rio de Janeiro in summer

If we talk about our summer months, in Rio they are considered the rainiest and grayest. The air temperature, however, is not lower than 25 degrees, the water is also warm - 21-23 degrees. When traveling to Rio de Janeiro in the summer, take a windbreaker and an umbrella with you.

Rio de Janeiro in autumn

The season officially begins in November in Rio. In general, the division into seasons here is very arbitrary, because the tourist flow does not stop all year round. But if we talk about the weather, then yes, it becomes less cloudy from November. In the autumn months the air temperature is 27-29 degrees. The advantages are the absence of sweltering heat and a gentle wind.

Rio de Janeiro in spring

In my opinion, spring is the ideal time to visit Rio. At this time, the city becomes calmer; the carnival with its madness and wild prices is behind us. The weather is wonderful. It is very hot, up to 38 degrees, with occasional refreshing rains.

Rio de Janeiro in winter

Our winter in Rio de Janeiro is considered summer. In guidebooks, the months from December to March are designated as the most attractive for visiting the country. During this period, the likelihood of rain is low, the waves in the ocean are quieter, and the sky is mostly cloudless. All this is very good, but the number of tourists in the city is such that you want to leave the metropolis with a mysterious name as soon as possible. The largest influx of tourists occurs in New Year and Carnival, which takes place annually in February.

Clue:

Rio de Janeiro - weather by month

Districts. Where is the best place to live?

As soon as Vadik bought tickets to Rio, we immediately started thinking about where to live, which part of the city to choose. I wanted to be on the sea, and at the same time in the mountains, and to be closer to all the bars and attractions. But when it comes to this big city(and Rio is really huge), you need to prioritize :-)

I'll tell you how the city works and what choice we made.

Conventionally, the city is divided into 4 zones:

1. South.
2. Central.
3. Northern.
4. Western.

These zones concentrate certain areas of Rio de Janeiro (on this moment There are 34 districts in the city)

Southern part of the city

These are the legendary beaches of Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, and Flamengo. Perhaps these areas are the most attractive for tourists, everything here is like in a movie - gorgeous beaches, beautiful houses with fences, like in the series “Tropicana”, all the streets are paved with neat tiles, palm trees, ficuses and eternal trees decorate the entrance to each building.

The areas of this part of the city are considered the safest, everywhere you look - there are only police officers. From southern regions It's easy to get to the main attractions, some of which are located right here:

• Sugarloaf.
• Mount Corcovado with a statue of Christ.
• Lake Rodrigo de Freitas.

There are also taxis running here around the clock. We chose a hotel 2 steps from Ipanema beach and did not regret it for a minute. The beach in Rio is the main stage of the city, everyone flocks here - both locals and tourists. Want to feel the real atmosphere of Rio? Then you're off to the beach. And I’ll tell you what, living next to the beach in Rio is a must. Early in the morning, before a long journey into the wilds of a sunny metropolis, you will always have the opportunity to wake up along with the city, run along the embankment, swim in the gentle waves of the Atlantic Ocean, which can only be like this in the morning, drink freshly squeezed mango juice at a fruit bar on the beach. What could be better? This is how a morning in Rio de Janeiro should begin. And in the evening, no matter where you return from, the sunset will await you to the rhythms of bossa nova - the locals really like to come to the beach with a guitar.

Central part of the city

This is the so-called down town, the historical center of Rio de Janeiro. Here are business centers, many historical attractions, including the National Library, Tiradentes Palace, Municipal Theater, National Museum fine arts, Cathedral and the Pedro Ernesto Palace.

On weekdays, downtown is very lively, with people in business suits scurrying here and there. But come on a Sunday and you won’t recognize the business district – there’s not a soul in the area. Never in my life have I seen more deserted streets.
What impressed me most was the bohemian neighborhoods of Lapai Santa Teresa. I advise all party-goers who want to fall asleep and wake up to the rhythms of the city to stay in Lapa. Well, Santa Teresa will appeal to those looking for romance and solitude.

Northern part of the city

Football fans often visit the northern part of the city, since this is where the legendary stadium in Rio de Janeiro is located. I highly recommend attending one of the football matches held at this stadium, even if you are not a fan. An exciting game, emotions, tears of victory and loss and incomparable energy await you. Football is an integral part of Brazilian culture and way of life. And you should see it with your own eyes!
There are other, lesser-known stadiums in the northern part of the city. But I wouldn’t recommend walking further than the stadium – there are favelas around, dangerous neighborhoods of bandits and poor people.

Western part of the city

This area is the farthest from the city center and therefore tourists very rarely come here. The poorest neighborhoods of the city are closely intertwined with areas for the rich, as if proving to the traveler that Rio is a city of contrasts. The pretty district of Barra da Tijuca is located in this part of the city, as is the 20-kilometer beach, the longest in all of Rio.

What are the prices for holidays?

Tours to Rio de Janeiro are expensive. The City of God itself is not cheap. How . But, of course, you can easily save money here if you think about many things in advance. But not at a hotel - accommodation here is expensive, whether in a hotel or a hostel.

Rio de Janeiro hotel prices

We rented a double room in a 3* hotel 2 minutes from Ipanema beach with spacious rooms in white colors and a huge window, on the windowsill of which ringing hummingbirds hung out every morning. The room cost about $100 per night with breakfast.

