Rio de Janeiro - TAT (The Away Today) Score
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Average Cost Per Day (including transportation, lodging, food, activities, etc.) | $55.00 | ||||
Architecture | 5 | ||||
Food | 4 | ||||
Walkability | 4 | ||||
Public Transportation | 5 | ||||
Activities | 5 | ||||
Vibe | 5 | ||||
All Around | 5 |
A Quick Guide to Rio de Janeiro
Airports & Transportation
There are two airports in Rio: Santos Dumont Domestic Airport (SDU) and Galeão International Airport (GIG). If you have the opportunity, fly into SDU with a window seat – it’s by far one of my favorite views I’ve ever had on an airplane. I feel like Christ the Redeemer was just chillin’ next to me, it was so beautiful. Also, SDU is only about a 15 minute drive from Lapa & Santa Teresa, which is super convenient.
However, most flights will go in an out of the international airport. It’s pretty far away from the city, so I highly advice you to give yourself plenty of time to get there. I went to the airport from Leblon, and it took us two hours in an uber, when it only said one hour on the GPS. You can take a bus, but an uber is so cheap anyway, that we opted for that.
Regarding transportation in Rio, it’s super easy to get around the city. Ubers are cheap (it was R$11.76/USD $3.13 from SDU to Lapa and only R$47.00/USD $12.53 from Leblon to GIG), the metro is nice (and cheap), and you can get some pretty nice views just from walking. However, the city is pretty spread out. It takes awhile to get to the opposite side of the city – just keep that in mind when planning out your days.
Where to Stay
When I first arrived in Rio, I stayed in Lapa/Santa Teresa. My logic was that it’s centrally located and not as touristy as Copacabana or Ipanema. Well, when I got dropped off, I just had this uneasy feeling. I’d heard from a lot of people that Rio was unsafe, especially for women traveling solo. I spent the day walking around Santa Teresa, and while there are really incredible views of the city from this hilly neighborhood, I just didn’t feel particularly safe.
The next day I went on a walking tour and met some fellow solo female travelers and ended up spending the day and night with them, and started to let my guard down a little. Lapa and Santa Teresa feel incredibly more safe at night (I KNOW – WEIRD), the neighborhood becomes extremely lively, all the closed up bars and restaurants I saw during the day were finally open, and there were vendors everywhere. Turns out this is how it always is on Fridays and Saturdays, but it’s very slow during weekdays – so I’d recommend staying a night or two in Lapa on a Friday or Saturday, but then high tail it out of there. I stay at Mambembe Hostel in Lapa & Lemon Spirit Hostel in Leblon, both great choices.
After two days in Lapa, I decided to switch to somewhere else. I still didn’t want to stay in the touristy neighborhoods of Copacabana or Ipanema, so I opted for Leblon (right next door to these neighborhoods and arguably more ritzy and touristy…but oh well!). I loved it. I loved everything about it. Maybe this says more about me as a traveler, but I instantly felt safer and more comfortable. My hostel was one block from the beach and down the street from tons of shops, pharmacies, restaurants, you name it. I’d highly recommend staying in Leblon!
Things to Do
I was only in Rio for a week and barely scratched the surface of what to do. Some of the things I’d recommend doing while in this amazing city include:
Go to Sugarloaf Mountain
It’s essentially two mountains with a gondola going from the ground to the first mountain (though you can hike it for free!) and a gondola going from the first to the second mountain (have to pay). We went there for sunset and for night time views – it was stunning. I really think it’s hard to find a bad view of this city, but damn, Sugarloaf has some of the best.
Visit Christ the Redeemer
Ah yes, the infamous statue that everyone associates with Rio. You have to go while you’re here, it’s impressive. It also provides breathtaking views of the city, and obviously a good opportunity for some selfies with the man himself. Try to plan a day when it’s sunny ,because if it’s cloudy, you probably won’t even be able to see the city.
Relax on a beach
There are lots of options for this. The most well known are Copacabana and Ipanema (haven’t you heard the song?!), but Leblon also has a beautiful beach. On the east side of the city, there’s the lesser known Flamingo beach that is also good for relaxing.
Party in Lapa (only on a Friday or Saturday)
This neighborhood completely comes alive on weekend nights. The empty streets are filled with vendors selling drinks, snacks, and cheap food. People fill the alleys and blast music rather than going to bars. It’s a blast, and something I haven’t experienced anywhere else (except Lisbon!)
