Visiting Rio de Janeiro: the city’s neighborhoods

Visit Christ the Redeemer during your trip.

The city is near the Guanabara Bay , near the Atlantic Ocean. It is surrounded by hills and bordered by the Atlantic tropical forest.

Rio de Janeiro can be divided into four areas:

• The north zone.
• The center.
• The southern area.
• The west zone.

Most of the tourist activities are located in the central and southern areas of the city. In these parts, you will find the main attractions of the city , since further west is where the well-to-do classes stay away from tourists and enjoy the beaches while surfing.

Upon your arrival, you will land in the north of the city, known for its favelas, on the border with the most disadvantaged neighborhoods. Because Brazil is one of the countries with the most differences between classes in the world: the very poor live alongside the very rich and cannot afford to pay for housing because of the prohibitive prices in the center or south of the city.

The center

The downtown area combines antiquity and modernity. This is where the Rio Branco avenue is located , which is the one that leads to the business area. The old colonial houses stand out over the large buildings reserved for administrations and companies.

You can visit the Cinelândia neighborhood , where you can see Western-style buildings, open to visitors: the Municipal Theater, the National Library, the Museum of Fine Arts.

Not far from the Cinelândia district, as you move away from the coast, are the districts of Santa Teresa and Lapa . This is where you have to go from party to party to the rhythm of samba.

Santa Teresa looks like the French quarter of Montmartre with the Selaron staircase that connects it to Lapa. In addition, we highlight its tram of more than 145 years, which crosses the arches of the old aqueduct. It is the quintessential bohemian neighborhood with its artist studios in every corner.

The southern area of ​​Rio

If you have come to visit Rio to discover its magnificent beaches, you are in the right place. Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, Urca … The southern neighborhoods will allow you to relax on the beach with a good book in hand (or a caipirinha ).

The party is not lacking either, especially during the carnival period and on New Year’s Eve. To have a panoramic view of the city, you can take the cable car that takes you to the top of the Sugar Loaf in the Urca neighborhood . On the other hand, you can enjoy the statue of Christ the Redeemer from Santa Teresa to Corcovado .