I’m no authority in what places are the must-dos. But I can tell you which are the ones I went to. I’ll sprinkle in some basic information along the way and tell you about my experience. Your trip will be different than mine. But I thought I’d share what I saw.

Brazil’s capital isn’t Rio de Janeiro. But the city’s iconic landmarks, legendary beaches, and famous culture and cuisine make the place a go-to destination. 

Rio de Janeiro was my gateway to Brazil and South America. And despite my initial reservations on safety and language barriers, the trip worked out well in the end. I could go around with ease and convenience. And people are generally helpful. 

Rio de Janeiro is also known as “Cidade Maravilhosa”. Loosely translated, it means marvellous city.

Given how much the city has to offer, I can see why some feel that visiting Rio de Janeiro alone is sufficient. People advocate to spend a week at least. I did a little less than that and still felt fulfilled.

I also visited in Sao Paulo and Manaus. You can see the places I visited in Sao Paulo in this link. You can read my story in the Amazon in this link.

Meanwhile, here are five places I visited in Rio de Janeiro:

Christ the Redeemer

The statue is considered one of the new seven wonders of the world. And I’m fortunate to have visited the place in my lifetime. This is my second for those counting. (My first one was the Colosseum in Rome)

Jesus Christ has his arms wide open – 28 meters in span. And the gesture is a symbol of how he welcomes the city and its inhabitants into his fold. The height is approximately 30 meters. And that ensures I feel towered over and humbled by his presence.

Besides the landmark, what I didn’t expect was how equally fulfilling the cable car journey would be. To paraphrase Miley Cyrus, it’s the climb. 

The ascent took me over the Corcovado Mountain with the Tijuca Forest as the backdrop. I get value for my money and my time – manmade structures and nature all at once!

What also took my breath away was the panoramic view of Rio de Janeiro. Once I turned my back on Christ the Redeemer – the coastline, the mountains, and the bustling city await. 

The only thing I would caution people to is the vast amount of tourists I had to share the place with. That is completely understandable. But expectations might impact an experience so it’s best to adjust them from the onset. 

The Sugar Loaf Mountains

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that the mountains were named after their resemblance to a sugarloaf. The two stand on the Guanabara Bay and goes up to a height of 400 meters each. 

Similar to the journey for reaching Christ the Redeemer, this attraction is commonly visited by riding a cable car. And just like the views from Christ the Redeemer, a 360 degree picture of Rio and the Atlantic Ocean is for the taking. 

In some ways, the experience is the same. But the peaks of Sugarloaf Mountains provide a portrait of Christ the Redeemer blending with the Corcovado Mountain, and a closer view of the ocean. As one of my favourite quotes go, “same same, but different”.

There are walking trails and rock climbing options. I did the former as I don’t have the skills required for the latter. 

I was treated to two warnings – venomous animals and slippery surfaces after rainy days. While no creature posed any danger, I almost fell on my back. I can only remind others to be careful, especially when the rocks and the soil are wet. 

The payoff is worth the 40 minute trek. Burning the carbs, being one with nature, and soaking in the alternative viewing spots are just some of the rewards.

Copacobana and Ipanema

Copacobana was just a Barry Manilow song to me. And Ipanema was a place that DJs rave about when they party. I can only describe finally reaching these two beaches as surreal.

Copacobana is a 4 kilometre stretch of golden sand along the Atlantic Ocean. And since I felt like walking a lot on that day, I went straight to Ipanema on foot right after (2.4 kilometres). I got so motivated that I finished until Leblon and back to Copacobana. 

Dining and drinks, volleyball, swimming, parties, relaxation – what more can I ask for? Beach culture – who wouldn’t want to get assimilated to that? I spent a lot of time just chilling and forgetting about life’s troubles. 

I always say, in travels, there are no shoulds. But I might make an exception for these two. 

Escaderia Selaron

Escaderia Selaron is a work of art made by Chilean artist Jorge Selaron. These are 210 steps adorned with colorful and diverse ceramic tiles, embodying different cultures and showcasing various national and international symbols. It’s also a modern day representation to the power of art in uniting people. 

The construction took two decades. And it’s built not just on effort. Jorge had to invest his own resources and trade some artworks to fund the right tiles for his masterpiece. There were also donations from people of different backgrounds, those who wanted to help him see through his vision. 

The history of the genius behind the art might be long. But if that doesn’t work for you, I am delighted to tell you that this also works as the perfect backdrop to your Instagram and Tiktok posts. 

This isn’t proven. But I’d wager my money and say that more people go to Escaderia Selaron for social media mileage than cultural and artistic appreciation. 

Parque Lage

Parque Lage is situated at the foot of the Corcovado Mountain. It’s part of the Tijuca National Park and offers a trail that leads to Christ the Redeemer. I opted to not hike to the mountain top. But even without that experience, Parque Lage is an attraction by itself. 

Parque Lage houses a mansion that used to be the home of the Brazilian elite. The mansion contains a pool, a garden, and multiple sculptures. Today, it hosts the School of Visual Arts. Try to get tickets to the mansion online or a long queue might be waiting for you. 

Around the house are multiple different floras and faunas. There are rustic structures to explore like bridges and a tower. Caves, with stalactites and stalagmites, are within reach and without boundaries. There is a duck pond with water streaming from a depleting waterfall (at least when I visited).

And if those aren’t your cup of tea, maybe silence is. I found the surroundings quite calming and serene, especially contrasted to the rest of the city. 

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The trip to Rio de Janeiro happened in May 2023.