Your 5-Day Itinerary to Rio de Janeiro 🇧🇷

I still can’t believe I’ve been to Brazil. When I was growing up, I had always heard about the 7 wonders of the world and how the Taj Mahal was one of them and it always made me curious to find out what the other 6 wonders of the world were. Once I learned more about them and saw so many movies with these wonders of the world in them, I made a goal to visit all of them once in my lifetime. Fast forward to 10 or so years later, I fell in love with travel and photography immensely which made me want to visit Brazil.

I was also celebrating my 25th birthday in Brazil and hence why it was a very special trip I took with my family. The main thing I wanted to see? Obviously, Christ the Redeemer statue. Even if I would’ve gone to Rio and come back by just visiting that one statue, I would’ve been okay with it but obviously, if you’re going to go that far, you’re not going to visit just one thing and come back.

Follow along for a full itinerary of how to have a good time in Rio de Janeiro

Before you go

• ⏰ Best time to go: I honestly think I did my fair share of research before booking Brazil for the month of September and everyone seemed to recommend that the weather is great and it’s a great time to go to Brazil. My family and I found that quite interesting because we thought that in terms of weather, it wasn’t the best time to visit Brazil. Maybe it was just the week we were there and had bad luck but out of the 5 days we were in Rio, 4 days had either rain or gloomy dark.
• 📅 We went from September 12 – 16. (4 nights, 5 days, Monday – Friday). After being there in the fall, I would recommend you go in between the months of December and April. This way you can also take part in the Carnival festival.
• 🛂 For US citizens, you do not need special visas or anything to visit Brazil.
• 💰The currency is Brazillian Reals
• 🇧🇷 Language is Portuguese

---

Today I will go through:

---

1. Airport: SDU, Santos Dumont Airport
2. Getting to the City Center
   • Metro
   • Uber
3. Where to stay: Copacabana
4. Day 1
   • Arrive at your hotel in Copacabana
   • Relax at Copacabana Beach
   • Checkout Ipanema Beach
   • Dinner at Mee
5. Day 2: Busy day exploring Rio today
   • Christ the Redeemer
   • Maracana Stadium
   • Metropolitan Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro
   • Escadaria Selarón
   • Sugarloaf Mountain
   • Dinner at Teva
   • Attend a fútbol game
6. Day 3: Exploring the indoors
   • Royal Portuguese Reading Room
   • Museum of Tomorrow
   • Palacio de Catete
   • Museum of Art
7. Day 4:
   • Breakfast at The Bakers Rio
   • Relax at the beach
   • Samba Classes
   • Party it out in Rio de Janeiro
8. Day 5:
   • Spa day at Belmond Copacabana Palace Hotel

---

1. ✈️ Airport: SDU, Santos Dumont Airport

There are multiple different airports you can fly into:

1. SDU, Santos Dumont Airport (30 mins to Copacabana)
2. GIG, Galeão International Airport, (12 mins to Copacabana)

Flying into SDU, Santos Dumont Airport is probably your best bet. It’s not considered the most popular/main airport in Rio de Janeiro but that’s the closest one to either Copacabana or Ipanema and which is where the majority of all the good hotels are. If you are looking to fly into the main airport, then it would be GIG, Galeão International Airport.

2. Getting to the city center

Where to stay: Copacabana

I stayed at Windsor California Hotel in Copacabana.

This hotel was in a great area and the Copacabana beach was right across the street. The hotel had a really nice pool on the top floor where you can see the whole Rio de Janeiro skyline.

Photo Courtesy of booking.com

If you don’t want to stay in Copacabana, look for other great hotels down below:

Booking.com

Day 1

1. Arrive at Windsor California Hotel

2. Copacabana Beach

Soak up the warmth that Rio has to offer. This is a very famous beach in Rio and a lot of tourists flock to the area for some beach fun during the day. There are plenty of beachside food vendors and an abundance of beach bars that have spontaneous parties and live shows throughout the day.

The beach is great because you will be able to see the famous Rio skyline with Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain.

---

3. Ipanema Becah

I personally did not see much of a difference between Ipanema & Copacabana but they were both very fun. Ipanema is also not very far from Copacabana but just to be on the safe side, Uber to Ipanema. My cousin and I went on an early morning jog on Ipanema beach and it was very refreshing. Another thing about both of these beaches is that they have the very famous and iconic Rio de Janeiro backdrop.

4. Dinner at Mee

Located in the Copacabana Palace Hotel, Mee was a unique Asian-inspired experience. It’s a Michelin-star restaurant in Rio that features flavors from Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, and a lot of other Southeast Asian countries. Make sure you reserve a table in advance.

Here is their Instagram handles: @belmondcopacabanapalace

Day 2

1. Christ the Redeemer

There are two ways to get up to the Christ the Redeemer base. The Corcovado Cog train or the official vans of the Paineiras-Corcovado Consortium.

1️⃣ Corcovado Cog Train: You will have to head to the station which is located on Cosme Velho Street. Once you Take the train, it’ll take you directly up to the base of Christ the Redeemer.