Ipanema is a magical area, like a piece of cozy Europe inside Rio with the cutest restaurants, beautiful houses and a gorgeous clean beach.

For the same money ($100 per day) in the bohemian district of Santa Teresa you can rent a room in a chic boutique hotel. There are many cool boutique hotels in the area. The views from the hotels in Santa Teresa are stunning.

But there is a minus. The area is located on a mountain, and at night taxi drivers refuse to go up here without explanation. Therefore, if night walks are in your plans, this is probably not the most suitable area.

In Copacabana, hotels cost from $150 per night. By the way, Copacabana beach itself is very dirty, and all the restaurants along the beach are terribly tasteless and also expensive.

You can still live on the party Lapa. A bed in a good hostel can be found for $60, and a hotel room can be rented for $80. At night it is very noisy and the crowd in the area is very diverse - here are the glamorous partygoers of Rio, and bandits, and homeless people. My friend Natasha told me that it was here that they were threatened with a pistol. As if as a joke.

I usually monitor prices and book hotels on Booking -, but you can check if there is a more attractive price somewhere.

You can see the prices for renting private apartments using the link.

Taxi, bus and metro prices

Getting around the city is exactly where you can really save money if you use public transport.

So, on average, the cost of a taxi trip in the southern part of the city will be 50-70 reais (15-20 dollars). A bus ticket costs 4 reais (about 2 dollars). Feel the difference. The cost of one metro trip is 3.20 reais (1 dollar), which is more expensive than in Moscow, but still several times cheaper than a taxi.

Prices for restaurants, cafes and bars

Good restaurants are quite expensive. Dinner can cost from 200 reais ($60) for two. Take advantage of the “serving for 2” menu offer. Believe me, this will be a serving for 4 people, but it will be more economical than everyone ordering a whole dish.
There are many restaurants in Rio, and you can find something simpler. But here's my advice to you - never go to restaurants in Copacabana. Everything here is terribly tasteless and expensive.

The cost of a caipirinha in a beach bar is 8-10 reais (about 3-4 dollars), but in a bar the price will be 25 reais (8 dollars).

Freshly squeezed juice in juice bars (such bars are a specialty of Rio, they are scattered throughout the city) - from 5 reais (2 dollars).

To summarize, I’ll say that both holidays in Rio de Janeiro and prices are all at top level! :-)

Clue:

Cost of food, accommodation, transportation and other things

Currency: Euro, € US Dollar, $ Russian Ruble, Rub Brazilian Real, R$

Main attractions. What to see

Rio is a real treasure trove of cultural and natural wonders, interesting and unusual city routes.

There is a list of places that are absolutely MUST SEE:

• Statue of Christ the Redeemer.

• Sugar Loaf.
• Botanical Garden.
• Tijuca Forest.
• Maracanã Stadium.
• Art Museum of Art.
• National Library (the largest in all of South America).

By the way, the beaches in Rio are also among the attractions. Be sure to visit the beaches " Ipanema, Copacabana, Leblon, Flamengo» and you will see that each of them has its own unique atmosphere.

Walk through the world's largest urban national park Tijuca Park and you will be pleasantly surprised to meet cute, but very arrogant coatis, impressed by giant eucalyptus trees and signs that warn about dangerous and insidious snakes. By the way, the Statue of Christ - the most legendary monument in Rio de Janeiro - is located at the top of this park, and if you dare to get to it on foot (too long and hot), you will have indescribable emotions and the most beautiful pictures.

Once in the Lapa quarter, be sure to take the Bondinho (an old wooden tram) that will take you up to the area of ​​the rich and mansions - Santa Teresa.
And if you want to experience the real life of the slums, then take a motorcycle taxi and go to the favelas. At one's own risk.

Don't forget to watch the stars of South America through a telescope at the Rio de Janeiro Planetarium. Remember that all museums have free days to visit, which will make your holiday in Rio de Janeiro more budget-friendly.

And you can easily avoid queues at various museums and, most importantly, at the statue of Christ, by using the service fast track, which is offered by several local travel companies, for example, Matuete. The cost of this service is about $40 per person.

Top 5

Statue of Christ the Redeemer

Just as the alphabet begins with the letter “A,” so the top list of Rio attractions begins with the Statue of Christ the Redeemer, which is not only the main symbol of Rio de Janeiro, but also the main identifying sign of Brazil as a whole.

My local friends told me that the monument was erected thanks to the efforts of one very rich man as a sign of his gratitude to the City of God, in which he was able to get rich. The official version says that the Statue was erected to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Brazil's independence. I trust my friends more, because Rio is a city of miracles.

The statue itself in Rio de Janeiro is located on top national park Tijuca, and its height is about 38 meters. You can get there by special tourist train, minibus, car or on foot. The last option is for the most desperate travelers - you will have to walk for a long time and in the heat, but you will have the most stunning views of the city, plus you will explore the world's largest city national park.

We didn’t know about the fast track service, which I talked about above, so we spent 4 hours in 3 queues under the scorching sun!!! When, after all this hell, we found ourselves at the statue, I wanted to cry. Such a number of people as there were around the statue could probably only have been in the main Bombay market. It's horrible.

Try to focus on the magnificence of the monument. Because the figure of Christ emits truly powerful energy, which easily spreads to a million Chinese people around. Both this energy and these stunning views justify any torment. It is not for nothing that the monument is included in the list of modern wonders of the world.

