Where is the city of Rio? City of happy dreams. The cheapest flights to Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro is one of the most beautiful cities in South America, located in the southeastern part of Brazil on the shores of Guanabara Bay, unique in its natural beauty. It is the second largest (after Sao Paulo) city in Brazil, the capital of the state of Rio de Janeiro, and until 1960 the capital of all of Brazil.

The name Rio de Janeiro translated from Portuguese means January River, because the Portuguese who discovered it in January 1502 mistook Guanabara Bay for the mouth of the river, which is not at all surprising - the bay is separated from the ocean by a narrow strait only 1.5 km wide. The official founding date of the city is March 1, 1565. “God created the world in six days, and on the seventh day he created Rio de Janeiro” - this is how Brazilians lovingly say about their fabulously beautiful city. It is no coincidence that Rio de Janeiro has the unofficial nickname “Amazing City” (Cidade maravillosa), because it contains so many natural, historical and cultural beauties that it would be more than enough for several cities!

Rio de Janeiro owes its beauty, first of all, to its excellent location; the city stretches in an endless strip along the coast with wonderful beaches and rocky hills over an area of ​​1265 km². Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon - the names of these iconic beaches in Rio have been known to us since childhood and are strongly associated with Rio de Janeiro! And two magnificent mountains - Corcovado with the statue of Christ the Redeemer dominating the city and Pan de Azucar have long become the calling cards of Rio! Nature is surprisingly generous to this city - the emerald green of tropical forests, the blue of lagoons and rivers, the hills rising from the bay and snow-white beaches, all this creates an idyllic picture paradise on the ground!

Rio's current population is 6,476,631 people, one of the most densely populated cities in the world, whose residents call themselves "cariocas". The etymology of the origin of this name has nothing to do with Rio, it comes from the phrase “house of the white” (casa de branco) and appeared during the arrival of the Portuguese colonialists in Brazil, whom the Indians called white-skinned people. Cariocas differ from their other compatriots in disposition and temperament - they are more sociable and relaxed. They can be characterized in one phrase - charming ease. However, there is also back side Cariocas medals are extremely optional, which should be remembered if you negotiate something with them. The favorite phrase is amanha, that is, tomorrow, does not at all mean that it will happen tomorrow. The ethnic composition of the population is very diverse. It was formed under the influence of three factors: local Indian tribes, European settlers from Spain and Portugal, and Africans brought here by the colonialists as slaves. The majority of the country's population is mestizo.

Rio de Janeiro is a city not only of eternal celebration, but also of amazing contrasts. On the slopes of the surrounding mountains there are squalid dwellings of the poorest areas of the city - the favelas. There are several hundred such favelas in the city, in which about 20% of Rio's total population is concentrated. For example, the largest favela in Rio, Rocinha, has more than 50 thousand inhabitants. And although recently the standard of living in favelas has increased noticeably, and local authorities are trying to restore order there, it is still better not to travel to these areas on your own, because the crime situation and sanitary condition in the favelas leave much to be desired. If you still want to see life in the favelas from the inside, you can order an organized tour from one of the local agencies. Typically, the program of such a tour includes visiting the homes of favela residents and communicating with them. And the views of the city from the hills of the favelas are simply stunning! Favelas are also famous for the fact that it is here that numerous samba schools originated.

Based: 1565
Square: 1265 km 2
Population: 6,476,631 people (2016)
Currency: brazilian real
Language: Portuguese
Official website: http://www.rio.rj.gov.br

Current time in Rio de Janeiro:
(UTC -2)

Synonyms for Rio de Janeiro can be safely called beaches, football, samba and carnival. An amazing symbiosis of nationalities and cultures gives the city a unique brightness and originality! Famous carnival, which is held here every year at the end of February - beginning of March, is a colorful spectacle, famous throughout the world for its fiery dances of various samba schools. Nowhere in the world is there a more spectacular carnival than in Rio de Janeiro! For five days the city turns into one big platform for celebration and unbridled fun. Most tourists try to get to Rio at this time, but it should be remembered that prices for hotels and services skyrocket during this period.

How to get there

There are no direct flights to Rio de Janeiro from Moscow, although in 2011 Transaero tried to roll out this route, but after several flights the flight was canceled. Fortunately, various (mostly European, but not only) airlines fly from both the Russian capital and the regions to Rio de Janeiro with connections at their home airports. Below we list these airlines (connection cities are indicated in brackets).

  • Emirates (Dubai): Moscow, St. Petersburg
  • Lufthansa (Frankfurt am Main): Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Perm, Rostov-on-Don, Samara
  • AlItalia (Rome): Moscow, St. Petersburg
  • Air France (Paris): Moscow, St. Petersburg
  • KLM (Amsterdam): Moscow, St. Petersburg
  • Iberia (Madrid): Moscow, St. Petersburg
  • British Airways (London): Moscow, St. Petersburg
  • TAP Portugal (Lisbon): Moscow

The average ticket price is about 1100 euros. On regular flights Iberia airline has the lowest ticket prices. However, you can save significantly on your flight by taking part in a sale or booking seats at a special price as part of promotions that are regularly organized by the largest international airlines. The fastest flight and convenient connections are with Air France. But even with convenient connections, the total travel time will be at least 16 hours.

Interestingly, Rio’s second airport, Santos Dumont, is located almost in the city center, which operates domestic flights.

Since June 7, 2010, visas for Russian citizens to enter Brazil have been abolished. Citizens of the Russian Federation can stay in Brazil without a visa for ninety days.

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Transfers in Rio de Janeiro

Show transfers from Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro Copacabana Rio de Janeiro from 1694 p.
Rio de Janeiro from 1694 p.
Santos Dumont Airport Rio de Janeiro from 1694 p.
Rio de Janeiro Port Rio de Janeiro from 2477 p.
Niteroi Rio de Janeiro from 4106 p.
Rio de Janeiro from 4106 p.
Rio de Janeiro from 4106 p.
Conceicao de Jacarey Rio de Janeiro from 7756 p.
Angra dos Reis Port Rio de Janeiro from 8603 p.
Petropolis Rio de Janeiro from 8994 p.
Mangaratiba Rio de Janeiro from 9776 p.
Paraty Rio de Janeiro from 9776 p.
Cabo Frio Rio de Janeiro from 11861 p.
Angra dos Reis Rio de Janeiro from 11861 p.
Armacao dos Buzios Rio de Janeiro from 12253 p.
Sao Paulo Rio de Janeiro from 24440 p.
Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro Airport/Galeão "Antonio Carlos Jobim" from 1694 p.
Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro Copacabana from 1694 p.
Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport from 1694 p.
Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro Port from 2477 p.
Rio de Janeiro Niteroi from 4106 p.
Rio de Janeiro Recreio dos Bandeirantes District Rio de Janeiro from 4106 p.
Rio de Janeiro Bara da Tijuca District Rio de Janeiro from 4106 p.
Rio de Janeiro Conceicao de Jacarey from 7756 p.
Rio de Janeiro Angra dos Reis Port from 8603 p.
Rio de Janeiro Petropolis from 8994 p.
Rio de Janeiro Mangaratiba from 9776 p.
Rio de Janeiro Paraty from 9776 p.
Rio de Janeiro Cabo Frio from 11861 p.
Rio de Janeiro Angra dos Reis from 11861 p.
Rio de Janeiro Armacao dos Buzios from 12253 p.
Rio de Janeiro Sao Paulo from 24440 p.

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Climate and weather in Rio de Janeiro

Climatic conditions Rio de Janeiro is directly influenced Atlantic Ocean and are characterized by hot summers and mild winters. This type of climate is called the Atlantic tropical climate.

In Rio de Janeiro there is always high humidity, from November to March it is hot, the maximum temperature during this period can reach 35-40 degrees, and from April to September it is relatively cool, it often rains. The most unfavorable month for travel is July: it rains often and is quite cool.

In general, Rio's climate is conducive to excellent holidays all year round. On average, the water temperature per year does not fall below +20 C°, and average annual temperature also very suitable for a good holiday all year round - on average +23 C°.

Weather forecast

Sunday
21.04

Monday
22.04

Tuesday
23.04

Wednesday
24.04

Thursday
25.04

Friday
26.04

on "Pogoda.Tourister.Ru"

Weather in Rio de Janeiro by month

Temperature
daytime, °C
Temperature
at night, °C
Temperature
water, °C
Quantity
precipitation, mm
29 23 25 114
30 23 25 105
29 23 22 103
27 21 22 137
26 20 20 86
25 18 20 80
25 18 20 56
25 18 20 51
25 19 20 87
26 20 20 88
27 21 23 96
28 22 23 169

Reviews by month

January 10 February 7 March 6 April 2 May 12 June 3 July 5 September 1 October 6 November 15 December 15

Transport

The main form of public transport in Rio is buses, which stop only on demand. Payment for the fare is made at the entrance; usually the buses have a conductor. During rush hour, buses are always crowded and there is a risk of being robbed. If you decide to travel by bus, then it is better not to take valuables and money with you.

Rio de Janeiro has a well-developed taxi network. This is the most convenient and relatively inexpensive form of transport. There are yellow taxis and radio taxis. The yellow ones are a little cheaper, and they're everywhere in town, so stopping them won't be a problem. There are two tariffs - day and night. You should always ask the taxi driver to turn on the meter before leaving. On average, a trip from Ipanema to Capacabana will cost five reals, from Copacabana to Downtown - 15-20 reals, to the airport - 30 reals.

Rio de Janeiro has a metro that is relatively cheap, safe and air-conditioned, running from 6:00 to 23:00 except Sundays, but none of the lines reach the beach area of ​​Leblon and Ipanema. The only exception is Copacabana. The metro is ideal for independent exploration of the historical part of the city and for trips from Copacabana to the Botafogo and Flamengo areas.

Photos of Rio de Janeiro

Districts

Officially, the city of Rio de Janeiro is divided into 34 administrative districts and 160 municipalities. Traditionally, the city is divided into four main areas - southern, northern, historical center and western Barra da Tijuca.

Southern region

The southern region includes the main tourist areas of the city, such as Copacabana, Ipanema, Botafogo, Flamengo, Leme, Leblon, Lagoa. The main tourist attractions of the city are concentrated here. In the Cosme Velho area, Rio's most famous landmark is located - the statue of Christ the Redeemer on Mount Corcovado. And in Urca you can see the second calling card of the city - Mount Pan de Azucar.

Northern region

Northern part the city where almost all the stadiums are concentrated, led by the famous Maracana Stadium.

Historical Center

The historical center or Downtown with many ancient colonial cathedrals and palaces from the period of exile of the court of the Portuguese emperor. The bohemian districts of Lapa and Santa Teresa also belong to the Downtown zone. The famous Sambodrome is also located here.

Barra da Tijuca area

The modern district of Barra da Tijuca in the western part of the city.

What to see in Rio de Janeiro

You should set aside at least three days to explore the main attractions of the “Amazing City”. We recommend starting with the main ones business cards cities - the Statues of Christ the Redeemer on Mount Corcovado and Mount Pan de Azucar in Urca. The iconic beaches of Rio - Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon - are a must-see.

Separately, the Downtown area should be highlighted with its numerous palaces, cathedrals and museums from the 16th to 19th centuries. It will take a whole day to explore these sights alone. You should set aside half a day for a walk through the colorful, bohemian district of Santa Teresa. A visit to the oldest Botanical Garden can also be an interesting point in your tour program in Rio. In the evening, it is worth watching one of the many samba shows or attending a technical rehearsal of the carnival at the famous Sambodrome.

