Rio de Janeiro is the second largest city in Brazil, with 5.5 million inhabitants. Rio, as it is generally called, is the capital of the Rio de Janeiro state, and is located in Brazil's southeastern region. Being a coastal city, Rio has several beaches (many of them world-famous, such as Copacabana and Ipanema) and a dramatic landscape, with mounts and cliffs rising from the ocean, luxuriant vegetation and a warm, tropical, climate. It's not by chance that Rio is Brazil's tourist gateway and is closely associated with the image foreigners have of the country. Well, visiting Rio is not like having visited the whole country (it's a big country, believe us!), but Rio certainly is worth a try, so that you can find out why the locals, known as "cariocas", call it "the Marvelous City" ("Cidade Maravilhosa").

The city is bathed by the Atlantic Ocean to the south, by the Guanabara Bay to the east and by the Sepetiba Bay to the west. The metropolitan area of Rio includes 17 municipalities, totaling 2,078 sq. mi. (5,384 sq. km).

Although Rio is a tourist city, it is also an important industrial center (though you, as a traveler, may not be particularly interested in this bit of information) and has a busy harbor.

Rio's attractions are manifold, ranging from beautiful beaches to historical monuments, to a notorious nightlife and to the locals' way of life, which includes some of the most popular and renowned festivities in the world, such as New Year's Eve and Carnival.

Weather

Weather in Rio de Janeiro by the Weather Channel

The climate of  Brazil's southeastern region is influenced by meteorological systems (cold fronts) during the whole year. The temperatures of spring and summer (i.e., from October to March) are predominantly high, while during autumn and winter the temperatures are moderate. The rainy period is from December to February, and the drier period is from June to August. The relative humidity of the air during most of the year is around 79%.

Rio's climate is tropical: warm and wet, with local variations depending on altitude, vegetation and position relative to the ocean. The average annual temperature is 71.6º F (22º C), with daily averages very high during summer (from 86 to 89.6º F or 30 to 32º C). Annual rainfall ranges between 47 and 50 inches (1,200 to 1,800 mm). During summer (roughly, from December to March), daytime is usually very hot and bright, with the occasional tropical downpour (dark skies, lots of rain) after which the sly clears. Please refer to the following charts on average annual temperature and humidity:

Arriving in Rio

Rio de Janeiro's international airport, Galeão/Tom Jobim International Airport (GIG), is located at an island in Guanabara Bay, approximately 13 miles (20 km) from downtown. The airport is not served by subway lines, so the options from transportation to the city are taking a cab or an "executive bus" (comfortable - look for the keywords "executivo" or "frescão"). These buses usually take 50 min. to reach the hotel area (known as "Zona Sul", or "south district"), the fare is around R$ 5 and they leave the airport from Arrivals, Blue sector. Regular city buses are not recommended, as it'll be a long and uncomfortable trip.

It is usually a 30 min. ride by taxi from the airport to the hotel area. Regular cabs are metered (and may or may not be equipped with air-conditioning); however, so-called "special taxis" are available, charging flat fares to different city destinations (and all cars are supposed to have air conditioning). In this case, you are supposed to pay for the trip before leaving the airport; fares range between R$20 and R$30.

Among the car rental agencies that can be found at the airport are: 

• Unidas: 1st. floor, Desembarque, Setor Azul, phone 3398-3452

• Hertz: 1st. floor, Terminal 1, Portão Desembarque 3, phone 3398-4338

• Interlocadora: 1st. floor, Desembarque, Setor Azul, phone 3398-3181

• Localiza: in Sectors A (3398-5945) and B (3398-5489)

Some hotels offer a shuttle service, usually by prior arrangement. For more information, the international airport's general information phone number is 3398-5050.

