Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
It's no wonder Rio de Janeiro is known as cidade maravilhosa, or Marvelous City: With its spectacular beaches, world-famous Carnival, pulsing nightlife and a laidback, sun-soaked culture that celebrates the good life, Rio treats visitors to an unforgettable holiday.
Getting to Know Rio de Janeiro
Orientation
Rio de Janeiro, located on the South Atlantic coast, is the second largest city in Brazil, with about 11.7 million inhabitants. Dominated by Sugar Loaf Mountain and the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue, the city is divided into four zones-North, South, West and Downtown. Each has its attractions, but most of the tourist sites, including Rio's famed beaches, are Downtown and in the South Zone.
Climate
Rio de Janeiro has a hot, tropical climate, although refreshing ocean breezes keep the beaches cooler than the city. The average annual temperature is 73.5°F, while temperatures can soar to over 100°F during the summer, especially as you go inland. The coldest temperature ever recorded in Rio was 40°F.Remember that since Rio is south of the equator, the seasons are reversed: October is the start of spring, and March rains announce the beginning of the winter season.
Rio's downtown reflects the city's status as an economic powerhouse
History
Rio de Janeiro-River of January-was discovered by the Portuguese on January 20, 1502, only a brief 10 years after Columbus first landed in the New World. It wasn't long before Europeans were regular visitors to Rio's sheltered bay. Ferdinand Magellan, for example, stopped by in 1519 on his way around the world. French settlers set up the first permanent colony in 1555. The Portuguese, having been given control of Brazil by the pope and alarmed at this encroachment on their territory, established the city of Rio de Janeiro in 1565 as a base from which to launch operations against the French. After a brief war, the French were expelled in 1567.
For the next two centuries Rio was a largely unimportant outpost of the Portuguese Empire, until gold, diamonds, and ore were found in the area in 1720. Rio boomed, and by the 1760s it had replaced Salvador as the colonial capital of Brazil. When Napoleon invaded Portugal in 1808, the Royal Family moved to Brazil and made Rio capital of the Empire (so that Rio has been the only city outside Europe to serve as capital of a European country). It remained the capital when Brazil achieved independence in 1822 and established its own monarchy. Although Brazil became a republic in 1889, many cariocas-residents of Rio-are nostalgic for the era when Rio was the center of royal power.
The capital of Brazil was moved to Brasilia in 1960-but by that point, Rio's reputation as one of the world's most beautiful and exciting cities was well established.
People
Cariocas, as residents of Rio de Janeiro are known, are passionate fans of futebol, or soccer
Just over half of Rio de Janeiro's population of nearly 12 million is of Portuguese descent, with a large number of people of African descent as well as mixed Portuguese and African ancestry. Other ethnic groups present in the city include Germans, Italians, Spaniards, Arabs, Jews, Asians (mostly Koreans and Japanese), and native Brazilian Indians. Cariocas are known for being easy-going and friendly. For the most part informality rules in dress codes and conversation, with notable exceptions in cases of business and religion.
In Rio, wealth and poverty exist side by side in stark juxtaposition. The city's poorest live in slums, known as favelas, which cling to the city's mountain slopes. Health and sanitation are ongoing struggles, as is the problem of violent crime: NEVER go to the favelas without a qualified guide.
Things to See and Do
Sugar Loaf Mountain: Instantly recognizable as a symbol of Rio de Janeiro, Sugar Loaf mountain (in Portuguese, Pão de Açúcar) looms over the city at nearly 1,300 feet above sea level. The views from the top are spectacular. To get there, you can take a cable car that stops first at Morro de Urca, a nearby mountain roughly half as high as Sugar Loaf, before continuing up on a second tram to the summit at Sugar Loaf.
It's also possible for fit tourists to hike up to the top of Sugar Loaf, and rock climbers will enjoy a variety of climbing options on the mountain.
A cable car whisks visitors to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain for breathtaking views of the city below
Corcovado Mountain and Christ the Redeemer Statue: Corcovado, meaning "hunchback" in Portuguese, is a striking, 2,330-foot mountain within Rio's city limits. It's famous worldwide for the 125-foot statue of Jesus atop its peak, entitled "Cristo Redentor" or "Christ the Redeemer." Originally intended to mark Brazil's centenary in 1922 but completed in 1931, the statue has a distinctive art-deco aesthetic. Getting to the summit is easy via a pair of escalators. Once you're there be sure to give yourself enough time to enjoy the view.
