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City Guide Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Visiting Rio de Janeiro

  • Images of Rio de Janeiro
  • Images of Rio de Janeiro
  • Images of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil and South America’s most famous city is best known as the world’s biggest party city. Once a year it comes to a standstill and the carnival takes over. And no matter where you are in the city you can see the Corcovado (Statue of Christ).

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Rio de Janeiro Podcasts

Rio de Janeiro - Home of the 'favela'

Marcelo Armstrong, founder of 'Favela Tour', Rio de Janeiro's original favela tour, speaks to Hostelworld.com's Colm Hanratty to explain what a 'favela' is, why he decided to start the tour, and that there are many positive aspects to them and not just negative ones.

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Rio de Janeiro Videos

How to save money in Rio de Janeiro

If your funds are low when in Rio de Janeiro, and you want to save money by doing free things and more, watch our video presented by our editor Colm Hanratty.

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Rio de Janeiro City Reviews

  • 100%

    asiavanderbilt8254

    Incredibly Breathtaking Fabulous City

    Rio has everything you want in a city: places to party, places to relax, incredible food, beaches, vistas, attractions, activities, cultural options (eg. visiting favelas), and absolutely breathtaking scenery. I highly recommend Rio as every moment spent there took my breath away for 2 weeks straight. Could not imagine a better place to spend a vacation.

    Insider Tip:Carry belongings in a plastic bag (and leave valuables at home eg. kindle, iphone, large amounts of money) because it will help you avoid getting robbed. Visit Cantina do Gouchos on top of Santa Teresa (around the corner from Casa 579) for the best food in Rio at very cheap prices! Visit the Ipanema hippie market on Sundays for a fabulous shopping experience.

  • 90%

    Konzentran251

    Botafogo

    Botafogo is a great place to stay - not too poor, thus rather safe, not too rich, thus not too touristic. Has everything - nice local pubs and juice bars, cinemas, a weekly market, monkeys ;), supermarkets, and public transport is great. Nothing is really far away. Water quality at Botafogo beach was normally bad, though, but hey, there's always the Copacabana, right?

    Insider Tip:Ageda da Velha just down the road is a great bar/restaurant - cheap, friendly staff, and the coldest beer in town.

  • 90%

    kategantner1184

    Beautiful and sometimes dangerous

    Rio is hands down my new favorite city in the world -- it's beauty is just incredible. However, it does have some issues with crime. My debit card got copied and wiped after using it in a Citibank ATM -- all my money was insured by my bank though. There were lots of stories as well of fellow travelers getting approached and robbed. But DO NOT let that stop you from coming to this incredible city. Just travel with caution -- have a back up plan in case your money does get swiped from you

    Insider Tip:Don't walk around with lots of valuables -- at least not alone. Have a back up plan for when your money gets swiped (I.e my bank account got drained by my card getting copied from an ATM). SUNSCREEN. Strength in numbers.

  • 90%

    ivanpankev7438

    Rio

    If you like big cities and partying, Rio is you place, I don't, but still it was worth spending a few days here - walking around, going to the beach.

    Insider Tip:Corcovado (the statue of Christ) is a must - the from the hill is great!

  • 80%

    sgreni9050

    Fun city with fun things always going on.

    Rio de Janeiro is more than just beaches and Cristo redentor, there is always something going on! You can always find concerts on the beach, sports, amazing hiking, water sports, great restaurants and clubs etc. Look past the most touristy parts of Rio and you'll find such an interesting place. Don't forget to head over to Niteroi, the view from the Fort is absolutely amazing!

    Insider Tip:No one really knows this but you can hike the morro dois irmãos which I think offers the most spectacular view of Rio de Janeiro (better than Pão-de-acucar or Corcovado). You have to go up through the favela Vidigal and the trailhead is behind the last houses but it is so worth it

Brazil: Itinerary

While Asia has for years been the most popular continent on the planet for backpacking, over the last decade South America has fast been speeding up every traveller’s ‘to-do list’. And in particular, due to its size, cities and diversity, Brazil has climbed to the top of everybody’s South America list. While it isn’t the capital, Rio de Janeiro is where most people begin their journey.

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