16 Best Things to Do in Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro is quickly becoming one of our favourite cities, there is just so much to do and so much colour. And is there really a better mix of culture, nature, beaches and food? There really is something for everyone and our 16 best things to do in Rio De Janeiro article is here to show you why Rio is the best!

To properly experience what Rio has to offer we’d recommend spending at least 4-5 days here. This way you can nicely balance your trip with time to relax.

1. Ride (or Hike) to the Top of Sugarloaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar)

Sugar Loaf Mountain is one of the most iconic views (apart from Christ the Redeemer obviously!) of Rio which explains why it is so popular! The best way to experience the panoramic views over Rio is to ride the iconic cable car up. 

An even better idea than doing this during the day is booking on to a sunrise or sunset slot for some epic colours across the sky, lit up onto the city! 

If, like us, you are on a bit more of a budget, you can hike the Pista Cláudio Coutinho trail, which leads to the Morro da Urca hike. This hike heads up to the half way point of the cable car. It is perfect for if you want to be close to nature and get a bit of heartbeat raising activity in, during your trip. 

The hike does not go all the way up to the top view point but offers some views of the city.

If you want to get to the top of Sugar Loaf mountain without the cable car, your only option is rock climb up! You will have to go with a guide and have a good level of fitness to complete this challenge

We have written a complete guide on how to see Sugar Loaf Mountain. It compares the cable car, to the hike & the climb, gives extra info on wildlife, opening times and alternatives.

💰 Cost: It depends which option you go for, check our post here.

📍 Location: Parque Bondinho

✅ Top tips: cable car: book in advance for sunset (or sunrise on a saturday), choose a clear day for the best views

2. Relax on Rio’s Beaches

🏖️ Copacabana Beach: Copacabana beach is iconic Rio. With the classic wave pattern in the street tiles and countless places to base yourself, Copacabana is great for relaxing, people-watching, beach bars, and volleyball. 

🏖️ Ipanema Beach: Ipanema has stunning views of the mountain ranges to the west, the area is slightly more upmarket than Copacabana. At the top of the beach is Pedra do Arpoador, where it is perfect for sunsets. The sea around this area is perfect for experienced surfers.

🏖️ Praia Vermelha: Just by Sugar Loaf Mountain is a small beach which is perfect for a quieter but still beautiful beach experience with views of the mountain! Head here after your hike for a perfect spot to relax.

💰 Cost: Free!

📍 Location: See the above links

✅ Top tips: Bring cash for snacks and drinks & be aware of your belongings. Never leave them unattended

3. Explore Santa Teresa

Santa Teresa is a bohemian/artsy area in Rio. It sprawls over the hills and is full of colonial houses, street art, cafes, and more! 

The best way to see Santa Teresa is to book onto a walking tour. We joined one with guruwalks and had a great time. It makes you feel a lot safer walking with a group and a local guide. This way you can also learn about downtown Rio and the city’s culture and architecture.

💰 Cost: Free to explore

📍 Location: Santa Teresa

✅ Top tips: Take a walking tour around the area for the best experience and safety

4. Selarón Steps (Escadaria Selarón)

Seeing these colourful steps is great before, after or part of your walking tour in Santa Teresa. The Chilean artist Jorge Selarón designed these steps with mosaic design and ever since it has been popular for tourists, tv & music videos! 

Spend some time admiring the steps and look out for tiles which are from your country!

The best time to visit is early in the morning if you want some good photos with minimal crowds. 

💰 Cost: Free

📍 Location: Escadaria Selaron

✅ Top tips: go early for fewer crowds

5. Hike to the Summit of Morro Dois Irmãos

The view we had at the top of Morro Dois Irmãos was one of the best we had in Rio. One of the reasons we skipped the Sugar Loaf Mountain cable car was because we got these amazing views for a fraction of the cost. 

The hike starts at the top of Vidigal favela. You will need to take a mototaxi from the road at the bottom to the trail head, but don’t worry it’s super safe.

After reaching the trail head, you pay a small entrance fee and start hiking. It takes around 1 hour to get up and down, depending on your fitness level but once at the top it has the most amazing panoramic views over Ipanema, Leblon, and the surrounding favelas.

You can do this hike yourself (we did) or you can join a guided tour for that extra level of safety. 

Check out our full Morro Dois Irmãos Guide which explains the full hike in detail, from how to get there, how to get a mototaxi, what the costs are, what to bring and what to expect.

