Samba dancing in Lapa
Rio de Janeiro , Southeastern Region, Brazil[1 miles]
Samba is the sound and rhythm of Rio, and Lapa is its heartland neighbourhood.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Best places to stay:
No hotel offers better views of the Sugarloaf and Guanabara Bay than this elegant, exquisitely decorated boutique in the hills of bohemian Santa Teresa.
The hotel is an intimate converted belle époque townhouse, set in tropical gardens, littered with art collected personally by the French owner – from indigenous woodcarvings to Jean Cocteau drawings.
Its seven rooms are decorated with a Brazilian or European theme (Amazon, Colette, Maria Callas) and include a self-contained apartment furnished with Bossa Nova era Brazilian furniture by famous names including Fasanello, Carlo Hauner, Martin Eisler. There are breathtaking views from most and from the swimming pool garden.
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Bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
Rio de Janeiro , Southeastern Region, Brazil[1 miles]
Samba is the sound and rhythm of Rio, and Lapa is its heartland neighbourhood.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Rio de Janeiro , Southeastern Region, Brazil[1.7 miles]
The world’s biggest party – a stadium parade with fabulous floats, music and sequinned samba dancers, and dozens of street parties and balls.
Best for ages: 13+ | £10 | 5 days
Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Region, Brazil[4 miles]
A wonderful rainforest and beach walk that winds around Morro da Urca hill next to Sugar Loaf mountain, offering myriad beautiful mountain and ocean views.
Best for ages: 8+ | Free | 45 mins (one way)
Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Region, Brazil[4.3 miles]
With stunning views of the Christ statue, Copacabana beach and central Rio, Sugar Loaf is unmissable
Best for ages: 4+ | Free
Other worthwhile experiences in this destination if you have the time or the interest, closest first
Rio de Janeiro , Southeastern Region, Brazil[0.8 miles]
An Instagram favourite, these colourful mosaic steps were created by Chilean immigrant Jorge Selaron. Visit the bottom end in Lapa (off Rua Joaquim Silva) – the upper reaches in Santa Teresa lie close to a favela and are unsafe.
Best for ages: 4+ | Free
Rio de Janeiro , Southeastern Region, Brazil[1.2 miles]
Even if you’re not religious, this landmark cathedral is worth a stop to admire the building alone. A towering brutalist cone, its dark, cavernous interior is lit with long strips of iridescent modernist stained glass.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Rio de Janeiro , Southeastern Region, Brazil[1.9 miles]
Glittering with mirrors, and with gorgeous art deco galleries illuminated by a vast ceiling skylight, this traditional Portuguese coffee house in the city centre is the perfect coffee spot, and a must for lovers of architecture.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Rio de Janeiro , Southeastern Region, Brazil[2.2 miles]
This neo-Gothic Verdigris-covered fantasy palace, built during the days of the Empire of Brazil, is Rio’s former customs house. It’s now a small naval museum that you can visit. Tours depart from the nearby Navy Cultural Centre.
Best for ages: 18+ | £15
Destination guides including or relevant to this place to stay
Southeastern Region, Brazil
Heaven for healthy hedonists – hang glide, surf or hike by day, relax on the beach and party all night. Then, of course, there’s that carnival…