  • The Church of Candelaria is the most beautiful and interesting of all the churches in Rio

Historic Center, Downtown

This is the place where colonial Rio was born, containing many legends and stories of the past. The Old Town contains the main historical buildings, monuments, cathedrals, museums and other attractions of the colonial period. Inside the historical center, which is quite large and chaotic in its structure, three main areas of tourist interest can be distinguished. Each of these neighborhoods deserves attention and a separate walking tour.

Blueland and Lapa Quarter

Cinelândia y Lapa the former cinematic mecca of the city, where this original name actually came from, meaning the Land of Cinema. It is convenient to start exploring this area directly from the Cinelândia metro station. Coming out of the metro, you will immediately find yourself in the very heart of Cinelandia - in Piazza Floriano, surrounded by beautiful ancient palaces.

Noteworthy: the neoclassical building of the National Library on Av. Rio Branco, 219 with a rich collection of ancient books from the time of exile of the Portuguese royal court, the nearby Museum of Fine Arts, the Palace of Pedro Ernesto, where today the Municipality is located and, of course, the main decoration of the square and the entire old city - the Municipal Theater.

Of the other attractions in this quarter, the most interesting is the ancient aqueduct Arcos de Lapa, built at the beginning of the 18th century in Romanesque style, connecting the historical center with the upper, bohemian district of Santa Teresa. You cannot ignore the Metropolitan Cathedral, located in the financial zone of this quarter.

Just next to the cathedral is one of Rio's most original modernist buildings, Petrobras, which houses the headquarters of the Brazilian state oil company.

Before the Second World War, the neighboring district of Lapa was considered an analogue of Parisian Montmartre - in the sense that it was a bohemian and very lively place. Dance halls, taverns, taverns where the creative elite and homosexuals gathered... In the 60s, Lapa experienced stagnation, and in the last decade it was revived, becoming the center of nightlife in Rio de Janeiro. On the streets of Rua da Lapa and Rua Joaquim Silva, young people hang out in bars all night long, where they can listen to reggae, dance salsa and samba.

Area PraçaXV

Praça XV, the second district of downtown, is literally imbued with the historical spirit of the past. The ensemble of colonial buildings in the square is dominated by the Imperial Palace, built in 1743 and later becoming the residence of the Portuguese emperors Dom João VI, Pedro I and Pedro II. Behind this palace there is another interesting building - the Tiradentes Palace, built much later, in 1926, in the eclectic style. The square also houses the Archbishop's Cathedral, built in 1808, the Banc do Brasil, the Cultural Center and the French Brazilian House, the old customs building, neoclassical buildings, the original 18th century pyramid fountain, ancient churches - all these attractions are concentrated in the interesting area of ​​Praça XV Square. We can say that this square is literally surrounded by all kinds of churches and cathedrals from the period of the Portuguese Empire, 17th - 18th centuries.

Carioca and Uruguayana

And finally, the third district of downtown is Carioca and Uruguayana, which occupies the area from the Carioca metro station to Uruguayana. You can also find a lot of interesting things here. It will be nice to take a walk in the beautiful old park Campo do Santana, laid out in traditional English style on Republic Square, or go to the oldest confectionery shop in Colombo, which opened on this very spot in 1894, where you can beautifully drink a cup of aromatic Brazilian coffee in an art deco setting !

Santa Teresa Quarter

Where to go in Rio de Janeiro

Attractions

Where to eat and drink

Entertainment

Parks and Recreation

Leisure

Transport

Shops and markets

Private guides in Rio de Janeiro

Russian private guides will help you get acquainted with Rio de Janeiro in more detail.
Registered on the Experts.Tourister.Ru project.

Things to do

“The Amazing City” offers its guests not only a huge selection of attractions, but also many different types of recreation and leisure options. These could be pleasant walks through one of the most interesting parks in Rio - Quinta da Boa Vista or boat trips to the satellite town of Niteroi, a visit to the Plataforma samba show in Leblon or an excursion to neighboring Petropolis - the residence of the Portuguese kings.

Visit the samba show “Plataforma”

This super exotic traditional Brazilian samba show will leave no one indifferent. During the two hours of this colorful performance, you will enjoy the rhythms of samba, touch the origins of the original Afro-Brazilian music, which arose as a result of the fusion of Portuguese, Indian and African motifs, and also admire the magnificent parade of costumes of the artists.

Take a walk in Quinta da Boa Vista Park

This ancient romantic park in the French style is located in the northern part of the city on an area of ​​560 square meters. The park arose around the palace, the former residence of the Portuguese royal family from 1809 to 1889. It was here that the famous Princess Isabel was born, the one who abolished slavery in the country. The palace is located on a hill, and its name Quinta da Boa Vista is translated from Portuguese as Villa with a Beautiful View. Now located here National Museum, and in the park itself there is a zoo.

Take a ferry to Niteroi

In the heart of the historical center of Rio, next to Praça XV Square, there is the marine terminal, Estação das Barcas, from where ferries depart to Rio's satellite city of Niteroi. It’s not bad at all to take such a boat trip along the beautiful bay, admiring the views of the Niteroi Bridge, Corcovado and Pan de Azucar, the small Santos Dumont airport and the maritime customs building, which looks more like old castle. Ferries leave every half hour, travel time one way is about 20 minutes, cost 4 reais. You can walk in Niteroi and take the next ferry back to Rio. The main attraction of Niteroi is the futuristic building of the Museum of Modern Art, designed by the famous Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer in the form of a flying saucer.

Go to the residence of the kings - Petropolis

If you have already seen all the capital's attractions of Brazil, and you still have a free day, then you can take have a nice walk to neighboring Petropolis. This city, called " imperial city Brazil" is only 65 km away. from Rio. Here is the former summer residence of the Brazilian Emperor - Summer Palace, today converted into a museum and a charming Glass House. Due to its location on a hilltop surrounded by a huge park, the climate in Petropolis is much cooler and fresher than in Rio. It is therefore not surprising that Petropolis has become a traditional weekend destination for Rio residents looking to escape the hot and humid Rio to this oasis of freshness and coolness.

Visit nearby beach and historical communities

280 kilometers from Rio, on the border of the states of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, is one of the most beautiful colonial cities in Brazil, Paraty.

Of the beach towns, Bucios, located on a small peninsula 165 kilometers north of Rio, is especially popular among tourists. The entire peninsula is indented with beaches and coves; in total, Bucios has more than 20 different beaches, for every taste, from calm small coves to many kilometers open beaches with strong waves. This place was once noted by Brigitte Bardot herself.

Another popular resort in the vicinity of Rio de Janeiro - Angra dos Reis, where there are all conditions for surfing, diving, fishing, boat trips and even horse riding. There are also golf courses and tennis courts. Night life presented by clubs and discos for every taste and bars with live music.

Not far from Angra there is Paradise Island Ilha Grande, a biological reserve with magnificent beaches and diverse flora and fauna. The main tourist center of the island, the village of Villa do Abraão, offers tourists decent infrastructure and untouched nature. In total, there are 106 magnificent beaches on the island.

Purchases

It should be recognized that shopping is an integral part of tourism in any place. And Rio de Janeiro, of course, is no exception to this rule. In this city, everyone will find something interesting in terms of shopping. There are many options to suit every taste and budget!

Food and drink

Safety

From a security point of view, Rio has long had a trail of notoriety - tourists here have more than once become victims of attacks, robberies and other unpleasant incidents. On this occasion, you can hear many horror stories that actually took place here.

However, last year city authorities sent troops into a number of problematic favelas, strengthened police control in tourist areas, which significantly improved the crime situation in the city.

Currently, the Government and Police are paying great attention to security issues in Rio as it will host the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games. In this regard, the city authorities seriously began to restore order in the city, so as not to lose face in the dirt. And the results were not long in coming - in many tourist places Police cameras have been installed, making the city much calmer and safer.

However, you still shouldn't relax completely; here are some precautions you should take while in Rio:

  • It is best to leave documents, large sums of cash and jewelry in the hotel safe;
  • It is advisable to refrain from riding city buses, especially during rush hours; pickpocketing is still very common in Rio. It is much better, and, by the way, not much more expensive, to take a taxi;
  • V dark time It is better to refrain from walking along Copacabana from the embankment side for a day; walking along Avenida Atlantica from the hotels is not prohibited;
  • ladies should not wear expensive Jewelry, it’s better to get by with cheap jewelry or take everything off;
  • expensive photographic equipment should be held tightly in your hands, without letting go for a minute;
  • It’s better to hold ladies’ handbags with your hand, or even better to hang them on yourself;
  • try to remain vigilant when using an ATM;
  • at night, try to stay on main and well-lit streets.

Police telephone number for tourists: 2511 5112

Where to stay in Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro, being one of largest cities Brazil offers its guests a wide selection of hotels for every taste and budget - there are luxury 5-star hotels, cheap three-star hotels, and very economical apartments.

The most popular area where the bulk of tourists settle is Copacabana. The main decent hotels in the mid-price category are concentrated here, where you can find a decent hotel with a good price-quality ratio. average price for a room in a three or four star hotel - from 150 to 200 dollars per night. In the Ipanema area, hotel prices are typically 30% higher.

  • Orla Copacabana Hotel. Average price per Double Room— 180 $. This four-star hotel is very conveniently located at the junction of two Rio beaches - Copacabana and Ipanema, opposite Fort Copacabana. There is a small swimming pool on the roof of the hotel, from where... beautiful view to Copacabana beach. The hotel restaurant will offer you a delicious, varied breakfast with a large selection of tropical fruits. Good value for money. No luxury, but a decent hotel.
  • , located 100 meters from the beach and offering its guests a high level of service. This elegant four-star hotel has its own swimming pool and a good restaurant. The average cost per room is $240.

    Luxury hotels in Rio

    Of the five-star hotels in Rio, the iconic and historic Copacabana Palace Hotel stands out first. The average cost of the cheapest double room will be $600, the most expensive - $1200. This hotel exudes refined luxury and elegance. Judging by the reviews, Copacabana Palace Hotel is the most luxurious hotel in Rio. Guests of the hotel can take advantage of the magnificent large swimming pool, the services of the Spa and taste delicious cuisine in the gourmet restaurant Cipriani. The hotel rooms are furnished with special elegance with antiques and art objects. This luxurious hotel in the Mediterranean art deco style opened its doors in 1923 and immediately gained the status of the most glamorous hotel establishment in Rio, where kings, presidents, famous politicians and Hollywood stars stayed. Copacabana Palace Hotel can easily be called a symbol of luxury and glamor of the “Amazing City”.

    Another interesting five-star hotel in Rio, the Sheraton Barra Hotel & Suites, is located some distance from the noisy tourist scene. This sophisticated hotel, meeting the most demanding requirements of clients, is located in the beautiful area of ​​​​Barra da Tijuca on the shores of the beach of the same name. The average cost of a double room is $310. Guests of the hotel can use the swimming pools, spa center, and enjoy the magnificent views, gourmet gastronomy and elegant surroundings of this wonderful hotel. However, this hotel is located quite far from tourist center Rio is 20 kilometers away.

    Look detailed information about Rio hotels (maps, photos, descriptions, etc.), and you can also book a hotel on the Booking.com website and in the “Hotels in Rio de Janeiro” section

There are still a few reports left from my recent trip to Brazil that, due to the post-election bustle, there was no time to publish. Today I want to show you Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city (after Sao Paulo) in Brazil. The city's semi-official nickname is "The Amazing City". I arrived in Rio in the morning and flew out in the evening of the same day. Unfortunately, it rained almost all day, so we didn’t really get to see the city. And you have to look at Rio good weather, because the most best views open from the mountains surrounding the city.