🔑 All the pieces used to build the statue were transported uphill using this same railroad so if you do get a chance, I would highly recommend this. In fact, next time I’m in Rio, I also want to experience this.

2️⃣ Official vans are your second option (an option we went with): These vans run from Paineiras Visitor Center, which is located at Estrada das Paineiras. These official vans are the only ones allowed to go to the very top from the center.

How to get to either of these places? To either catch the train or the van? Uber.

🎟️ R$61 ($11.83) at low season. R$74 ($14.36) at high season (high season includes weekends and holidays all year round).

This price includes the train/van and entry to the statue.

2. Maracaña Stadium

If you don’t plan on watching a fútbol game here, it’s still worth stopping by to check out the stadium from outside. You can also do a stadium tour for about $10-15.

3. Metropolitan Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro

The metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian or also known as the Metropolitan Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro
The design of this Cathedral is very modern and unlike any of the other cathedrals you must’ve seen in the past. Upon going in there, I actually learned that the design was inspired by the Mayans and how they build pyramids.

At times, it can host up to 20,000 people but my favorite part was inside the cathedral. Swipe ➡️ to see the inside and how the four rectilinear stained glass windows soar high up from the floor to ceiling.

This has to be one of the coolest cathedrals designs I’ve seen in a while. A design that does not look like a traditional cathedral.
💰 FREE

4. Escadaria Selarón

Escadaria Selarón. It’s the famous colorful steps that you possibly see in all Rio de Janeiro pictures.

It was done by an artist Jorge Selarón who was a painter but found a new obsession as he began renovating broken steps that ran along the front of his house. At first, neighbors mocked him for his choice of colors as he covered the steps in fragments of blue, green, and yellow tiles – the colors of the Brazilian flag. It started out as a side-project to his main passion, painting, but soon became an obsession.

A lot of tiles are from all over the world. It was an obsession that he claimed would only come to an end when he dies. His work really got famous when different media channels started picking it up. Different magazines, travel shows, and music videos were even included in Rio’s 2016 Olympic bid video. As Americans, I think the closest thing we can resonate with is that these stairs were part of Snoop Dogg’s music video “Beautiful” which was shot in Rio de Janeiro.

💰 FREE

5. Sugarloaf Mountain

Sugarloaf Mountain. It’s an iconic symbol of Rio standing at nearly 1300 ft. right across Christ the Redeemer. The reason it became very famous so fast was because of the cable cars that were connecting this mountain. It was the first time cable cars were used in Brazil and the third time in the world. Yes, it’s THAT OLD! There is honestly no other way to get up to the top beside the cable cars or rock climbing(yes, we saw people doing this). Although it looked very exhilarating and adventurous, I have 0 experience and so we went the typical tourist route. Cable cars.

A regular taxi or an Uber is the best way to get to the cable car station. Especially if you are worried about safety in Rio de Janeiro, this is your best option. For those looking to take public transportation, the cable car ticket office is easily reachable via Bus.

🚠 When taking the cable car, you will have to go through 2 legs. The first leg of your cable car ride will take you to Morro da Urca and the second leg of your cable car ride will take you up to Sugarloaf Mountain. This picture of Sugarloaf Mountain was taken from Morro da Urca. If you are not in a rush, take your time to explore this mountain island before taking the second cable car to Sugarloaf Mountain.

💰The roundtrip ticket for the cable car will cost you $28 USD / 150 BRL. REMEMBER: SAVE your ticket because they check it when you will be coming back down.

⏱ The cable cars run from 8 AM to 7:50P every day.

✈️ For all the aviators/Avgeeks out there, Morro da Urca is a great viewing spot for all the plans landing at Rio de Janeiro Airport RJ Santos Dumont.

6. Attend a fútbol game

I had never been to a fútbol game and since Brazil has a national team, I figured it would be an amazing idea. And it was. The team playing wasn’t the national team of Brazil but it was still an amazing experience. This is an experience I would want to spend my time and money on again next time I’m in Brazil or in any other prominent fútbol playing country. That night, Flamengo was the team playing, which is a major fútbol club in Rio de Janeiro, and as a matter of fact, they won.

⚽️ If you think fans in America are upbeat? Wait until you’re at a fútbol game in South America, the energy is unmatched anywhere in the world.😅

🔑 I HIGHLY RECOMMEND catching a fútbol game in Brazil. If it’s not on your itinerary, make time for it and include it.

🎟️ we bought tickets from our hotel just to be safe but we later found out that we could’ve easily bought cheaper tickets directly through their website or via one of the 3rd party websites. When you buy tickets, get the cheapest option and sit amongst the fans and the locals because that’s where the party is!