Exchange services at the international airport:

Banco do Brasil 

Location: 3rd. floor

Phone: 3398-3652

Hours: from 8 am to 10 pm

 

American Express

Location: 1st floor, Terminal 1, Blue Sector

Phone: 3398-3671

Hours: Mon - Sun: from 6:30 am to 10:30

 

The Santos Dumont airport (SDU) is located downtown, walking distance from the financial and commercial areas of the city. It operates domestic regional flights only, as well as the Rio-São Paulo air shuttle. Phone: 3814-7070. There is a shuttle service (bus) between the airports and between both airports and downtown, operated by the city transit authority.

Bus Terminal - The main bus terminal in Rio is called Rodoviária Novo Rio. It is located close to the historical center and the financial district. From the station, city buses and regular taxis that can take you to your hotel or to one of the airports. Typically, a taxi to the southern district will cost you about R$ 15. Keep in mind that few people in this station will be fluent in English and don't lose sight of your baggage, as this is a crowded place. Look for the tourist desk.

Several airlines operate between the U.S. and Rio de Janeiro. Approximate flight times are 10 h. from New York and 12:30 h. from Los Angeles. The telephone numbers in Rio de Janeiro of the major airlines are:

• American Airlines - 3398-4053

• TAM - 3398-2133

• Transbrasil - 3398-3980

• United Airlines - 3804-1200

• Varig - 2534-0333/0616

• Vasp - 3398-3442

It is strongly recommended that you see Practical Information on Brazil for entry requirements into Brazil, as well as other useful information.

Maps

• Map
• Clickable map, from Ipanema.com

Transportation

Bus - This is the most important mass transportation system in the city. Rio is served by several city bus routes that cover the whole city (and surrounding towns, too). We do not recommend taking a city bus, since it'll probably be a crowded, noisy, non-air conditioned experience; don't expect anyone to speak English and don't take valuable possessions with you on a city bus. There are air-conditioned buses (frescão) running from the southern district to downtown (and to the airport) with the twin advantages of comfort and security. Special bus lines called CityRio take the tourist from the hotels along Rio's shoreline with audio guides in English (and three other languages) every 30 minutes.

Taxis - Taxis in Rio are cheap and reliable, nevertheless few taxi drivers will speak English, so we suggest you learn a few words in Portuguese in order to explain to the driver your destination or simply write it on a piece of paper. Taxis in Rio are yellow cars with a horizontal blue line on its sides. Once you board a taxi the driver will start the meter, and the fare will be in accordance to the distance and the time you spend in the taxi. Radio taxi services can be requested by phone. Your hotel may be of assistance in hailing a cab or in calling a radiotaxi.

Rental cars - Several car rental agencies serve the city, such as:

• Explorer (2275-5748)
• Golden Car (2275-4748)
• Hertz (2275-7168)
• Localiza (2275-3340)
• Nobre (2541-4646)
• Telecar  (2548-6778)

Please note that as a rule cars in Brazil are equipped with stick shift. If you would like to rent an automatic car, you should make it clear upon reservation.

Hotels

Flights and hotels are usually fully booked during Carnival - if you are planning to visit Rio during this period, you should book well in advance.

For travelers visiting Rio on tourism, a nice place to stay would be in a hotel by the sea, in the southern district ("Zona Sul", the major hotel area of Rio). If you are on business, a hotel closer to downtown would also be adequate.

The Guia Quatro Rodas 2000 lists, among others, the following hotels:

*****    Copacabana Palace (0800 21 1533); Sofitel Rio Palace (0800 24 1232); Caesar Park (0800 21 0789); Sheraton Rio Hotel & Towers (0800 11 1345).

****     Inter-Continental Rio (0800 21 0722); Le Meridien (0800 11 1554); Excelsior Copacabana (11 259.5323); Plaza Copacabana (11 259.5323); Rio Othon Palace (0800 21 0799); Carlton Rio Atlântica (0800 26 6332).

***      Marina All Suíte ( 11 255-2055); Rio Internacional (0800 21 1559); Premier Copacabana (2548-8581); Luxor Regente (0800 16 5322); Glória (0800 21 3077); Everest Rio (0800 24 4485); South American Copacabana (522-0040); Mirador Rio (11 259.5277).