• Opening hours: daily from 8:30 – 17:00.
• Price: Admission for adults is 51 reais ($16).

For up-to-date information on opening hours and costs, see the Rio de Janeiro Metro website.

Read more about the Statue of Christ the Redeemer at.

Lapa & Escadaria Selarón

The Lapa district is geographically located in the central part of the city, and despite the fact that there are always a lot of tourists here, it has not lost its very special flavor.

The Lapa quarter is a kind of Parisian Montmartre, an area where artists, poets, dancers and other creative personalities have found refuge. At night on the streets of Lapa everyone dances samba and sings bossa nova. Do you want to go to the carnival? This carnival is here all year round.

In one of the alleys you will find Selarone staircase (EscadariaSelaron) . Just ask any passerby - everyone knows where it is.

In 2013, the artist was found dead on his stairs. They say that one of his own students killed him out of envy. Jorge Selarone is still alive in the hearts of people, and his staircase has become one of the best examples of Brazilian modern art.

Visiting the staircase is free.

Santa Teresa and the Bondinho

Santa Teresa is a district of mansions. Remember the series “Tropicana”, “Wild Rose”? So everything there looks the same - rich houses, rose fences, labyrinthine streets and gorgeous views of Guanabara Bay.

The best time to go to Santa Teresa is after a walk through the Lapa district. From here this can be done in a completely unusual way - using “bondinho”. This is what cariocas (locals) call the old wooden tram, which has been transporting people from one area to another for decades.

In theory, the tram departs every 20 minutes from the Carioca metro station. But this is only in theory. In fact, the tram follows only him known schedule. The tram does not have a website, and I generally doubt that this type of transport functions officially. The opening hours are not written at the entrance, but I know one thing for sure: at exactly 16:00 the tram stops moving (the first time we decided to take a ride at about 5 pm and came to the closed doors of the station). He also does not make routes after rain. We were convinced of this when we came to the station for the second time :-). And only for the third time luck smiled on us.

You sit in one of 5 wooden trailers, the benches are distributed equally between tourists and cariocas. The tram climbs up the hillside, deftly maneuvering between beautiful mansions with colorful fences and ancient buildings, the architectural appearance of which quietly takes us to Rio of past centuries. Winding through the labyrinth of old streets, the tram periodically pampers passengers with views from the cliff of the sea in Rio de Janeiro. Undoubtedly, this was one of the most romantic and extraordinary trips of my life.

Sugar Loaf (Pão de Açúcar)

Sugarloaf is a mountain called Pão de Açúcar, and its height reaches almost 400 m. It is called so because it supposedly looks like a piece of sugar. The essence of the visit is that you take a cable car to the top of this mountain.

During this time, the traveler will have 3 stops at different heights - Praia Vermelha, Urca and the top of the mountain itself.

You definitely need to go here to see the sunset. And if you are lucky and the sky is cloudless, you will fall into a trance from the beauty around you. By the way, there are no crazy crowds of tourists here. You can relax, sit on a chair, drink a can of beer and enjoy your stay in Rio. The views from the top are stunning. Everything is as in the picture, honestly.

• Opening hours: 8:10 – 21:00. Funiculars depart every 20 minutes.
• Cost of the funicular ride: 62 reais (almost 20 dollars). This price includes all 3 ascents and 3 descents.

Favelas (FAVELS)

Favelas are poor people's neighborhoods scattered haphazardly throughout the city. For some reason, the incredible piles of houses on the mountain are fascinating.
Each favela is like a separate state with its own orders, structure, drug lords, schools, hospitals. Have you seen the movie "City of God"? This is exactly how the poor people's neighborhoods here actually work.

Favelas are an acute social phenomenon, which personally does not frighten me so much as makes me empathize with the inhabitants of these neighborhoods. The number of people living in Rio de Janeiro's favelas is alarming! Millions of people. From year to year, the state ignores the problems of communities, and sometimes their very existence, deprives the inhabitants of even minimal social support and thereby condemns the poor to earn their bread through crimes.

In these areas, poverty, not carnival, rules the roost. Rarely does a tourist get to see this side of the city. Looking into a favela is a dangerous undertaking and can sometimes cost your life. But not looking here means not understanding anything about the city. Because Rio is not only beaches, samba and mansions with beautiful fences. Rio is a city of completely different destinies, a carnival city in which millions of people are doomed to starvation.

Beaches. Which ones are better

The most famous and beautiful beaches of Rio de Janeiro () are Ipanema, Copacabana, Leblon.

• "Ipanema"– in my opinion, this is the most amazing beach in Rio de Janeiro. Azure, turquoise water, view of the Two Brothers rocks, seagulls overhead. The elite crowd of Rio de Janeiro hangs out here, and surprisingly there are not as many tourists as in Copacabana, for example. Cape Aproador, which separates the beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana, deserves special attention. As soon as the sun begins to sink behind the mountain, all the locals gather on the cape to watch the sunset. Take a bottle of good wine from the nearest store and be sure to come here. I close my eyes and see those sunsets and hear a beautiful cariocas girl singing “Girl from Ipanema” with a guitar. Read more.

• "Copacabana" is a four-kilometer public beach. And there is no such person who would not dream of being in Copacabana. I dreamed too. And what I will say is that Copacabana Beach is beautiful from afar. In fact, it is very dirty, and the waves are so high that every step in the ocean must be carefully thought out, otherwise you simply won’t be able to swim. They say that you can often see celebrities here, but I didn’t meet them, but there are more than enough dubious-looking people on the beach. On the outskirts of the beach is the Copacabana Fortress, which houses the Army Historical Museum, where you can see German submarines from the early 20th century. Details.