I'll start with impressions lovigin : “In Rio, one scoundrel decided to commit suicide, sold his hacienda, bought helium and accidentally flew into the sky in balloons. In another part of Rio, behind the bosom of the statue of Christ, a cow also accidentally fell out of a flying plane - fell onto a boat and killed the one sitting on it. there is a girl in her. Truly, death sometimes comes from the very unusual places.

These stories were told to us by the plump Caroline, who for some unknown reason was assigned to us as a guide. Having hired a couple of armored personnel carriers and six machine gunners, we rushed into the favelas. My mother thinks this is a restaurant, but no one ever came back from the favelas with a camera, wallet and Carolina, especially if they entered there without all this. But either the favelas were somehow wrong, or I was too kind - but my photographs turned out to be somehow completely harmless and cute. There is not that usual tension that hovers in the air at every more or less busy intersection in Brazil. Maybe because the local Shkids went to work in other areas. We walked the entire Santa Marta favela from the top, from the top of the hill, to the bottom, and only in one block did the “security” advise us not to take photographs of the people we met..."

01. From Sao Paulo the flight to Rio is only 1 hour. Planes depart there every 30 minutes.

02. Famous bridge named after President Costa e Silva, or Rio Niteroi. It connects the municipalities of Rio de Janeiro and Niterói via Guanabara Bay. Construction of the bridge began in January 1969, although its official start took place on August 23, 1968, with Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain present at the ceremony. On March 4, 1974, the bridge was opened, it was named in honor of Arthur da Costa e Silva, the former President of Brazil, who initiated construction, but did not live to see its completion. The bridge is the longest and highest in the country. Its length is 13290 m, including 8836 m above water. The height in the center is 72 m, which allows large ships to enter the bay. Today, about 140 thousand vehicles cross the bridge a day.

03.

04. Slums;)

05. On the slopes of the surrounding mountains there are squalid dwellings. These are the poorest areas of the city - the favelas. There are several hundred favelas in the city. Essentially, these are mini-states within a state. Federal authorities practically do not interfere in favela affairs. In most favelas, the standard of living is very low, often there are no basic amenities, schools, hospitals, etc. and, as a consequence of all this, there is an extremely unfavorable crime situation and terrible sanitary conditions. Walking in such areas is not recommended, as you can lose everything valuable very quickly. But in many favelas, local residents give excursions for money. We walked the entire Santa Marta favela from the top, from the top of the hill, to the bottom, and only in one block did the “security” advise us not to take photographs of the people we met...

06. The favelas are very cool. The residents are hospitable and will always warn you about poop lying on the path.

07. This is where the stars of Brazilian football are born.

08.

09. One of the houses. Almost all the houses are the same - a very small living room-kitchen and bedrooms. The average area of ​​a house is 15-20 meters.

10. Therefore, all life passes on narrow streets.

11.

It was here that Michael Jackson shot the video for the song They Don't Care About Us.

12. The arrival of Michael Jackson is the most important event in the life of this favela. In honor of this event, a monument was erected to Michael.

13.

14. There is a church nearby, apparently “named after Michael Jackson”

15.

16. In it, to the accompaniment of very loud and rhythmic music, they drive out spirits, demons and perform some rituals.

17. There is a sewer and a landfill on the street.

18. Nothing has changed here over the years.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24. Girls dancing)

25.

26.

27. The houses below were at least somehow painted.

28.

29. There are several must-see spots in Rio. One of the bottom is Mount Corcovado, where the 38-meter statue of Christ the Redeemer is located. A 3.8 km long railway with a 1000 mm gauge, which was built by Swiss specialists from Winterthur in 1884, leads to the top of the mountain. The railway has gearing, as the climb is very steep. By railway There are two trains with a capacity of 360 passengers per hour. The one way trip takes approximately 20 minutes. From the top of the mountain there is a beautiful panorama of different areas of Rio de Janeiro: Sugarloaf Mountain, Lake Rodrigo de Freitas, Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon beaches, Maracanã Stadium.

Unfortunately, the weather that day was disgusting, no beautiful view there was no one from the mountain.

30. Statue on top of Corcovado, attributed to one of the seven modern miracles light, is visited annually by more than 600 thousand tourists. She is also a symbol of Rio de Janeiro and Brazil in general.

32. Panorama of the city.

33. And this is the view from Sugar Loaf. The peak, overlooking Guanabara Bay in eastern Rio, is one of the city's main attractions. Because of its unusual shape, which Brazilians compare to a lump of sugar, it is called “Sugarloaf”. According to another version, the name comes from the phrase “paunh-acuqua”, which in the language of the natives of the Tupi tribe is translated as “High Hill” or “Guardian of the Bay”.

34. And this is a panorama of the city from Sugar Loaf.

35. On the mountain there live these cute monkeys that you can’t feed, but everyone feeds them.

36.

37. It’s a pity that we were unlucky with the weather. The views are wonderful.

38. Santos Dumont Airport.

39.

40.

41. Speaking of weather)

42.

43. In the evening, people gather near numerous bars, just like in London.

44.

45.

46. ​​Some streets look abandoned.

47. And this is the Selaron staircase, a “tribute to the Brazilian people” by a Chilean artist who, along with his staircase, has become a local landmark.

48. Selaron began renovating the stairs near his home in 1990. First, he laid out the area near his house in the colors of the Brazilian flag, and then he couldn’t stop and started bringing tiles from all over the world, which are now used to cover the entire staircase. All the money from the sale of paintings was spent on tiles.

49. In total, more than 2000 tiles from 60 were used to decorate 250 steps different countries. There are tiles from Russia too. Initially, the artist looked for tiles in landfills and construction waste, and then tourists from all over the world began to bring them to him. If you go to Rio, grab a few tiles from your city. More than 300 tiles are hand-painted by Saleron. They depict a pregnant African woman. The artist says this is a "personal problem from the past."

50. After the stairs, the walls of the houses underwent alterations). The artist does not plan to stop and says that this project is eternal.

51.

53. The staircase gained international fame. Snoop Dogg and U2 filmed their videos here, and in the Rio Olympic presentation the staircase was presented as one of the main attractions of the city.

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Brazil's largest city, Rio de Janeiro, is a cultural center known for its carnivals, historical heritage and attractive tourism destinations. In this article we will talk about the peculiarities of the geographical location of the city of Rio de Janeiro.

Where is Rio de Janeiro

Rio is located in the southeastern part of Brazil, near Guanabara Bay, on the Atlantic coast, near the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo. Geographical coordinates Rio de Janeiro: 22°54"S, 43°14"W.

The area of ​​the city is 1260 km². Rio de Janeiro is closely adjacent to the mountains, and in the north there is a plain. The northern part also has neat hills with virtually no vegetation.

The south of Rio is limited by Guanabara Bay and the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Here great amount beaches that attract tourists from all over the world. The coastal zone is closely connected with the mountainous terrain. The rock formations are part of the Serra do Mar, an ancient mountainous region in southeastern Brazil.

Western territory of Rio was limited mountain ranges, however, at the end of the 20th century, roads appeared that opened access to this part of the city.

Geographical features of Rio

The entrance to the bay opens famous mountain, which was nicknamed Sugar Loaf. It received such an unusual name because of its specific shape. A rich imagination allows us to compare it with a huge lump of sugar.

The city has a dense river network, adjacent to largest river Amazon. In turn, this deep-water river flows into the waters of the Atlantic and forms a huge delta.

A little history

Rio was discovered by Portuguese sailors. They mistook Guanabara Bay, located near the area, for a river, so they named the city Rio. Since it was in January, the full name sounds like “January River”. Rio de Janeiro became one of the most densely populated cities, the residence of the elite, the center of the cultural and intellectual life of the country.

For a long time, Rio was considered the capital of Brazil, but today this honorary title has gone to a small city of the same name - Brasilia.

Now you know where Rio de Janeiro is. About the location geographical objects, you can find out what they are famous for and why they are talked about all over the world from our section -.

Rio de Janeiro has been the real heart of Brazil for almost 4 centuries, as well as the generally recognized capital of beauty, fun and tourism throughout South America.

“God created the world in 6 days, and on the seventh he created Rio de Janeiro,” this is what the Brazilians say about it fairytale city, which is surrounded by huge beaches and picturesque mountain slopes. In addition, local residents love their city so much that they nicknamed it “City of Miracles” (“Cidade Maravilhosa”), and consider themselves the luckiest people, since they were born in beautiful city planets. However, no one argues with them, because the diverse and friendly Rio de Janeiro is one of the most attractive cities all over the world and a real pearl of South America.

Climate and weather

In Rio de Janeiro weather forms a tropical climate characterized by hot summers and warm winter. The humidity in the city is always quite high; from mid-November to the end of March the city experiences hot, sunny weather (30-33 C°), and from April to September it is relatively cool (23 C°) and it rains quite often.

You can visit Rio de Janeiro throughout the year, as the weather here is always excellent.

Nature

Rio de Janeiro is located right on the Atlantic coast, near the Tropic of Capricorn. The city was founded right next to Guanabara Bay, which is crowned by the Corcovado and Pan de Azucar mountains, which have become his real “calling card”. In the south of Rio de Janeiro lie the beaches of Ipanema, Copacabana and Leblon, in the north there are hills and small rocky mountains, and in the west there are picturesque mountain ranges.

Separately, it is worth saying that nature was truly unusually generous with this southern city, rewarding it with the emerald greenery of tropical forests, the blue of rivers and lagoons, as well as the most beautiful snow-white beaches.

Attractions

Rio de Janeiro is home to many historical buildings and monuments, as well as a variety of museums and galleries, so you should set aside at least three days to explore all the local attractions.

It is recommended to start exploring the city with its most important “calling cards” - famous statue Christ the Redeemer, which rises on Mount Corcovado, and picturesque Pan de Azucar mountains. Also very popular place is Sugarloaf Mountain, which can be climbed either on foot or by cable car.

If we talk directly about architectural monuments, then, first of all, you should go to Largo di Boticariu Square, all of the buildings of which were erected no earlier than the 18th century. The main decoration of this square is rightfully a beautiful fountain in the shape of a pyramid. The Tiradentes Palace is considered a very unusual building, which for a long time was a prison, and now has become the seat of the Legislative Assembly. In addition, the square boasts the City Hall building, Imperial Palace, Banco do Brasil and the old customs building.

Many religious monuments have also been preserved in Rio. The main one was the Archbishop's Council (1808), amazing with its graceful stained glass windows, sparkling dome and exquisite decoration. Among other religious buildings, it is worth highlighting the Cathedral of St. Joseph, the Church of the Protectress of the Merchants of Lapa, the Monastery of São Bento and the Church of Candelaria.

In addition, a walk through the city museums, of which there are quite a lot in Rio de Janeiro, can be an interesting and educational event:

  • Indian Museum,
  • National Museum of Fine Arts,
  • National History Museum,
  • Museum of the Republic, etc.

Nutrition

Numerous restaurants in Rio de Janeiro are always ready to offer their guests as their own national cuisine, as well as the menu of any other country in the world. However, it is worth saying that Brazilian cuisine is considered one of the most exotic and piquant, and therefore is extremely popular. It is distinguished by the spiciness of Indian dishes, the sophistication of European culinary traditions and African spiciness.

In Rio's gastronomic establishments you can always try such interesting dishes as "takaka no tukupi"(astringent mixture of shrimp paste and sauce), "munguzu" corn kernels with coconut and fried green bananas. Their more exotic dishes include stewed turtle, roast crocodile and oxtails. Moreover, a large amount of olive oil, salt and pepper is added to absolutely all dishes.