💰 R$40/USD$7.74

Few things to remember:
1️⃣ Get your tickets from their website or even some 3rd party sites. We were aware of it and bought it from our hotel and there was definitely a high up-charge on it
2️⃣ Get to the stadium on time
3️⃣ Watch out for your belongings because it is very crowded and the whole stadium will pretty much get full
4️⃣ Beware you will have to walk a bit to the stadium. Since it gets very crowded, Ubers don’t go all the way to the stadium due to the traffic
5️⃣ ^Same goes for when leaving the stadium after the game. I remember we walked for almost 20 minutes to find a taxi/Uber

A side note: You can alternatively do this whole day excursion with a tour company with pick up and drop off available. My go-to company is GetYourGuide and here are some packages you can book for Rio de Janeiro:

Day 3

1. Royal Portuguese Reading Room

A colorful library that holds the biggest number of Portuguese literature outside of Portugal
💰FREE
⏱M-F 10A – 5P

2. Museum of Tomorrow

The architecture of this museum is very gorgeous and is worth it even if its to just check out the building.
💰R$ 30/ USD$ 5.69
⏱Tu – Sun: 10A – 6P

3. Palacio de Catete

I really wanted to go see this palace but as I was about to walk in, they closed the gates. Turns out they close at 5PM and I got there right on the dot.
💰FREE
⏱M-F 10A – 5P

4. Museum of Art

Maybe it’s a Brazilian thing but their museums have amazing architecture. Worth checking it out on a day you want to say in.
💰R$ 20 / USD$ 3.79
⏱Thurs – Sun: 11A – 5P, Closed on M, TU & Wed.

5. Dinner at Teva

Teva was hands down my favorite restaurant in Rio. It had creative vegan dishes with sustainable & organic ingredients in a chic, industrial-style space. Their menu was huge and I wanted everything on it. And the best part about it? EVERYTHING on the menu was vegetarian/Vegan. We were a group of 6 and had ordered 10 things from the menu and shared all of them. Every single one of those 10 dishes were really good. @tevavegetal

Day 4

1. Relax/Chill Morning

Sleep in on your last full day in Rio. Have some breakfast at the hotel or at a nearby cafe. Enjoy some more beach time today as people from around the world come to Rio just for its beaches.

2. Take Samba Classes

This was a very fun part of Rio. On our last night, since the weather was very iffy and it was raining, we decided to take a very impromptu Samba class. The instructor was really fun and knew his steps. We saw all sorts of dancers. From beginners to trained dancers. The fun part about this class is that you will get a wristband and after the class, the whole group goes to a number of clubs together. A great way to meet people and explore the nightlife in Rio. @viatortravel

This was the exact booking we made: https://www.viator.com/tours/Rio-de-Janeiro/Samba-Class-plus-Samba-Night-Tour/d712-39156P1?pid=P00030058&uid=U00205758&mcid=65533&currency=USD&aid=CallCenter-ViatorDesktopUSCA-General&CALL_CENTER_SOURCE=ViatorUS-General

2. Party it out in Rio!

Brazil is known for its very famous dance form Samba. It’s one of the most popular dance forms in all of Brazil. The reaches the height of its importance during the festival of Carnaval. This is a bucket list goal of mine to be able to witness Carnaval once in my lifetime. I heard it’s a big party and I don’t want to miss it 😅

Speaking of Samba, let’s talk about the nightlife in Rio. You should look into booking a Samba class. A great part of taking the Samba class is that you get to practice it at different Samba clubs/bars. If you don’t feel comfortable learning the Samba, I would still recommend checking these bars out to see other people do the Samba and have a couple of drinks:

All of these bars are in an area called Lapa. It’s known for its traditional bars, live music clubs, dance halls, and open-air samba jams on the streets.

1️⃣ Carioca de Gema: Bar & traditional pizzeria in an old mansion where you can listen to live samba & choro at night. @barcariocadagema

2️⃣ Pub Kriok: On the same strip as Carioca de Gema. It’s a fun & lively place to get some dinner and stay after to enjoy the dance part of it. @pubkriok.lapa

3️⃣ La Esquina: This is a very American-style club. Playing the top 40 and will throw in some classic EDM mixes. This was definitely one of my favorite spots. @laesquinalapa

Day 5

This is your last day in Rio. Take some time to rest before a long flight back. There are a few things you can do. One of the items I would recommend is booking yourself a massage at Belmond Copacabana Palace Hotel has a variety of different options. Check it out here: https://www.belmond.com/hotels/south-america/brazil/rio-de-janeiro/belmond-copacabana-palace/spa

---

Here is another great blog I found very useful for tips and tricks for Rio de Janeiro: https://profrabbit.com/rio-de-janeiro-travel-guide/

---

I hope you enjoyed reading my itinerary for Rio de Janeiro and I also hope that in one way or another, I’ve helped you plan your trip to this city. If you liked this, please check out my other city blog/itineraries and leave a comment! Also, let me know what else you would like me to cover on my next city blog in the comments below. I would really appreciate it. Lastly, check out my most recent blog post about Puerto Rico 🇵🇷

Check out & follow my journey @mrshutterup on Instagram and don’t forget to Subscribe for new blog posts about cities around the world. Lastly, feel free to contact me if you have any additional questions!