A day in Rio de Janeiro

"Tall and tan and young and lovely

The girl from Ipanema goes walking and

When she passes, each one she passes goes "ah"

When she walks, she's like a samba

That swings so cool and sways so gentle that

When she passes, each one she passes goes"

Who has never heard "The Girl from Ipanema" and imagined walking on the sidewalk of that beautiful beach? Or, seeing on TV that aerial view of the city of Rio and the Christ with open arms hugging the Wonderful City?

Rio de Janeiro is blessed by its unique landscape, for having such an diverse culture and by its people, that despite everything, never stop loving their city.

When talking about Brazil around the world, the first thing that come to people's mouth is "Rio!", "Samba!", "Carnival!", and this is because Rio has been one of Brazil's most popular destinations for tourists. As I mentioned before, Rio is home to an beautiful culture and popular beaches such as Copacabana, Ipanema, Barra da Tijuca and Leblon.

There's no doubt Rio is an enchanting city. You'll definitely fall in love by the essence of this place, full of beauty, history and the of course, the charming of Bossa nova.

I spent very little time in Rio, unfortunately, so I gathered here all the places you could visit in only one day in Rio. Of course, if I could, I would spend way longer to explore all the city can offer.

There are plenty of places to stay in Rio. You can choose to stay by the beach (which will costs you quite a bit), or in the neighborhood. I chose to stay in downtown, the historic and financial centre of the city, which accommodates a lot of cultural spaces like the Municipal Theater and several museums such as the National Museum of Fine Arts and the National Historical Museum. The Carioca Aqueduct is also located in the area and it's a popular tourist destination.

Transportation is okay in Rio. You can go around the city relatively easily since the city holds a metro system and also many buses lines. Taxi can be a bit expensive, but depending on the situation, it will be necessary and also safer.

Check down below the pictures I took in my short stay in Rio. I hope it inspires and helps you to plan an amazing (and longer) trip to the Cidade Maravilhosa.

Christ the Redeemer

More info about the Christ and how to get there

Copacabana, Ipanema and Pedra do Arpoador

TIP: When in Copacabana, I highly recommend a visit to the Historical Museum of the Army and Copacabana Fort. The fort was built in 1914, with the intention of reinforcing Guanabara’s Bay defense. While visiting the fortress and the museum, you can also enjoy the beautiful view of Arpoador and Copacabana while having a cup of coffee or a delicious piece of cake in the famous Confeitaria Colombo, placed inside the Fortress complex. You won't regret it!

Escadaria Selarón and the Lapa neighborhood

Also known as the 'Selaron Steps', this is also a very popular attraction in Rio. The unique and vivid mosaic steps are work of Chilean artist Jorge Selarón, who adopted the city and said the steps were his tribute to the Brazilian people.

The steps are located near the bohemian neighborhood of Lapa, a place know for its historical monuments and nightlife. The Carioca Aqueduct is also located there.