Restaurants

Some of the best restaurants in town, mentioned by the Guia Quatro Rodas 2000:

• Bahian regional food: Siri Mole (2267-0894); Yemanjá (2247.7004);Yorubá (2541-9387);
• Feijoada (Brazilian typical dish): Casa da Feijoada (2523-4994);
• Churrascaria (a kind of steakhouse): Mariu's (2542.2393); Porcão (2522-0999);
• Seafood: Tia Palmira (2410-8169); Mercado do Peixe (2493.3922); Quatro Sete Meia (2417-1716);
• Italian: Quadrifoglio (2294-1433); Cipriani (2545-8747); Arlecchino (2259-7745);
• French; Claude Troisgros (2537-8582); Le Saint Honoré (2546-0880); Traiteurs de France (2548-6440);
• Portuguese: Antiquarius (2294-1049); Adegão Português (2580-7288); Mosteiro (2233-6478);
• International: Clube Gourmet (2295-3494); Quinta (2428-1396); Guimas (2259-7996);
• Japanese: Sushi Leblon (2274-1342); Madame Butterfly (2267-4347); Sushinaka (2522-0998).

Tourist Offices

• Riotur (official city tourist bureau)

Main Office

Address: Rua da Assembléia, 10, 9th floor

Phone: 2217.7575, Fax: 2531.1872

Email: riotur.riotur@pcrj.rj.gov.br

Hours: from Monday through Friday 9 am to 6 pm

 

New York Office: 

201 East 12th Street, Suite 509, New York, NY 10003

Phone: 212 375 0801, Fax: 212 358 1268

web page: www.destinationrio.com

 

Galeão/Tom Jobim International Airport

International Arrivals area, Blue Sector, Box 1030A, tel. 3398.4077

International Arrivals area, Red Sector, Box 1054A, tel. 3398.4073

Domestic Arrival, Green Sector, Box 1012A, tel. 3398.3034

Hours: daily from 6:00 am to midnight

 

Rodoviária Novo Rio

Arrivals Sector

Phone: 2263.4857, 2291.5151 ext. 197

Hours: daily from 6 am to midnight

 

Center for Assistance to the Tourist

Avenida Princesa Isabel, 183, Copacabana,

Alô Rio -Tourist phone line in both English and Portuguese

Phone: 2542.8004, 2542.8080

Hours: daily from 8am to 8pm

Special Tourist Police (Delegacia de Atendimento ao Turista)

Av. Afrânio de Melo Franco, 159 - LeblonT

Phone: 3399.7170

Hours: 24h.

Museums

Museu da República (site in Portuguese)

Address: Rua do Catete, 153

Phone 2285.6350

Hours: 12pm to 5pm; Sat/Sun/Holidays 2pm to 6pm (closed on Monday)
Built between 1860 and 1964, in Italian Renaissance style, the building of the Museum of the Republic hosts collections of several objects which belonged to the various Presidents of Brazil. It also has a beautiful garden.

 

Museu Nacional de Belas Artes (site in Portuguese only)

Adress: Av. Rio Branco, 199, Centro, Rio

Phone: 2240.0068

Hours: 10am to 5pm (closed on Monday)
Established in 1937, the National Museum of Fine Arts houses over 14 thousand works of art by Brazilian and foreign artists such as Pedro Américo, Portinari, Tarsila do Amaral, Picasso and Rodin. Its collection began in 1816 and originally belonged to the National Academy of Fine Arts, established during the Brazilian Empire (19th century). The Museum's Renaissance- and Neoclassical-style building was built in 1908 for the Academy; in 1937, both the building and the collection were transferred to the newly created Museum. In addition to the large National Gallery (which features works related to Brazil from the 17th to the 19th centuries), the Museum also has an important collection of Italian baroque painting.