• "Leblon» – this beach is a continuation of Ipanema and at the same time is considered the most respectable beach in the city of God. It's good to come here on Sunday, when Copacabana and Ipanema are crowded. After all, all city residents spend their weekends on the beach :-)

If you are a fan of surfing, then go to the beaches " Barra de Tijuca» And " Recreo» . High waves are guaranteed here all year round.

By the way, about the waves. If you want to enjoy their absence and the silence of the sea, then you will like it beach "Urka"» , which is located at the foot of Sugar Loaf.

Churches and temples. Which ones are worth visiting?

In Rio de Janeiro, everyone believes in God; it is not for nothing that this metropolis is called the City of God. Within the city there are a huge number of churches, temples and monasteries. I will highlight the most beautiful and significant for the city residents.

• Temple of Saint Zenaide is a magnificent, incredibly cozy Orthodox church, the history of which begins in the 19th century. After the 1917 revolution, many Russian emigrants found refuge in Rio de Janeiro. Every Russian family invested money in the construction of this church. It is located in the beautiful Santa Teresa area, people come here to rest their souls, pray, and think about the main thing. I highly recommend taking the time to visit this church. On the temple website you can see the opening hours, learn more about the history of its creation and much more.

Museums. Which ones are worth visiting?

There are a lot of museums in the city. To see them all, I advise you to apply for permanent residence in the City of God. I’ll tell you about the most iconic ones and also about the most unusual ones, where tourists usually never set foot. In Rio de Janeiro, attractions can be found where you might not expect them.

Art Museum ()

There are a lot of tourists in this museum. And this is not surprising, because there is a huge collection of works from the greatest masters of this world. Particularly interesting are the exhibitions of African and Brazilian art.

• Address: Av. Rio Branco, 199 - Centro.
• Opening hours: Tue-Fri 10.00 – 17.00. On Sunday admission is free. On other days, 8 reais ($2.30) per person.

Or it is also called “the museum of tomorrow.” The fact that this is a museum of the future is immediately clear; the architect of the building, Santiago Calatrava, seemed to have flown into space and spied how everything worked there. As for the exhibitions, you will find various media panels, interactive things and other high-tech interests. I highly recommend taking a look here.

• Address: Praça Mauá, 1 - Centro.
• Opening hours: Tue-Sun, 10.00 – 17.00. On Saturdays admission is free, on other days 10 reais ($3) per person.

Modern Art Museum ()

Everything here is like in all IOM museums around the world - many exhibits of contemporary art, with preference given to Brazilian creators. This museum was designed by the famous Brazilian architect Afonso Reidy.

• Address: Av. Infante Dom Henrique, 85 - Parque do Flamengo.
• Opening hours: Tue-Fri 12:00-18: 00. Tickets cost 14 reais (5 dollars).

Gallery of Contemporary Carioca Art ()

This is perhaps the most popular gallery in Rio de Janeiro among art lovers. There are very interesting collections of famous and completely unknown local pen artists here.

• Address: Rua Gonçalves Lédo, 11 e 17 - Centro.
• Working hours: Mon-Fri t 12:00-19:00. WITH Ticket prices vary and depend on the specific exhibition. On average it varies from 2 to 12 reais (1-5 dollars).

All the museums listed above are classics of the genre. Everyone knows about them, everyone includes them in the program. Below is a list of places you should definitely check out if you want something like this.

School of the Arts ()

It’s like it’s not really a museum, but a functioning art school. This school is a real palace, already dilapidated for a long time, but not devoid of dignity. It is located on the territory of a real jungle, despite the fact that this jungle is located almost in the middle of the city. You can go inside and walk around the school, this is where you will see real contemporary art, without refined frames and established cliches. But the most important thing is the flocks of divine toucans, who, sitting on the balconies of the palace, protect the young masters from failure.

• Address: R. Jardim Botânico, 414 - Jardim Botânico.
• Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10:00 -16:00. Free admission.

Aunt Rose's legendary samba school (Grêmio Recreativo Escola de Samba Unidos de Vila Isabel)

Dona Rosa is an outstanding old lady. We wish all of us girls could be like this old lady. There is fire in the eyes, a smile on the lips, samba in the movements. Do you want to know where the most incendiary dance in the world begins and how the carnival works? Come to the Vila Isabel school and they will show and tell you everything. True, the conversation will be in Portuguese. But don’t let this scare you, I assure you, everything will be clear, because samba knows no language barriers. If you're lucky, you'll catch Rosa, whose team, by the way, regularly wins the carnival.

• Address: Boulevard 28 de Setembro.
• Opening hours: no set opening hours. Try coming on a weekday afternoon. Admission is free, but tips for the development of the school are welcome :-)

Parks

Residents of Rio de Janeiro love to spend time outdoors - on the beach or in parks. Here's where to go for local flavor, so it’s in city parks, each of them has a special atmosphere, because citizens come here to take a breath and relax their souls. There are a lot of parks in the city, and they are stunning - with eucalyptus trees, bamboos, birds, butterflies and toucans.

