Languages: Portuguese, English, French
Best Time to Visit: Throughout the year
Time Zone: UTC-3/-2
Driving Side: Right Side
Main Attractions: Christ the Redeemer, Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, Barra da Tijuca, Copacabana, Casa do Pontal, Monumento Nacional aos Mortos da II Guerra Mundial
Rio de Janeiro is the second largest city in Brazil. Commonly referred to as Rio, it was once the capital of the state of Brazil. The city is famous for its spectacular natural beauty, carnival celebrations, sensual samba dance and picturesque beaches. Apart from this, the magnanimous statue of Jesus, known as the Christ Redeemer located on Avocado Mountain, has recently been included in the Seven Wonders of the World. Thus, the city offers a lot for its visitors in terms of tourist attractions. To know more about the things to do and places to see in Rio de Janeiro, read on.
Sightseeing
Some of the noteworthy places in Rio de Janiero include Avocado Mountain, atop which the famous Christ the Redeemer statue is located. Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas is a beautiful lake and a nice place to relax. It offers many recreational and leisure activities for the visitors. There are also a number of shopping and entertainment spots here. Barra da Tijuca is a favorite beach spot for surfers and swimmers. Moreover, it is also packed with trendy restaurants, bars and discos.
Copacabana is also a famous beach area of the city and also hosts the annual New Year’s Celebration. Casa do Pontal is a popular museum here, which displays a wide collection of Brazilian folk art. There are over 5000 sculptures by more than 200 artists from different regions. Monumento Nacional aos Mortos da II Guerra Mundial is a memorial to those soldiers who lost their lives during the World War II.
Parks and Squares
Rio de Janiero is laced with a number of parks and squares. The Rio de Janiero Botanical Garden is a magnificent park that was founded in the 19th century. The Zoological Garden of Rio de Janeiro is also worth visiting. Parque Lage contains a sprawling area covered with woodlands, gardens, aquaria and children’s playground. Tijuca Forest is the world’s first largest urban rainforest and is a major tourist spot.
Entertainment
There is no dearth of entertainment options in Rio de Janeiro. The Brazilian carnival is an annual celebration, held before 40 days of Easter. Other famous carnivals are Cordão do Bola Preta, Suvaco do Cristo, Carmelitas, Simpatia é Quase Amor and Banda de Ipanema. New Year is a major event in Rio and is held with great pomp and show. The firework display is the major attraction here. Moreover, Rio is famous for its sassy nightlife. There are a number of nightclubs, bars and pubs here, which are known for their parties and are frequented by many celebrities.