 

Museu Histórico Nacional 

Address: Praça Marechal Âncora, Centro, Rio

Phone 2550.9266

Hours: Tue to Fri, 10am to 5:30pm; Sat/Sun, 2pm to 6pm
The National Historical Museum, administered by the Ministry of Culture, was created in 1922 and is one of the most important museums in Brazil, with over 287,000 items, organized according to themes such as "colonization and independence", "chariots", "cannons", "sacred art" and others. It has the largest collection of numismatics in Latin America. The building was originally constructed as a fort (1603), to which an "artillery annex" and an "arsenal" were added later (1762).

 

Museu de Arte Moderna (site in Portuguese only)

Address: Aterro do Flamengo

Phone 2210.2188

Hours: 12pm to 6pm; Sat/Sun 12pm to 7pm (closed on Monday)
More than a museum, the Modern Art Museum, or MAM (as it is affectionately called), has become a space for innovation and and ever-changing showcase of local culture, hosting the main artistic movements of Rio de Janeiro.

 

Contemporary Art Museum of Niterói (site in Portuguese only)

Address: Boa Viagem - Niterói (across the Bay)

Phone 2620.2400

Hours: 11am to 7pm, Sat 1pm to 9pm, closed on Monday
The building was designed by acclaimed architect Oscar Niemeyer. It features a collection of contemporary art from 1950 on.

Museu Nacional (site in Portuguese only)
Address: Quinta da Boa Vista, São Cristovão, Rio

Phone 2568.1149

Hours: 10am to 4pm
The National Museum has a permanent exhibition of archaeology, biodiversity, botany, ethnology, geology, paleontology and invertebrate and vertebrate animals, with approximately 10,000 items. It was established in 1818 by the King of Portugal as the Royal Museum, renamed the National Museum in 1922. Nowadays it is also an important research institution.

 

Museu do Índio

Address: Rua das Palmeiras,55 - Botafogo 

Phone: 2286.8899

Hours: 10am to 5:30pm; Sat/Sun 1pm to 5pm (closed on Monday)
Created in Rio de Janeiro in 1953, the Indian Museum is a cultural and scientific entity administered by the National Indian Foundation (FUNAI). It hosts a collection of native Brazilian artifacts that tell the story of the indigenous groups of Brazil.

 

Museu Villa-Lobos

Address: Rua Sorocaba, 200, Botafogo

Phone 2266.3845

Hours: 10 to 5:30pm, closed on Sat/Sun.
Created in 1960, the Villa-Lobos Museum is dedicated to the work of the Brazilian composer Heitor Villa Lobos. Its collection includes music sheets, correspondence, photos, concert programs, films, recordings, musical instruments and other items related to the composer.

Museu Carmem Miranda

Address: Aterro do Flamengo, Rio

Phone: 2551.2597

Hours: 11am to 5pm (closed Sat/Sun)
The Carmem Miranda Museum is a small space dedicated to the "Brazilian bombshell". Its collection includes items such as clothing, hats, shoes, films, recordings and photos.

Interesting Places

One way the city can be appreciated is by means of panoramic helicopter flights. Helicopters depart from the following locations: Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, Morro da Urca, Mirante Dona Marta, and Pier Mauá. Phone: 2511.2141.

Guanabara Bay and its historical sites can be seen in boat tours, which start at the Marina da Glória. Saveiros Tour, Phone 2224.6990.

In Recreio, a distant neighborhood, you will find two wonderful spots to visit: Sítio Roberto Burle Marx and Casa do Pontal Brazilian Handicraft Museum.

Special bus lines called CityRio take the tourist from the hotels along Rio's shoreline with audio guides in English (and three other languages) every 30 minutes. Phone: 0800.25.8060.

Christ the Redeemer

Address: Cosme Velho, Rio

Phone: 2558.1329

Hours: 9am to 6pm

Located atop the Corcovado Mount, the famous statue of Christ with his arms open in a welcoming gesture was inaugurated in 1931. It weighs 1,145 tons and is 124 feet tall (38 m). From the statue's feet the visitor is treated to one of the best views of Rio. It takes climbing 222 steps in order to reach the main terrace from the parking area, but it's worth the effort. The best option to reach the top of the mount is by train, leaving every 30 min. from the station in the city (located in the Cosme Velho district); tickets cost R$18,00 (US$ 9.00), round trip. A (winding) road to the top is also available, for those driving cars.

