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Tips & Traps
Insider advice from Local Friends and travelers. What to do, and what to avoid, city by city.
- TipA place or a move worth it
- TrapWhat to avoid, and how
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Insider advice from Local Friends and travelers. What to do, and what to avoid, city by city.
Join RALF to share your own tips and traps
New this weekPicks from our Local GurusCommunity picksrefreshed every Monday
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Built in 1858, the Catete Palace was the residence of the Baron of Nova Friburgo and later became the seat of government and home to several Brazilian presidents. In 1960, it became the Museum of the Republic, open to the public to visit the garden—featuring centuries-old palm trees—and to explore the interior of the…
Do you want to buy souvenirs and pay little?
You need to visit and get to know Uruguaiana, in the center of Rio de Janeiro.
There you will find many options and very low prices.
On my shopping day, I can't stay without going to the stores and guarantee something good at cost price!
The Maze Rio is an incredible space a true open-air work of art-located within the Tavares Bastos community. Built in 1981 by British artist Bob Nadkarni, the three-story house is covered in tiles and mosaics and offers a spectacular view of the city of Rio.
Arriving in the Santa Tereza neighborhood by tram is a fun and charming experience. Santa Tereza is a neighborhood filled with cultural centers, numerous bars and restaurants offering a variety of Brazilian food and drinks, and many studios featuring art, clothing, sculptures, and much more. Walking through Santa…
You must try:
• Pão de queijo • Guaraná • Coxinha • Pastel with sugarcane juice • Feijoada • Tapioca • Brazilian barbecue with farofa • Sweets: Brigadeiro, cocada, paçoquita • Açaí • Globo cracker or corn with Matte tea at the beach • Cachaça (national drink) → Caipirinha
A tour of the main attractions in downtown Rio. A walk through the main buildings, their history, architecture, churches, cultural centers, and shops. The tour ends at one of the old pastry shops, with vintage architecture that is a true journey back in time.
The tour begins at Praça XV, in the heart of Rio de Janeiro. That's where the ferry station is located, from where we take a 1.5-hour trip to Paquetá Island, a charming neighborhood of the city. There we rent bicycles to explore the island. After the ride, we stop for a snack and cold drinks. The tour lasts all day…
A morning or afternoon stroll through Rio's most charming neighborhood, including visits to museums, parks, shops, bars, cafes, and friendly restaurants, admiring the local architecture and curiosities of one of the city's oldest neighborhoods.
In Rio de Janeiro, it's always best to opt for simpler, lighter, and more practical clothing. Low-heeled shoes suitable for walking are essential. Water bottles, sunscreen, and insect repellent should always be readily available. During the rainy season, a raincoat is crucial. It's always good to avoid jewelry…
Viaje turístico y vista de la ciudad en altura.
One of my favorite things to do in Rio is to take an afternoon stroll along the beautiful beaches of Ipanema and Arpoador. There’s nothing quite like sipping fresh coconut water while unwinding and watching the breathtaking sunset. It’s a cherished tradition among the locals, who celebrate the moment the sun dips…
On game days featuring the major clubs, it’s a great place to visit. Plus, it has an incredible museum that showcases the history of Brazilian football in rich detail.
It’s a hike up Urca Hill, part of the Sugarloaf complex, but this one is done on foot. The trail is pleasantly peaceful, and once you reach the top, you’re rewarded with stunning views of the city of Rio de Janeiro.
🌿 City Park is an Environmental Preservation Area located at the top of Morro da Viração, about 270 meters above sea level. To reach the top, you can take the paved road through São Francisco — it’s accessible by car, motorbike, taxi, or Uber. But honestly, the best way is to gather some friends and hike up together.
I…
Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas at the weekend is a meeting point for friends and family. It is very common to find people doing picnics in the late afternoon, enjoying one of the most beautiful views of Rio de Janeiro Ps: My Photo
Designed by Santiago Calatrava, this is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful museums in the world. Surely you need to know this place. Ps: My photo
Every day of the sun, the afternoon, one of the best options in Rio de Janeiro to be is here. One of the best known Sunset in the world. Ps: My photo.
Brazil's most famous cocktail, the mix of sugar, lemon and the sugarcane-made cachaça can be best apreciated with a nice view. My favourites rooftops are located in the neighborhoods of Botafogo and Copacabana. At the luxurious Copacabana Palace hotel, there are other cocktails prepared with local ingredients!
The São Cristovão Fair is a treasure of local culture, music and food barely known by mainstream tourism. It is a stadium-sized fair which praises the working class inmigration of northern Brazil, which came to Rio and other Souhern states in the mid-XX century to built up its cities. My own family is a result of this…
Lapa district is a historical place of the Samba: Vaca Atolada and Barodromo are authentic places that display different varieties of this music scene. Visiting a samba school is also worthy such as the traditional Mangueira, where there is also the Samba Museum. Last but not least, Cidade do Samba, where costumes are…
Few cities in this planet offer the possibility of a paragliding experience such as Rio. The breathtaking experience takes a morning. Highly recomended for those seeking beautiful pictures, adrenaline and an unforgatable experience. Ps: cloudy days are actually better for the practise of this sport.
Rio is a coastal city with plenty of fishermen villages, most of them barely known by mainstream tourism. Dishes like the Bobó de Camarão ot the Moqueca mix Indigenous and African ingredients. The Ribeira beach in Governor Island neighborhood and Jurujuba district in Niterói offer exquisite options of seafood…
If you have only 1 day to tour in Rio de Janeiro, I recommend to you to choose between the Sugar Loaf or the Cristo Redentor statue. Although both of them are landmarks, you will make the most of Rio by combining the experience of seeing it from the above with taking a walk in Copacabana beach or in the new Port…
in this place you can buy typical things from Minas Gerais: foods, decorations pieces and farm tools and also go to the bars and have a drink
Friday is the best day to go to Lapa, that's already known. BUT the best place to have the best capirinha and to have the best TIME with good music and dancing is the LEVIANO bar. Don't miss it! People from all over, but brazilians show you how it works here in Rio :)
I love the bright colors, the smell of fresh cut flowers and fruits, and the overlapping sounds of vendors calling our prices at the open-air markets, or feiras (fey-rahs). They can be spotted all over city on designated days by their striped stands, known as "barracas" (bah-ha-kas); that are put together in the early…
One of Rio’s oldest cafés, Confeitaria Colombo was founded by two Portuguese immigrants in 1894. Since then, it has created a lasting name for itself by producing top quality pastries and gourmet specialties. I would recommend waiting for a table in order to enjoy the antique splendor of the floor-to-ceiling mirrors…
This classic bar is a great place to spend some time while visiting Santa Teresa. It was once an old groceries shop and is decorated by original antique pieces throughout the place. Order a draft beer, or try some cachaça and snack on classic Brazilian appetizers such as bolinhos de bacalhau (fried codfish balls)…
The small, hole-in-the-wall café serves the best pão de queijo in all of Rio! And their heaping servings of açai can be blended with banana or granola, or both! You can also buy organic products such as honey, tea, snacks, and other goodies. Always packed with families, locals, and tourists grabbing some pre-dinner…
Established in 1992, this bar serves classic Brazilian food and is always bustling. The interior is of white tiles and decorated with lots of quirky knick-knacks. Order their renowned Feijoada that comes with couve, rice, farofa, and oranges. I recommend arriving there early to get a table, since it fills up quickly!
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