Destinations › Brazil › Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
- Rio de Janeiro: One of the Great Cities of the World · The beaches, the sights, where to eat and go out, and ten hotels I'd stay in.
Where should I stay?
Harris's 10 hotels in Rio
From around $200 on Copacabana to the Copacabana Palace. The full write-ups are in the Rio guide.
- JW Marriott Hotel Rio de Janeiro (Harris stayed here): Around $300–$400 per night
- Windsor California Copacabana (Beachfront value): Around $200–$250 per night
- Arena Ipanema Hotel (Between two beaches): Around $200–$250 per night
- Miramar Hotel by Windsor (Value near Arpoador): Around $200–$300 per night
- Sheraton Grand Rio Hotel & Resort (Resort by the ocean): Around $300–$400 per night
- Janeiro Hotel (Leblon boutique): Around $400–$600 per night
- Fairmont Rio de Janeiro Copacabana (Near Posto 6): Around $400–$600 per night
- Hotel Fasano Rio de Janeiro (Ipanema splurge): Around $800–$1,200+ per night
- Emiliano Rio (Copacabana boutique): Around $700–$1,000+ per night
- Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel (Rio legend): Around $1,000+ per night
Where should I eat?
- Confeitaria Colombo · Centro · Café and pastries: An ornate belle époque tearoom open since 1894, good for coffee, pastries and a look at its mirrored hall.
- Casa da Feijoada · Ipanema · Brazilian (feijoada): Serves feijoada, Brazil's black bean and pork stew, every day rather than only on the traditional Wednesdays and Saturdays.
- Churrascaria Palace · Copacabana · Churrasco (Brazilian steakhouse): A Copacabana steakhouse since 1951 where waiters bring skewers of grilled meat to your table rodízio-style.
- Bar Urca · Urca · Seafood and bar snacks: Locals buy beers and fried snacks here and sit on the seawall facing Guanabara Bay, especially at sunset.
- Bar do Mineiro · Santa Teresa · Brazilian bar food: A lively neighborhood boteco known for its feijoada and bean pastéis.
- Aprazível · Santa Teresa · Contemporary Brazilian: A hillside restaurant with tables among trees, serving refined Brazilian dishes with views over the city and bay.
- Cervantes · Copacabana · Sandwiches: A late-night classic famous for its roast pork sandwich topped with pineapple.
- Academia da Cachaça · Leblon · Brazilian bar food: A bar with a long list of cachaças and caipirinhas plus hearty snacks like escondidinho.
What should I do?
- Cristo Redentor · Corcovado: The Christ statue atop Corcovado, reached by cog train or van, with sweeping views of the city.
- Pão de Açúcar · Urca: A two-stage cable car ride up Sugarloaf Mountain for views over Copacabana and Guanabara Bay.
- Escadaria Selarón · Lapa: A staircase covered in colorful tiles from around the world by artist Jorge Selarón.
- Jardim Botânico · Jardim Botânico: Botanical gardens founded in 1808, known for the avenue of imperial palms and orchid house.
- Museu do Amanhã · Centro: A science museum about climate and the future, in a striking building on the revamped Praça Mauá waterfront.
- Praia de Ipanema · Ipanema: Rio's best-known beach scene, with the Dois Irmãos peaks at one end and applause for the sunset at Arpoador.
- Parque Nacional da Tijuca · Floresta da Tijuca: One of the world's largest urban forests, with waterfalls, viewpoints and hiking trails like Pedra da Gávea.
- A night of live samba · Lapa: Lapa's bars and dance halls host live samba and choro most nights, under and around the white Arcos da Lapa.