Things to do · Rio de Janeiro
Best Things to Do in Rio de Janeiro
The best things to do in Rio de Janeiro, what each is actually like, and how to group them into your days without wasting time in transit.
Updated 2026-07-25
What Rio de Janeiro is worth your time for
Rio combines 24 km of Atlantic beaches with mountain peaks, rainforest and one of the world's great cultural rhythms — samba, capoeira, football and beach volleyball. Carnaval and New Year's Eve on Copacabana are bucket-list events.
Best things to do in Rio de Janeiro
Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor)
Corcovado summit — cog train or van from Cosme Velho; book online to skip queues.
Sugarloaf Mountain cable car (Pão de Açúcar)
Two-stage cable car — sunset slot books out days ahead.
Copacabana + Ipanema beaches
6 km of sand — sunset at Arpoador rock (Ipanema/Copacabana border) is free.
Santa Teresa + Selarón Steps
Bohemian hilltop, historic tram + 215 tiled steps (Lapa) by artist Jorge Selarón.
Tijuca Forest hikes
Urban rainforest — Vista Chinesa, Pedra Bonita, Pedra da Gávea (advanced).
Booking tours and experiences
Timed-entry sights and small-group tours in Rio de Janeiro sell out first in peak season. Booking the two or three experiences you care most about before arrival usually costs the same and protects the dates you want.
Fitting it into your days
Plan around 4–6 days. Group sights by neighbourhood rather than by ranking — it saves hours of backtracking.
Ready to book your Rio de Janeiro trip?
Everything in this guide is bookable through Marhaba's licensed partners.
