Hidden gems in Rio de Janeiro
Skip the tourist circuit. These Rio de Janeiro spots are the ones locals actually send their out-of-town friends to.
Top spots in Rio de Janeiro
Christ the Redeemer (Corcovado)
CultureTijuca
Cog-train up — go early to beat clouds and queues.
Sugarloaf Cable Car
OutdoorsUrca
Two-stage cable car — sunset slot is the best ticket in town.
Copacabana + Ipanema Beach
OutdoorsZona Sul
Posto 9 is the see-and-be-seen stretch — fresh agua de coco from the kiosks.
Lapa Steps (Escadaria Selarón)
CultureLapa
Tiled staircase by Selarón — 2,000 tiles from 60 countries.
Tijuca National Park
OutdoorsAlto da Boa Vista
World's largest urban rainforest — Pedra da Gávea hike for sunset over the city.
Where to eat
Lasai
$$$$Contemporary Brazilian · Botafogo
Latin America's 50 Best — daily-changing tasting from chef Rafa Costa e Silva's farm.
Bar Urca
$$Botequim · Urca
Bolinhos de bacalhau, cold Antarctica beer, sitting on the seawall.
Confeitaria Colombo
$$Café · Centro
Art Nouveau 1894 stained-glass salon — pastel de Belém and afternoon tea.
Aprazível
$$$Brazilian · Santa Teresa
Treetop hilltop deck with the city's most romantic view.
Frequently asked
- Locals' under-the-radar picks include Christ the Redeemer (Corcovado), Sugarloaf Cable Car, Copacabana + Ipanema Beach. These are the places that don't show up on the first page of mainstream travel guides.