Rio de Janeiro Things to Do

Known for stunning beaches, exhilarating street life, and exciting outdoor adventures, Rio de Janeiro is undoubtedly geared towards activities best served by a warm, sunny climate. Alas, winter does touch the Cidade Maravilhosa every year, bringing a time of meteorological uncertainty, with temperatures hovering in the low-to-mid 60s and 70s F, when one day might be bright and pleasant and the next, gloomy and rainy. In fact, winter – June, July, and August in the Southern Hemisphere – can dampen outdoor-oriented itineraries in Rio, but it shouldn’t dampen your enjoyment of the city. Brazil’s tourism capital serves up indoor diversions aplenty, enough to tide you over until the next mild, winter beach day rolls around.

Perched high above the Marvelous City, along the mountainous slopes eventually leading up to Corcovado, Rio de Janeiro’s unique and lively neighborhood of Santa Teresa has long been the haunt of the city’s bohemian denizens, with artists, musicians, and intellectuals hobnobbing among the atmospheric drinking establishments and ambling up and down the cobblestone streets.

Crime can and does happen in cities around the world, so it’s important to maintain perspective when talking about safety and Rio. You can have an amazing time in the Marvelous City…just be street smart and you can minimize the dangers. Here are some safety tips for Rio

Of all the cities in all the countries in all the world, none is more identified with “the Beautiful Game” of soccer—futebol—than Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Home to one of the world’s most famous soccer stadiums, Maracanã, and home to some of the world’s best-known soccer clubs, not to mention the splendid, one-of-a-kind natural setting and infectious tropical culture, Rio is a soccer-lover’s dream.

Shopping and Rio de Janeiro aren’t exactly associated with one another, since Rio’s beaches, nightlife, and culture take precedence in most descriptions of the city. That said, like any great world city, Brazil’s former capital has got countless malls, boutiques, museum stores, outlets, ateliers, and markets for every taste and budget.

Songs tout the beauty of Rio de Janeiro’s beaches and beachcombers, and for good reason. Brazil’s “Marvelous City” boasts nearly 50 miles of powdery beaches, stretching south and west from shimmering Guanabara Bay and patrolled intermittently by Sugar Loaf, Christ the Redeemer, and Dois Irmãos (Two Brothers in Portuguese) like immense, natural lifeguard stations. An abundance of beaches in turn means an abundance of beach bodies, and nothing says tall and tan and young and lovely like the leggy lovelies occupying prime real estate along Rio’s silvery strands.

If the hustle and bustle of Brazil’s most exuberant city, Rio de Janeiro, gets to be too much, there’s one little green spot in the Lagoa district that offers all the peace and tranquility one could ask for. With walking trails, zip-lining, and spectacular views of lofty Christ the Redeemer, the Parque da Catacumba provides lovely, verdant respite for the weary and adventure sports for outdoorsy types stuck within the confines of the city.

With its stunning natural setting and boisterous, engaging culture, Rio de Janeiro is one of the most exciting ports of call available on any cruise itinerary. Getting to know the Marvelous City, as Brazil’s second-largest metropolis is known, takes more than a few hours, but there are myriad ways cruisers can make the most of their time in Rio, incorporating the city’s famous sites, renowned beaches, and delicious cuisine into a brief, but fulfilling, urban escapade.

This month we’re giving away 2 tickets to the world-famous Rio de Janeiro Carnival Parade! Read on to find out more…

Rio de Janeiro might be known more for its beautiful natural setting than for its artistic tradition, but that doesn’t mean the Marvelous City can’t serve up a mean art scene. From massive public institutions to humorous street art to intimate, out-of-the-way galleries, there’s plenty for art lovers to love about Rio.