Editor's picks
A local's shortlist — the places worth your time first, each with a tip.
Corcovado & Cristo Redentor
Landmark · Alto da Boa Vista, inside Tijuca forest
A 30-metre art deco Christ on an 8-metre pedestal atop a granite peak, reached by an 1884 rack railway through rainforest.
Local tip: Skip the van and take the trem do Corcovado from Cosme Velho — the railway is older than the statue and the forest ride is half the point. Go on the first train of the day; by eleven the platform is a queue and the cloud has usually come in.
Santa Teresa & Lapa
Nightlife · Central hills, above the Lapa arches
A hillside of colonial mansions and studios above the arches, with the city's densest live-music streets below.
Local tip: The bonde tram runs again from Carioca and is the proper way up. Lapa on a Friday is genuinely the best samba in Brazil and also the place to carry nothing you mind losing — take a card and a phone in a zipped pocket, leave the rest at home.
Ipanema & Arpoador
Neighborhood · Zona Sul
The beach that defines the city, with the Arpoador rock at its eastern end where the whole beach applauds the sunset.
Local tip: Arpoador at sunset is the one crowd worth joining — people clap when the sun drops behind Dois Irmãos and nobody finds it silly. The rock is free, always open, and the best view in Rio that costs nothing.
Parque Lage
Culture · Jardim Botânico, at the foot of Corcovado
A 1920s mansion with a courtyard pool, now a free art school, framed by the Christ statue directly above it.
Local tip: The courtyard café is open to anyone and the whole park is free. The trail to Corcovado starts from the back of the grounds — it is a proper forest hike, not a stroll, and should be done in a group and in the morning.
Feira de São Cristóvão
Hidden gemFood · São Cristóvão, Zona Norte
A covered arena of 700 stalls serving the food, music and forró of Brazil's north-east to the migrants who brought it here.
Local tip: Almost no foreign residents ever go, which is the point. Open from Friday morning straight through to Sunday evening — the Friday and Saturday nights are when the forró bands play and it becomes a different, much better place. Take a taxi, not the metro, late at night.
Floresta da Tijuca
Nature · Central massif, above the city
The largest urban forest in the world planted by hand, replanted from coffee plantations in the 1860s to protect Rio's water supply.
Local tip: The Vista Chinesa viewpoint and the Cascatinha waterfall are reachable by car; the good trails start deeper in. Go on a weekday and go with someone — this is real forest with real navigation, not a park.
Explore 127 places across Rio de Janeiro
Museums, landmarks, monuments, heritage sites and parks — mapped, with photos. The most notable spots first.
Museums & galleries
(41)
MuseumBrazilian Academy of Letters
Brazilian literary non-profit society
MuseumMuseu Nacional de Belas Artes
National art museum in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Museum
Museum
MuseumBrazilian Historic and Geographic Institute
Archive in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro
MuseumTiradentes Palace
Headquarters of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Rio de Janeiro (1975–2021)
MuseumCarmen Miranda Museum
Museum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
MuseumMuseu Nacional dos Povos Indígenas
Museum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
MuseumEarth Sciences Museum
Geological museum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
MuseumMuseu Antônio Parreiras
Museum in Brazil
MuseumRio Art Museum
Museum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
MuseumMuseu do Açude
Museum in Rio de Janeiro.
MuseumEva Klabin House Museum
Private historic-house museum
MuseumInstituto Moreira Salles
Brazilian cultural non profit organization
Museum
MuseumMuseu de Imagens do Inconsciente
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
MuseumMuseum Dom João VI
Museum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
MuseumBaths of King João VI at Caju
Museum in Brazil
MuseumEspaço Cultural da Marinha
Museum in Brazil
MuseumMuseum of the City of Rio de Janeiro
Museum in Brazil
MuseumMuseu de História e Artes do Estado do Rio de Janeiro
Brazilian museum
MuseumMuseu Casa de Rui Barbosa
Museum in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro
MuseumMuseum of the Republic
Museum in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro
MuseumMuseu Penitenciário do Estado do Rio de Janeiro
Museum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
MuseumMuseu Villa-Lobos
Museum in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro
MuseumMuseu da Imagem e do Som do Rio de Janeiro
Museum in Rio de Janerio, Brazil
MuseumMarak'anà Village
Urban indigenous village and historical site registered by State Institute of Cultural Heritage of Rio de Janeiro in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
MuseumMuseu Casa de Benjamin Constant
Museum in Rio de Janeiro (city)
MuseumMuseu Internacional de Arte Naïf do Brasil
Museum in Brazil
MuseumMuseu Militar Conde de Linhares
Museum in Brazil
MuseumNaval Museum
Naval museum in Rio de Janeiro
MuseumMuseu da Chácara do Céu
Museum in Rio de Janeiro
MuseumMuseu de Arqueologia de Itaipu
Museum in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro
MuseumMuseum of Astronomy and Related Sciences
Museum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
MuseumPalácio da Justiça
Historical site registered by State Institute of Cultural Heritage of Rio de Janeiro in the city of Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
MuseumPalácio do Ingá
Historical site in Rio de Janeiro
MuseumPalácio dos Correios
Museum in Rio de Janeiro.
MuseumPlanetaRio
Museum in Brazil
Oi Futuro
Catete
Museum in Catete.
Museu do Corpo de Bombeiros
Centro
Museum in Centro.
Museu Ciência e Vida;Drogaria Pacheco
Museum.
