Rio de Janeiro Guide
For good reason, Rio de Janeiro is known as "Cidade Maravilhosa" - a city so full of character, dotted with sunny beaches and mountain peaks covered by lush greenery. The Guanabara Bay (where Rio is located) is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
River of January?
So where does the name Rio de Janeiro come from?
When the Portuguese colonists arrived to Brazil back in 1502, they mistook the entrance of Guanabara Bay, where Rio is located, for the mouth of a river. And because they touched land on January 1st, the city later became known as “Rio de Janeiro”.
A former capital
Rio de Janeiro became the colonial capital of Brazil in 1763, and continued to be the capital of independent Brazil in 1822. It was only in 1960 that the capital was moved to Brasília, Brazil’s capital today and a new city!
Things to do
Cristo Redentor
Parque Lage
Ipanema Beach
Favelas
Pedra da Gávea
Jardim Botânico
Carioca Aqueduct
Pão de Açucar
Boulevard Olímpico
Mirante Dona Marta
Pedra Bonita
Escadaria Selaron
Parque das Ruinas
Royal Portuguese Reading Room
Food and drink
Dois Irmãos
Copacabana Beach
Tijuca National Park
Pedra do Telégrafo
Catedral Metropolitana de São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro
Niterói Contemporary Art Museum
Fundação Biblioteca Nacional
When to go
Since 90% of the world’s population lives in the Northern Hemisphere, it is worth noting that the seasons in the Southern Hemisphere are kind of upside down. December to March is summer, while June to September is winter.
Summers in Rio are hot and humid, while winters are still relatively warm, and significantly drier. Average temperatures range from around 21°C in July to around 27°C in February, and so Rio makes for a pleasant visit all year round. Summer is the best season for beach going, but it’s also the rainiest. As in other tropical climates, rain can be very sudden and very heavy - a few minutes out and it’ll be like you just went for a swim.
Accommodation
Accommodation in Rio is plentiful and relatively inexpensive, with the exception of holidays such as New Year or Carnaval. With regards to area, Zona Sul is the best location and the safest bet, but other areas such as Santa Terasa are also popular and probably cheaper. If you visit during Carnaval, make sure to book well in advance.
Safety
Is Rio safe? My experience - yes and no, but mostly yes. There is a general belief among foreigners that Rio is this really dangerous place where you should only travel around in groups and not even think of carrying valuables on you. Yes, robbery incidents have happened in the past, in some places. Yes, there is criminal activity, although usually it remains contained within the boundaries of ill-famed favelas. There are many places that really should be avoided, but there is very little reason you would ever end up there.
The areas around the main attractions are perfectly safe during the day. It is easy and cheap to get around by Uber, and joining an organised tour won't make the experience any safer. It's best to keep valuables to a minimum on the streets and at the beach, but as long as you don't always have them on display, you'll most likely be fine.
During carnival in particular, there are so many people and so much police presence everywhere, that Rio feels safer than many other big cities.
More in Rio de Janeiro
Everything you need to know about the Rio Carnival