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Rio de Janeiro and Guanabara Bay from Sugarloaf Mountain at sunset

No. 70 Top 100 City Destinations 2025

Rio de Janeiro

Brazil

Mountains, beaches and samba: Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf, Copacabana and Carnival.

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Photo: Wilfredor, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Rio de Janeiro is No. 70 in Euromonitor International's Top 100 City Destinations Index 2025. Brazil's second-largest city lies between granite mountains, forest and the Atlantic, and its landscapes are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, listed in 2012.

It is known for its beaches, music and the Carnival, whose samba-school parades fill the Sambadrome each February or March.

Christ the Redeemer above the clouds, Rio de Janeiro
Christ the Redeemer above the clouds, Rio de Janeiro. Photo: Donatas Dabravolskas, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Best time to go

April to June and August to October bring warm, drier weather and fewer crowds.

December to March is hot, humid and busy, with summer storms; book early for New Year and Carnival.

Top sights

  • 1

    Christ the Redeemer

    The statue on Corcovado mountain, completed in 1931; take the cog train through the forest to the top.

  • 2

    Sugarloaf Mountain

    Two cable cars climb to the summit for views over Guanabara Bay, best at sunset.

  • 3

    Copacabana and Ipanema

    Famous beaches with promenades, kiosks and beach volleyball.

  • 4

    Selarón Steps

    A staircase covered in colourful tiles between Lapa and Santa Teresa.

  • 5

    Santa Teresa

    A hilly bohemian neighbourhood of old mansions, studios and bars, served by a historic tram.

  • 6

    Museum of Tomorrow

    A science museum by Santiago Calatrava on the revitalised port waterfront.

  • 7

    Tijuca Forest

    A huge forest within the city, with trails, waterfalls and viewpoints.

  • 8

    Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil In our Top 100 Museums

    Popular exhibitions in a grand historic building in the city centre.

Getting there

Rio de Janeiro/Galeão International Airport (GIG) is about 20 km north of the centre. Santos Dumont Airport (SDU), close to the centre, handles mainly domestic flights.

Long-distance buses arrive at the Novo Rio bus station.

Getting around

The metro links the centre with Copacabana, Ipanema and Barra da Tijuca, and the VLT light rail serves downtown.

Ride-hailing apps are widely used and inexpensive, and are the best option at night.

Practical tips

Currency
Brazilian real (BRL). Cards are accepted almost everywhere; locals often pay with Pix, the instant-payment system.
Language
Portuguese. English is limited outside hotels and upmarket restaurants.
Safety
Keep phones and valuables out of sight on the street and on the beach, and use ride-hailing apps at night. The emergency numbers are 190 (police) and 192 (ambulance).
Visa & entry
Citizens of the US, Canada and Australia need an e-visa, applied for online through Brazil's official e-visa portal (brazil.vfsevisa.com). UK and EU citizens can visit visa-free for up to 90 days. Check the current rules for your passport before you travel.
Power
127 V, 60 Hz in Rio (some buildings have 220 V); plug types C and N.

Official information: Riotur (Rio de Janeiro's official tourism company). Check opening hours, prices and entry rules there before you go.

Map

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