Rio de Janeiro is one of the most scenic cities in the world. From world class beaches to the vibrant nightlife to one of the world’s seven wonders, Rio is a destination every traveler should visit once in their life. Brazil’s second biggest city is full of life, culture, and jaw dropping sights.
Rio has always been near the top of my travel list but I often was putting other destinations ahead of it to visit, thinking I would eventually get there. When my friends and I decided to do a 10 day trip to South America, Buenos Aires and Rio were two of the cities we kept looking at and decided to finally pull the trigger and book it, along with a stop in Iguazu Falls. And boy am I glad we did, as both Buenos Aires and Rio instantly became two of my favorite cities that I’ve ever been to.
I stayed in Rio for 3 nights, which is never enough, but I felt like I was able to get a great feel for the city while still having time to do the touristy things and spend time relaxing on the beach. And made it out a few times to partake the nightlife, which is an incredible experience in and of itself. My itinerary is a balanced schedule that will get you seeing the best of Rio without exhausting yourself each day.
Here is an overview of my Ultimate 3 Day Rio Itinerary.
The Highlights
Christ the Redeemer
Sugarloaf Mountain
Copacabana Beach
Ipanema Beach
Day 1
Christ the Redeemer
Selaron Steps
Sugarloaf Mountain
Day 2
Jardim Botanico
Copacabana Beach
Flamengo Game
Day 3
Santa Teresa
Ipanema Beach
Lapa Samba
DAY 1
Today is your big adventure day and you’ll want to start early to get in a full day. Following this itinerary, you will essentially be seeing “Rio in One Day” - something that will be offered by many tour groups. I would recommend doing this with a tour group to save you time and hassle, and I don’t think any of these experiences will be too compromised by going with a group. Plus in Rio, it’s smart to have the guidance and safety of the locals.
CHRIST THE REDEEMER
Start your day at one of the new seven wonders of the world, and Rio’s most iconic site, Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor). You’ll wind your way through Tijuca National Park and up Corcovado Mountain until you get to the site entrance. You can reach the entrance via tour van, car, or train. At the entrance you’ll find a large souvenir shop with bathrooms and ticket kiosks. From there you’ll take another shuttle up to the base of the statue.
At the top there is a platform where you can walk 360 around the statue, taking in expansive views of Rio towards the ocean and Sugarloaf. The viewing platform is majorly crowded, as expected, so try to get there as early as you can to avoid the bigger crowds.
Near Christ the Redeemer is a great vista point that has some of the best views in Rio, the Dona Marta Lookout. From here you can look down over the city of Rio, the ocean, and Sugarloaf mountain, while also looking back up at the intimidating Christ the Redeemer statue.
SELARON STEPS & CATEDRAL
After checking a new world wonder off your bucket list, most tour groups will visit the beautifully colorful Selaron Steps, Catedral Metropolitana de São Sebastião, and factor in lunch somewhere in there. These visits are nice but if you are doing self guided they might not be making the cut, as Sugar Loaf and Christ the Redeemer are the must sees on this trip.
SUGARLOAF
In the late afternoon, head to Rio’s other world famous site, Sugarloaf Mountain. If you can time it for sunset you will be rewarded with magical views across the city. To get to the top of Sugarloaf, you will need to take two gondolas up the mountains. Both stopping points have access to food, restrooms, and souvenir shops. Once at the top of Sugarloaf you will have 360 degree views across all of Rio, looking back at Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, across the ocean, over the bays of Rio, and have views of Christ the Redeemer watching over the city. It’s an amazing end to your first day and a must visit for any traveler coming to Rio de Janeiro.
DAY 2
Get your day started by visiting the stunning Jardim Botânico, and take in the views of the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon.
COPACABANA BEACH
After a leisurely morning, spend the rest of your hot afternoon on the famous beaches of Copacabana. Take a stroll along the boardwalk, try some of the local cuisine, and take a dive into the clear waters of Copacabana.
FLAMENGO SOCCER MATCH
In the evening, prepare yourself for an experience like none other: a Flamengo soccer match. Brazilians love their futbol, and in Rio, there is no bigger stage than the Flamengo team. Feel the vibrance and passion of the fans while enjoying what is sure to be a memorable night at Maracana Stadium.
This was one of the best experiences I had in Rio (it helped that Flamengo won) and I’ll never forget the energy the crowd had at the beginning of the match, and how they erupted with pure joy when Flamengo scored the go ahead goal.
I would also suggest going with a local via a tour group to help navigate you to the stadium and handle transportation as it can be a little chaotic outside the stadium.
DAY 3
Begin your final day by exploring the charming neighborhood of Santa Teresa. Grab breakfast and a coffee and walk the winding streets, admiring the unique architecture of this hilltop village.
IPANEMA
After a relaxing morning, keep relaxing at Rio’s best beach: Ipanema. Lay out in the sun on the pristine beaches of Ipanema, watching the surfers and locals playing soccer on the beach. Grab lunch (or some drinks) at one of the beachside restaurants, and walk the boardwalk to take in the best of Rio.
One of the best spots to enjoy the sunset from is Arpoador, the rocky peninsula situated at the end of Ipanema. This area connects Ipanema and Copacabana and is a favorite among locals and tourists alike.
SAMBA IN LAPA
On your final night in Rio, head out to the Lapa neighborhood to live like a true local and enjoy some Samba. Samba is a rhythm-centric genre of Brazilian music that is Brazil’s pride and joy. The samba bars in Lapa are mostly all locals.
In my experience, the people were incredibly nice, the drinks were super cheap, and the bars were packed shoulder to shoulder. Being a foreigner, many locals were excited to come talk to myself and my friends, and they all seemed genuinely interested in just having a good time. Some areas of Lapa aren’t so safe, especially at night, so make sure to have a transportation plan to and from any of the bars (Uber is the recommended choice).
SAFETY
There are safety concerns when visiting Rio, and almost every person I talked to before going to Rio, including locals in Rio, mentioned that I should be careful while in Rio and keep my wits about me. Don’t walk around at night. Don’t be in shady areas. Keep your phone in your picket to avoid scooters driving by and snatching them from your hands. And while all this may very well be true, I never felt unsafe during my time in Rio. Having said that, I was generally not putting myself in harms way and being smart about what I was doing, but I also partied in Lapa with the locals and can’t explain how nice everyone was to me. So definitely keep your guard up while in Rio, but don’t rob yourself of a great trip by thinking Rio is too dangerous to visit.
You gotta see these views once in your life, right? Consider Rio de Janeiro when planning your next trip to South America and you won’t be disappointed.
