Attractions in Rio de Janeiro
Copacabana
Copacabana is a large suburb of Rio and best known for its wide and four kilometer long sandy beach. It is visited by all layers of the population more than the other beaches and is popular with both residents and tourists. Strong currents can be dangerous for swimmers, but there is an excellent lifeguard service.
Address: Rio de Janeiro
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
Corcovado (hump)
The Corcovado or Hump Mountain, so called for its shape, is probably Rio’s most memorable landmark – the Cristo Redentor statue (Christ the Redeemer).
Her arms boldly stretched out to greet her, she embraces the city and the magnificent bay that can be overlooked from here. The idea for this monument, which is known all over the world, was born in 1921 when Brazil wanted to use it to honor the country’s newly won independence.
Today the statue, inaugurated in 1931, is an extremely popular visitor attraction, and from the 710 m high mountain on which it stands you can get one of the city’s most scenic impressions. The French sculptor Paul Landowski was responsible for this statue, which stands on an eight-meter-high platform with a chapel that holds 150 people.
When the weather is good you have a breathtaking view over the bay and various barrios (areas). within a few minutes, however, clouds can appear and obscure the view of this area – for just a few minutes or even several hours.
During the darkness, a floodlight illuminates the figure and offers a spectacular sight to everyone in the Zona Sul area.
Address: Rio de Janeiro
Telephone: (021) 558 13 29
Opening hours: Daily from 8.30 a.m. to 7 p.m. December-February until 8.30 p.m.
Website: http://www.corcovado.com.br
Entrance fee: Yes.
Disabled access: No
UNESCO: No
Ipanema
The most cosmopolitan and richest area is Ipanema, a mix of restaurants, discos, nightclubs and luxury apartments. Chic boutiques, art galleries, theaters and cinemas abound just as much as pretty people.
The most famous beauty was immortalized in the song “The Girl from Ipanema”. Schoolgirl Heloisa Pinheiro captured composer Tom Jobim and lyricist Vinicius de Moraes as she passed the Velosa Bar every day on her way back from school.
The individual areas of the beach serve unofficially different interests. Young people mainly occupy the area in front of the Caesar Park Hotel, gays pass the time in the area between Rua Farme de Amoedo and Rua Teixeira de Melo and the older leftists, hippies and artists often visit Posto 9 – the “Girl from Ipanema Beach ”- which is commonly known as“ Cemeterio dos Elephantos ”(Elephant Cemetery). Shopping and sunbathing are popular pastimes.
Address: Rio de Janeiro
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
Maracana Stadium
This arena is the center of Brazilian football and is also officially known as the Mario Filho Stadium.
It was built for the final of the 1950 World Cup and was then the largest stadium in the world with a capacity of 200,000 people. Brazil is obsessed with football, and even local games are mostly sold out.
With an admission ticket, you can not only enjoy a football game, but also the stage-ready spectacle of Brazilian fans, who fully support their favorite team. The stadium is reminiscent of a coliseum and is a suitable place for fireworks, colorful flags, banners and the sounds of samba drums and pipes.
The stadium was the venue for various games and the final at the 2014 World Cup and was extensively renovated. It was also a venue for the 2016 Summer Olympics.
The stadium is currently closed to visitors because there is no longer a football club playing due to the high costs and because the stadium can no longer pay its electricity bills.
Address:
R. Prof. Eurico Rabelo, Rio de Janeiro
Phone: (21) 25 68 99 62.
Opening hours: Closed to visitors.
Website: http://www.suderj.rj.gov.br
Entry fee: Yes.
Disabled access: No
UNESCO: No
Parque Nacional da Tijuca
The 120 km² area in the Tijuca mountain range forms the only urban national park in Brazil. It is classified as one of the largest city parks in the world and borders Alta Boa Vista, Santa Teresa and a few other districts of Rio.
After the successful reforestation program, ocelots, howler monkeys and numerous, sometimes rare insects and reptiles live on this land again. Birds have benefited particularly, and bird watching is one of the park’s main attractions.
In addition to many leisure activities, the park also offers plenty of opportunities for eco and cultural tourism. Waterfalls, forests, ruins and fresh air make the park a wonderful place to relax or have a picnic.
Address:
Rio de Janeiro
Telephone: (021) 492 22 52/3.
Opening hours: Daily 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Entry fee: No.
Disabled access: No
UNESCO: No
Pão de Açúcar (Sugar Loaf Mountain)
The cone-shaped sugar loaf is located in Rios Urca Bairro and competes with the Corcovado for the visitor favor of the best panoramic view.
It was originally called Pau-nh-Açquá (high, pointed hill) by the Tupi Indians , but was renamed pao de acucar (Sugar Loaf Mountain) by the Portuguese because the shape of the 394 m high granite rock reminded them of the molds in which sugar cane was allowed to solidify.
In 1817, the English nanny Henrietta Carstairs was officially the first person – apart from the locals – to successfully conquer the mountain when she reached the summit. Mountaineers climb the rock regularly; however, the most popular way to reach the top is with the cable car that has been in operation since 1912.
The best time to visit is at sunset. There are also several safe trails in the wooded area, where marmosets find an ideal habitat, and you have the opportunity to leave a large number of tourists on the way to the hill.
Address: Rio de Janeiro
Telephone: (021) 546 84 00.
Opening hours: Daily 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Entry fee: Yes.
Disabled access: No
UNESCO: No
Tourist offices
Tourist information center
More tourist information and counters can be found in both airports and at Copacabana.
Alo Rio (Internet: www.alorio.com.br) is a Portuguese-language tourist information service.
Address: Centro
Rua México 125, Rio de Janeiro
Telephone: (21) 23 33 10 37
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Website: http://www.rioguiaoficial.com.br
Visitor passes
There are no special visitor passes.
