DOWNLOAD THE GOOGLE TRANSLATE APP. They speak Portuguese. Majority of people do not speak any English. You will be using and abusing that google translate app. If you speak some Spanish, you can get your way through a good amount of conversations.
Transportation
- They have Uber, and cars are readily available. It is also very cheap.
- They also have taxis, but beware of them trying to run scams.
This is a trip I took my parents on, so I didn't indulge in any of the night time Rio festivities. But maybe next time, when I have a (younger) travel buddy lol.
Rainy season is December to March, so plan accordingly, as many of things you’ll want to do and see will obviously be outdoors. We visited mid-March and although the forecast predicted thunderstorms everyday, it only lightly rained part of one day. So like many other coastal cities, the rain doesn't always last very long.
As of April 10, 2025, U.S. passport holders will need a visa to visit Brazil. You can purchase an E-Visa here.

You ride a large cable car to Urca Mountain and one from Urca to Sugarloaf Mountain. On each mountain, there are different shops where you can buy souvenirs, food and drinks.
The views are truly breathtaking. Recommend going in the evening to catch beautiful sunset views, which we missed out on.

Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor)
- Iconic statue of Jesus, just under 100 ft tall. One of the 7 Wonders of the Modern World.
- Check the weather on the day you plan on visiting, and select a clear day with no clouds or rain.
- The only day it worked in my itinerary was a partly cloudy day, and the clouds decided to not move once we made it to the front of the statue.
- Also, as soon as arrive there are numerous people outside offering to sell you tickets and rides for a discounted price — ignore them. Only buy official tickets from inside the ticket office.

Selarón Steps (Escadaria Selarón)
- Popular tourist attraction in the Lapa neighborhood. The steps were made by a Chilean-born artist, Jorge Selarón as a tribute to Brazil.

Tijuca Forest, Cascatinha Tuanay waterfall
- Uber can drop you near the entrance of the Tijuca Forest, and from there, it was a 5-minute walk to the waterfall. Entry is free.

Beaches
- Can easily rent beach chairs and umbrellas for pretty cheap. Different vendor will continually walk by, and you can buy food, drinks, hats, jewelry, souvenirs, etc. You can also get massages or braids if that’s your vibe. There are numerous volleyball nets available to play on, and you also may stumble across a tournament.
- Copacabana Beach
  - World-famous beautiful beach. Very lively, up until nighttime. Several beachside restaurants and bars.
- Ipanema Beach
  - Can watch sunset at Pedra do Arpoador rock formation
- Leblon Beach

Flamengo football (soccer) game
- Watch a home game for Rio-based Clube de Regatas do Flamengo at the Maracanã Stadium, one of the largest stadiums in South America.
Botanical garden (Jardim Botanico)
Shopping
- Just walking the streets of Copacabana and Ipanema, you’ll come across so many storefronts where you can buy clothing, accessories, etc. from local small business.
- Markets — there are numerous markets all over Rio. I feel like we stumbled across a different market every day. I’ve included a name of couple below.
- Malls
  - Shopping RioSul — we visited this mall on the rainy day, it had a rather good selection and is 4 levels I believe.

Little Africa (Pequena África)
- Historical port area of Rio, which was once the heart of the Afro-Brazilian community and the largest slave port in the Americas.
- Valongo Wharf
  - UNESCO World Heritage site. It was the main port of entry for enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
  - It was buried in 1911, and excavated in 2011.
- Afro-Brazil Tours — HIGHLY recommend doing a tour of Little Africa
  - Little Africa Walking Tour AirBNB
    - This is the tour we did, and it was phenomenal. Highly recommend.
  - Afro-Rio Walking Tour

Yayá Comidaria Pop Brasileira
- Black-woman owned. Bahia, afro-brazilian cuisine.
Plage Cafe in Jardim Botânico
- Very popular. Beautiful outdoor eating space.
- Does not accept reservations, so expect long wait.
Aprazivel
- Set up high on the hills, nice dinner view.
Xian Rio
- Asian cuisine
Terra Brasilis
- Brazilian food and pizza. Great view of sugarloaf.
Joaquina
Pendê
- Great breakfast/brunch.
Barraca da Chiquita
- Quick walk from Copacabana beach. Good casual dinner option.
Street Food to Try
- Acarajé
  - Comes from Afro-Brazilian culture of Bahia. Acarajé is a black-eyed pea fritter deep-fried in palm oil and often filled with shrimp or other fillings. It is derived from Nigeria’s Yoruba dish: àkàrà.
- Açaí
  - Açaí is native to the the Brazilian Amazon, so açaí bowls/cups are very popular in Brazil. You can find carts selling açaí cups with numerous topping all over.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 🇧🇷

what dolly does