Rio is a country that hosts many places to see in terms of history, nature, and entertainment. Ipanema Beach, Copacabana Beach, Christ the Redeemer Statue, Sugar Loaf Mountain, Maracanã Stadium, Tijuca National Park, Samba City, its favelas, Brazilian National Museum, Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden, Brazilian National Museum are some of the most visited attractions. Detailed information about these places we have mentioned is available below.
Christ Redeemer
The Statue of Christ the Redeemer, which is among the New Seven Wonders of the World, is a 38-meter-long statue with its pedestal located at the top of Corcovado Hill. The statue, which was started to be made in 1922 in honor of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Brazil and opened with a ceremony in 1931, is made of concrete and soapstone. The construction of the Christ Statue, which watches the city with its hands open, started to be created in the heyday of the Art Deco movement that started in the city, and this is reflected in its architecture. The purpose of the monument is to emphasize that the city has a Christian culture.
Stairs and elevators have been installed to make it easier for those who want to visit the monument to the top of the summit. In addition, you can reach the statue by spending time with nature on the “Corcovado Railway” in 20 minutes on the curved roads. Trains, which are the easiest way to reach the statue, depart from Cosme Velho stop and cost 56 reals in low season and 65 reals in high season.
Copacabana Beach
Copacabana, one of the most famous beaches in the world; It is located in the south of the city and is a 4 km long beach. Copacabana Beach, which was one of the four Olympic venues during the 2016 Summer Olympics, is one of the most frequented places in the city and is also a suitable area for accommodation. There are many activities you can do on the beach, which is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Even if you are not doing anything, we can say that you will feel very good in the favela children playing football, cheerful vendors, the magnificent sea and the scenery.
Although it is said that the area is not very safe for tourists at night, if you continue your entertainment or rest near the most lively beach kiosks, it will not be a problem and because the area is a very touristic area, there are always policemen in the area. Whether day or night, Copacabana will give you a wonderful moment with its white sand and bright clean water.
Sugar Loaf Mountain
Sugar Loaf Mountain, one of the emblematic areas of the city, is a summit point rising from a peninsula extending into the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of Guanabara Bay. The name of the summit, which we can translate into Turkish as Sugar Hill, is from the times when Brazilians traded sugar cane in the 16th century. The peak of the mountain, located 396 meters above the port, is a world-renowned spot with its panoramic city view and cable cars.
Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2012, the area is protected together with the Urca Hill Monument. You can also climb Sugar Loaf, one of the largest urban climbing areas in the world, or watch people climbing below. It will be very enjoyable to watch Sugar Loaf, but we recommend that you do not come back from the top of the mountain without breathing the city.
Maracanã Stadium
Opened in 1954 to host the FIFA World Cup, the 11,800-seat arena is one of the most famous arenas in the world. The stadium, whose construction was completed in 5 months by famous architects, won the Men’s Basketball World Championship in 1954 and 1963, the Miss Guanabara and Miss Brazil beauty contests in the 1950s and 60s, the Men’s Volleyball World Championship in 1960 and 1990, the World Judo Championship in 2013.
Volleyball competitors were hosted at the stadium during the 2016 Summer Olympics. In addition to the important championships in history, many special names such as Deep Purple, Metallica, Alice Cooper, Iron Maiden, The Cure gave concerts in the stadium. The stadium is currently open on match days, if there is a match on your trip, you may want to catch the enthusiasm in this big stadium.
Tijuca National Park
Established in 1967, Tijuca National Park covers an area of 3,953 hectares in Rio de Janeiro and is referred to as the largest forest in the world within the city limits. The purpose of the establishment of the park is to revive the deforestation caused by sugar cane and coffee cultivation in the region with afforestation, and after afforestation, the region was qualified as a national park and was taken under protection. The exhibition “A Forest in the Metropolis” located in the center of the National Park attracts a lot of attention from tourists. The exhibition is an instructive dynamic that interactively presents the park’s history and habitat, as well as how to use public spaces and resources.
There are many hiking and climbing trails, waterfalls and especially monkeys everywhere in the forest. The most suitable routes for trekking in the forest, which is home to hundreds of plant species and wildlife, are Diamantina’s Waterfall, Parrot’s Beak, Tijuca Peak, Cave Circuit, Archer Hill, Anhanguera Hill and Bat’s Cave. By finding yourself a tuh guide, you can end your trip more consciously by getting to know the surrounding ecological environment. There is no entrance fee to the park and free guides are provided on two Sundays per month.
Samba City
Of course, it is impossible not to talk about Rio de Janeiro and not talk about samba dancing. While the city-specific samba dance is so well-known around the world, of course, there is a special area created just for this dance in the city. Located in the port area of Rivadavia Correa, Samba City has an area of 114,000 square meters. Also, samba was born in this region and fun samba dances are performed in this place. Samba City; It is also one of the most popular locations during the Rio Carnival.
In this area, you can watch and learn everything about samba dances, wagon making, costumes and outfits. There are guided tours of Samba City every day except Tuesday, and it is open for tourists every day. Samba City is Brazil’s largest arts and entertainment center, where music, food, drink, and lots of fun are guaranteed with nightly shows that take place every night. Experiencing art and dance in such a colorful, vibrant and fun place will be a unique experience for you.
Rio de Janeiro Favelas
When talking about Rio de Janeiro, favelas must also be mentioned. Some of these poor slums, which we can also refer to as the other face of Rio, have turned from being unreliable areas to becoming small centers of street art and tourism over time. This construction, which emerged with the housing crisis, has turned into a visual that will attract tourists to Rio over time. Crime is still high in some favelas, but we’ll recommend a few that you can safely go to.
The most visited favela is the Santa Marta favela. There is a statue of the artist in the center of this small settlement, which we will remember from Michael Jackson’s “They Don’t Care About Us” clip. In 2008, a police base was opened in the favela and security began to be provided, however, Santa Marta also set an example for other favelas. Hosting artists such as Madonna, Beyoncé and Alicia Keys, the favela is a must-see with its steep streets and colorful buildings. We can say that Rio’s favela, which is the most foreign friend, is Vidigal.
This favela, with its bars, restaurants and hotels, has become a tourist hotspot, and one of the favorite events here is the night-time parties with electro music on the open-air dance floors. Another favela known for its nightlife is Tavares Bastos. Popular with street musicians, rock and jazz bars, the favela also boasts a panoramic view. In the city, which has at least 1,000 favelas, you can visit the safe favelas that have become a touristic place with a tour guide, the colorful streets and local art will give you different experiences.
Ipanema Beach
One of the most magnificent beaches in the world, Ipanema is the longest beach in Rio de Janeiro with its white sand. There is always some activity in Ipanema, where fun and action match the beach culture. You can often see people surfing in the sea with big waves, and you will meet a lot of people playing football on the beaches, as in Copacabana and other Brazilian beaches.
It may also be a good idea for you to take a beach tour by bike in Ipanema, where you can soak up the sun with its perfect sea. Posto 8 is the most suitable for surfing on the 13 posto beach. It will be safer for you if you choose the swimming points preferred by the locals in Ipanema, which has a magnificent and at the same time dangerous sea due to its strong waves.
