Curator’s statement
I visited Rio de Janeiro twice before deciding to move here permanently in 2020. As an avid traveler and local, I’m committed to helping you make the most of the “Marvelous City”! Whether you’re looking for sun-drenched beach days, tranquil nature escapes, dancing until the early hours or active adventures that will literally take you to new heights, Rio has it all!
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Day 1-3
Sugarloaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar)
Aqueduto da Carioca and Escaderia Selaron
SkyLab and ZaZa Bistro
And a stunning helicopter tour of Rio
See my complete guides for shorter or longer stays or hiking recommendations. In this guide, I aim to build off those recommendations for longer stays.
Day 4
A 6-day tour will allow you time to truly get to know the city. Santa Teresa is a Bohemian paradise that blends colonial architecture and cobblestone streets with a hipster-chic attitude. Take the Bondinho de Santa Teresa to the top to see the entire neighborhood. Get off at Largo dos Guimarães on the return after seeing Cristo Redentor. Note, many things are closed before noon in Santa Teresa, especially during the week, so check opening times of shops before going.
From Largo dos Guimarães you can check out hippie-chic shops around the neighborhood and have lunch at Cafe do Alto which serves traditional northeastern Brazilian cuisine. If you’re feeling like taking a stroll after lunch, you can check out Parque das Ruinas and Escaderia Selaron on your steep walk down the mountain to catch a cab back to your hotel.
Day 5
Tuesday night is Samba night in Lapa! One of the best neighborhoods for nightlife in the entire city. Whether you’re looking for a casual caipirinha while people watching, sip of cachaça before a big night out, or are ready to dance the night away, Lapa is where the party is. For traditional Samba, I recommend Carioca da Gema and Sacreligio. Pedra do Sal is also very popular with tourists on Monday nights.
Day 6
If you’re a futbol/soccer fan you cannot miss a game at Maracanã. The four biggest teams in Rio are Flamengo, Fluminense, Vasco da Gama, and Botafogo. The two former call Maracanã their home stadium and FLAxFLU is well known as one of the fiercest rivalries in all of Brazilian futbol. I’m personally a devout Falmengo fan and recommend sitting in the north zone if you want the full experience (east or west zones if you want something a little more tame). Tickets often require local assistance to get a hold of, so be sure to contact your Fora Travel advisor to find the best way to get them!
Before heading to the stadium, have a ceviche dinner or lunch at La Carioca. Their ceviche is some of the best I’ve ever had (and raw fish is my favorite food group). They have one location on the beach that is extremely casual and one more traditional restaurant in Ipanema (that is still very unassuming).
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Looking for more travel inspiration? Check out my guide, Culture and Sport meet at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar: A Complete Guide.
This guide is part of our ongoing series on travel to Rio de Janeiro.