The most famous, but without losing their charm:

• Flamengo Park. This park seems to reflect the serene Brazilian soul. The aroma of grilled meat is in the air (Cariocas often host barbecue parties), single visitors hum bossa nova to themselves, they play football on the grass, and build castles on the sand. Entrance is free, it is better not to walk at night. Address: Rua Brigadeiro, Eduardo Gomes, Flamengo. Metro: Largo de Machado or Catete.

• Park near Lake Rodrigo de Freitas. Here you can not only enjoy romantic walks along the alleys, but also take a boat or catamaran ride on the lake. It is especially pleasant to glide along the surface of the water in the evening, when the heat subsides; you can watch how the city smoothly plunges into twilight and the illumination washes over the river, as if in a wave. The boat will cost you 15 reals ($4.5) for 30 minutes. You can rent it at the Tretbootverleih Pier. Admission is free, boat rental is open from 10:00 to 20:00. Address: Avenida Epitacio Pessoa, Parque do Cantagalo, quiosque 20. Metro: Gal.Osorio.
• Botanical Garden . An absolute MUST SEE in Rio de Janeiro. Think for yourself where else you will see alleys of giant palm trees, a lake with delightful giant water lilies and white lilies, bamboo labyrinths and dozens of other exotic plants. By the way, the garden contains not only Brazilian vegetation, but also completely non-local vegetation, brought here from all over the world by Prince João VI, who in 1800 turned this garden into a royal park.
  A very important point - do not forget to take all available repellents with you, there are many more mosquitoes here than there are visitors. Opening hours: daily from 8 to 18, admission costs 6 reais (1.55 dollars) Address: R. Jardim Botânico, 1008 - Jardim Botânico. Metro: Botafogo + bus 170/172/176.

Tourist streets

The most important tourist streets in Rio are considered beaches “Ipanema”, “Copacabana”, “Leblon”» and their embankments with millions of boutiques, juice bars, beach markets and cozy restaurants. On such streets, the wind from the Atlantic always blows towards you, and passers-by compete for the most fashionable outfit, which here is, of course, a bikini.

Once in the city center, be sure to take a walk around the Cinelandia quarter. At the beginning of the 20th century, the mayor of Pereire Passuso demolished more than 700 residential buildings to create " little Paris" downtown. So come here and take a look at this one. It’s convenient to start your walk from the Cinelandia metro station in Floriano Square, surrounded by beautiful ancient palaces; the world famous Rio de Janeiro Theater is located next to the same square. The central streets of Rio de Janeiro are beautiful.

What to see in 1 day

It’s very sad if you only have one day in Rio, because in such a city a whole life is not enough. Well, there’s nothing to be done, I would plan 24 hours in the City of God like this:

• Morning (8-10 am). Travel to Ipanema and watch the city awaken. The best way to watch it is from a cozy cafe, where they will serve you coffee and signature cheese buns. You have 2 hours for breakfast, the ocean and a bikini.
• Late morning (10-12 am) When you leave the beach, don’t cry, because you have a whole day ahead of you, filled with searching for interesting things to do in Rio de Janeiro. The closest metro station to Ipanema is Gal. Osorio. Take the metro and you'll end up at Cinelandia station. And now you are in the historical center of the city, take a walk through the Cinelandia quarter and nearby streets - colonial houses, architectural monuments, beautiful churches, in general, everything that usually attracts the city center awaits you.
• Lunch (12:00-13:00) Have lunch at one of Lapa's restaurants. Feel free to order meat and beer!
• Afternoon (13:00-15:00) From the restaurant, walk to Carioca metro station. Here is the stop of the local old Bondinho tram, which with a slight rattle will take you to the bohemian district of Santa Teresa mansions. Along the way you will enjoy magnificent views of Guanabara Bay.
• Day (15:00-18:00) After you leave the tram, quickly go to Sugar Loaf (Botafogo metro), where you should definitely catch the beginning of sunset. If the sky is cloudless, I guarantee it will be the most incredible sunset of your life.
• Evening (18:00-22:00) If you have time, and especially if you are a football fan, I advise you to buy tickets for the match, which takes place at the Maracanã stadium. An amazing game of Brazilian teams, tears, joy, a thousand emotions in one bottle awaits you. Tickets are inexpensive, and the game schedule can be viewed on the stadium's website.

What to see in the area

Nearby Islands

Lost 120 km from Rio is an amazing tropical Ilha Grande island. This is a real green patch of Amazonia in the middle of the ocean and one of the most beautiful places in Brazil, and maybe throughout South America.

Ilya Grande is like an island from the books of Jules Verne. The Tupinamba Indians once lived here, and the paths they laid can still be used for walking.

The main attraction of Ilha Grande is wild nature And beautiful beaches. Take a water taxi (it costs pennies here) and go on a tour of Ilha Grande Bay with its many islands, wild beaches, waterfalls and other wonders of nature. In the village of Abrau, located in the middle of virgin forests, you can rent a room in a small house and enjoy the sunset in one of the local restaurants in the evenings. By the way, there are no ATMs on the island and only cash is accepted. Don't forget about it.

How to get there

From Rio de Janeiro you need to take a bus from the train station to the Rodoviaria Novo Rio station (Costa Verde bus company) to the Conceicao de Jacarei stop, and then by ferry. Ferries depart daily (about 5 departures per day). Mono tickets can be purchased directly on the spot, costing about 15 reais (5 dollars) per person.