As iconic to Rio as the Statue of Liberty is to New York, the Christ the Redeemer statue towers over the city
National Museum of Fine Arts (Museu Nacional de Belas Artes): The history of the National Museum of Fine Arts begins with King Joao VI, who in 1808 fled Napoleon's armies in Portugal and came to Rio with his excellent collection of baroque Italian masterworks. Over the last 200 years the collection has grown to more than 16,000 items, including paintings, sculpture, and drawings as well as decorative arts, furniture, folk art and African art. The museum is known especially for its 19th and early-20th century paintings and sculpture by Brazilians and foreign artists visiting Brazil. The 1908 building in which the museum is housed was modeled after the Louvre in Paris and is worth seeing by itself.
Municipal Theater (Teatro Municipal): One of the most beautiful buildings in downtown Rio de Janeiro, the Teatro Municipal was founded in July 1909. The theater can seat 2,365 people distributed on four levels. Ornately decorated on the inside, the outside walls are inscribed with names of significant people in Brazilian and international culture. The theater is located on the same square as the National Museum of Fine Arts, described above.
The exquisite Municipal Theater is modeled on the Paris Opera House and remains the largest theater in Brazil
Imperial Palace (Paço Imperial): The Paço Imperial, in the heart of Rio, was built in 1743 to serve as residence for the governors of colonial Brazil. It was later used by King Joao VI of Portugal and the rulers of the Empire of Brazil, Pedro I and Pedro II, following independence from Portugal in 1822. The palace remained the nexus of political life in Brazil until the monarchy was dissolved and a republic declared in 1889.
Today the building houses traveling cultural exhibits-mostly in Portuguese, unfortunately-and a small library. It's also a cool respite from Rio's tropical heat.
The heart of colonial and Brazilian royal power, The Imperial Palace offers culture-minded visitors a nice break from the beaches
Arcos da Lapa: Also known as the Carioca Aqueduct, the Arcos de Lapa is a photogenic aqueduct in Rio's Lapa neighborhood. It was built in 1750 to bring fresh water from the Carioca River to the city. By the late 19th century, however, other sources of water were found and the aqueduct was shut down. In 1896 the arches were adapted to support a tram--the Bondinho de Santa Teresa--that transports passengers between the center of Rio and the hilly Santa Teresa neighborhood. The Santa Teresa bondinho is the only tram still in use in Rio de Janeiro, and the picturesque ride is popular among locals and tourists alike.
Appearing today almost like a Roman relic, the Arcos da Lapa played a key role in providing water to the young city (flickr user Eurritimia)
With the declaration of the Republic of Brazil in 1889, the church lost its title of Imperial Chapel but remained the cathedral of the city, until a new and larger church was built in 1976.
The Old Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro, in addition to its exceptional historical value, has one of the most harmonious interiors of any of the churches in Rio. The walls, chapels and ceiling are covered with ornate late baroque and rococo woodwork which displays great lightness and unity of style. The decoration was executed after 1785 largely by one of Rio's best rococo wood carvers of the period, Inácio Ferreira Pinto. The façades of the church were remodeled in the early decades of the 20th century. In addition to its extraordinary interior, the cathedral was also a center of early Brazilian church music.
The Old Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro is a beautiful example of 18th century Portuguese architecture and art in the New World
Passeio Público is a lovely splash of green in the heart of Rio. Built between 1779 and 1783, it is the oldest public park in Brazil and one of the oldest in the Americas. Its original design, in the French style with its pathways in regular geometric forms, was replaced in the 1860s by an English design, which attempts to recreate a natural landscape. After a period of decline in the 20th century the park was completely restored from 2001 to 2004. Fountains, sculpture, granite pyramids and a variety of tree species are found throughout the park.
The wooded paths of the Passeio Público are a welcome respite from Rio's tropical heat; try the Botanical Garden as well (see below)
Botanical Garden (Jardim Botânico): The Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden, in an affluent section of Rio's South Zone, was founded in 1808 by Prince Regent Joao. Today the Botanical Garden boasts more than 6,000 species on 348 acres, including rare species from the Brazilian rainforest, orchids and carnivorous plants. Guided tours are possible, but it's just as much fun to explore the trails and greenhouses on your own.
Museum of the Indian (Museu do Índio): This museum celebrates Brazil's and Rio's indigenous people. With more than 14,000 artifacts, the collection is one of the most important in the Americas. The displays are engaging and kids will love the gallery where they can dress up as Indian warriors, chiefs or shamans, complete with washable body paint.
National Museum (Museu Nacional): Occupying what was once the home of Brazil's royal family, this museum has one of the largest natural history exhibits in the Americas, consisting of animals, insects, minerals, aboriginal utensils, Egyptian mummies, South American archaeological artifacts, meteorites, fossils and other curiosities.
