Rio de Janeiro
Granite peaks above the sea, forest in the middle of the city and sunset at Arpoador.
A city between rocks
Hardly any big city has a setting as spectacular as Rio de Janeiro: granite domes rise straight out of the sea and out of the middle of residential districts, with beaches and Guanabara Bay in between. The city’s landscape has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2012.
The classics
- Cristo Redentor on Corcovado: the statue of Christ above the city, reached by a rack railway through the forest or on foot.
- Pão de Açúcar: two cable cars take you up Sugarloaf Mountain – best at sunset, when the lights come on below.
- Copacabana and Ipanema: the famous beaches, with the wave-patterned mosaic promenade along Copacabana.
Forest in the city
Tijuca National Park is one of the largest urban forests in the world. Trails lead to viewpoints and waterfalls. Popular hikes include Pedra Bonita and Morro Dois Irmãos, with views over Ipanema and Leblon.
Neighbourhoods to wander
- Santa Teresa: a hillside neighbourhood with old buildings, studios and a historic tram.
- Escadaria Selarón: the staircase between Lapa and Santa Teresa covered in colourful tiles from all over the world.
- Arpoador: the rock between Copacabana and Ipanema – where people applaud the sunset.