Every city has its own beauty, but Rio de Janeiro may be the most passionate in the world. It is a place alive with energy: stunning beaches, unbeatable sports, music and dancing everywhere. Rio’s population represents a proud mix of Indigenous, African and European ancestry—the city’s fabric. It’s about half a planet from Pearson, so you want to make the best of your time there. Here, a guide of tips and tricks for the next time you land in the Marvelous City.
Meet the city's most famous resident
He sits 700 metres up. Christ the Redeemer, completed in 1931, is a 38-metre Art Deco monument in soapstone and reinforced concrete—and one of the most recognizable silhouettes in the world. The way you get there is part of the experience: the Corcovado Rack Railway threads up through Tijuca Forest, the largest urban rainforest on the planet, before depositing you at the foot of the statue. The view back over Rio is the one you've seen in every postcard, and somehow still better in person.
Spend a day on the sand
In Rio, the beach isn't a destination—it's a daily ritual. Copacabana stretches four kilometres along the city's eastern edge, lined with kiosks, volleyball nets, and the black-and-white wave-pattern promenade that's become shorthand for the city itself. It's also where Rio throws its Réveillon celebration on New Year's Eve, drawing more than two million people in white for one of the largest public parties in the world. A short walk west, Ipanema trades the spectacle for something quieter and more polished—bookstores, galleries and cafés just back from the sand. Come at sunset and post up at Arpoador, the rocky point between the two beaches, where locals applaud when the sun drops behind the hills.
Catch a match at Maracanã
Maracanã stadium might be the most beloved structure in Brazil. It was built in 1950 and can host almost 80,000 guests, right in the heart of the city. It’s been the stage for Pelé’s thousandth goal, the World Cup, the Pan American Games and the 2016 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. Footie fans would be wise to check out a Brazilian championship series match there with one of its two home clubs, CR Flamengo and Fluminense FC.
Last but not least: get your steps
Nothing like a bit of quirk to endear a destination upon a traveller’s soul. In 1990, Chilean artist Jorge Selarón began renovating the worn-down steps outside his home, which borders Rio’s Lapa and Santa Teresa districts. Over time, he would adorn the steps with more than 2,000 tiles collected from over 60 countries. Today, everyone calls the piece the Selarón Steps.