A Cidade

See the Video

This is one of the main beauty spots in the city, standing 2,330 feet above sea level and providing a sweeping panoramic view of sea and mountain, a world famous vista. The mountain is crowned with the statue of Christ, 98 feet high with a 26 foot pedestal containing a chapel that can hold 150 people. The top of the Corcovado can be reached by electric train or by car. Address: Railroad Station - Rua Cosme Velho, 513 - Cosme Velho - Phone: (55 21) 2558-1329 Visiting hours: Daily 8:30am - 6:30pm

See the Video

Pão de Açúcar - Sugar Loaf

This natural symbol of Rio de Janeiro can be seen at the entrance to Guanabara Bay. There are two stages in the cable-car trip to the top of the rock. The first is from the station at Praia Vermelha to Urca Hill, which rises 705 feet above the bay, and the second links Urca Hill to the top of Sugar Loaf, 1,300 feet high. Each stage lasts three minutes. For tourists seeing Rio from the air, there is now a Tourist Heliport located on the top of Urca Hill. Address: Cable Car Station - Av. Pasteur, 520 - Praia Vermelha - Phone: (55 21) 2546-8400 Visiting hours: Daily, 8am - 10pm

Arcos da Lapa e Santa Tereza - Lapa Arches and Santa Tereza

Located in the Largo da Lapa Square,the center of RSee the Videoio’s turn-of-the-century nightlife, the Lapa Arches hold their place in history as the most monumental work undertaken in colonial Rio. This magnificent structure contains 42 arches in two tiers. Originally built as an aqueduct to supply the city with water, today they carry another outstanding attraction: the scenic tramlines linking the Carioca Station downtown to the picturesque Santa Teresa district, a vibrant artistic community, with a great range of bars, restaurants, museums, cultural centers and artist’s studios.

See the Video

Teatro Municipal - Municipal Theatre

Designed and built by A. Guilbert and Francisco de Oliveira Passos, the theatre was inaugurated on July 14, 1909. The main murals are by Eliseu Visconti - the ceiling and back drop - by Rodolfo Amoedo. Mosaics are by Henrique Bernadelli. Address: Pça. Floriano, s/nº - Downtown - Phone: (55 21) 2544-2900 - Guided visit: Mon/Tue and Thu/Fri , 9am - 4pm

See the Video

Jardim Botânico - Botanical Gardens

A paradise of plants and trees from the four corners of the earth. Founded in 1808, it spreads over an area of about 340 acres. Over 5000 species of plants, some of the most impressive beingthe Imperial Palms planted in 1842. Address: Rua Jardim Botânico, 1008 - Jardim Botânico - Phone: (55 21) 2294-9349 Open: Daily, 8am - 5pm

Tijuca National Park and Tijuca Forest

Rio's largest park is the Tijuca National Park, covering 3,300 hectares, and including Tijuca Forest. The Park is the largest urban forest in the world. As you look up at the Corcovado from the Lagoa, the mass of greenery clinging to the edge of the mountain and stretching miles to your left, is the Tijuca National Park. Roads run through the entire length of the park allowing visitors to enjoy its many natural wonders, and at the weekend some of the routes become pedestrian only. The most well known part of the park is the Tijuca Forest which is reached from Alto da Boa Vista, accessible from all parts of the city. Address: Praça Afonso Viseu - Alto da Boa Vista

Rio has 90km of white sand beaches of which the following are the most interesting:

Vermelha - At Urca - 245 meters long situated below hill. See the Video

Leme - Leme and Copacabana seem to be the same beach as there’s no physical break separating them. Leme is around 1km long. See the Video

Copacabana - One of the world’s most famous beach, curving along the elegant Av. Atlântica. It stretches for around 3,4km from Av. Princesa Isabel, in the east, to the Copacabana Fort in the west. The widest beach in Rio, Copacabana is the home of beach soccer and volleyball. See the Video

Arpoador - 800 meters of sand located at the beginning of Ipanema and backed by a pleasant park. See the Video

Ipanema - Renowned for the hit tune "Girl from Ipanema", spreads over 2km and is separated from Leblon by the canal at Jardim de Alah (Alah’s Garden) which links the Lagoa to the sea.

Leblon - Around 1,3km Leblon runs from Ipanema to the Leblon belvedere, one of the most beautiful views of both beaches.

São Conrado - Its official name is Praia da Gávea, but is better known as Pepino. It is the landing area for the city’s hang gliders who pack the sky each weekend with their colorful kites.

Barra da Tijuca - Rio’s longest beach, it stretches over 18km along Av. Sernambetiba. A hot spot on the beach is the area around the Barraca do Pepê, a famous brazilian hang glider who died competing outside Brazil. See the Video

Recreio dos Bandeirantes - A charming 2km long inlet at the end of Sernambetiba Ave. Sheltered by a the large rock, Recreio is safe for swimming.

Prainha - A secluded sandy strip, 700 meters long, Prainha is a surfer’s beach. It is an Environmental Protected Area.

Grumari - Reddish sand in an unspoiled setting. The sea is often rough here. It is also an Environmental Protected Area.