Rio de Janeiro travel guide
Money, safety, parties, beaches, getting around, living in Rio and Portuguese. Practical guides written by locals, updated with real prices and dates.
Christ, Sugarloaf, beaches, hikes, football and food.
Things to doBuying a Maracanã ticket with a foreign card is nearly impossible. Here's why, how to solve it and how to experience a match like a local.
Things to doEverything you need to visit Rio's two icons in 2026: how to get up Corcovado, what the Sugarloaf cable car costs, when to go to beat lines and clouds, and what you'll see from the top.
Things to doMap and comparison of Rio's beaches, Sept 2026 prices for chairs, umbrellas and caipirinhas, the newer beach rules, water quality and phrases to order like a local.
Things to doRio has one of the world's largest urban rainforests and viewpoints you can't see from below. Pick a trail that matches your fitness, learn when to go and how to hike it safely.
Things to doFavelas are neighborhoods with their own history, art and businesses. Here's how to visit with a resident guide, keep your money in the community and never treat people as a spectacle.
Things to doHow many days you need in Rio and how to split them: Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf, beaches, favelas, hikes, samba and day trips to Búzios or Angra, ordered to minimize travel time.
Things to doA guide to Rio food: must-try dishes, drinks, approximate prices, botecos, how to order in Portuguese and what the 10% service charge on your bill means.
Things to doScenic helicopter flights, hang gliding and paragliding from Pedra Bonita, sunrise stand-up paddle and surfing at Arpoador: prices, duration, adrenaline level and how to choose safely.
Things to doThings to do in Rio with kids: AquaRio, BioParque, Parque Lage, the Botanical Garden, calm beaches, Sugarloaf and the Corcovado train, with ideas by age and tips on heat, sunscreen and strollers.