Food. What to try

Rio has never laid claim to being the country's gourmet gastronomic capital. I wouldn’t be surprised if there isn’t one like this in Brazil at all. Everything here is simple, satisfying, sometimes tasty, sometimes not.
In this city you have to eat meat. It is correct, juicy, awesome. My friend, a vegetarian, once admitted over a glass of Burgundy that she doesn’t eat meat anywhere except Brazil and Argentina. You can eat meat here in a variety of variations, but to avoid mistakes, I advise you to just take steak. As a rule, it is served with vegetables and French fries.
Street food deserves special attention in Rio. I still remember the scent Pão de queijo de tapioca(round cheese buns), which is simply in the air in Rio. Every morning I devoured them in quantities of at least 7 pieces. By the way, the balls can also be fish. And they are also very tasty. Are called « Bolinhos de bacalhau» .
A dish with the oriental name “feijoada” is also popular in Rio. It is generally considered a traditional Brazilian treat, and was previously the food of slaves. The ingredients are as follows - beans, meat and whatever comes to hand. You will find this dish in restaurants and street stalls. I wouldn't say it's very tasty, but, without a doubt, interesting :-)
In downtown, next to the Carioca station, very colorful Brazilian women entice all passers-by with shrimp sandwiches. It looks very tasty, but Vadik did not allow me to try it because of the suspicious green sauce. This sandwich is called empada. If you're in Rio, eat 2! :-)

Drinks deserve special attention in Rio de Janeiro. I think everyone knows about caipirinha. Local alcohol, which is sold at every turn, is a mixture of cachaça (Brazilian vodka), lime, cane sugar and sometimes mint. Very tasty and very drunk. After 3 days, this cocktail is impossible to look at. Another thing - tangerine caipirinha. In one of the bars on Lapa, I met a resident of Sao Paulo, and she advised me to order it. As a rule, tangerine caipirinha is not on the menu and bartenders make this drink at the request of those in the know. Be sure to try it - this is an amazing cocktail that never gets boring.
I would classify the juice bars of Rio de Janeiro as gastronomic wonders. They are scattered throughout the city and offer visitors to try a variety of exotic juices. Where else will you have the opportunity to enjoy drinks made from acerola, graviola and acai?

Budget

1. Delírio Tropical, a chain of restaurants around the city.
2. "Baixo Gago", Laranjeiras.
3. "Bar do Adão", a chain of restaurants around the city.
4. "Corujão", Benfica.

Mid-level

1. "Tacacá do Norte", Flamengo.
2. "Botero", Laranjeiras.
3. "Point Lunches", Tabajaras.
4. "Fat Choi", Gloria.

Expensive

1. "Pergula", Copacabana.
2. "Lasai", Botafogo.
3. "Olympe", Lagoa.
4. "Quiteria Restaurante", Ipanema.

Holidays

The most important holiday in Rio de Janeiro is February.

It is in February that the world-famous carnival in Rio de Janeiro starts annually, photos of which are replete with all the magazines. And this, of course, is a magnificent show with its own traditions, which has no analogues. The essence of the event is that all citizens and guests of the city dress up in bright dance costumes and go out into the street to watch the competition of the best samba dance schools. All groups of speakers move on special platforms; each school is allocated about 80 minutes to perform.

If samba has been tapping out naughty steps in your soul for a long time, then visiting the carnival will become a pearl in your travel treasure. That's where you'll find the mass useful information, life hacks and tips on how to organize your trip to the carnival.

As for me, I adore samba and yet I decided not to go to the carnival! :-) Because it's very expensive. And I also don’t like tourists, and a carnival definitely involves crowds of people. During my stay in Rio, I made local friends, and all of them (being of different age categories, gender and financial status) admitted that they were trying to leave the city during the carnival. In addition to the madness that is happening on the streets, prices increase tenfold, as does the crime rate, unfortunately. My Brazilian friends also reported that the place of a tourist at a carnival is invariably on the side, in a crowd of completely different people, often vulgarly drunk and literally dangerous. So it goes.

The carnival is very beautifully depicted in fantasy, but in reality it can disappoint with its turmoil, as it disappointed many of my friends who nevertheless decided to attend this celebration of life. Therefore, I advise you to weigh the pros and cons of such a trip. And I also want to inform you that the spirit of carnival always reigns in Rio. Only in other months this spirit is not associated with crowds of tourists.

Safety. What to watch out for

Rio is a beautiful city, but dangerous. I advise you to always be alert and, when going on long walks, not to take all your jewelry with you. Your earrings will instantly cease to belong to you - such are the clever street scammers here.

I admit, I looked at Rio through rose-colored glasses and nothing bad happened - no scenes with robbery and shootings. But I assure you, this is not uncommon in Rio, as evidenced by the experience of my fellow travelers and the stories of local friends. Take care of yourself in this city and be attentive to others!

Things to do

When you're in Rio, your soul feels like it's in flight. You feel like a seagull, relaxingly soaring in the streams of a cloudless sky. And it seems to me that not making a real flight in this city is a crime!
And here are a couple of options that will become a unique experience in your life.