However, the most popular and sought after Brazilian dish is "feijoada". It is an unusual mixture of beans for our understanding, different types meat, cassava flour and spices, served with cabbage. Moreover, a drink is always offered with this dish. "caipirinha" consisting of cane vodka, sugar and lemon.

But the most popular Brazilian drink is black coffee, the preparation of which has long been elevated to a cult here. It is worth saying that any average Brazilian drinks about 20 cups of this drink per day.

Rio de Janeiro is also often associated with the famous Brama beer, the most popular in Brazil. The most popular stronger drink in Rio is cachaça(sugar cane vodka) and local dessert wines.

Accommodation

In Rio de Janeiro, guests of the city have a huge number of hotels and inns for every taste and budget. Here you can find luxury five-star hotels, quite inexpensive hotels middle class or economical apartments.

In the Copacabana area, there are mainly mid-price hotels (from $50 to $95), for example, Tulip Inn Copacabana Hotel or Orla Copacabana Hotel.

In the Ipanema area there are more fashionable hotels, and prices there, naturally, are much higher: Ipanema Plaza - from $115, Sheraton Barra Hotel & Suites - from $150, Copacabana Palace Hotel - from $280.

Entertainment and relaxation

Rio de Janeiro hosts fun and noisy festivals throughout the year, but the most important of them is rightfully considered the Carnival at the end of February, which is famous throughout the world for its colorful parades, fiery samba and “platform” competition.

Also, undoubtedly, Rio will appeal to lovers of beaches, of which there are an enormous number (about 90 km). Of these, the most famous are Copacabana, Leblon And Ipanema. On these beaches you can not only sunbathe or swim, but also go diving, rafting, surfing and beach volleyball, as well as hang gliding. In addition, sports fans and active rest You will appreciate the golf courses, tennis courts, stadiums and sports complexes.

Vacationers with children are advised to visit the city zoo with rare animals and exotic plants or go to one of the many amusement parks.

Well, fans of nightlife will be pleased with the abundance of all kinds of nightclubs, bars and other establishments that simply captivate with their festive atmosphere.

Purchases

Shopping is an integral part of tourism in Rio de Janeiro, as literally everyone can find great deals and unique souvenirs.

First of all, it is advisable to visit the grandiose city fairs Hippi and SAARA.

At the first of them you can buy original souvenirs self made, musical instruments, traditional local dishes etc., and on the second - luxurious carnival costumes and exotic goods.

After the fairs the most interesting place is Rua Visconde de Piraja, where a wide variety of shops and street stalls are concentrated. It is also worth visiting the largest shopping centers RioSul, Barra Shopping, Rio Fashion Mall and Forum de Ipanema, offering an incredibly large selection of branded boutiques, inexpensive clothing stores, cosmetics and perfume salons, as well as household appliances and interior stores. Separately, it is worth mentioning the Shopping Casino Atlantico shopping center, which is a combination of exquisite boutiques, jewelry stores and antique shops.

The most popular souvenirs in Rio are:

  • fig-shaped stone figurines that attract good luck;
  • uncut precious stones;
  • bikini;
  • coffee;
  • disks with samba;
  • exotic perfumes;
  • paintings from wings.

Most shops in Rio de Janeiro are open from 9:00 to 18:30, on Saturdays until 13:00, and closed on Sundays.

Transport

In Rio de Janeiro, the main form of public transport is buses, the routes of which permeate the entire city. The cost of one trip is $0.7, paid by the conductor or driver. It is customary to enter buses through the rear doors and exit through the front doors; all stops are made at the request of passengers.

In the central part of the city it is convenient to travel by metro, which consists of only two lines. It is open every day, except Sunday, from 6:00 to 23:00.

In addition, a fairly popular form of transport in Rio de Janeiro is a taxi, which is inexpensive and quite convenient. There are two types of taxis: inexpensive yellow ones and blue-red ones (with air conditioning). The cost of the trip is $0.7 for landing and the first kilometer, and then $0.25 for each subsequent one.

Connection

There are two types of payphones everywhere in Rio de Janeiro: yellow ones are for domestic calls, and red ones are for international calls. All calls are paid using tokens and calling cards, which are sold in literally every store or kiosk.

Mobile communications in Brazil are quite convenient, reliable and profitable. It works in GSM 1800 and iDEN standards. International roaming is available to almost all foreign subscribers.

Internet access in Rio de Janeiro is available at internet cafes and some post offices. Wi-Fi is quite widespread.

Safety

Brazil is considered to be one of the countries with the highest crime rate. In Rio de Janeiro, this is due to the fact that almost a third of its population lives below the poverty line, and favelas (slums) are often located next to elite areas. Therefore, all tourists are strongly advised to exercise caution and be extremely attentive (do not carry large sums of money or valuables, do not wear expensive jewelry, stick to well-lit streets at night, etc.).

It is worth noting that on this moment The government is paying close attention to security issues in Rio as it will host the 2014 FIFA World Cup. More recently, CCTV cameras have been installed in many places, making things much safer.

Business climate

Rio de Janeiro, being the Brazilian capital until 1960, became the location of many large companies (Petrobras, Elektrobras, etc.).

However, after the capital was moved to the city of Brasilia, Rio did not cease to attract large companies (Royal Dutch Shell, Esso, EBX) and foreign investors. In addition, very close to the city, in Campo Basinii Not long ago, an oil field was discovered, which further strengthened the authority of Rio de Janeiro as a major economic and financial center of the country.

The key areas of the city's economy, in which it is quite easy to open a business, are construction, export trade, tourism and entertainment, as well as the service sector.

Real estate

The FIFA World Cup is scheduled for 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, and the Olympics for 2016. Events of such a high level always quite seriously change real estate prices, and also increase the number of purchase and sale transactions. Therefore, now the real estate market in Rio de Janeiro is rapidly increasing its turnover and offers a lot of profitable options. According to analysts, by 2014 housing prices here will increase by 25%, and by commercial real estate- by 15-20%.

At the moment, the average cost of housing in Rio is $500-1500 per m².

Not long ago, a decree came into force throughout Brazil, according to which it is allowed to buy antibiotics in pharmacies only with a doctor’s prescription. Considering that Brazil is an exotic country with a tropical climate, where various infectious diseases are possible, on your trip, just in case, it is advisable to take with you a minimum of basic medications, including antibiotics.

I always pronounce the name of this city with a smile - it’s as if you can hear the fluttering of a thousand colorful butterflies, who can’t wait to fly out and spin to the rhythms of bossa nova (“bossa nova” is a special style of Brazilian music, which is a mixture of jazz and samba).

Rio de Janeiro is amazing!

Passions rage in the hearts of people here no more quietly than in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It seemed to me that the city lives according to the yin-yang principle, without realizing it. All extremes coexist harmoniously here: poverty and prosperity, beauty and ugliness, spiritual kindness with blatant aggression. Next to the elite, very green and beautiful areas of the city, there are always neighborhoods of the poor - favelas, with sun-scorched exteriors, graffiti and endless poverty. One townsman will happily change his route to show you the way if you get lost, while another will steal your bag and threaten you with a gun. Just like in the movies, honestly. And all this to the rhythms of bossa nova.

And by the way, don’t forget to take a phrasebook with you. Because everyone here speaks Portuguese. And there is no more beautiful, completely incomprehensible, waffle-crunching language in the world.

Short video about Rio de Janeiro

How to get there

How to get to Rio de Janeiro if you, like me, live in Moscow? This sunny metropolis is located in South America, and it's very far away. The words “very far” mean the figure 11,543 km - this is exactly the distance from Moscow to Rio de Janeiro. Therefore, the main way to get to Rio is by plane.

But there is another option - to go on a cruise and arrive in Rio on a multi-deck white ship. This is exactly how my idol Ostap Bender dreamed of being in the sultry city of happiness.

And if you are already in South America, then there is nothing easier than getting to the former capital of Brazil by bus. In general, bus service is very developed in South American cities; they are quite comfortable and allow you to save money and sometimes time.

By plane

There are no direct flights from Moscow to Rio. You need to fly with a transfer. The minimum duration of the entire flight is usually 16 hours or more, depending on the chosen connection.

Having monitored the proposals of various airlines (Lufthansa, KLM, Emirates, Etihad, Delta participated in the tender), I came to the conclusion that plane tickets to Rio de Janeiro should be purchased from the airline Air France connecting in Paris.

  1. Firstly, this is the most a budget option flight (my boyfriend paid for the trip, and this point was the most important for him :-)).
  2. Secondly, a convenient connection at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport.

If you attend an airline promotion, the ticket will cost you 38,000 rubles (round trip).

Air France flies daily to Rio de Janeiro. I advise you to choose flight AF 1745 from Moscow with an arrival in Charles de Gaulle at 21:45 and then departure from Paris at 23:35 and arrival in Rio de Janeiro at 05:40 in the morning. Choose a return flight depending on price and preferences. There are 1 or sometimes 2 flights a day from Rio de Janeiro (the schedule is constantly changing). There are morning flights and evening flights.

You can view flight schedules, connection times, and air ticket prices.

Arrival airport for international flights ()

All international flights heading to Rio de Janeiro airport Galeão Rio De Janeiro. At the airport you will find exchange offices, taxis and everything you need. The center is 20 km away.
At the airport, many employees speak English, so you definitely won’t be lost here :-)

Airport of arrival for domestic flights ()

A charming airport with a runway directly along the Atlantic Ocean. Located in the historical center of the city.

By bus

In Brazil, as in many other countries in South America, bus services between cities are very well developed. Traveling by bus in Rio de Janeiro is a smart alternative to renting a car if, for example, you are afraid to drive one exotic country.

The main cities of keen interest to the traveler, from which you can get to Rio by regular buses:

  • Sao Paulo.
  • Florianapolis.
  • Belo Horizonte.
  • Arraial do Cabo.
  • Buzios.
  • Iguazu.

And even from neighboring countries, such as Paraguay, you can come to Rio by bus. But it’s very far away, about 2 days on the road.

Major bus companies

The bus service in Rio (as in Brazil in general) is organized super competently, and I envied it, to be honest (I wish it were like that here!). There are several large bus companies, each with its own website with an English version, and on the website you can easily get directions from point A to point B.

For myself, I highlighted these bus companies (their websites seem to be created for non-Portuguese-speaking tourists :-))

Travel and bus logistics

Logistics of your bus travel it will be like this. Go to the website, choose the desired direction, buy a ticket, come to the station and pick up your tickets. It is very easy to understand where to pick up tickets: at the station, look for a kiosk with the name of the bus company, which will be indicated in large letters on the booking sheet.

I advise you to buy the tickets themselves on the website also because promotional rates are published there, which the cashiers often know nothing about. Well, besides, it will be difficult to communicate with the cashiers if you do not speak Portuguese.

Bus stations

Now as for the bus stations themselves. There are several of them in Rio. Foremost - .
The station is located in the city center at: Av. Francisco Bicalho, 1, Santo Cristo.
I recommend getting here by taxi. Although it is located in the center, this part of the city is not safe. Bus stop It’s quite far from the station, and you’ll have to walk to get there. Judging by the faces that I saw on the street at the entrance to the station, I would not have walked.

And the station building itself is beautiful - very clean, cozy, a lot of shops, the smell of cheese pies (Pão de queijo) and freshly brewed coffee in the air. And yes, there are charging stations for all gadgets. By the way, this service is free, unlike at Moscow train stations. As I remember now, I arrived on the morning train from St. Petersburg to Moscow, the phone rang out, and recharging cost 100 rubles. Fi.

About buses

The buses themselves are very comfortable. When booking tickets, you can choose a bus class:

  • VIP, which means this bus is air conditioned.
  • STANDARD. There will be no air conditioning.

