The sunny climate, welcoming atmosphere, and attractions of Brazil make it a popular tourist destination, with many people choosing Rio de Janeiro for a vacation in the country. This is the second biggest city in Brazil and one of the biggest in the world. This ensures that there are plenty of things to see and do while there, and the following Rio de Janeiro travel guide provides details of some of the city’s top attractions.
Beaches
No trip to Rio would be complete without spending some time on the beach and there are two famous locations for this. Copacabana is a 4km long stretch of golden sand that offers the chance to people watch, sunbathe, or play some sport. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants along the boardwalk at which to have some refreshments and visitors can also take in historic Fort Copacabana, which stands at one end of the beach. The second location is Ipanema, with this beautiful arc of soft sand regularly featuring in lists of the world’s top beaches. It is one of Rio’s top attractions and the pristine sand and clear water make it a perfect place to enjoy a relaxing day by the sea.
Christ the Redeemer
This iconic statute stands on top of Corcovado Peak and is one of the most impressive sights in Rio. It was originally designed and built during the early 1920’s, so has now been watching over the city for almost a century. A view of the statue can be gained from many locations around Rio and those that want to get a closer look can choose to climb the hundreds of steps to get to it or take an elevator for an easier trip to the summit of the peak.
Maracana Stadium
Football is almost a religion in Brazil and the country’s population worship the players that turn out for the national team. They play many of their games at the Maracana, with this stadium being one of the most famous in the world. It has stood in place since the 1950s and once was capable of holding up to 200,000 vociferous football fans. While it has a smaller capacity these days, it is still the biggest stadium in South America and a historic location for any football fan to visit.
Sugarloaf Mountain
This is probably the most well-known of the peaks that tower over Rio and there are some great views of the surrounding city and coastal waters for anyone that makes the trip to the 1,300 feet high summit. This is made easy to do these days, with glass-walled cable cars carrying people up from a base station at Babilonia Hill. This is certainly worth doing to enjoy the ride and get some great photographs of Rio.
Carnival
Many people choose carnival time to visit and it is one of the most exciting experiences that the city offers. The carnival has been part of Rio life for hundreds of years and has grown to become one of the biggest street festivals in the world. It usually takes place over a few days in February and March each year, with the floats, samba dancing, and exotic costumes definitely worth seeing. Up to two million revelers can take part each day to make it an experience to remember.
A trip to Rio offers plenty to make it a great choice for a holiday. This Rio de Janeiro travel guide highlights some of the top attractions although the size of the city means there is much more to see and do. To explore further you may want to get a Rio de Janeiro tour guide to help you make the most of your trip and take the stress out planning the trip yourself.
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