• Hang gliding flight. Well, I highly recommend it. You will not just see the city from a bird's eye view, but you will also feel like a real bird. The emotions that such a flight will give you are difficult to describe in words; such adrenaline awaits you that it will be enough for another year without traveling. The stunning views of the City of God will appear in the palm of your hand: the Statue of Christ the Redeemer, and Sugarloaf, and the green peaks of the Tijuca National Park, and, of course, the outlines of all the beaches with the turquoise waters of the Atlantic Ocean. There are many companies in the city that offer flights. I advise you to contact one of these agencies in advance, because this is a very popular entertainment among tourists and cariocas. I can recommend a local company, Matuete, or ask your hotel concierge.
  WITH The cost of a tandem flight is not small - from $150 per person. True, this price already includes transfers from the hotel to Tijuca Park (it is from here that the flight starts from the Pedro Bonita ramp), entry tickets to the park, insurance and the flight itself (about 12 minutes in the air). Believe me, it's worth it!

Shopping and shops

Along Ipanema and Copacabana there are many boutiques where you can buy beautiful clothes from Brazilian and leading world brands. Everything is VERY expensive. The city also has shopping centers, and if necessary you can buy any clothes. But Rio, comrades, is not a place to hunt for brands. The only thing worth buying are Havaianas brand slippers, which are sold in shops throughout the city. Well, sneakers from the Rainha brand, which you wear for 10 years.

Pay attention to antique and art stores. Here you can buy truly outlandish and unusual things. I recommend checking out these shops:

1. L.A.VEREDAHANDICRAFTS. A rich selection of paintings by local artists, clay figurines from the state of Pernambuco, bright Bondo-style T-shirts. Address: R. Alm. Alexandrino, 428 - Santa Teresa.Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 20:00. There is no website.
2. PE DE BOI . This seems to be the best store for art lovers. You can even just come here to have a look, the store is like a gallery. Rare works by artists from the Amazon and other distant corners of Brazil are collected here. Address: R. Ipiranga, 55 – Laranjeiras.Opening hours: daily except Sunday from 10 to 19.
3. PLANOB. This is the place where you can dig up both old jazz records and modern CDs with the best music of Brazilian musicians. DJ parties are often held on weekends. See the poster on the website. Address: R. Francisco Muratori, 2 - Santa Teresa.Opening hours: check the website, they change all the time.

Bars. Where to go

One of the best and most atmospheric bars where they play and dance samba is.
It opens at 10 pm, and by this time there is already a line out front to get in. Admission is paid, it costs about $10. At the same time, you will be given a bracelet, and you can enter and exit as often as you like. But you won’t want to go out – such a captivating atmosphere and amazing music. At the same time, there are a lot of people here aged 45+, mostly Brazilians, everyone is dressed very beautifully and tastefully. Address: Av. Mem de Sá, 79 – Centro.

The bar is no less colorful. The regulars are local artists, drinking draft beer and listening to quiet samba. But in the evening the decibel level rises sharply and the bar fills with partygoers of all sorts. Address: R. Áurea, 26 - Santa Teresa.

And here I am attaching a list great places:

1. Lapa 40 Graus(R. Riachuelo, 97 - Centro, Rio de Janeiro).
2. Jazz In(R. Sacadura Cabral, 63).
3. Bar Bukowski(R. Álvaro Ramos, 270 - Botafogo).
4. Bla Bla Champanheria(Av. Érico Veríssimo, 843 - Barra da Tijuca).

Clubs and nightlife

Rio seems to be made for party people. You can trust me in this matter, I am like that myself.

People come to Lapa for non-stop fun, alcohol and samba. In the labyrinth of small streets and dilapidated buildings, bossa nova thunders, and after 12 or more incendiary tunes. The coolest thing is that the music here is live. Dancing in Rio de Janeiro until the morning - in bars, near bars, on the street, in other words, everywhere and absolutely everything.

The party scene in Rio de Janeiro at night is concentrated mainly in bars. But there are also a couple of excellent clubs with parties “for the rich”. Celebrities often come here on vacation; everyone is dressed beautifully and stylishly. And still the main leitmotif is samba until the morning.

And here’s another thing I want to say: during the day there is also a party in Rio de Janeiro. The beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema are at your service.

Extreme Sports

The most extreme sports in Rio de Janeiro are perhaps hang gliding and surfing.

I have already written in detail about hang gliders in the “What to do” section. As for surfing, it is very popular in Rio. The waves here are year-round, but the structure is quite difficult if you are a beginner.

If you are an experienced surfer, then take a board and go to the beaches of Recreo or Barra de Tijuca. On the beaches you can find equipment rental points, which always have experienced instructors. Lesson cost is negotiable :-)

Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

Havaianas slippers

These are the best slippers ever. Already on the second day of my stay in Rio, my legs claimed first-degree disability, such were the consequences of a 30-kilometer walk in the pouring rain in Tijuca. I decided that this was a completely worthy excuse to beg Vadik for new shoes. And so we went to the Havaianas shop (they are everywhere in Rio). Millions of models of beach shoes, sneakers, and slip-ons opened up to my greedy gaze. The prices are super reasonable. Good slip-ons can be purchased for 75 reais ($20). In Brazil, everyone wears these shoes, and this is not surprising, because they will not cause you the slightest discomfort and look bright and stylish.

Musical record by Chico Buarca

Chico Buarqui is a legendary Brazilian singer, actor, public figure and just a beautiful man. His music is magical. Buy his CD for yourself and it will remain in your heart forever. The song Bye Bye, Brasil still makes me cry. A wonderful gift for music lover friends. The price of the record is from 50 reais (15 dollars).

