There is so much to see and do in Rio de Janeiro! Five days in South America’s most iconic city is just enough time to hit all the major tourist sites, including some quality beach time.

This ideal, 5-day itinerary will have you exploring Rio’s Centro neighborhood, climbing the picturesque steps of Escadaria Selarón, watching the sunset from Sugarloaf Mountain and Ipanema Beach, enjoying caipirinhas on the beach in Zona Sul, and of course, visiting the city’s most famous landmark – Christ the Redeemer. 

Arriving into Rio de Janeiro

Travelers will either fly into RIOgaleão – Tom Jobim International Airport (GIG) or the much closer regional airport, Santos Dumont (SDU).

If flying into SDU, grab a seat on the right side of the plane for amazing views just before landing!

Next, call an Uber to your hotel/Airbnb, drop your bags and change into some beachwear.

Zona Sul Beaches

Don’t waste any time getting to Rio’s best attraction – the beaches of Zona Sul.

Zona Sul’s most popular beaches are  Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon.  Walk along Oscar Niemeyer’s famous black-and-white sidewalk while you take in the amazing views and vibes of Rio’s beaches.

Take a seat on the beach or at one of the many sidewalk kiosks and sip on a light Brazilian beer like Antarctica or Brahma.

Alternatively, opt for something a little sweeter (and much stronger) like a Caipirinha (Brazil’s national cachaça drink) or just a refreshing coconut water straight off the tree.

Alalaô Kiosk has great views of the beach next to the statue of Tom Jobbin, one of the founders of Bossa Nova music in Brazil.

Sunset at Pedra do Arpoador

Continue walking towards the large rocky peninsula at the end of Ipanema beach known as Pedra do Arpoador or Rock of the Harpooner.

Arrive a little before sunset to secure a good seat to watch the sun drop behind Morro Dois Irmãos or Two Brothers Hill in the distance next to the hillside community of Vidigal.

Here there are food vendors, live music, and people selling beer, cocktails, snacks, and candy. Arpoador is also a popular surfing spot in Zona Sul. The bright beach lights shine on the waves to make night surfing and pre-sunrise surfing a possibility.

First Night’s Dinner in Rio

As the final colors from the sunset turn to darkness, make your way back to your hotel or Airbnb to change for dinner and your first night out in Rio.

The restaurant and bar scene in Rio’s Zona Sul is endless. Try one of the following trendy spots to get a feel for the nightlife scene:

Pabu Izakaya in Leblon
Nosso in Ipanema
Ferro e Farinha in Ipanema and Leblon
Pope in Ipanema
Zazá Bistrô Tropical in Ipanema
Boteco Belmonte in Leblon and Ipanema
Boteco Boa Praça in Ipanema

Early Bird Gets the Worm

Take advantage of Zona Sul’s sleepy mornings and walk over to the beach to take in the morning peace. Watch out for runners, bikers, walkers, and beach workers who have also started their day as you cross the pedestrian lanes to the sand.

You will see some people still lingering at the Kiosks wrapping up their morning beers and last night’s festivities.

If you like to be active in the morning, join the numerous locals walking, running, and biking along the beach from Arpoador to the end of Leblon. There are also several outdoor gyms and gym classes you can join.

Breakfast

If you’re in need of some breakfast, stop at any of the corner padarias or bakeries like Confeitaria e Lanchonete Ipanema for a ham, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich on a classic Pão Francês bun (never met a fluffier bun) or a croissant, fresh orange juice (suco da laranja) and a strong coffee (cafezinho).

Refreshed and fueled, you are ready to start your first full day as a tourist in Rio de Janeiro!

More ideas for a quick breakfast:
Baked – Padaria & Forneria
Aussie Coffee

Free Walking Tour

Monday through Saturday join a free walking tour that meets in Rio’s “Centro” neighborhood in the Zona Norte area.

The tours typically start between 9 am and 10 am and are 2-3 hours long. Of course, you can always break off early if you don’t have enough time for the full tour.