Ipanema is just one of Rio's delightful beaches
The beaches of Rio de Janeiro, including Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon, are justly famous around the world. For more information about the different beaches in Rio and what they have to offer, as well as other beaches in Brazil, please visit our Beaches page here.
With its lavish costumes, spectacular parades and non-stop partying, Carnival in Rio is a truly unique celebration and not to be missed
The Brazilian Carnival (Carnaval, in Portuguese) is a celebration held each February just before Lent, which begins 40 days before Easter. During Carnival Rio de Janeiro throbs with parties and parades, including the popular blocos de carnaval--neighborhood parades--and the famous samba school (escolas de samba) parades in the Sambadrome exhibition center.
The most famous blocos include:
- Cordão do Bola Preta: Based in the center of the city, it is one of the most traditional Carnival events. More than 200,000 people come out to watch the parades each day.
- Suvaco do Cristo: This bloco parades in the Botanical Garden, directly below the Redeemer statue's arm.
- Carmelitas: This bloco parades in the hills of Santa Teresa, which have very nice views.
- Simpatia é Quase Amor: One of the most popular parades in Ipanema, its name translates as "friendliness is almost love."
- Banda de Ipanema: The most traditional bloco in Ipanema, it attracts revelers from across the spectrum, from families to notably spectacular drag queens.
For more information about Carnival-in Rio and other cities in Brazil-please visit the Carnival page on Brazil.com here.
New Year's
Apart from Carnival, New Year's is also a major event in Rio. It's celebrated with concerts and firework displays all around Rio, the largest one being on Copacabana beach, where each year more than 2 million people watch the fireworks. People wear white clothes and some make offerings to Iemanjá, a deity in many of the Afro-Brazilian religions.
Shopping
Rio offers tourists an abundance of shopping opportunities, from street markets to huge, American-style shopping malls. Great bargains can be had on Brazilian-made clothing, as well as some European imports. However, imported electronics are very expensive as a result of protective import duties. For example, digital cameras sell for about twice what they sell for in the U.S.
An excellent gift, since they don't take much space in the suitcase, are bikinis, the iconic Rio fashion statement.
Tourists often encounter markups of up to 20 percent, so be sure haggle to get the best deals.
Eating
In Rio de Janeiro you can find food to fit any craving. A good way to sample local cuisine is "comida a kilo"-buffet style restaurants where you pay by the weight of the food on your plate.
Don't miss Brazil's national dish, feijoada (pronounced fay-zho-AH-da), made with black beans and pork. It is typically served city-wide on Saturdays. For connoisseurs of meat, nothing beats a good rodízio (all-you-can-eat steak house).
You won't go hungry in Rio, which offers hearty meals like feijoada and a variety of other cuisines
Brazil has the largest Japanese population outside of Japan, and sushi has become widely popular in Rio. If you are a sashimi and sushi lover, you will find many options.
Seafood--shrimp, lobster, calamaris, shellfish, clams, mollusks, to name some more prominent examples--features prominently in Brazilian dishes.
Rio is also famous for its pastries and street food. In most lanchonete--small cafeterias and snack bars--you can find salgado (saw-GAH-do), or pastries. These include pastel, a pastry filled with various meats; coxinha (ko-SHEEN-ya), minced chicken in fried dough shaped like a chicken drumstick; and Rio's unique joelho (zho-EH-lyo)--rolled dough filled with ham and cheese.
Although Brazil has been independent from Portugal for almost 200 years, you'll also come across many restaurants in Rio that specialize in Portuguese-influenced cuisine.
Don't have time for a sit-down meal? Try one of the many lanchonetes in Rio for a quick snack (flickr user Rodrigo Galindez)
Drinking
- Botequim (pronounced 'boo-chi-KEEM'), also well known as boteco: These quiet, unpretentious bars with simple appetizers and lots of ice-cold chope (draft beer) are everywhere and an integral part of the carioca lifestyle.
- Juice bars: Providing cold relief in a hot city are the refreshing juice bars, found on nearly every corner of Rio. Choose from dozens of freshly squeezed fruit juices or mix two or three fruits together. For a delicious Brazilian favorite try the açaí, a smoothie made from a deep purple fruit from the Amazon.
- Caipirinha: a drink made of cachaça (a Brazilian liquor made of sugarcane juice), lime, sugar and ice cubes.
- Agua de coco: Natural coconut water (not to be confused with coconut milk).
With something for just about everyone, Rio de Janeiro--the Marvelous City--well deserves its reputation as one of the most exciting destinations in the world
Planning Your Trip
Brazil Basics
Current Weather (Jan 06)
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Rio de Janeiro Cloudy, 72° F |
| Source: Yahoo! Weather |