By the way, the Antarctic climate prevails on buses. I strongly advise you to take the precaution of having warm clothes with you.

By car

In general, in Brazil everything is fine with the roads. In theory, motorists can reach Rio de Janeiro by car from any Brazilian city. And even from other countries in South America, subject to successful passage through customs points.
Personally, I am sure that traveling by car to the “outback” parts of the country may not have the most favorable consequences; after all, the country is not very rich, you can easily be robbed. Well, there’s really no one to ask for advice on the road - no one “speaks” in English.
If you are a fan of road travel, then try to build a route that runs along safe and modern highways.
So, you can come to Rio de Janeiro from Sao Paulo along the largest highway BR-116

By ferry

Rio owes much of its stunning landscapes to its amazing geographical location. The city stretched along the southeastern coast of Brazil and seemed to be squeezed between the mountains on one side and Guanabara Bay (the most beautiful bay in Rio de Janeiro) on the other. Such a good location means that you can get to the city by water - on a luxurious white ship, if you want to make Ostap Bender’s dream come true, or on a small cozy ferry.

By the way, the first sailors sailed to Rio on ships and thought that the bay was the January river in Rio de Janeiro, after which the city was named.

The ferry connects Rio with other Brazilian cities and islands - Niteroi, Cocota, Mangaratiba, Angra dos Reis, Paqueta Island, Ilha Grande Island. These ferries dock at the sea terminal in Rio (by the way, they depart from there). This station is called Estação das Barca and it is located in the city center close to Praça XV near Carioca/Cinelandia metro station.

Travel time, schedule and cost can be viewed on the carrier. As a bonus, everyone traveling on the ferry is offered a gorgeous view of the city and great statue Christ from Guanabara Bay.

Cruise ships

If speak about cruise ships, then they come from the very different cities world to a huge and significant port for the whole country - Port of Rio de Janeiro, to the terminal. The port is located not very far from the city center, at Av. Rodrigues Alves, 10 - Centro, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 20081-250. The nearest metro station is Retiro. Here's the terminal.

In general, the terminal is cool - modern, functional, with all the infrastructure necessary for a traveler. By the way, if you are already in Rio and do not intend to sail anywhere on any ships, there is still a reason to come here - at night, incendiary night parties with samba and caipirinha are often held here. Everything is as it should be.

Private yachts

And, if suddenly you are traveling on your private yacht and don’t know where to drop anchor, then head for the beautiful port. By the way, it was in this harbor that races for yachtsmen from all over the world took place at the 2016 Olympic Games. The Marina da Gloria port is located in the charming Flamengo Park near the city center and, believe me, absolutely fantastic panoramas of Rio open up from here. There are nice restaurants in the harbor, where you can learn sailing, and also go diving or fishing with a small group.

Clue:

Rio de Janeiro - the time is now

Hour difference:

Moscow 6

Kazan 6

Samara 7

Ekaterinburg 8

Novosibirsk 10

Vladivostok 13

When is the season? When is the best time to go

Just the name of the city radiates sunlight, right? But it also rains here.

During our Russian summer in Rio, winter brings intermittent rain to the city, and the sunny metropolis is plunged into a haze of gray clouds. At the same time, the air temperature rarely drops below +23, and the rains are most often short-lived and warm. So bad weather in Rio is a relative concept. Another thing is that in the gray haze you can’t see the incredibly bright colors of the city. The clearest days in Rio de Janeiro are between November and March.

When planning our trip, we avoided the New Year period, just as we were afraid of fire in February (carnival takes place in February). These are the most expensive periods; prices for holidays in Rio de Janeiro soar several times. And if we talk about prices, then Rio has never cheap city.

We flew to Rio during the season - March 10, a couple of weeks after the carnival. By the time we arrived, the last carnival decorations had, fortunately, been dismantled and prices returned to normal. The weather was good, hot, +38. Sometimes there were long rains during the day (and we were grateful to them), and in the evening the sun invariably appeared, which, when leaving, gave us incredible sunsets - so many heavenly colors, perhaps, can only be found in Monet’s fictional paintings.

Rio de Janeiro in summer

If we talk about our summer months, in Rio they are considered the rainiest and grayest. The air temperature, however, is not lower than 25 degrees, the water is also warm - 21-23 degrees. When traveling to Rio de Janeiro in the summer, take a windbreaker and an umbrella with you.

Rio de Janeiro in autumn

The season officially begins in November in Rio. In general, the division into seasons is very arbitrary here, because the tourist flow does not stop all year round. But if we talk about the weather, then yes, it becomes less cloudy from November. In the autumn months the air temperature is 27-29 degrees. The advantages are the absence of sweltering heat and a gentle wind.

Rio de Janeiro in spring

In my opinion, spring is the ideal time to visit Rio. At this time, the city becomes calmer; the carnival with its madness and wild prices is behind us. The weather is wonderful. It is very hot, up to 38 degrees, with occasional refreshing rains.

Rio de Janeiro in winter

Our winter in Rio de Janeiro is considered summer. In guidebooks, the months from December to March are designated as the most attractive for visiting the country. During this period, the likelihood of rain is low, the waves in the ocean are quieter, and the sky is mostly cloudless. All this is very good, but the number of tourists in the city is such that you want to leave the metropolis with a mysterious name as soon as possible. The largest influx of tourists occurs during the New Year and Carnival, which takes place annually in February.

Clue:

Rio de Janeiro - weather by month

Districts. Where is the best place to live?

As soon as Vadik bought tickets to Rio, we immediately started thinking about where to live, which part of the city to choose. I wanted to be on the sea, and at the same time in the mountains, and to be closer to all the bars and attractions. But when it comes to this big city(and Rio is really huge), you need to prioritize :-)

I'll tell you how the city works and what choice we made.

Conventionally, the city is divided into 4 zones:

  1. South.
  2. Central.
  3. Northern.
  4. Western.

Individual areas of Rio de Janeiro are concentrated in these zones (there are currently 34 areas in the city)

Southern part of the city

These are the legendary beaches of Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, and Flamengo. Perhaps these areas are the most attractive for tourists, everything here is like in a movie - gorgeous beaches, beautiful houses with fences, like in the series “Tropicana”, all the streets are paved with neat tiles, palm trees, ficuses and eternal trees decorate the entrance to each building.

The areas of this part of the city are considered the safest, everywhere you look - there are only police officers. From the southern regions it is easy to reach the main attractions, some of which are located right here:

  • Sugarloaf.
  • Mount Corcovado with a statue of Christ.
  • Lake Rodrigo de Freitas.

There are also taxis running here around the clock. We chose a hotel 2 steps from Ipanema beach and did not regret it for a minute. The beach in Rio is the main stage of the city, everyone flocks here - both locals and tourists. Want to feel the real atmosphere of Rio? Then you're off to the beach. And I’ll tell you what, living next to the beach in Rio is a must. Early in the morning before long journey in the wilds of a sunny metropolis, you will always have the opportunity to wake up along with the city, run along the embankment, swim in the gentle waves of the Atlantic Ocean, which can only be like this in the morning, drink freshly squeezed mango juice at a fruit bar on the beach. What could be better? This is how a morning in Rio de Janeiro should begin. And in the evening, no matter where you return from, the sunset will await you to the rhythms of bossa nova - the locals really like to come to the beach with a guitar.

Central part of the city

This is the so-called down town, the historical center of Rio de Janeiro. Here are business centers, many historical attractions, including the National Library, Tiradentes Palace, Municipal Theater, National Museum of Fine Arts, Cathedral and the Pedro Ernesto Palace.

On weekdays, downtown is very lively, with people in business suits scurrying here and there. But come on a Sunday and you won’t recognize the business district – there’s not a soul in the area. Never in my life have I seen more deserted streets.
What impressed me most was the bohemian neighborhoods of Lapai Santa Teresa. I advise all party-goers who want to fall asleep and wake up to the rhythms of the city to stay in Lapa. Well, Santa Teresa will appeal to those looking for romance and solitude.

Northern part of the city

Football fans often visit the northern part of the city, since this is where the legendary stadium in Rio de Janeiro is located. I highly recommend attending one of the football matches held at this stadium, even if you are not a fan. An exciting game, emotions, tears of victory and loss and incomparable energy await you. Football is an integral part of Brazilian culture and way of life. And you should see it with your own eyes!
There are other, lesser-known stadiums in the northern part of the city. But I wouldn’t recommend walking further than the stadium – there are favelas around, dangerous neighborhoods of bandits and poor people.

Western part of the city

This area is the farthest from the city center and therefore tourists very rarely come here. The poorest neighborhoods of the city are closely intertwined with areas for the rich, as if proving to the traveler that Rio is a city of contrasts. The pretty district of Barra da Tijuca is located in this part of the city, as is the 20-kilometer beach, the longest in all of Rio.

What are the prices for holidays?

Tours to Rio de Janeiro are expensive. The City of God itself is not cheap. How . But, of course, you can easily save money here if you think about many things in advance. But not at a hotel - accommodation here is expensive, whether in a hotel or a hostel.

Rio de Janeiro hotel prices

We rented a double room in a 3* hotel 2 minutes from Ipanema beach with spacious rooms in white colors and a huge window, on the windowsill of which ringing hummingbirds hung out every morning. The room cost about $100 per night with breakfast.

Ipanema is a magical area, like a piece of cozy Europe inside Rio with the cutest restaurants, beautiful houses and a gorgeous clean beach.

For the same money ($100 per day) in the bohemian district of Santa Teresa you can rent a room in a chic boutique hotel. There are many cool boutique hotels in the area. The views from the hotels in Santa Teresa are stunning.

But there is a minus. The area is located on a mountain, and at night taxi drivers refuse to go up here without explanation. Therefore, if night walks are in your plans, this is probably not the most suitable area.

In Copacabana, hotels cost from $150 per night. By the way, Copacabana beach itself is very dirty, and all the restaurants along the beach are terribly tasteless and also expensive.

You can still live on the party Lapa. A bed in a good hostel can be found for $60, and a hotel room can be rented for $80. At night it is very noisy and the crowd in the area is very diverse - here are the glamorous partygoers of Rio, and bandits, and homeless people. My friend Natasha told me that it was here that they were threatened with a pistol. As if as a joke.

I usually monitor prices and book hotels on Booking -, but you can check if there is a more attractive price somewhere.

You can see the prices for renting private apartments using the link.

Taxi, bus and metro prices

Getting around the city is exactly where you can really save money if you use public transport.

So, on average, the cost of a taxi trip in the southern part of the city will be 50-70 reais (15-20 dollars). A bus ticket costs 4 reais (about 2 dollars). Feel the difference. The cost of one metro trip is 3.20 reais (1 dollar), which is more expensive than in Moscow, but still several times cheaper than a taxi.

Prices for restaurants, cafes and bars

Good restaurants quite expensive. Dinner can cost from 200 reais ($60) for two. Take advantage of the “serving for 2” menu offer. Believe me, this will be a serving for 4 people, but it will be more economical than everyone ordering a whole dish.
There are many restaurants in Rio, and you can find something simpler. But here's my advice to you - never go to restaurants in Copacabana. Everything here is terribly tasteless and expensive.

The cost of a caipirinha in a beach bar is 8-10 reais (about 3-4 dollars), but in a bar the price will be 25 reais (8 dollars).

Freshly squeezed juice in juice bars (such bars are a specialty of Rio, they are scattered throughout the city) - from 5 reais (2 dollars).

To summarize, I will say that both the holiday in Rio de Janeiro and the prices are all at the highest level! :-)

Clue:

Cost of food, accommodation, transportation and other things

Currency: Rubles, rub.