During the tour you will have the chance to visit and learn about the following areas:

Theatro Municipal
Cinelandia Square
Selaron Steps at the bottom of the Santa Teresa Neighborhood
The bohemian neighborhood of Lapa
Metropolitan Cathedral
Carioca Square
Confeitaria Colombo
Praça XV / Paço Imperial

It’s not part of the walking tour, but I recommend stopping by the Royal Portuguese Reading Room in Centro. It is free to visit and is one of the most beautiful libraries in the world!

Safety in Centro

If you are interested in exploring the downtown or the Centro area, a guided tour is recommended. Safety in this area should be a concern, especially during the weekends and nights when many areas are deserted.

The exceptions to this are Lapa and Santa Teresa. These areas can still be unsafe but will be much busier with locals and tourists.

If you are planning to explore Centro alone, know where you are going ahead of time and have a plan. Your tour guide will know how to handle any uncomfortable situations.

I feel more comfortable taking pictures and using my phone in group tours. Lastly, you will learn SO much more from your guide than just wandering solo.

Lunch After the Walking Tour

Following the tour, you will most definitely be starving. If the line isn’t crazy long, check out Rio’s most famous bakery – Confeitaria Colombo. There are a couple around Zona Sul but the original, founded in 1894, is in Centro.

If Confeitaria Colombo is too crowded or you are looking for something a little heartier, the following lunch spots work well if also visiting Pão de Açúcar or Sugarloaf Mountain following the walking tour:

Bar e Restaurante Urca
Terra Brasilis

Urca is about a 15-minute Uber from Centro. Both restaurants are within walking distance of Sugarloaf Mountain’s cable cars, which is the next activity on Day 2’s itinerary!

Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf Mountain) 

A touristy trip to Rio is not complete without riding the cable cars or bondinhos to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain, and if time permits, catching the sunset from the highest stop over Rio’s impressive geography.

Cable cars have been traveling up and down this mountain since 1912. However, the cars you will ride in today are much newer!

Tickets 

It is recommended to purchase your tickets for the cable cars online and in advance. There are a few different ticket options but the classic is “Ticket to Sugarloaf Mountain, Full Ride.”

The Sugarloaf website has an English-language option and provides helpful information regarding discounts, transportation, and ticket rules.

Hike to the Top of Sugarloaf

If you are feeling adventurous, there is the option to hike to the top of Morro da Urca and from here buy a cable car ticket to continue the rest of the way to the top.

The trail begins near Praia Vermelha or Red Beach and only takes 40 minutes to reach the top.

While you are in the Urca neighborhood, try to visit Praia Vermelha, one of the prettiest in Rio!

Copacabana Beach

If it is a clear day, I highly recommend timing your visit to Sugarloaf so that you can enjoy the sunset from one of the viewing platforms. If the weather isn’t cooperating or you want to squeeze in one more pre-dinner activity, then make your way to the famous Copacabana Beach.

Once in Copacabana, enjoy a happy hour sunset beverage on the boardwalk, at the luxurious Copacabana Palace Hotel, or at Café 18 do Forte near the Copacabana Fort.

If you plan to visit the Fort and Café 18, bring cash for the entry fee. 

Dinner & Entertainment on Night 2 in Rio

This evening, depending on how much energy you still have, you can choose to do one or more of the following:

• Dine and bar crawl through Ipanema and/or Leblon
• Learn how to make a classic Brazilian dish like Moqueca through an Airbnb experience
• Head downtown to the Lapa Arches to enjoy street food and drinks, live music, and one of Rio’s largest outdoor party
• Check out a musical event at The Maze in the Tavares Bastos community. The Maze is an art and cultural center that is also open during the day for visits.
• If it is a Monday night, Pedra do Sal is the most popular Samba party in Rio. They also hold events on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. For more Samba events in Rio de Janeiro, the Instagram, “Onde Tem Samba RJ” has a weekly list of events (only in Portuguese).

Day 3 in Rio is all about options. Beginning with breakfast!