Natural cosmetics Granado

The most natural, most Brazilian cosmetics. It is famous primarily for its glycerin soaps. But there are also body lotions and much more. The persistent smell of exotic plants, fruits and freshness will give you a Brazilian mood every day. Prices start from 5 reais (2 dollars). And here are them.

How to get around the city

The cheapest way to get around in Rio is by public transport, the safest way is by taxi, and the most pleasant thing is by bicycle.

A one-way bus ride costs from 2.7 to 5 reais (1-3 dollars), by metro - 4.1 reais (2 dollars).

By the way, the metro has a Subway + MetrôRio bus service ticket, which includes one trip on the metro and one on a special bus. Cost – 4.1 reais (2 dollars).

A taxi ride in the center starts from 30 reais (10 dollars) - this is the basic fare.

And along the city’s beaches I advise you to ride bikes. Rent a bike for 2 hours about 15 reais (5 dollars).

Taxi. What features exist

Undoubtedly the safest and most convenient form of transport. Cars run throughout the city. You can catch it right on the street or call it through the "easy taxi" app. There are 2 types of taxis – yellow and white. Yellow - you are driving through traffic. White – fixed tariff.

There are also motorcycle taxis in the city, their stations are mainly based at the foot of the favelas.

How to get from Galeo International Airport to the city center by taxi

At the exit of the main terminal you will see a row of white taxis that operate on fixed traffic. All machines will say "100 reais" ($30) or a number similar to this. This is the price of a trip to the city center.

There is also an official city taxi stand at the airport (all cars are yellow). Price is negotiable - you can take a fixed rate or by meter.

How to get from Santos Dumont Airport to the city center by taxi

In the airport building at the exit there are city taxi stands. You go to any one, name the final destination, and they tell you the cost. You pay. The driver will already be waiting for you on the street. The cost of a trip to the center (the airport itself is located in the center) is 70 reais ($20).

Trams

In Rio, I found only one tram - the Bondinho, running from Lapa to Santa Teresa. I talked about him earlier. However! During my stay in the city, rails were laid throughout the center. I assume for the tram. But at the moment tram traffic still no.

Metro

The Rio de Janeiro Metro is convenient, has modern stations, and is very easy to navigate. The metro is divided into 2 lines: orange (Linha 1) and green (Linha 2). I advise you to actively use the metro website, there is interactive map, with which you can understand how to get from point A to point B.

In addition, on the site you will find information about all the main attractions of the city, including descriptions, current entry prices, opening hours and how to get to them by metro.

And one more thing - the metro in Rio is damn cold, take a blouse with you or something.

Buses

There are a lot of buses in the city, especially in the center, and they are all constantly crowded with citizens. However, such invaluable advantages as a dedicated lane and low ticket prices give this mode of transport enormous advantages. By the way, on the buses you can watch local residents, believe me, this is very interesting.

It is almost impossible to understand the numbering of buses and their directions without prior preparation. My advice is to always plan your route to a particular part of the city in advance and find out what bus number you need. A sign to help.

How to get from the international airport to the city center by bus

From Galeão Rio De Janeiro Airport to the city center it is about 14 km.
We arrived at 5:40 am and were in absolutely no hurry. So we decided to go by bus. At the exit terminal 2 yellow buses stop. If you need to go to the city center, follow the sign “CAPACABANA”. This bus travels through the entire center and stops at every stop. Show the driver your address and he will stop as close to the desired address as possible. The fare is about $1.50 per person (4 reais).

In theory, it would take 40 minutes from the airport to the Capacabana stop, but we got stuck in every possible traffic jam and were only there a couple of hours later.

Transport rental

Cars

My opinion is this: it is better to do without a car in Rio and not bother with renting. Traffic in the City of God is intense, the geography of the city is insanely difficult to quickly understand, there is no parking, and the fines are large. Well, there are also a large number of cases of car robbery.

If you still decide to rent a car, then it’s better to rent from local companies, the price will be 10 percent lower. You can look at prices in advance and monitor promotional offers. Don't forget to take your international driver's license and credit card. When you register your car, you will be provided with insurance at the rate of approximately $12 per day. A cash deposit is sometimes required at the discretion of the moving company.

Bicycles

Renting bicycles in Rio is very cool. There are various rental companies located along the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema. I advise you to find the points. These bikes are free for the first hour, and if you rent for the whole day you will only pay 5 reais ($1.50).

To rent such a bike, you need to have with you mobile phone and 300 reais ($95) for credit card(will be temporarily blocked as collateral).

Rio de Janeiro - holidays with children

Rio de Janeiro is a great destination for a holiday with children.

Believe me, your little overlords will be absolutely delighted with the exotic nature of this city. After all, here they will meet toucans, monkeys, coatis, pelicans and other terribly cute animals. I am sure that children will see this sunny metropolis exactly as it is shown in the cartoon Rio!

Still, there are obvious obstacles and difficulties that you need to think about before taking your children to Rio.

• Firstly, a tiring long flight. After all, in total you will spend at least 16 hours on airplanes. Will your fidget survive such an adventure?
• And secondly, do not forget that Rio is a city in the middle of the jungle, where any mosquito bite can have consequences even for an adult. And there are a lot of mosquitoes here, as well as other insects, flying and crawling. Have you heard about the Zico virus? So, it seems that I got sick from it during the trip. He appeared out of nowhere and just as suddenly disappeared. But for 3 days I was in a severe fever, lying with a temperature of +39.