Sugar Loaf

Address: Avenida Pasteur, 520, Urca, Rio

Phone: 2546.8400

Hours: 8am to 10pm

The Sugar Loaf mount ("Pão de Açúcar") is another famous postcard of Rio. Access is by cable car, stopping at the Urca Mount and then the Sugar Loaf (1,299 feet or 396 m). The view is simply breathtaking (believe us!): the mount is thrust into the ocean, revealing Rio's main beaches as well as the southern district below.

Tijuca Forest

Address: Tijuca Neighborhood

Phone: 2492.2253

Hours: 8am to 6pm

 

This forest is the largest natural preservation unit inside an urban area in the country, with over 3,300 ha. It harbors monkeys, squirrels, birds and other animals. The region features several waterfalls.

 

Botanical Garden (site in Portuguese)

Address: Rua Jardim Botânico 920 (pedestrians) or 1008 (vehicles), Jardim Botânico

Phone: 2294.9349

Hours: 8am to 5pm

The Botanical Garden of Rio was established in 1808 by the then Prince Regent of Portugal (soon to become D. John VI, King of Portugal). It features 8,200 kinds of plants and flowers indigenous to Brazil and other parts of the world. The 137 ha-area has two museums, greenhouses, an orchid  house and a bromelia house.

Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro (site in Portuguese)

Address: Rua Manoel Carvalho, Centro

Phone: 2544.2900, 2262.3501 (guided tours)

Hours: 10am to 5pm (closed Sat/Sun)

Marble arches, bronze details, crystal, onyx, mirrors and European stained glass highlight this beautiful building, inspired in the Paris Opera and opened in 1909. The Theater stages performances of classical music, operas and classical and modern ballet. Artists such as Richard Strauss, Toscanini, Stravinsky, Nijinsky, Mascagni, Maria Callas, Bidu Sayão, Nureiev, Maia Plissetskaia and éjart have performed there. Guided tours are offered every afternoon, at R$ 3,00 per person (call in advance as during rehearsals visits are restricted or canceled).

Nightlife

Rio is known for its excellent restaurants and bars, as well as night clubs. For a list of restaurants, bars, pubs and disco clubs we recommend that you check with your hotel desk or visit one of the websites at the end of this page.

Beaches

Copacabana - Copacabana is popularly known  as "the Little Princess of the Sea". It is considered one of the most famous beaches of the world. The adjoining district started to be peopled at the end of the last century. In the 1920's and 1930's it was a place of the jet set, millionaires from all over the planet used to go there and stay a few nights at the wonderful Copacabana Palace hotel. Today Copacabana still is a main tourist attraction in Rio de Janeiro. Its shore is filled with many hotels, disco clubs, restaurants and bars. It is also a busy residential  neighborhood that can surprise you with small streets, cul-de-sacs in which children can play in the streets side by side with skyscrapers.

Ipanema - Made famous by the popular song "The Girl from Ipanema", Ipanema is a charming, residential, bustling neighborhood, full of five-star restaurants and hotels. It is a place to amuse and watch other people walking. Its main streets are punctuated with famous design stores both for men and women. The beach is a wonderful place to visit and take a bath. 

Leblon - Among the coastal neighborhoods in Rio, it is considered the more family-oriented one. It lies in a small area between the Lagoon (Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas), the Mountains, and the beach. It is a wonderful spot to mingle with the Cariocas, the native people of Rio de Janeiro, and discover the traditional Brazilian hospitality and friendliness. After the beach, you can go to one of the most famous botecos or botequins (pubs), so common in Leblon, and have a  "tira-gosto" (appetizer) and a "chope gelado" (cold draft). Leblon also has a very impressive night life with nightclubs, bars and restaurants, some of them in old houses that were built in the 1950's or the 1960's..