The morning of the third day is centered around visiting the Parque Lage (Lage Park) and Jardim Botânico (Botanical Gardens) in the Jardim Botânico/Lagoa neighborhoods of Zona Sul.

Parque Lage and brunch at the PLage Cafe

Parque Lage is a beautiful park that houses the PLage Cafe and the School for Visual Arts. A former sugar mill and private mansion, here you will also find lush gardens and trails. The trail to Corcovado Mountain, where Cristo sits, starts from this park.

Due to its natural and historic beauty, the park and cafe are very photogenic and attract large crowds. 

If planning to eat at PLage Cafe on a weekend, it is recommended to arrive 30 minutes to an hour before opening at 9 am.

Alternatively, if you just want a picture of the iconic pool with Cristo in the background you can go to the gift shop, spend R$10 and you will be able to snag a picture after your purchase.

But depending on your level of patience and/or commitment to getting the perfect brunch photo, PLage Cafe might not be for you or your group.

Jardim Botânico

Closer to the Botanical Gardens (ten minutes walking from Parque Lage), is a less busy and maybe more delicious French/Brazilian cafe called La Bicyclette.

From La Bicyclette, you can walk to the Jardim Botânico. Tickets to the gardens should be purchased online as the ticket office operates under sporadic days/hours. 

Following breakfast and a visit to either Parque Lage and/or Jardim Botânico make your way to Ipanema beach for a classic Brazilian beach day!

Afternoon at the Beach

Ask a local which beach they frequent in Rio’s Zona Sul and they’ll reply simply with the number of the lifeguard stand.

This will sound something like Posto 10 or Posto 8 etc. They might even be more specific and give you the number of the barraca or drink tent where they like to set up.

So if the weather is good, make your way to the beach, rent a couple of chairs and an umbrella from the nearest barraca, and do as the locals do in Rio de Janeiro.

People watching at Rio’s beaches is an actual sport. You can also try body surfing, surfing, or the Brazilian beach pastime of footvolley or futevôlei.

Lunch on the Beach

For lunch, try some of the beach staples sold by vendors making the rounds on the sand:

• Mate de galão com limão: cold herbal tea with lemon
• Biscoitos Globo: a sweet or salty cracker/biscuit
• Açaí: Frozen fruity treat made from the açai berry grown in the north of Brazil
• Queijo Coalho: charcoal grilled cheese on a stick
• Camarão/Peixe Frito: fried shrimp or fish
• A Caipirinha or local beer like Brahma, Antarctica, or Skol

There will be a lot of vendors on the beach selling sunglasses, food, art, hats, etc. A simple “no thank you” or não obrigado(a) is all you need to fend them off if you are not interested.

The beaches in Zona Sul are busy 7 days a week, it is not recommended to leave anything unattended and to keep your belongings near your chair/table when chilling.

Feira Hippie de Ipanema or Hippie Fair

Wrap up the beach afternoon with another sunset at Arpoador or along the boardwalk. If it’s a Sunday, walk over to the Feira Hippie de Ipanema or Hippie Fair to shop for artwork, clothing, and other artesian goods from Rio.

The fair takes place every Sunday from 8 am to 6 pm at Praça General Osório in Ipanema.

Dinner on Night 3 in Rio

Brazil is famous for its BBQ and steakhouses or churrascarias. There are a couple of highly rated spots in Rio to try. 

Churrascaria Palace in Copacabana
Restaurante Marius Degustare in Copacabana
Fogo de Chão in Botafogo
Carretão Ipanema Classic Grill in Ipanema

Day 4 starts early!

After a quick breakfast at your corner padaria or bakery, make your way to the Cosme Velho neighborhood where the train to the Christ the Redeemer begins.

