Sightseeing in Rio

From the iconic Christ the Redeemer to the lively streets of Lapa, Rio is a hub of culture, history and adventure. There’s no shortage of things to do and see in this amazing city, so make sure you get a true taste of this city of samba, sun and passion.

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Aerial view of Maracanã stadium. The partially-covered stadium is circular, with a circular gap in the roof directly above the pitch. Behind the stadium sprawls the city of Rio, with many high-rise buildings visible. Rocky, forested mountains are visible in the background.
A statue of a male figure with arms outstretched – Rio's Christ the Redeemer statue – stands on top of a rocky outcrop, facing away from the camera. In the background are the rocky Sugarloaf Mountain and a bay lined by skyscrapers.

Christ the Redeemer

One of the world’s most iconic statues

Christ the Redeemer – Cristo Redentor to cariocas (Rio locals) – is easily the most iconic landmark in Rio de Janeiro, and a must-see attraction for any visitor to the city. It’s located at the top of Corcovado Mountain, meaning visitors get to enjoy a stunning panoramic view of Rio.

Standing at 30 meters tall, this statue is an impressive feat of engineering. Designed by Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa and French sculptor Paul Landowski, and completed in 1931, the Art Deco statue has a wingspan of 28 meters and rests on a pedestal eight meters tall.

There are a few ways to reach the statue. The easiest are hopping on a train from Cosme Velho station – which takes around 20 minutes – or grabbing a taxi from the city center.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is often seen as symbolic of Rio, and perhaps even of all of Brazil. Can you truly say you’ve been to Rio if you haven’t been here?

Discover Christ the Redeemer
A glass-sided cable car is suspended from cables above dense leafy forest. The cable car appears to be moving towards the summit of Rio’s Sugarloaf Mountain, a tall but narrow mountain jutting out of the forest. The sea is visible in the background.

Sugarloaf Mountain

A visit to remember

Pão de Açúcar – or Sugarloaf Mountain – is a 396-meter peak that overlooks the beautiful Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro. If you have a head for heights, add this to your Rio sightseeing plan… It’ll give you stunning views of the city that take in Copacabana beach, the Rio-Niterói (one of the longest bridges in the world), and Christ the Redeemer.

The journey to the top is as impressive as the view. Visitors take two cable cars to reach the summit, with the second car taking them as far as the peak. Each cable car journey only takes three minutes.

Once at the top, visitors can access two viewing platforms – one facing towards Guanabara Bay and the other offering a view of Copacabana beach. And there’s more to do than just gaze at the views, with several restaurants and shops on the summit. 

Feeling active? Skip the cable cars and follow one of the hiking trails that lead to the summit instead. The trail from Praia Vermelha is the most popular, and takes about an hour to complete.

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Aerial view of Maracanã stadium. The partially-covered stadium is circular, with a circular gap in the roof directly above the pitch. Behind the stadium sprawls the city of Rio, with many high-rise buildings visible. Rocky, forested mountains are visible in the background.

Maracanã stadium

The world’s biggest football stadium

In a country where football is a way of life, the Maracanã is a true home for Brazilians. With a seating capacity of nearly 80,000, this monument to the beautiful game has often seen thousands of passionate fans gathering to support Rio de Janeiro’s top teams.

Originally built for the 1950 FIFA World Cup, the stadium later saw action on football’s biggest stage when Brazil hosted the World Cup again in 2014. And it’s not just for football either – the stadium has hosted many other major events, including the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2016 Summer Olympics. 

You can take a a guided tour of the stadium, exploring its rich history and learning about the events that have taken place there. The tour includes a visit to the locker rooms, the press conference room and the field itself, where visitors can soak in the atmosphere of the stadium and imagine what it would be like to play in front of a packed crowd. 

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It's sunset. Several people gather on a rock next to an ocean bay. Mountains are visible on the other side of the bay.
People gather at Arpoador Rock on Ipanema beach to watch the sunset. Image: Shutterstock