What to see in Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro highlights

The places you can’t miss. In the app we sort them by day and close to each other.

1. Christ the Redeemer

   The Christ on Corcovado: take the cog railway up first thing, before the clouds roll in.

2. Sugarloaf Mountain

   Two cable cars to the top, with Guanabara Bay at your feet; the best light is at sunset.

3. Copacabana

   Four kilometres of beach with Burle Marx’s wave-patterned promenade; watch your valuables.

4. Ipanema

   Beach and sunset.

5. Lapa

   Nightlife and arches.

Day trips from Rio de Janeiro

We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

• Christ the Redeemer ★ 4.4 (5,403 reviews)
• Sugarloaf Mountain ★ 4.6 (3,965 reviews)
• Favela tour with a local guide ★ 4.8 (4,516 reviews)

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Typical food of Rio de Janeiro

The dish you have to try there and how to make it at home, to whet your appetite before the trip (or to go back to Rio de Janeiro from your kitchen).

Feijoada

The black bean stew with pork, Rio de Janeiro’s Saturday dish. It’s served with rice, sautéed greens, farofa and orange.

• Serves 8
• 4 h

Ingredients

• 1 kg black beans (soaked overnight)
• 300 g salted or smoked pork ribs
• 300 g pork belly
• 2 chorizos or linguiça sausages
• 300 g carne seca (dried beef) or lacón
• 2 onions and 6 garlic cloves
• 3 bay leaves
• Rice, collard greens (couve), farofa and orange to serve

How to make it at home

1. If you’re using salted meats, soak them in water the night before.
2. Simmer the beans with the bay leaves and the tougher meats (ribs, lacón) for about 2 hours.
3. Fry the onion and garlic with the diced pork belly and add it to the pot with the sausages.
4. Simmer for 1 more hour, until the broth thickens. Mash a ladleful of beans and return it to thicken.
5. Serve with white rice, greens sautéed with garlic, farofa (toasted cassava flour) and orange wedges.

The trick: The orange isn’t decoration: it cuts through the richness of the stew.

Frequently asked questions about Rio de Janeiro