 Tips for Visiting Christ the Redeemer

1. Go early and try to visit on a weekday. Holidays and weekends, especially during the summer months, will be the busiest. The first train leaves around 7:20 am. Buy your tickets online and in advance.
2. While it’s nice to have clear weather at the top, we visited on a rainy Monday morning and had the viewing platform practically to ourselves! We still had views of the coastline and surrounding mountains. So there are perks to visiting in the rain!
3. There are infographics, on the walls where the train boards, that provide a helpful overview of the history of Christ the Redeemer statue. There are also gift shops and cafes once you get off the train at the top.
4. I think the views from Sugarloaf Mountain are the best but visiting Cristo is a must in Rio! You can only feel the immensity of the monument once you are standing directly under it.

After you visit Christ the Redeemer, roam around the historic Cosme Velho neighborhood.

Visit the Largo do Boticário area where large decorated homes line the cobble-stoned streets. From one hilltop neighborhood to the next, the artsy enclave of Santa Teresa is the next item on this day’s schedule.

Santa Teresa Neighborhood

Uber to the Estação de Bondes de Santa Teresa or Santa Teresa Station where you will ride the historic Santa Teresa tram to the top of the eclectic neighborhood.

The tram website states to buy tickets at the Carioca Metro Station, however during our visit we were directed to buy the tickets at the Santa Teresa Station.

The tram operates every 20 minutes, 7 days a week, and can transport up to 32 people per car. Just a warning, full tram cars are pretty crowded. If you can, try to get a seat at the end or in the front for the best photos.

Locals who live around Santa Teresa use this tram too, so people will be dropped off and picked up along the route.

Once you reach the halfway point or top of the hill, the tram operator will stamp everyone’s ticket and flip the benches so that passengers can face the front during the return ride.

You can choose to get off at any stop and walk. It was raining the day of our visit so we rode from the station (at the bottom of the hill) to the top, and then back down to the Largo dos Guimarães stop.

Lunch in Santa Teresa

From the Largo dos Guimarães stop make your way over to Bar do Mineiro for a classic Brazilian lunch. In case it is a Monday and Bar do Mineiro is closed (which happened to us!) there are several other fantastic lunch spots in Santa Teresa:

• Casa Nossa Lounge
• Térèze
• Bonde Boca
• Adega do Pimenta
• Aprazível

Maracanã Soccer Stadium

Following lunch in Santa Teresa, it is time to visit one of the holiest sites in all of Brazil – the Maracanã Soccer Stadium.

From lunch, it’s about a 20-minute Uber ride to the stadium. You can purchase tickets to tour at the museum entrance located near Gate A.

The tour is mostly self-guided with a quick introduction in the beginning before you enter the museum and proceed through a few exhibits before reaching the soccer pitch. Standing on the field and sitting in the player seats was a very cool experience!

If you are not able to (or don’t feel uncomfortable) go to a soccer match while in town, the tour is a great way to still visit one of the most historic soccer stadiums in the world.

The tour lasts about 45 minutes to an hour and is offered in Portuguese, Spanish, and English.

Dinner Night 4 in Rio

For dinner, venture to the Botafogo neighborhood where some of the city’s top restaurants reside. 

My number 1 recommendation in Botafogo is SULT Restaurante. It’s a mix of Brazilian and Italian cuisine and is absolutely delicious. 

More restaurants in Botafogo. Reservations are recommended at most. 

• Liga dos Botecos
• Naturalie Bistrô
• Oteque
• Lasai
• Galeto Sat’s Botafogo
• Fogo de Chão
• Joaquina Bar & Restaurant
• Miam Miam

Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas

The final day on this touristy itinerary begins with a morning stroll or run around the Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas. Even if you just walk up to the lagoa or lake, it’s a very local scene to take in along with some nice views of Cristo on Corcovado.

Gringo Cafe

By this point in your travels, you might be craving an old-fashioned American breakfast – the kind with drip coffee, pancakes, and bacon. Head over to the Gringo Cafe in Ipanema, only a 7-minute walk from the lake.

Other things to do in Rio de Janeiro

Depending on what your travel day looks like you may have time to squeeze in a few more sites before departing. If you have more time in Rio, below is a list of more things to do.

