What to See in Rio de Janeiro Brazil Vacation

what to see in rio de janeiro

Whether you are headed to Brazil for a week long family vacation, or just adding a visit Rio de Janeiro to the beginning or end of a nearby trip, let me help you discover what to see in Rio de Janeiro.  There are lots of things to see and don’t miss Rio de Janeiro tourist attracations such as Christ the Redemer Statue, Copacabana beach, acable car ride up Sugarloaf Mountain for breathtaking panoramic views of the city, and more.  You will be left in awe at the beauty of this major South American city.

weather in rio

If you are planning a family vacation to Rio de Janeiro, there are a few things you’ll want to know before you go!

Firstly, getting to Rio de Janeiro is relatively easy as it is a major tourist destination. You can fly into the Galeão International Airport, which is well-equipped to handle international flights. Once you arrive, there are various transportation options available, such as taxis, buses, and ridesharing services.

In terms of language, Portuguese is the official language spoken in Brazil, including Rio de Janeiro. While many locals in tourist areas may speak some English, it can be helpful to learn a few basic Portuguese phrases to help you navigate the city more easily.

The currency used in Rio de Janeiro is the Brazilian Real (BRL). It is always a good idea to exchange some money before your trip, or withdraw cash from ATMs in the city. While electronic payment is widely accepted, having some cash ready is always a good idea.

When it comes to safety, Rio de Janeiro has a reputation for being a bit more dangerous than other cities. It is important to be aware of your surroundings and take precautions to keep yourself and your family safe. Stick to well-lit and populated areas, avoid wearing flashy jewelry, and be cautious with your belongings.

Lastly, the weather in Rio de Janeiro is generally warm and tropical year-round. However, the city can experience sudden rain showers, so it’s a good idea to pack an umbrella or rain jacket just in case. Don’t forget to pack sunscreen and hats to protect yourself from the sun while exploring the beautiful beaches and attractions.

rio de janeiro tours

We flew into Rio for a quick day before our antarctica vacation. It allowed us to get down to South America to make sure we didn’t miss our cruise, plus see Rio de Janeiro Brazil. Honestly, I didn’t have a lot of expectations for Brazil – I just wanted to see Christ the Redeemer Statue which is on the new 7 wonders of the world list.  Because we only had a day, and I wasn’t sure how comfortable I was visiting with our large family, we opted to take this Rio de Janeiro tour. I am so glad we took this tour because we quickly and effeciently learned all about this breathtakingly beautiful city and saw all the major sites in just 8 hours!  They picked us up from the airport, kept our luggage safe all day, and took us to all the must see tourist attractions, and then dropped us off at our hotel in the airport so we were ready for our fight down to Buenos Aires Argentina the next day.

As I mentioned before,I didn’t have many expectations for Rio other than wanting to see the world famous Christ the Redeemer Statue. So everything else was just a pleasant surprise! We happened to visit during Carnival, which really isn’t our families scene, so it made it crowded and more expensive.  The guide encouraged us to pre-book tickets to the major attractions because the line gets long. The lines were tremendous when we arrived and I’m so glad we pre-booked these two tickets before we left home. I highly suggest you do the same unless you want to spend half your visit in line! The tickets we got were: Skip the Line: Fast Pass Ticket Bondinho Pão de Açúcar (sugar loaf / cable car) and Skip the Line Christ the Redeemer Admission Ticket. Our guide said it was good our family wasn’t planning to go as Carnival can be dangerous, but if that is important to you and you do decide to go – look into this Carnival ticket and transfer option.

rio de janeiro what to see

Rio de Janeiro is a huge bustling city with lots of things to see. With just 1 day in Rio, we really had to stick to the most famous sites: Sugarloaf mountain, Christ the Redeemer Statue, quick stop at Cococabana Beach, and lunch at a Brazilian Steakhouse Churrascaria.

As it wasn’t time for timed entrance to Christ the Redemer yet, we go to see some other sites. We headed to an overlook of the city where we enjoyed hearing the stories of this mountain that looks like a lady is sleeping.

On our walk up we got to see some local vegetation like Jack fruit, wild bananas, wild potatoes, pineapple, and other varieties.

Then we got to see some beautiful, picturesque overlooks of Cococabana beach.

And a great spot for some pictures!

visit rio de janeiro

We got to step foot on the famous Cococabana beach in the morning before it got busy! It was so beautiful with the mountains around it – so much more lovely than I thought it would be. If you want to have time to enjoy the beaches and some other sites you will need to play to stay at least a couple days. We only had a quick day to see the highlights so we moved on quickly.

Favela Rio

Our guide pointed out the faveleas in the distance as we drove by. He explained some of the history of these favelas that dates back to the late 19th century when former slaves and migrants settled in the city and built homes in these hills due to lack of affordable housing. Currently, many of these favelas lack basic infrastructure such as proper sanitation, clean water, and adequate access to health and education services. According to the Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística, approximately 24% of Rio’s population lives in these informal settlements.

rio de janeiro tourist attractions

Now we made our way through the city on our way to Christ the Redeemer Statue.  Unless you take a helicopter ride or have a done (illigal at the statue itself) you wont be able to capture a picture like above, but I wanted you get an idea of how the statue fits witht he city and the breathtaking beauty that surrounds it.