Dollars, $ Euro, €

Main attractions. What to see Rio is a real treasury of cultural and natural wonders

, interesting and unusual city routes.

  • There is a list of places that are absolutely MUST SEE:
  • Statue of Christ the Redeemer.
  • Sugar Loaf.
  • Botanical Garden.
  • Tijuca Forest.
  • Maracanã Stadium. Art Museum
  • arts

National Library (the largest in all of South America). By the way, the beaches in Rio are also among the attractions. Be sure to visit the beaches "» Ipanema, Copacabana, Leblon, Flamengo

and you will see that each of them has its own unique atmosphere. Walk through the world's largest urban national park Tijuca Park and you will be pleasantly surprised to meet cute, but very arrogant coatis, impressed by giant eucalyptus trees and signs that warn about dangerous and insidious snakes. By the way, the Statue of Christ - the most legendary monument in Rio de Janeiro - is located at the top of this park, and if you dare to get to it on foot (too long and hot), you will have indescribable emotions and the most.

beautiful pictures Once in the Lapa quarter, be sure to take the Bondinho (an old wooden tram) that will take you up to the area of ​​the rich and mansions -.
And if you want to experience the real life of the slums, then take a motorcycle taxi and go to the favelas. At one's own risk.

Don't forget to watch the stars of South America through a telescope at the Rio de Janeiro Planetarium. Remember that all museums have free days for visits that will make your holiday in Rio de Janeiro more budget-friendly.

And you can easily avoid queues at various museums and, most importantly, at the statue of Christ, by using the service fast track, which is offered by several local travel companies, for example, Matuete. The cost of this service is about $40 per person.

Top 5

Statue of Christ the Redeemer

Just as the alphabet begins with the letter “A,” so the top list of Rio attractions begins with the Statue of Christ the Redeemer, which is not only the main symbol of Rio de Janeiro, but also the main identifying sign of Brazil as a whole.

My local friends told me that the monument was erected thanks to the efforts of one very rich man as a sign of his gratitude to the City of God, in which he was able to get rich. The official version says that the Statue was erected to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Brazil's independence. I trust my friends more, because Rio is a city of miracles.

The statue itself in Rio de Janeiro is located on top national park Tijuca, and its height is about 38 meters. You can get there by special tourist train, by minibus, car or on foot. The last option is for the most desperate travelers - you will have to walk for a long time and in the heat, but you will have the most stunning views of the city, plus you will explore the world's largest city national park.

We didn’t know about the fast track service, which I talked about above, so we spent 4 hours in 3 queues under the scorching sun!!! When, after all this hell, we found ourselves at the statue, I wanted to cry. Such a number of people as there were around the statue could probably only have been in the main Bombay market. It's horrible.

Try to focus on the magnificence of the monument. Because the figure of Christ emits truly powerful energy, which easily spreads to a million Chinese people around. Both this energy and these stunning views justify any torment. It is not for nothing that the monument is included in the list of modern wonders of the world.

  • Opening hours: daily from 8:30 – 17:00.
  • Price: Admission for adults is 51 reais ($16).

For up-to-date information on opening hours and costs, see the Rio de Janeiro Metro website.

Read more about the Statue of Christ the Redeemer at.

Lapa & Escadaria Selarón

The Lapa district is geographically located in the central part of the city, and despite the fact that there are always a lot of tourists here, it has not lost its very special flavor.

The Lapa quarter is a kind of Parisian Montmartre, an area where artists, poets, dancers and other creative personalities have found refuge. At night on the streets of Lapa everyone dances samba and sings bossa nova. Do you want to go to the carnival? This carnival is here all year round.

In one of the alleys you will find Selarone staircase (EscadariaSelaron) . Just ask any passerby - everyone knows where it is.

In 2013, the artist was found dead on his stairs. They say that one of his own students killed him out of envy. Jorge Selarone is still alive in the hearts of people, and his staircase has become one of the best examples of Brazilian modern art.

Visiting the staircase is free.

Santa Teresa and the Bondinho

Santa Teresa is a district of mansions. Remember the series “Tropicana”, “Wild Rose”? So everything looks the same there - rich houses, rose fences, labyrinthine streets and gorgeous views of Guanabara Bay.

The best time to go to Santa Teresa is after a walk through the Lapa district. From here this can be done in a completely unusual way - using “bondinho”. This is what cariocas (locals) call the old wooden tram, which has been transporting people from one area to another for decades.

In theory, the tram leaves every 20 minutes from the Carioca metro station. But this is only in theory. In fact, the tram follows only the schedule known to it. The tram does not have a website, and I generally doubt that this type of transport functions officially. The opening hours are not written at the entrance, but I know one thing for sure: at exactly 16:00 the tram stops moving (the first time we decided to take a ride at about 5 pm and came to the closed doors of the station). He also does not make routes after rain. We were convinced of this when we came to the station for the second time :-). And only for the third time luck smiled on us.

You sit in one of 5 wooden trailers, the benches are distributed equally between tourists and cariocas. The tram climbs up the hillside, deftly maneuvering between beautiful mansions with colorful fences and ancient buildings, the architectural appearance of which quietly takes us to Rio of past centuries. Winding through the labyrinth of old streets, the tram periodically pampers passengers with views from the cliff of the sea in Rio de Janeiro. Undoubtedly, this was one of the most romantic and extraordinary trips of my life.

Sugar Loaf (Pão de Açúcar)

Sugarloaf is a mountain called Pão de Açúcar, and its height reaches almost 400 m. It is called so because it supposedly looks like a piece of sugar. The essence of the visit is that you take a cable car to the top of this mountain.

During this time, the traveler will have 3 stops at different heights– Praia Vermelha, Urca and the very top of the mountain.

You definitely need to go here to see the sunset. And if you are lucky and the sky is cloudless, you will fall into a trance from the beauty around you. By the way, there are no crazy crowds of tourists here. You can relax, sit on a chair, drink a can of beer and enjoy your stay in Rio. The views from the top are stunning. Everything is as in the picture, honestly.

  • Opening hours: 8:10 – 21:00. Funiculars depart every 20 minutes.
  • Cost of the funicular ride: 62 reais (almost 20 dollars). This price includes all 3 ascents and 3 descents.

Favelas (FAVELS)

Favelas are poor people's neighborhoods scattered haphazardly throughout the city. For some reason, the incredible piles of houses on the mountain are fascinating.
Each favela is like a separate state with its own orders, structure, drug lords, schools, hospitals. Have you seen the movie "City of God"? This is exactly how the poor people's neighborhoods here actually work.

Favelas are an acute social phenomenon, which personally does not frighten me so much as makes me empathize with the inhabitants of these neighborhoods. The number of people living in Rio de Janeiro's favelas is alarming! Millions of people. From year to year, the state ignores the problems of communities, and sometimes their very existence, deprives residents of even minimal social support and thereby condemns the poor to earn their bread through crime.

In these areas, poverty, not carnival, rules the roost. Rarely does a tourist get to see this side of the city. Looking into a favela is a dangerous undertaking and can sometimes cost your life. But not looking here means not understanding anything about the city. Because Rio is not only beaches, samba and mansions with beautiful fences. Rio is a city of completely different destinies, a carnival city in which millions of people are doomed to starvation.

Beaches. Which ones are better

The most famous and beautiful beaches of Rio de Janeiro () are Ipanema, Copacabana, Leblon.

  • "Ipanema"– in my opinion, this is the most amazing beach in Rio de Janeiro. Azure, turquoise water, view of the Two Brothers rocks, seagulls overhead. The elite crowd of Rio de Janeiro hangs out here, and surprisingly there are not as many tourists as in Copacabana, for example. Cape Aproador, which separates the beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana, deserves special attention. As soon as the sun begins to sink behind the mountain, all the locals gather on the cape to watch the sunset. Take a bottle of good wine from the nearest store and be sure to come here. I close my eyes and see those sunsets and hear a beautiful cariocas girl singing “Girl from Ipanema” with a guitar. Read more.

  • "Copacabana" is a four-kilometer public beach. And there is no such person who would not dream of being in Copacabana. I dreamed too. And what I will say is that Copacabana Beach is beautiful from afar. In fact, it is very dirty, and the waves are so high that every step in the ocean must be carefully thought out, otherwise you simply won’t be able to swim. They say that you can often see celebrities here, but I didn’t meet them, but there are more than enough dubious-looking people on the beach. On the outskirts of the beach is the Copacabana Fortress, which houses the Army Historical Museum, where you can see German submarines from the early 20th century. Details.

  • "Leblon» – this beach is a continuation of Ipanema and at the same time is considered the most respectable beach in the city of God. It's good to come here on Sunday, when Copacabana and Ipanema are crowded. After all, all city residents spend their weekends on the beach :-)


If you are a surfing fan, then go to the beaches " Barra de Tijuca» And " Recreo» . High waves are guaranteed here all year round.

By the way, about the waves. If you want to enjoy their absence and the silence of the sea, then you will like it beach "Urka"» , which is located at the foot of Sugar Loaf.

Churches and temples. Which ones are worth visiting?

In Rio de Janeiro, everyone believes in God; it is not for nothing that this metropolis is called the City of God. Within the city there are a huge number of churches, temples and monasteries. I will highlight the most beautiful and significant for the city residents.

  • Temple of Saint Zenaide is a magnificent, incredibly cozy Orthodox church, the history of which begins in the 19th century. After the 1917 revolution, many Russian emigrants found refuge in Rio de Janeiro. Every Russian family invested money in the construction of this church. It is located in the beautiful Santa Teresa area, people come here to rest their souls, pray, and think about the main thing. I highly recommend taking the time to visit this church. On the temple website you can see opening hours, learn more about the history of its creation and much more.

Museums. Which ones are worth visiting?

There are a lot of museums in the city. To see them all, I advise you to apply for permanent residence in the City of God. I’ll tell you about the most iconic ones and also about the most unusual ones, where tourists usually never set foot. In Rio de Janeiro, attractions can be found where you might not expect them.

Art Museum ()

There are a lot of tourists in this museum. And this is not surprising, because there is a huge collection of works from the greatest masters of this world. Particularly interesting are the exhibitions of African and Brazilian art.

  • Address: Av. Rio Branco, 199 - Centro.
  • Opening hours: Tue-Fri 10.00 – 17.00. On Sunday admission is free. On other days, 8 reais ($2.30) per person.

Or it is also called “the museum of tomorrow.” The fact that this is a museum of the future is immediately clear; the architect of the building, Santiago Calatrava, seemed to have flown into space and spied how everything worked there. As for the exhibitions, you will find various media panels, interactive things and other high-tech interests. I highly recommend taking a look here.

  • Address: Praça Mauá, 1 - Centro.
  • Opening hours: Tue-Sun, 10.00 – 17.00. On Saturdays admission is free, on other days 10 reais ($3) per person.


Modern Art Museum ()

Everything here is like in all IOM museums around the world - many exhibits of contemporary art, with preference given to Brazilian creators. This museum was designed by the famous Brazilian architect Afonso Reidy.

  • Address: Av. Infante Dom Henrique, 85 - Parque do Flamengo.
  • Opening hours: Tue-Fri 12:00-18: 00. Tickets cost 14 reais (5 dollars).


Gallery of Contemporary Carioca Art ()

This is perhaps the most popular gallery in Rio de Janeiro among art lovers. There are very interesting collections of famous and completely unknown local pen artists here.

  • Address: Rua Gonçalves Lédo, 11 e 17 - Centro.
  • Working hours: Mon-Fri t 12:00-19:00. WITH Ticket prices vary and depend on the specific exhibition. On average it varies from 2 to 12 reais (1-5 dollars).