Landmarks & architecture
(31)
LandmarkPaço de São Cristóvão
Palace in Rio de Janeiro
LandmarkGustavo Capanema Palace
Modernist office building in Rio de Janerio, Brazil
LandmarkCinelândia District
Neighborhood in the central region of Rio de Janeiro city
LandmarkCatete Palace
Palace in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
LandmarkSanta Teresa Tram
Historic tramway in Rio de Janeiro
Landmark
LandmarkPraça XV de Novembro
Square in Rio de Janeiro
LandmarkLaranjeiras Palace
Building in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
LandmarkPedro Ernesto Palace
Building in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
LandmarkLargo do Boticário
Square in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
LandmarkPalace of Itamaraty
Palace in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Landmark
LandmarkPraça Mauá
Public square in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
LandmarkPraça Tiradentes
Square in Rio de Janeiro
LandmarkLargo da Prainha
Landmark in Rio de Janeiro.
Landmark
LandmarkParis Square
Square in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
LandmarkBuraco do Lume
Landmark in Rio de Janeiro.
LandmarkPraça Marechal Âncora
Landmark in Rio de Janeiro.
LandmarkPalace of Conde dos Arcos
Palace in Rio de Janeiro
LandmarkLargo da Misericórdia
Landmark in Rio de Janeiro.
LandmarkPraça da Harmonia
Square in Rio de Janeiro
LandmarkPraça da Cruz Vermelha
Square in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Landmark
LandmarkLargo de São Francisco de Paula
Square in Rio de Janeiro
LandmarkCasa da Marquesa de Santos
Building in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
LandmarkPalácio São Domingos
Building in Niterói, Brazil
LandmarkPraça José de Alencar
Landmark in Rio de Janeiro.
Fortaleza de Santa Cruz da Barra
Castle.
Forte Barão do Rio Branco
Castle.
Ponta do Imbuí
Castle.
Monuments & memorials
(9)
MonumentChrist the Redeemer
Colossal statue of Jesus in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
MonumentEquestrian statue of Dom Pedro I
Monument in the city of Rio de Janeiro
MonumentMonumento aos Heróis de Laguna e Dourados
Monument in the city of Rio de Janeiro
MonumentObelisco da Avenida Rio Branco
Monument in Rio de Janeiro city
MonumentHanging Garden of Valongo
Human settlement in Brazil
Estátua Princesa Isabel
Public artwork.
Almirante Barroso
Public artwork.
Brigadeiro Eduardo Gomes
Public artwork.
Monumento ao Almirante Negro
Centro
Public artwork in Centro.
Places of worship
(28)
ReligiousRio de Janeiro Cathedral
Cathedral in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
ReligiousCandelária Church
Church in Rio de Janeiro
ReligiousOld Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro
Roman Catholic church in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
ReligiousPresbyterian Cathedral of Rio of Janeiro
Church in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
ReligiousIgreja de Nossa Senhora da Penha
Church in Brazil
ReligiousMetropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Niterói
Church building in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
ReligiousChurch of Our Lady of Lapa dos Mercadores
Church building in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
ReligiousChurch of Saint Lucy
Church in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
ReligiousConvent of Santo Antônio
Church building in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
ReligiousConvent of Mount Carmel
Monastery in Rio de Janeiro
ReligiousChurch of Our Lady of the Conception and Good Death
Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
ReligiousIgreja de Nossa Senhora da Glória do Outeiro
Church in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
ReligiousChurch of the Holy Cross of the Military
Church in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
ReligiousChurch of Saint Francis of Paola
Church in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
ReligiousChurch of the Blessed Sacrament
Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
ReligiousChurch of the Intercession of the Theotokos
Religious in Rio de Janeiro.
ReligiousSanctuary of Saint Rita of Cascia
Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
ReligiousChurch of the Third Order of Saint Francis of Penitence
Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
ReligiousChurch of the Order Terceira do Carmo
Church in Rio de Janeiro
ReligiousIgreja Nossa Senhora Lampadosa, cidade do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
Church building in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
ReligiousSanta Casa da Misericórdia and Church of Our Lady of Good Success
Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
ReligiousChurch of Our Lady of the Rosary of the Black People and Saint Benedict
Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
ReligiousIgreja de Santa Mártir Zenaide
Religious in Rio de Janeiro.
ReligiousChurch of Saint Francis of Prainha
Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
ReligiousIgreja de Nossa Senhora da Apresentação
Church building in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
ReligiousBasílica de Nossa Senhora Auxiliadora
Church building in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Mayrink Chapel
Place of worship.
Capela Nossa Senhora da Imaculada Conceição
Place of worship.
Heritage & archaeology
(5)
ArchaeologicalValongo Wharf
Former wharf in Rio de Janeiro
ArchaeologicalCemitério dos Pretos Novos (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
Archaeological site in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Casarão em Ruinas
Historic ruins.
Sambaquis de Itaipu
Archaeological site.
Ruínas Fazenda Von Mocke
Historic ruins.
Parks & nature
(10)
ParkRio de Janeiro Botanical Garden
Park of the Botanical Garden, environmental preservation area of the Rio de Janeiro state in Brazil
ParkQuinta da Boa Vista
Public park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
ParkFlamengo Park
Largest public park and recreation area in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Park
Park
ParkJardim de Alá
Park in Rio de Janeiro city
Park
Park
ParkParque Guinle
Park in South Zone of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
ParkParque Estadual da Chacrinha
Park in Rio de Janeiro
More to explore
(3)Sugarloaf
Visitor attraction.
Pedra da Gávea
Visitor attraction.
Irmão Menor
Viewpoint.
Data from Wikidata (CC0) & OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Images via Wikimedia Commons — see each credit. Listings are community-maintained and may be incomplete or out of date — verify hours and access before visiting.
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