Barra da Tijuca and Recreio - These two neighborhoods can get different reactions from Cariocas. Until the 1970's, Barra and Recreio were quite distant neighborhoods with difficult access from the main areas of the city. It was mostly visited only the weekends. Nevertheless, with the Brazilian growing economy in the 1970's, they became an expansion area for real estate. Today Barra and Recreio have many shopping malls, restaurants, bars, night clubs, closed condos and a growing population. Differently from the other areas of the city, in Barra as well as in Recreio you'll need a car to do anything. Driving distances are big. In Recreio.

Quick Escapes

Beaches - Leaving the city towards north or south, you can find all kinds of beaches: small paradises, busy beaches, forgotten and desert islands. Outside Recreio, for example, you can reach Prainha, Praia da Macumba and Grumari beaches. To the north of Rio lies the beach resorts of Búzios, Cabo Frio and Arraial do Cabo. Driving south you can reach Paraty and Angra dos Reis.

Mountains - In the state's hinterland or near the sea, mountains define Rio's geography, creating wonderful landscapes and hiding small villages. Serra do Mar, a mountain range that follows part of the Brazilian Southern coast and shelters the Atlantic Tropical Rain Forest, offers innumerable river falls, creeks, and trails for tracking. The Atlantic Tropical Rain Forest (Mata Atlântica) has a very rich biodiversity of fauna and flora. There are for example more than 800 species of birds; the famous mico-leão dourado monkey (Leontopithecus Rosalia rosalia) is natural to that habitat.

Shopping

Shopping Centers - Rio has several shopping malls. Many of them are in the Barra and the Recreio districts; others are in more central areas. They can  offer all varieties of stores, restaurants, movie theaters and amusement areas, a place where shoppers have the comfort of going around in air-conditioned areas, with an easy place to stop your car. Generally in those malls the vendors speak English or other foreign languages. We suggest some of them: Rio Sul (there are shuttle buses from most of the hotels by the sea); Barra Shopping, New York City Center, Rio Design Center (a differentiated shopping center that offers quality products for the beauty and comfort of your home), and Fashion Mall (Estrada da Gávea, 899, São Conrado, stores with famous international fashion, decoration, and jewelry designer brands, four movie theaters and a discotheque).

Shopping on the streets - One of the best streets to shop in Rio is Ipanema's main street, called Avenida Visconde de Pirajá. There are many small stores with a very friendly environment selling almost everything that you may want. Another place is Avenida Nossa Senhora de Copacabana which, as the name suggests, is the main avenue in Copacabana. For those interested in buying craftwork, we suggest the Feira Hippie, a street fair that occurs every Sunday in General Osorio Square in Ipanema. We also suggest Pé de Boi Art Gallery specialized in Brazilian handicraft located at Rua Ipiranga 55, Laranjeiras (phone: 2285-4395).

Basic Information

• Location: in the Southeast region of Brazil facing the Atlantic Ocean. Latitude: 22:53:42:15 S; Longitude: 43:13:22:00 W

• Population: 5.5 million

• Language: Portuguese

• Phone Code: 21 (see Telecommunications in Practical Information on Brazil).

• Voltage: 110 V, 60 cycles AC.

• American Consulate - address: Avenida Presidente Wilson, 147, 20030-020, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, tel: 292.7117, fax: 262.1820.

• Currency and exchange: Real, R$ (see Currency in Practical Information on Brazil for additional information, including info on ATMs).

• Business Hours: street commerce: usually from 8 am to 6 pm (Monday to Friday); 8 am to 2 pm (Saturday); closed on Sundays. Shopping malls ("shoppings"): 10 am to 10 pm (Monday to Saturday); 2 pm to 8 pm (Sunday). Some convenience stores (including certain supermarkets) are open 24 h.

• Local Time: GMT -3 (EST +2).

Belo Horizonte - Rio de Janeiro - Salvador - São Paulo