Rio de Janeiro Ultimate Travel Guide & Cost 2026 (Best Places To Visit!)

45 places in this vlog

In the order they appear. Tap a time to play it here, or ↗ to open YouTube at that second.

1. 0:46

   Copacabana Beach

   🏢 Landmark · Copacabana

   Most tourists stay in Copacabana or Ipanema, and the beach bars often have live samba.

2. 0:46

   Ipanema Beach

   🏢 Landmark · Ipanema

   Anywhere in Copacabana or Ipanema is a good place to stay because the neighborhoods are only a few streets deep.

3. 1:09

   Copacabana and Ipanema Boardwalks (Calçadão)

   🏢 Landmark · Copacabana · brief mention

4. 1:15

   Leme Fort (Forte Duque de Caxias)

   🏛️ Historic site · Leme

   Entry costs 10 reais ($1.90) and the walk to the top takes about 20 minutes.

5. 1:39

   Fort Copacabana

   🏛️ Historic site · Copacabana

   Entry costs 10 reais ($1.90), but expect queues and higher-than-normal meal prices.

6. 2:00

   Arpoador Beach

   🏢 Landmark · Arpoador

   It gets very crowded around sunset, but it is still worth the visit.

7. 2:41

   Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas

   🌳 Park · Lagoa

   Rent an orange Itaú bike through the app to ride around the lake.

8. 3:06

   Christ the Redeemer

   🏢 Landmark · Corcovado

   Tickets cost 134 reais ($25) including the forest train; book online in advance to beat the queues.

9. 3:18

   Corcovado Rack Railway

   🚡 Activity · Cosme Velho · brief mention

   The ride is included in the 134-reais Christ the Redeemer ticket.

10. 3:35

    Sugarloaf Mountain

    🏢 Landmark · Urca

    The cable car to both peaks costs 190 reais ($37); a free trail climbs the first mountain.

11. 4:47

    Guanabara Bay

    🏢 Landmark · Guanabara Bay

    Boat tours leave from the Glória Marina and come highly recommended.

12. 4:59

    Parque Lage

    🌳 Park · Jardim Botânico

    Visiting inside the mansion, which has a pool, galleries and a café, requires a free reservation.

13. 5:23

    Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden

    🌳 Park · Jardim Botânico

    Entry costs 80 reais ($15).

14. 5:38

    Porto Maravilha

    🏘️ Neighborhood · Centro

    A nice area to hang out, with many murals free to see outdoors.

15. 5:45

    Museum of Tomorrow

    🏛️ Museum · Centro

16. 6:15

    Paço Imperial

    🏛️ Historic site · Centro · brief mention

17. 6:25

    Theatro Municipal

    🏢 Landmark · Centro · brief mention

18. 6:31

    Confeitaria Colombo

    ☕ Cafe · Centro · brief mention

19. 6:39

    Royal Portuguese Reading Room

    🏛️ Historic site · Centro

20. 6:51

    Lapa

    🏘️ Neighborhood · Lapa · brief mention

21. 6:56

    Lapa Arches

    🏛️ Historic site · Lapa

22. 7:03

    Santa Teresa Tram (Bondinho)

    🚡 Activity · Santa Teresa · brief mention

23. 7:07

    Santa Teresa

    🏘️ Neighborhood · Santa Teresa · brief mention

24. 7:09

    Selarón Steps

    🏢 Landmark · Lapa

25. 8:44

    Tijuca Forest

    🌳 Park · Tijuca

26. 8:50

    Pico da Tijuca

    🥾 Hike · Tijuca · brief mention

27. 8:57

    Dois Irmãos

    🏢 Landmark · Vidigal

    Take a moto taxi from the bottom of Vidigal to the trailhead.

28. 9:01

    Vidigal

    🏘️ Neighborhood · Vidigal

    It is still gang-run, so avoid filming while walking around without a guide.

29. 9:33

    Pedra da Gávea

    🥾 Hike · São Conrado

30. 9:42

    Barra da Tijuca Beach

    🏢 Landmark · Barra da Tijuca · brief mention

31. 10:21

    Grumari

    🏢 Landmark · Grumari

    Picked as the favorite beach region in the city; it is over an hour west of Copacabana.

32. 12:04

    Costa Verde

    🚆 Day trip · Costa Verde

    Named the favorite beach region in Rio state; best explored by rental car.

33. 12:27

    Paraty

    🚆 Day trip · Paraty

    The coach from Rio costs 123 reais ($23) and takes just under 5 hours; Gabriela is the best-known cachaça store.

34. 13:20

    Trindade

    🚆 Day trip · Paraty · brief mention

35. 13:28

    Saco do Mamanguá

    🚆 Day trip · Paraty

    Boat tours leave from Paraty Mirim or Paraty and are 100% recommended.

36. 14:34

    Ilha Grande

    🚆 Day trip · Angra dos Reis

    The ferry from Mangaratiba costs $4, and a 47-reais tourist tax covering 7 days applies from 2026.

37. 16:01

    Região dos Lagos

    🚆 Day trip · Região dos Lagos

38. 16:13

    Arraial do Cabo

    🚆 Day trip · Arraial do Cabo

    Pontal do Atalaia is rated one of the most beautiful beaches in all of Brazil.

39. 16:31

    Cabo Frio

    🚆 Day trip · Cabo Frio

    A taxi boat runs from Bairro da Passagem to Ilha do Japonês; the coach from Rio is 82 reais and takes ~3 hours.

40. 16:58

    Búzios

    🚆 Day trip · Armação dos Búzios

41. 17:45

    Petrópolis

    🚆 Day trip · Petrópolis

    Museum entry is 10 reais; the Bohemia brewery tour is 48 reais with three beers; the coach from Rio is 46 reais.

42. 18:34

    Teresópolis

    🚆 Day trip · Teresópolis

    Cachoeira dos Frades is a recommended waterfall here.

43. 18:58

    Nova Friburgo

    🚆 Day trip · Nova Friburgo

    The Casa Suíça store sells chocolates, cheeses and wines.

44. 20:37

    Botafogo

    🏘️ Neighborhood · Botafogo · brief mention

45. 20:46

    Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí

    🏢 Landmark · Cidade Nova

    The Carnival parade is called one of the best events ever attended.