💰 Cost: R$10 for mototaxi and R$10 for entry. Total R$20 / £1.50 / US $2 

📍 Location: Pick up the mototaxi for the Morro Dois Irmaos hike here

✅ Top tips: Have cash to pay for the mototaxi, bring water, schedule at least 3 hours for this

6. Take a Helicopter Tour Over Rio

Now, I know we said we didn’t do the cable car because we are on a budget… but there are just some things you can’t not do in Rio. One of them being the iconic helicopter tour over the city. For Connor, this was a non-negotiable, and by saving money in other areas we went ahead and booked it! 

We booked the doors-off experience with Rio2Fly and cannot fault them at all. The tour lasted around 40 minutes and we felt so safe the entire time. The departure area was about a 1 hour drive out of the city. We took an Uber here and it cost us R$80 (£11.50 / US $15) on the way out and R$70 (£10 / US $13) on the way back. 

Top tips:

• The weather can be unpredictable, but try and book for a day where you have clear skies
• Go before midday so you get the sun on Christ the Redeemers face (we booked at 4pm and the sun was behind him which wasn’t as good for photos)
• Take an Uber (for a fixed cost) rather than a taxi
• Make sure you dress appropriately. The wind is strong, so don’t wear anything too floaty and if you have long hair make sure it’s tied up.

You can book with other companies at a slightly lower price, or you can do the doors-on experience if you want to save a few £££ but the doors-off experience was totally worth it! 

💰 Cost: R$1,399 (£200 / US $263) per person for the doors off helicopter ride 

📍 Location: Rio2Fly

✅ Top tips: book a doors off trip so you can put your feet outside!

7. Visit Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor)

Without doubt this is the most popular thing to do in Rio. The epic statue of Christ the Redeemer can be seen from all over the city, but nothing prepares you for the scale when you are standing right under it! 

You can get there one of 3 ways, by scenic train, by van or by hiking. We have written a complete guide on how to visit Christ the Redeemer covering these 3 ways to help you choose the best option for you.

We’d recommend getting there as early as possible, the first slot is best, because 30mins after opening it is absolutely packed!!! We didn’t experience it in the late afternoon/sunset, but some people say it’s a bit quieter at this period too? The benefit of being there in the morning is that the sun is directly in front of his face, so it’s best for pictures. 

💰 Cost: check our Full Christ the Redeemer Post for the price comparison

📍 Location: Christ the Redeemer

✅ Top tips: go for the first time slot to enjoy smaller crowds

8. Watch the Sunset from Pedra do Arpoador

THE BEST SUNSET IN RIO! We were obsessed with this sunset spot. It’s full of locals as well as tourists so you know it’s good. The big rocky outcrop is between Copacabana and Ipanema beaches and make sure you sit facing Ipanema beach to watch the sun set behind the mountains. 

💰 Cost: free

📍 Location: Pedra do Arpoador

✅ Top tips: bring cash to buy snacks/drinks and get there 45mins – 1hour before sunset to get a good spot

9. Shop and Stroll in Ipanema

If shopping is your thing, then Ipanema is the place for you. You can explore the boutique stores, local markets, and fashion along Rua Visconde de Pirajá. The tree lined avenues are perfect for hiding from the sun whilst shopping too. We had to check out the Havaianas shop here and bought some flipflops (it’s a Brazilian right of passage!). They were also so much cheaper than buying them back home, now that’s what we like to see!

If you are there on a Sunday, check out the Sunday ‘Hippie Market’ for handmade crafts and souvenirs.

💰 Cost: window shopping is free!

📍 Location: Rua Visconde de Pirajá

10. Botanical Gardens (Jardim Botânico)

The botanical gardens of Rio are a peaceful green escape from the hustle and bustle of Rio. With picture perfect palm-lined avenues, orchids, and tropical plants you could walk round admiring the flora for hours! These gardens are also popular with wildlife with monkeys and toucans! 

You can combine your time wandering around here with nearby Parque Lage which is just as beautiful (and free!).  

💰 Cost: R$80 (£11.50 / US $15)

📍 Location: Botanical Garden of Rio de Janeiro

11. Explore Parque Lage

This free park is a great stop in your Rio itinerary for a bit of peace. It is lovely to walk around admiring the plants and huge trees. We also saw some beautiful animals here including monkeys, agoutis and some lovely birds.

