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  • The Statue of Christ: Have a look at the view from Corcovado Mountain

    The Statue of Christ: Have a look at the view from Corcovado Mountain

    Literally dominating the city, the Art Deco statue of Christ was built in 1931 on the top of Corcovado Mountain (710 mt.), in Tijuca Forest National Park. Nearly 40 metres tall, known to be one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, the statue embraces the city with its arms wide open. If you want to see the Christ closely, enjoying a breathtaking view of Rio, be ready for a long line. If you don’t like crowded places, you can stop at one of the stunning viewpoints on the street (Belvedere Marta is one).

    You can reach the statue also by train (the train access is located at Rua Cosme Velho 513. The ticket office opens every day between 8.30 am and 6.30 pm. The trip takes 20 minutes).

  • Sugarloaf (Pão de Açucar): Jump on the cable car and admire Rio

    Sugarloaf (Pão de Açucar): Jump on the cable car and admire Rio

    Rising 396 mt above the sea level and located at the entrance of the Bay of Guanabara, the Sugarloaf is one of the symbols of Rio. Two cable cars (teléferico in Portuguese) lead up to the top of the mountain – the first stretch to the hill of Urca (Morro da Urca) and the second to the very top of the Sugarloaf, where a spectacular 360° view of Rio will astonish you.

    The ticket office is located in the district of Urca, opening at 8.00 am and closing at 7.50 pm. The two trips take 3 minutes each, running every 20 minutes.

  • Helicopter Tour: Fly over Rio!

    Helicopter Tour: Fly over Rio!

    Once in your life you must fly over Rio! From the sky the city is simply sublime, with its green cliffs and islands against the blue of the Ocean. Helicopter tours last from 6 to 60 minutes and leave from Lagoa. The basic helicopter tour fly over the lagoon, Ipanema and Copacabana beaches, the Sugarloaf and, of course, the statue of Christ the Redeemer. Longer trips also fly over Pedra da Gávea and Tijuca Forest. The tour is quite expensive (about 200BR$ for 6 minutes) but it is worth the price.

    Helisight
    Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas (near Parque dos Patins)
    +55 21 2511 2141
    +55 21 2542 7935

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  • Gávea 00: Dance in the trendiest disco in town

    Gávea 00: Dance in the trendiest disco in town

    Set in the Planetarium of Gávea, this is the cool place to be at night in Rio. Typically carioca, with a wide patio to hung out and a fascinating view of the Planetarium dome, Gávea 00 officially opens the crazy carioca weekend. With international DJs and a trendy restaurant and bar, this lounge is at its best from Thursday to Sunday night.

    Don’t forget an identity document and pick up your drink card at the entrance. As always in Rio, you will pay everything at the end.

    Gávea 00
    Avenida Padre Leonel Franca 240
    Gávea, Planetário
    Phone: 55 21 2540 8041
    www.00site.com.br

  • 00 Café Bistrô: Enjoy good food in the most beautiful square of Ipanema

    00 Café Bistrô: Enjoy good food in the most beautiful square of Ipanema

    Set in the heart of Ipanema, this is a very good restaurant in Rio. Cozy and sophisticated, 00 Bisto offers a delicious mix of traditional and contemporary cuisine, made with high quality ingredients. Taste a “Filet 00”, a carpaccio or a dish of ravioli and you will definitely fall in love with this cool and cultured bistro, where you can also enjoy good wines.

    00 Café Bistrô | Ipanema
    Rua Barão da Torre, 398-a
    +55 21 2523 2938
    contato.ipanema@cafebistro.com.br
    www.00site.com.br

  • Parque Lage: A colonial Café in a tropical oasis

    At the foot of the Corcovado mountain, in Jardim Botânico neighborhood, you will find a tiny but gorgeous public park: Parque Lage. With its lush tropical vegetation and beautiful view of the Christ, Parque Lage offers a nice walks and a delightful café, set in a colonial-style mansion, serving quiches, soups, sandwiches and sweet pastries (great breakfasts in the patio!). This English-style landscaped garden, part of Tijuca National Park, is full of things to see: bridges and crumbling towers completely surrounded by greenery, artificial caves and lakes, and even an aquarium.

    Ideal for kids, the Paque Lage was the residence of industrialist Enrique Lage and was remodeled in the 20s by Mario Vodrelan Italian architect. Open to the public, today the park is also home to the Visual Arts School of Parque Lage (Escola de Artes Visuais do Parque Lage).

    A curiosity: in the park you will see a bronze statue sitting on a bench. It is the statue of Tom Jobim, one of the fathers of Brazilian bossanova, and is there because Jobim planted a palm tree in the park.

    Parque Lage
    Rua Jardim Botânico 414, Rio de Janeiro
    Phone: +55 21 3257 1800
    Opening hours: every day from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm
    Admissione: free

  • Pedra do Sal: live samba, every Monday

    Aqui se respeita o samba: Here we respect samba music. This is the slogan of Pedra do Sal (Rock of Salt), not only a place to listen to live samba, but a real historic and religious site for cariocas.

    Located in the neighborhood of Saúde,at the time of slavery Pedra do Sal was the center of the most important quilombo village (African community) of Rio de Janeiro. Called Little Africa and populated by immigrants from the northern state of Bahia, it has been the cradle of samba music.

    Today the place hosts regular samba da roda sessions every Monday (the roda is canceled only in case of strong rain). On the steps of the Pedra you will find a casual and easygoing atmosphere; the access is free -you only need to find your little space and to participate to the roda, al least clapping your hands. If you want on the picturesque Largo de São Francisco da Prainha, near Pedra do Sal, you will find a simple but nice restaurant ideal for a typical Brazilian dinner among locals and colonial buildings in ruins.

    Roda de samba da Pedra do Sal
    Adress: Praça Mauá (near Largo de São Francisco da Prainha)
    Horário: 7.30 pm
    Free access
    Website: rodadesambadapedradosal.blogspot.com.br

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