• Hike the Morro Dois Irmãos and have lunch at Alto Vidigal Brasil
• Uber to the Dona Marta lookout for amazing views of Rio
• Go hang gliding with Beto Rotorfly
• If it is a rainy day, visit the Museum of Tomorrow
• If you really love hiking, the 14 Peaks trail in  Tijuca National Park is 13 miles 
• Hike one of the most popular trails in Rio – Pedra da Gávea – is 5 hours out and back 
• Have a resort day in Barra da Tijuca
• Relax at a more nature-forward beach like Prainha Beach or Abricó Beach
• Hike 30 minutes to Pedra Bonita, a shorter hike than Pedra da Gávea.

Where to stay in Rio de Janeiro

Below are the best neighborhoods to base yourself in when visiting Rio de Janeiro. Each has many hotels, hostels, pousadas, and Airbnbs to choose from. Some are included below each specific neighborhood. The neighborhoods are listed in order of furthest from the airport/centro.

Barra da Tijuca

A sprawling suburb of Zona Sul with modern condos and beautiful beaches. Inland from the beach are large malls and entertainment centers. Here you will find large beach resort-style hotels. If staying in this neighborhood, renting a car is ideal.

Windsor Oceanico Hotel
Grand Hyatt Rio De Janeiro
Laghetto Stilo Barra Rio

Leblon

One of the most expensive neighborhoods in Rio. Located between the end of Zona Sul and Ipanema. There are many restaurants, bars, and beach kiosks to choose from in Leblon. For cheaper lodging in this neighborhood, an Airbnb or hostel is the best option.

Top Apart Leblon – Residencial
Hostel Leblon
Sheraton Grand Rio Hotel & Resort

Ipanema

Almost as nice as Leblon but with a little more character and less exclusivity, Ipanema is a popular, affordable, and safe neighborhood. There are dozens of good Airbnb options in Ipanema for under $75 per night.

Hotel Arpoador
Hotel Fasano Rio de Janeiro
Ipanema Inn Hotel
El Misti Hostel Ipanema

Copacabana

Here you’ll find a mix of locals and tourists hanging out in one of Rio’s most iconic neighborhoods. Conveniently located between Centro and Ipanema, you have access to countless affordable and high-end beachfront lodging here.

Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel, Rio de Janeiro
Grand Mercure Rio de Janeiro Copacabana
Orla Copacabana Hotel
Windsor Palace Copacabana Hotel

Botafogo

Botafogo beach isn’t for swimming but there are lots of other activities to choose from on the beach. Just inland are numerous top-rated restaurants and bars tucked away in the neighborhood.

Farfalla Guest House
Novotel RJ Praia de Botafogo
Hospedaria Rio
Pousada Estrelas da Babilônia

Santa Teresa

If the beach isn’t for you, the charming and historic hilltop neighborhood of Santa Teresa is a lovely neighborhood to choose as your home base.

Santa Teresa Hotel RJ – MGallery
CasaJOMO
Villa Laurinda
Hotel Castelinho 38
Santa Vista Rio

Souvenirs to buy in Rio de Janeiro

Cachaça – Brazil’s national liquor but don’t bring home a bottle of 51
Globo canvas bag – nothing says I’ve been to Rio like a Globo canvas bag
Colorful sarong – Tons of vendors selling these on the beach, they’re the preferred sunbathing towel for locals
Beach fashion – Brazilian bikini or sunga (speedo)
Clothes – A colorful print dress or skirt from FARMRio
Havaianas – Brazil’s preferred beach (or just every day) shoe. They come in tons of fun colors and are very affordable

Take a deeper diver before or after your visit to Rio

Books to Read:

Dancing with the Devil in the City of God: Rio de Janeiro on the Brink by Juliana Barbassa

For more book recommendations about Brazil, visit my Books for Travel page. 

What to Watch:

• City of God on Netflix
• Anthony Bourdain, No Reservations: Rio de Janeiro episode on Amazon
• Rio the animated film on Disney+
• Girls from Ipanema (Coisa Mais Linda) on Netflix
• Edge of Democracy on Netflix

More places in Brazil to love