The park has some amazing views of Chris the Redeemer from the ground as well as being the starting point for some light hikes leading into the Tijuca Forest.

There is a palace in the centre of the park, which from the pictures looks beautiful! Unfortunately as of Nov 2025 the mansion is being repaired and is covered in scaffolding. It is expected to be reopened in June 2026. 

💰 Cost: free

📍 Location: Parque Lage

✅ Top tips: make sure you sit and admire Christ the Redeemer from the park

12. Brazilian Food Tour

We had the best time on our Brazilian food tour. Not only did we try local food, we tried a variety of food from all over Brazil and learnt so much about the food and culture as we went. 

We booked our tour through Free Walker Tours and got a small discount as we had done their downtown free walking tour too.

We tried at least 10 different things, each one was so delicious, and they can accommodate people with dietary requirements too.

💰 Cost: depends on the tour you pick. Free walkers food tour was R$360 pp (with discount) (£51 / US $68)

📍 Website: Food tour

✅ Top tips: arrive hungry and ready to learn and eat!

13. Samba on Mondays

Experience some of Rio’s nightlife at Pedra do Sal. Here you will be tight in the crowd with samba music and people dancing in a small area – the perfect local rio experience. The area around has plenty of market stalls selling snacks, food, drinks, and lots of people selling m4gic brownies too! 

💰 Cost: free

📍 Location: Pedra do Sal

✅ Top tips: you will be in a tight crowds so be mindful of pickpockets 

14. Rio Bar Crawl 

Rio is famous for its nightlife, but it can be confusing knowing if you will be safe and where the best bars are. Free Walker Tours hosts one of the most popular bar crawls in Lapa so you can bar hop and meet new people in a fun and safe setting.

If you are staying in a hostel, your hostel is probably also put on something like this too. 

💰 Cost: R$120 (£17 / US $22.50)

📍 Website: Pub Crawl

✅ Top tips: go ready to socialise and make friends!

15. Museums

Rio has some great museums, which are great for those who love museums and also perfect for a rainy day. 

Our favourite museums in Rio are: 

• Museu do Amanhã (Museum of Tomorrow): A futuristic science museum exploring sustainability, climate change, and humanity’s future, housed in a striking modern building on Rio’s revitalised waterfront.
  
• Museu de Arte Moderna do Rio de Janeiro (MAM): One of Latin America’s leading modern art museums, featuring Brazilian and international artists, plus scenic views from Flamengo Park.
  
• Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Niterói (MAC Niterói): An architectural icon designed by Oscar Niemeyer across the bay, showcasing contemporary Brazilian art and offering panoramic views of Rio’s skyline.
  
• Museu Nacional de Belas Artes (National Museum of Fine Arts): A downtown classic filled with 17th-century to modern Brazilian art, perfect for those interested in the country’s artistic heritage.
  
• Museu de Arte do Rio (MAR): Located next to the Museum of Tomorrow in Praça Mauá, MAR blends art and social commentary with rotating exhibitions on Rio’s culture, people, and urban identity.
  
• Museu Carmen Miranda: A small but colourful museum in Flamengo dedicated to the legendary Brazilian singer and film star, displaying her vibrant costumes and personal memorabilia.
  
• Museu do Índio (Museum of the Indian): Located in Botafogo, this museum highlights Brazil’s diverse Indigenous cultures through traditional artifacts, photographs, and community stories.
  
• Museu da República (Museum of the Republic): Housed in the former presidential palace in Catete, it tells the story of Brazil’s political history with exhibits and lush surrounding gardens.

16. See a show at the Municipal Theater

The Theatro Municipal theatre is just as beautiful on the outside as it is on the inside. They often have shows on in the evenings and some are really reasonably priced!

Check out the tickets on the official ticket website for the Municipal Theatre here.

💰 Cost: Tickets start from R$20 (£3 / US $3.75)

📍 Location: Theatro Municipal

✅ Top tips: book your tickets in advance and do a walking tour in the downtown area before hand!

Ultimate 4-Day Rio de Janeiro Itinerary: Complete Guide 2026

Rio de Janeiro…..ahhh one of our favourite cities. We enjoyed our time here so much and we had some pretty jam-packed days surrounded by chilling by the beach and watching some amazing sunsets. After spending some time here, we have developed our ultimate 4 day Rio Itinerary for first timers to the city! Some of […]

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