All the museums listed above are classics of the genre. Everyone knows about them, everyone includes them in the program. Below is a list of places you should definitely check out if you want something like this.

School of the Arts ()

It’s like it’s not really a museum, but a functioning art school. This school is a real palace, already dilapidated for a long time, but not devoid of dignity. It is located on the territory of a real jungle, despite the fact that this jungle is located almost in the middle of the city. You can go inside and walk around the school, this is where you will see real contemporary art, without refined frames and established cliches. But the most important thing is the flocks of divine toucans, who, sitting on the balconies of the palace, protect the young masters from failure.

  • Address: R. Jardim Botânico, 414 - Jardim Botânico.
  • Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10:00 -16:00. Free admission.

Aunt Rose's legendary samba school (Grêmio Recreativo Escola de Samba Unidos de Vila Isabel)

Dona Rosa is an outstanding old lady. We wish all of us girls could be like this old lady. There is fire in the eyes, a smile on the lips, samba in the movements. Do you want to know where the most incendiary dance in the world begins and how the carnival works? Come to the Vila Isabel school and they will show and tell you everything. True, the conversation will be in Portuguese. But don’t let this scare you, I assure you, everything will be clear, because samba knows no language barriers. If you're lucky, you'll catch Rosa, whose team, by the way, regularly wins the carnival.

  • Address: Boulevard 28 de Setembro.
  • Opening hours: no set opening hours. Try coming on a weekday afternoon. Admission is free, but tips for the development of the school are welcome :-)

Parks

Residents of Rio de Janeiro love to spend time outdoors - on the beach or in parks. Where you need to go for local flavor is in city parks, each of them has a special atmosphere, because citizens come here to take a breath and rest their souls. There are a lot of parks in the city, and they are stunning - with eucalyptus trees, bamboos, birds, butterflies and toucans.

The most famous, but without losing their charm:

  • Flamengo Park. This park seems to reflect the serene Brazilian soul. The aroma of roasted meat is in the air (Cariocas often host barbecue parties), single visitors hum bossa nova to themselves, they play football on the grass, and build castles on the sand. Entrance is free, it is better not to walk at night. Address: Rua Brigadeiro, Eduardo Gomes, Flamengo. Metro: Largo de Machado or Catete.

  • Park near Lake Rodrigo de Freitas. Here you can not only enjoy romantic walks along the alleys, but also take a boat or catamaran ride on the lake. It is especially pleasant to glide along the surface of the water in the evening, when the heat subsides; you can watch how the city smoothly plunges into twilight and the illumination washes over the river, as if in a wave. The boat will cost you 15 reals ($4.5) for 30 minutes. You can rent it at the Tretbootverleih Pier. Admission is free, boat rental is open from 10:00 to 20:00. Address: Avenida Epitacio Pessoa, Parque do Cantagalo, quiosque 20. Metro: Gal.Osorio.
  • Botanical Garden . An absolute MUST SEE in Rio de Janeiro. Think for yourself where else you will see alleys of giant palm trees, a lake with delightful giant water lilies and white lilies, bamboo labyrinths and dozens of other exotic plants. By the way, the garden contains not only Brazilian vegetation, but also completely non-local vegetation, brought here from all over the world by Prince João VI, who in 1800 turned this garden into a royal park.
    A very important point - do not forget to take all available repellents with you, there are many more mosquitoes here than there are visitors. Opening hours: daily from 8 to 18, admission costs 6 reais (1.55 dollars) Address: R. Jardim Botânico, 1008 - Jardim Botânico. Metro: Botafogo + bus 170/172/176.

Tourist streets

The most important tourist streets in Rio are considered beaches “Ipanema”, “Copacabana”, “Leblon”» and their embankments with millions of boutiques, juice bars, beach markets and cozy restaurants. On such streets, the wind from the Atlantic always blows towards you, and passers-by compete for the most fashionable outfit, which here is, of course, a bikini.

Once in the city center, be sure to take a walk around the Cinelandia quarter. At the beginning of the 20th century, the mayor of the city, Pereire Passuso, demolished more than 700 residential buildings to create a “little Paris” in the city center. So come here and take a look at this one. It’s convenient to start your walk from the Cinelandia metro station in Floriano Square, surrounded by beautiful ancient palaces; the world famous Rio de Janeiro Theater is located next to the same square. The central streets of Rio de Janeiro are beautiful.

What to see in 1 day

It’s very sad if you only have one day in Rio, because in such a city a whole life is not enough. Well, there’s nothing to be done, I would plan 24 hours in the City of God like this:

  • Morning (8-10 am). Travel to Ipanema and watch the city awaken. The best way to watch it is from a cozy cafe, where they will serve you coffee and signature cheese buns. You have 2 hours for breakfast, the ocean and a bikini.
  • Late morning (10-12 am) When you leave the beach, don’t cry, because you have a whole day ahead of you, filled with searching for interesting things to do in Rio de Janeiro. The closest metro station to Ipanema is Gal. Osorio. Take the metro and you'll end up at Cinelandia station. And now you are in the historical center of the city, take a walk through the Cinelandia quarter and nearby streets - colonial houses, architectural monuments, beautiful churches, in general, everything that usually tempts the city center.
  • Lunch (12:00-13:00) Have lunch at one of Lapa's restaurants. Feel free to order meat and beer!
  • Afternoon (13:00-15:00) From the restaurant, walk to Carioca metro station. Here is the stop of the local old Bondinho tram, which with a slight rattle will take you to the bohemian district of Santa Teresa mansions. Along the way you will enjoy magnificent views of Guanabara Bay.
  • Day (15:00-18:00) After you leave the tram, quickly go to Sugar Loaf (Botafogo metro), where you should definitely catch the beginning of sunset. If the sky is cloudless, I guarantee it will be the most incredible sunset of your life.
  • Evening (18:00-22:00) If you have time, and especially if you are a football fan, I advise you to buy tickets for the match, which takes place at the Maracanã stadium. An amazing game of Brazilian teams, tears, joy, a thousand emotions in one bottle awaits you. Tickets are inexpensive, and the game schedule can be viewed on the stadium's website.

What to see in the area

Nearby Islands

Lost 120 km from Rio is an amazing tropical Ilha Grande island. This is a real green patch of Amazonia in the middle of the ocean and one of the most beautiful places in Brazil, and maybe throughout South America.

Ilya Grande is like an island from the books of Jules Verne. The Tupinamba Indians once lived here, and the paths they laid can still be used for walking.

The main attraction of Ilha Grande is wild nature and beautiful beaches. Take a water taxi (it costs pennies here) and go on a tour of Ilha Grande Bay with its many islands, wild beaches, waterfalls and other wonders of nature. In the village of Abrau, located in the middle of virgin forests, you can rent a room in a small house and enjoy the sunset in one of the local restaurants in the evenings. By the way, there are no ATMs on the island and only cash is accepted. Don't forget about it.

How to get there

From Rio de Janeiro you need to take a bus from the train station to the Rodoviaria Novo Rio train station ( bus company company Costa Verde) to the Conceicao de Jacarei stop, and then by ferry. Ferries depart daily (about 5 departures per day). Mono tickets can be purchased directly on the spot, costing about 15 reais (5 dollars) per person.

Food. What to try

Rio has never laid claim to being the country's gourmet gastronomic capital. I wouldn’t be surprised if there isn’t one like this in Brazil at all. Everything here is simple, satisfying, sometimes tasty, sometimes not.
In this city you have to eat meat. It is correct, juicy, awesome. My friend, a vegetarian, once admitted over a glass of Burgundy that she doesn’t eat meat anywhere except Brazil and Argentina. You can eat meat here in a variety of variations, but to avoid mistakes, I advise you to just take steak. As a rule, it is served with vegetables and French fries.
Street food deserves special attention in Rio. I still remember the scent Pão de queijo de tapioca(round cheese buns), which is simply in the air in Rio. Every morning I devoured them in quantities of at least 7 pieces. By the way, the balls can also be fish. And they are also very tasty. Are called « Bolinhos de bacalhau» .
A dish with the oriental name “feijoada” is also popular in Rio. It is generally considered a traditional Brazilian treat, and was previously the food of slaves. The ingredients are as follows - beans, meat and whatever comes to hand. You will find this dish in restaurants and street stalls. I wouldn't say it's very tasty, but, without a doubt, interesting :-)
In downtown, next to the Carioca station, very colorful Brazilian women entice all passers-by with shrimp sandwiches. It looks very tasty, but Vadik did not allow me to try it because of the suspicious green sauce. This sandwich is called empada. If you're in Rio, eat 2! :-)

Drinks deserve special attention in Rio de Janeiro. I think everyone knows about caipirinha. Local alcohol, which is sold at every turn, is a mixture of cachaça (Brazilian vodka), lime, cane sugar and sometimes mint. Very tasty and very drunk. After 3 days, this cocktail is impossible to look at. Another thing - tangerine caipirinha. In one of the bars on Lapa, I met a resident of Sao Paulo, and she advised me to order it. As a rule, tangerine caipirinha is not on the menu and bartenders make this drink at the request of those in the know. Be sure to try it - this is an amazing cocktail that never gets boring.
I would classify the juice bars of Rio de Janeiro as gastronomic wonders. They are scattered throughout the city and offer visitors to try a variety of exotic juices. Where else will you have the opportunity to enjoy drinks made from acerola, graviola and acai?

Budget

  1. Delírio Tropical, a chain of restaurants around the city.
  2. "Baixo Gago", Laranjeiras.
  3. "Bar do Adão", a chain of restaurants around the city.
  4. "Corujão", Benfica.

Mid-level

  1. "Tacacá do Norte", Flamengo.
  2. "Botero", Laranjeiras.
  3. "Point Lunches", Tabajaras.
  4. "Fat Choi", Gloria.

Expensive

  1. "Pergula", Copacabana.
  2. "Lasai", Botafogo.
  3. "Olympe", Lagoa.
  4. "Quiteria Restaurante", Ipanema.

Holidays

The most important holiday in Rio de Janeiro is February.

It is in February that the world-famous carnival in Rio de Janeiro starts annually, photos of which are replete with all the magazines. And this, of course, is a magnificent show with its own traditions, which has no analogues. The essence of the event is that all citizens and guests of the city dress up in bright dance costumes and go out into the street to watch the competition of the best samba dance schools. All groups of speakers move on special platforms; each school is allocated about 80 minutes to perform.

If samba has been tapping out naughty steps in your soul for a long time, then visiting the carnival will become a pearl in your travel treasure chest. That's where you'll find the mass useful information, life hacks and tips on how to organize your trip to the carnival.

As for me, I adore samba and yet I decided not to go to the carnival! :-) Because it's very expensive. And I also don’t like tourists, and a carnival definitely involves crowds of people. During my stay in Rio, I made local friends, and all of them (being of different age categories, gender and financial status) admitted that they were trying to leave the city during the carnival. In addition to the madness that is happening on the streets, prices increase tenfold, as does the crime rate, unfortunately. My Brazilian friends also reported that the place of a tourist at a carnival is invariably on the side, in a crowd of completely different people, often vulgarly drunk and literally dangerous. So it goes.

The carnival is very beautifully depicted in fantasy, but in reality it can disappoint with its turmoil, as it disappointed many of my friends who nevertheless decided to attend this celebration of life. Therefore, I advise you to weigh the pros and cons of such a trip. And I also want to inform you that the spirit of carnival always reigns in Rio. Only in other months this spirit is not associated with crowds of tourists.