Christ, The Redeemer Monument has outstretched arms over the city of Rio de Janeiro with the beautiful Corcovado Mountains beyond it. It is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and a must-see spot do travelers.

If you haven’t pre-bought christ the redeemer tickets we would have waited for over an hour in line. Thankfully we had our tickets and made our way right to the front of the que to take the train up.

When you get to the top you will follow the path up with all the many other eager tourists to see the Christ the Redeemer monument. There is an elevator which will save you some walking for those that need it. Then you will take the escalator up.

Christ the Redeemer statue

The momument sits on a landing you can walk all around. You can go down to the lower platform for a little better view of the statue.  It is really big.  In case you are wondering, the height of Christ the Redeemer is about 125 feet including the pedastal, but because of its location at the top of a mountain that is 2,330 feet above sea level, it gives the impression of being a lot larger than it is. The Statue of Liberty is 303 feet tall.

It will be crowded up there. You will have to wait and wiggle your way into different spots for pictures and even just to see well, but it’s worth it!

When you get done viewing the statue, you will be mesmerized by the amazing views of Rio that stretch out as far as the eye can see all around you! WOW just doesn’t cut it! The view of the Corcovado is breathtaking with the Sugarloaf Mountain and the Botafogo Bay.

While you could probably take the breathtaking view in all day, it is crowded and you have a lot to see. Make your way back down the path, down the train, and back into your vehicle to keep moving. This time we are going to head up Sugarloaf Mountain!

sugar loaf cable car

When I saw the sugar loaf cable car on the itinerary I wasn’t really excited or sure what to expect, boy was I wrong. This was one of the highlights of our trip! The views from sugarloaf mountain are incredible and not to be missed. Once again, the line can be really, really long and your skip the line ticket will help shorten it dramatically.

rio de janeiro what to see

When you get in the cable car expect to be packed in and standing up. If you can, try to get by one of the windows. It is a quick ride. Now you are at the first platform. From here you can grab a drink, take in the views, and use the bathroom. I couldn’t just pick one picture to share because it so beautiful from every angle, so make sure to use the arrows to scroll through images from the incredible 360 degree view from up on sugar loaf mountain!

Don’t miss the chance to watch the cute monkeys!

Before you head up the second cable car for an even more dramatic view, make sure you take a picture at this iconic spot.

Continue onto the 2nd cable car to get to the best view of the city and surrounding area. It is truly breathtaking! There is a cafe to get a drink or bite while taking in this majestic view, bathroom, gift ship, and seating. You will want to spend some time up here – it is seriously gorgeous. Words do not do it justice!

rio de janeiro attractions

We did get to drive by some other beautiful sites and learned a little about them, but with only a day in brazil it just wasn’t enough to see everything. But we did see a lot, and the highlights!

We drove by the Marcana Soccer stadium which was the venue for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio De Janeiro.

We saw an aqueduct and learned how the city use to use these Roman marvels to bring water to the city. You can see behind it the Catedral Metropolitana de Sao Sebastiao.

I wish we had time to visit the Museu do Amanha (science museum) and go inside the  Catedral Metropolitana de São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro.

best things to do in rio

If you are looking for more things to do in Rio de Janeiro? Here are the top 20 must-see attractions and activities to experience in this vibrant city:

1. Visit the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue for stunning panoramic views of the city.
2. Explore the vibrant neighborhoods of Ipanema and Copacabana.
3. Relax on the famous beaches of Rio, such as Copacabana and Ipanema.
4. Take a ride on the Sugarloaf Mountain cable car for breathtaking views.
5. Discover the historic architecture of the Santa Teresa neighborhood.
6. Experience the vibrant nightlife with samba dancing and live music.
7. Visit the Tijuca National Park for hiking and outdoor adventures.
8. Explore the colorful Selaron Steps in Lapa.
9. Enjoy a traditional Brazilian barbecue at a churrascaria.
10. Take a scenic boat tour of Guanabara Bay.
11. Explore the botanical gardens of Rio.
12. Visit the Maracanã Stadium, one of the largest football stadiums in the world.
13. Experience the Rio Carnival, one of the biggest carnival celebrations in the world.
14. Take a relaxing stroll through the Parque Lage.
15. Explore the lively street markets for souvenirs and local crafts.
16. Visit the Museum of Tomorrow for an interactive and futuristic experience.
17. Take a tour of the historic downtown area to see the Candelária Church and the Municipal Theater.
18. Relax in the shade of the palm trees at the Botafogo Praia Shopping mall.
19. Visit the Niterói Contemporary Art Museum for stunning architecture and art.
20. Enjoy a boat trip to the nearby islands for a day of sun, sand, and crystal-clear waters.

Guarana Antarctica

Oh, and I wanted to tell you about Guarana Antarctica, a popular Brazilian soft drink. This delicious local drink is made from the guarana fruit, which is native to the Amazon rainforest. It is known for its unique flavor that is both refreshing and slightly tangy. Guarana Antarctica is caffeine-free, not overly sweet, and absolutely delicious! Apparently, this beverage has a long history in Brazil and has become a beloved beverage among locals and tourists alike. When you are in Brazil, you have to try it!

rio de janeiro Brazil

Rio is truly a beautiful place with so much natural beauty that is not to be missed! I highly suggest you pop down to see the Iguazu Fall Brazil side while you are in this part of the world, and don’t miss our must see sights for an Argentina family trip too!