Dance Samba
I didn’t have a chance to do this while I was there, but it’s on my list! Everyone says you should go to a samba party or a bar, be sure to add it to your itinerary!
Do some sort of boat activity
The city is surrounded by water, you’d be sorely missing out if you didn’t do something on a boat! My water activity was a 1am boat party that lasted until 5am, not my usual party scene but a total blast!
Hike Two Brothers
This is another thing I didn’t do while here, but I’ve heard great things. You can see this mountain from Leblon, and apparently you have a really great view of one of the most well-known favellas from the top.
Visit a Favella
Otherwise known as a slum or low-income neighborhood. I didn’t visit one while in Rio, but it’s becoming a more popular activity for tourists here. If you do visit a favella while here, do you research and be smart. Either go with a guide or visit a bar that provides transportation from the city. I’ve heard a few stories of people being robbed.
Take a touristy picture on the Escadaria Selarón
You have to! It’s extremely crowded and super touristy, but you have to see it! When you’re at the top of the staircase and you look down, you can’t even tell that the other side of the risers are tiled and colorful. Once you get to the bottom of the staircase and look up, you see a completely different side!
Walk around Santa Teresa
This neighborhood is super hilly and provides beautiful views all around Rio. There’s not a ton to do here other than walk around (except the infamous stairs and Lapa arches!) Be sure to bring a lot of water!
What to Eat & Drink
First of all – caipirinhas. Drink them all. I really didn’t think I’d like them that much, I’m not a fan of sugary drinks and a caipirinha is just lime juice, cachaça (liquor made from fermented sugar cane), and sugar. The first one I had just tasted like weird vodka to me. However, it must’ve been a fluke. Every other one was just incredibly delicious – and simple! I think on average they’re R$10-R$15, but you can find them for R$5 is you look a little harder. One of my favorite parts of my time in Rio was drinking cheap caipirinhas and street food at the vendors by the arch in Lapa on a Saturday night!
I’m a big fan of local, cheap beer, and in Rio my favorite were Brahma and Bohemia.
Some famous Bralizian street food are:
-Coxinhas (basically some sort of meat, like pulled chicken, inside a fried dough, usually delicious and only R$5)
-Pão de queijo (cheese bread, basically cheese fried dough)
-Brigadieros (incredibly delicious but rich cholocate truffles – share with a friend or seven)
-There are a few variations of fried fish that’s really popular as well, but I didn’t try them while I was there
-Cheese on sticks. I’m not sure what the name is for it, but it’s literally just sticks of cheese, grilled with spices, on sticks. They’re delicious.
Tips & Tricks
A word you’ll probably hear often while there is “carioca.” It’s a neighborhood by Lapa, there’s a metro station named it, and it’s also what people from Rio call themselves. Phonetically pronounced “care-e-oh-ca.”
Maybe a native Brazilian can help me out here – but there are sooo many different accents here. I heard the word “real” (the currency) pronounced at least five different ways. Some people pronounce the “r” like an “h.” Some people pronounce the “s” like “sh.” Some people do both. Some do neither. Also, Portuguese is not like Spanish. I thought after three weeks in Colombia and Peru I’d have an inkling what people were talking about. Nope. Reading it is slightly easier, but the pronunciation is completely different. The interesting part is that Portuguese speakers can understand Spanish (for the most part) but Spanish speakers can’t understand Portuguese (for the most part).
The exchange rate is $1 USD = R$3.75, roughly. In my opinion, Rio is cheap by big city USA standards. I could get a filling meal for R$5-R$15. You can take a cab for 20 minutes for R$12 or less. Or get a delicious caipirinha for R$5. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to have a great time here, I enjoyed talking with the locals, learning some Portuguese, and experiencing street parties and cool vibes the best here.
Rio quickly became one of my favorite cities – maybe because it really surprised me. Of all my planned cities on my three-month trip, I was most nervous for Rio since I’d heard so many things about it being unsafe. Even the locals I met in Rio told me to be careful and to not walk with my phone out. While I was diligent and cautious, I really enjoyed everything about this city. Starting my trip in Lapa really opened my eyes to the homelessness, vandalism, and garbage, but also extremely kind locals. Leblon showed me a more ritzy part of the city and lots of conversations about language and culture. Rio is definitely a city I plan on returning to one day!
Heading to the fellow Portugeuse speaking country, Portugal? Check out my tips for Lisbon & Sintra! Or jetting off to neighboring Peru or Colombia? Be sure to visit my guides!