Safety. What to watch out for

Rio is a beautiful city, but dangerous. I advise you to always be alert and, when going on long walks, not to take all your jewelry with you. Your earrings will instantly cease to belong to you - such are the clever street scammers here.

I admit, I looked at Rio through rose-colored glasses and nothing bad happened - no scenes with robbery and shootings. But I assure you, this is not uncommon in Rio, as evidenced by the experience of my fellow travelers and the stories of local friends. Take care of yourself in this city and be attentive to others!

Things to do

When you're in Rio, your soul feels like it's in flight. You feel like a seagull, relaxingly soaring in the streams of a cloudless sky. And it seems to me that not making a real flight in this city is a crime!
And here are a couple of options that will become a unique experience in your life.

  • Hang gliding flight. Well, I highly recommend it. You will not just see the city from a bird's eye view, but you will also feel like a real bird. The emotions that such a flight will give you are difficult to describe in words; such adrenaline awaits you that it will be enough for another year without traveling. The stunning views of the City of God will appear in the palm of your hand: the Statue of Christ the Redeemer, and Sugarloaf, and the green peaks of the Tijuca National Park, and, of course, the outlines of all the beaches with the turquoise waters of the Atlantic Ocean. There are many companies in the city that offer flights. I advise you to contact one of these agencies in advance, because this is a very popular entertainment among tourists and cariocas. I can recommend a local company, Matuete, or ask your hotel concierge.
    WITH The cost of a tandem flight is not small - from $150 per person. True, this price already includes transfers from the hotel to Tijuca Park (it is from here that the flight starts from the Pedro Bonita ramp), entry tickets to the park, insurance and the flight itself (about 12 minutes in the air). Believe me, it's worth it!

Shopping and shops

Along Ipanema and Copacabana there are many boutiques where you can buy beautiful clothes from Brazilian and leading world brands. Everything is VERY expensive. The city also has shopping centers, and if necessary, you can buy any clothes. But Rio, comrades, is not a place to hunt for brands. The only thing worth buying are Havaianas brand slippers, which are sold in shops throughout the city. Well, sneakers from the Rainha brand, which you wear for 10 years.

Pay attention to antique and art stores. Here you can buy truly outlandish and unusual things. I recommend checking out these shops:

  1. L.A.VEREDAHANDICRAFTS. A rich selection of paintings by local artists, clay figurines from the state of Pernambuco, bright Bondo-style T-shirts. Address: R. Alm. Alexandrino, 428 - Santa Teresa.Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 20:00. There is no website.
  2. PE DE BOI . It seems, the best shop for art lovers. You can even just come here to have a look, the store is like a gallery. Rare works by artists from the Amazon and other regions are collected here. distant corners Brazil. Address: R. Ipiranga, 55 – Laranjeiras.Opening hours: daily except Sunday from 10 to 19.
  3. PLANOB. This is the place where you can dig up both old jazz records and modern CDs with the best music of Brazilian musicians. DJ parties are often held on weekends. See the poster on the website. Address: R. Francisco Muratori, 2 - Santa Teresa.Opening hours: check the website, they change all the time.

Bars. Where to go

One of the best and most atmospheric bars where they play and dance samba is.
It opens at 10 pm, and by this time there is already a line out front to get in. Admission is paid, it costs about $10. At the same time, you will be given a bracelet, and you can enter and exit as often as you like. But you won’t want to go out – such a captivating atmosphere and amazing music. At the same time, there are a lot of people here aged 45+, mostly Brazilians, everyone is dressed very beautifully and tastefully. Address: Av. Mem de Sá, 79 – Centro.

The bar is no less colorful. The regulars are local artists, drinking draft beer and listening to quiet samba. But in the evening the decibel level rises sharply and the bar fills with partygoers of all sorts. Address: R. Áurea, 26 - Santa Teresa.

And here I am attaching a list great places:

  1. Lapa 40 Graus(R. Riachuelo, 97 - Centro, Rio de Janeiro).
  2. Jazz In(R. Sacadura Cabral, 63).
  3. Bar Bukowski(R. Álvaro Ramos, 270 - Botafogo).
  4. Bla Bla Champanheria(Av. Érico Veríssimo, 843 - Barra da Tijuca).

Clubs and nightlife

Rio seems to be made for party people. You can trust me in this matter, I am like that myself.

People come to Lapa for non-stop fun, alcohol and samba. In the labyrinth of small streets and dilapidated buildings, bossa nova thunders, and after 12 or more incendiary tunes. The coolest thing is that the music here is live. Dancing in Rio de Janeiro until the morning - in bars, near bars, on the street, in other words, everywhere and absolutely everything.

The party scene in Rio de Janeiro at night is concentrated mainly in bars. But there are also a couple great clubs with parties “for the rich.” Celebrities often come here on vacation; everyone is dressed beautifully and stylishly. And still the main leitmotif is samba until the morning.

And here’s another thing I want to say: during the day there is also a party in Rio de Janeiro. The beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema are at your service.

Extreme Sports

The most extreme sports in Rio de Janeiro are perhaps hang gliding and surfing.

I have already written in detail about hang gliders in the “What to do” section. As for surfing, it is very popular in Rio. The waves here are year-round, but the structure is quite difficult if you are a beginner.

If you are an experienced surfer, then take a board and go to the beaches of Recreo or Barra de Tijuca. On the beaches you can find equipment rental points, which always have experienced instructors. Lesson cost is negotiable :-)

Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

Havaianas slippers

These are the best slippers ever. Already on the second day of my stay in Rio, my legs claimed first-degree disability, such were the consequences of a 30-kilometer walk in the pouring rain in Tijuca. I decided that this was a completely worthy excuse to beg Vadik for new shoes. And so we went to the Havaianas shop (they are everywhere in Rio). Millions of models of beach shoes, sneakers, and slip-ons opened up to my greedy gaze. The prices are super reasonable. Good slip-ons can be purchased for 75 reais ($20). In Brazil, everyone wears these shoes, and this is not surprising, because they will not cause you the slightest discomfort and look bright and stylish.

Musical record by Chico Buarca

Chico Buarqui is a legendary Brazilian singer, actor, public figure and just a beautiful man. His music is magical. Buy his CD for yourself and it will remain in your heart forever. The song Bye Bye, Brasil still makes me cry. A wonderful gift for music lover friends. The price of the record is from 50 reais (15 dollars).

Natural cosmetics Granado

The most natural, most Brazilian cosmetics. It is famous primarily for its glycerin soaps. But there are also body lotions and much more. The persistent smell of exotic plants, fruits and freshness will give you a Brazilian mood every day. Prices start from 5 reais (2 dollars). And here are them.

How to get around the city

The cheapest way to travel in Rio is by public transport, the safest way is by taxi, and the most pleasant thing is by bicycle.

A one-way bus ride costs from 2.7 to 5 reais (1-3 dollars), by metro - 4.1 reais (2 dollars).

By the way, the metro has a Subway + MetrôRio bus service ticket, which includes one trip on the metro and one on a special bus. Cost – 4.1 reais (2 dollars).

A taxi ride in the center starts from 30 reais (10 dollars) - this is the basic fare.

And along the beaches of the city I advise you to ride bikes. Rent a bike for 2 hours about 15 reais (5 dollars).

Taxi. What features exist

Undoubtedly the safest and comfortable view transport. Cars run throughout the city. You can catch it right on the street or call it through the "easy taxi" app. There are 2 types of taxis – yellow and white. Yellow - you are driving through traffic. White – fixed tariff.

There are also motorcycle taxis in the city, their stations are mainly based at the foot of the favelas.

How to get from Galeo International Airport to the city center by taxi

At the exit of the main terminal you will see a row of white taxis that operate on fixed traffic. All machines will say "100 reais" ($30) or a number similar to this. This is the price of a trip to the city center.

There is also an official city taxi stand at the airport (all cars are yellow). Price is negotiable - you can take a fixed rate or by meter.

How to get from Santos Dumont Airport to the city center by taxi

In the airport building at the exit there are city taxi stands. You go to any one, name the final destination, and they tell you the cost. You pay. The driver will already be waiting for you on the street. The cost of a trip to the center (the airport itself is located in the center) is 70 reais ($20).

Trams

In Rio, I found only one tram - the Bondinho, running from Lapa to Santa Teresa. I talked about him earlier. However! During my stay in the city, rails were laid throughout the center. I assume for the tram. But at the moment there is still no tram service.

Metro

The Rio de Janeiro Metro is convenient, has modern stations, and is very easy to navigate. The metro is divided into 2 lines: orange (Linha 1) and green (Linha 2). I advise you to actively use the metro website, there is interactive map, with which you can understand how to get from point A to point B.

In addition, on the site you will find information about all the main attractions of the city, including descriptions, current entry prices, opening hours and how to get to them by metro.

And one more thing - the metro in Rio is damn cold, take a blouse with you or something.

Buses

There are a lot of buses in the city, especially in the center, and they are all constantly crowded with citizens. However, such invaluable advantages as a dedicated lane and low ticket prices give this mode of transport enormous advantages. By the way, on the buses you can watch local residents, believe me, this is very interesting.

It is almost impossible to understand the numbering of buses and their directions without prior preparation. My advice is to always plan your route to a particular part of the city in advance and find out what bus number you need. A sign to help.

How to get from the international airport to the city center by bus

From Galeão Rio De Janeiro Airport to the city center it is about 14 km.
We arrived at 5:40 am and were in absolutely no hurry. So we decided to go by bus. At the exit terminal 2 yellow buses stop. If you need to go to the city center, follow the sign “CAPACABANA”. This bus travels through the entire center and stops at every stop. Show the driver your address and he will stop as close to the desired address as possible. The fare is about $1.50 per person (4 reais).

In theory, it would take 40 minutes from the airport to the Capacabana stop, but we got stuck in every possible traffic jam and were only there a couple of hours later.

Transport rental

Cars

My opinion is this: it is better to do without a car in Rio and not bother with renting. Traffic in the City of God is intense, the geography of the city is insanely difficult to quickly understand, there is no parking, and the fines are large. Well, there are also a large number of cases of car robbery.

If you still decide to rent a car, then it’s better to rent from local companies, the price will be 10 percent lower. You can look at prices in advance and monitor promotional offers. Don't forget to take your international driver's license and credit card. When you register your car, you will be provided with insurance at the rate of approximately $12 per day. A cash deposit is sometimes required at the discretion of the moving company.

Bicycles

Renting bicycles in Rio is very cool. There are various rental companies located along the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema. I advise you to find the points. These bikes are free for the first hour, and if you rent for the whole day you will only pay 5 reais ($1.50).

To rent such a bike, you need to have a mobile phone and 300 reais ($95) on your credit card (will be temporarily blocked as a deposit).

Rio de Janeiro - holidays with children

Rio de Janeiro is a great destination for a holiday with children.

Believe me, your little overlords will be absolutely delighted with the exotic nature of this city. After all, here they will meet toucans, monkeys, coatis, pelicans and other terribly cute animals. I am sure that children will see this sunny metropolis exactly as it is shown in the cartoon Rio!

Still, there are obvious obstacles and difficulties that you need to think about before taking your children to Rio.

  • First of all, it's tedious long flight. After all, in total you will spend at least 16 hours on airplanes. Will your fidget survive such an adventure?
  • And secondly, do not forget that Rio is a city in the middle of the jungle, where any mosquito bite can have consequences even for an adult. And there are a lot of mosquitoes here, as well as other insects, flying and crawling. Have you heard about the Zico virus? So, it seems that I got sick from it during the trip. He appeared out of nowhere and just as suddenly disappeared. But for 3 days I was in a severe fever, lying with a temperature of +39.

 

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