Rio de Janeiro is an amazing place to be, as the city has so many cool sights. From amazing beaches to a world wonder and from football to colourful steps. The city has something for everyone, and that makes it so special. Rio de Janeiro always smiles and has an amazing vibe. You cannot miss this city in Southern Brazil. Keep reading for all the things to do in this fantastic city.

Tourist occurrence: Medium 

How to get here: By plane, train, bus, car. The city is very reachable for national and international passengers.

How much time needed: 3-4 days

1. Enjoy the amazing views at Cristo Redentor

One thing you cannot miss is the world wonder Cristo Redentor (Corcovado). The statue is 38 metres high, and it stands on a mountain of 718 metres. You can go up there by train, hiking trail or van. The statue is absolutely fantastic, but the highlight for me is the fantastic view of the whole city. You can see the ocean, mountains, favelas, stadiums and more. It is such a gorgeous view; probably one of the best of my life. Is there one thing to do in Rio de Janeiro? Make sure it is Cristo Redentor, although it is a crowded sight. 

Price: Depending on the season, but maximum R$ 380

Tourist occurrence: Very high

How much time needed: 1-3 hours depending on your interest

2. Feel relaxed at Copacabana

Another insanely famous thing to see in Rio de Janeiro is the amazing Copacabana. Probably the most famous beach in the world shows a lot of things to do. You can go for a swim, play football, play volleyball, have a drink, relax, or walk. There is nothing you cannot do. It is even better to go here on a Sunday, as there is no traffic next to the beach, so you can have a very lovely walk. 

Price: Free

Tourist occurrence: High

How much time needed: As long as you want, but after a lovely afternoon you can do something else. 

3. Find more beach at the impressive Ipanema

Copacabana has the name, but Ipanema is just as good in my opinion. The beach is wide, has restaurants and bars, and has good swimming places. The waves are higher than at Copacabana, which is good for surfing and swimming. Do not miss this beach when in Rio de Janeiro.

Price: Free

Tourist occurrence: High

How much time needed: As long as you want, but after a lovely afternoon you can do something else. 

4. Visit less famous beaches

Yes, another beach highlight... Do not visit only the Copacabana and Ipanema, as there are more small beaches, like Praia Vermelha (see picture above) and Praia São Conrado. These beaches often have a more laid-back vibe with coconuts and locals. For me, these may even be more relaxed and authentic. Sometimes the scenery is impressive as well.

Price: Free

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed: As long as you want.

5. Watch a football match in Maracana

Brazil is the country of football, and it is great to visit a match in the iconic Maracana stadium. It was by far the biggest stadium, but through renovations and safety reasons it is reduced to 78,000 people. You can either watch a game of Fluminense (as I did) or Flamengo. You can also visit matches of Vasco da Gama or Botafogo in other stadiums. 

Price: Depending on the game and seat

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed: 2-3 hours

6. Look at the Sugar loaf from many locations

Because of the lack of time, we did not visit the mountain itself, but it is great to see it from different angles throughout the city. The mountain is 368 metres, and you can take a cable car towards the top and have a hike there. For the adventurous people, you can also do rock climbing. 

Price: R$205 for the cabe car

Tourist occurrence: High

How much time needed: 2-3 hours

7. Walk the Escadaria Selarón

A less famous stairs is the Escadaria Selarón, which are very colourful stairs in the city centre. It connects the districts of Lapa and Santa Teresa. These mosaic stairs are made by the Chilean artist Jorge Selarón. There are some images of other cities, so maybe you will find your own city. I really enjoyed this, but the area next to the stairs can be a bit unsafe, so be cautious. 

Price: R$205 for the cabe car

Tourist occurrence: High

How much time needed: 1 hour

8. Head into a favela

Rio de Janeiro is also very famous for the favelas, which are slums building on the hills and mountains of the city. You can visit them, but always be cautious, and I would recommend taking a guide with you to explain about the favelas. You can also enjoy the views of them from several locations, and it is very cool to see.

Price: Free, unless you take a guide

Tourist occurrence: Very low

How much time needed: 2-3 hours

9. Have a stroll through the city

One of the best things to is to just walk around, have a drink, halve a lunch, stroll a bit, and enjoy the atmosphere. The people are friendly, and there is always something going on as many people go out on the streets. It is not safe in every area, so know where it is nice to walk. 

Price: Free

How much time needed: As long as you want.

10. Or go on a bike

An even better option is to go by bicycle. We had a guide and we had a fantastic time. This was one of the best things we did in Rio. We easily visited several football clubs, beaches, and neighbourhoods, and it shows the city differently in a faster way. We had a tour, which gave extra information about the fantastic city. 

Price: Depending on the bike rental or tour.

Tourist occurrence: Very low

How much time needed: Depending to your liking or the tour. 

11. Try some great food

The Brazilian cuisine is not my favourite, although there are some dishes. The city of Rio de Janeiro just has a lot of international cuisines, and it is very tasteful to try different cuisines and restaurants. Each neighbourhood has good classics, so ask around and you will not be disappointed.

Things I have not done, but could be cool

Rio de Janeiro is a huge city, and of course it has many things to do, which I did not do. However, I think the most important sights are named in the list above. 

Final thought

Rio de Janeiro is one of the most beautiful situated cities in the world, including the sea, mountains, hills and views. It has some very unique sights like Cristo Redentor, beaches and favelas, which are unique to everything else in the world. The beaches and general laid-back vibe make this a unique city, which cannot be overlooked in your trip to Brazil. 

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