Discover Rio de Janeiro
Hotels, halal food, prayer spaces, things to do, and itineraries in Rio de Janeiro.
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Must-see attractions in Rio de Janeiro
From headline landmarks and heritage icons to parks, waterfronts, and major museums, discover 15 standout sights to build into your time in the city.
Rio continues to enjoy its status as one of the must-see destinations and is perhaps the most visited city in the southern hemisphere. The city is always buzzing with creative energy and development projects taking shape. One of these is the controversial Favela-Bairrio Project which aims to bring the favelas into the city by providing basic sanitation and planning health clinics, schools and community centres. Some of the city’s colonial infrastructure is being given a lease on life and the coup-de-tat will be the city playing host to the 2016 Summer Olympics and the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
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Muslim travel planner
Plan a Muslim-friendly trip in Rio de Janeiro
Halal restaurants in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro’s food scene is part of the city experience. Choose from 15 restaurants and food districts with location notes and planning tips.
rio-de-janeiroCasa da Suica
A slice of Switzerland in Latin America, you’ll find flambes, fondues and constantly changing menu.
rio-de-janeiroCipriani
Italian food is served in this candlelit setting which caters to a well-dressed crowd.
rio-de-janeiroMarius Crustaceos
An all-you-can-eat seafood buffet with waiters working the room with delicious platters of tuna, salmon, lobster, mussels and scallops.
rio-de-janeiro00 (Zero Zero)
Found inside the Planetarium, 00 is a sleek restaurant that serves Brazilian dishes with Mediterranean and Asian touches. Some of Rio’s best DJs spin tracks here so stick around with a cocktail at the bar.
rio-de-janeiroOlympe
Address: Rua Custodio Serrao 62, Lagoa Tel: 2539 4542 Opening Times: 7pm-12:30am Mon-Thu and Sat, noon-4pm and 7pm 12:30am Fri
rio-de-janeiroSushi Leblon
Address: Rua Dias Ferreira 256, Leblon Opening Times: Noon-4pm and 7pm-1:30am Mon-Fri, 1:30 til last customer Saturdays and Sundays
Rio de Janeiro masjids and Muslim travel
Landmark masjids and prayer-aware notes for visitors planning salah, family movement, and halal-friendly days.
Sociedade Beneficente Muculmana do Rio de Janeiro
Address: Rua Gonzaga Bastos, 77, Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro RJ Tel: (021) 2224-1079
Banco do Brasil S/A-Ag Barão de Mesquita
R. Barão de Mesquita, 248 - Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, Brazil (21) 2569-4708
Mesquita Alinhamentos 797
R. Barão de Mesquita, 797 - Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, Brazil (21) 2571-3522
Condomínio do Edifício Barão de Mesquita
R. Barão de Mesquita, 6 - Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, Brazil (21) 3903-8980
Where to stay in Rio de Janeiro
Choose where to stay by trip style, from landmark luxury and family bases to central, airport, and neighborhood-led stays.
rio-de-janeiroEverest Hotel
One block away from the beach, Everest Park is very opulent with the Grill 360° Restaurant providing beautiful views of Ipanema Beach and Christ the Redeemer statue, while serving beef and seafood dishes. The rooms themselves are comfortable and the multilingual staff can help in organizing outdoor activities and tours. There are also laundry services, Wi-Fi access to all rooms and an airport shuttle.
rio-de-janeiroSol Ipanema
This hotel is not hard to miss – a 15-storey white building, right on Ipanema Beach. The rooms are comfortable; all come with WI-FI, personal security box and cable TV among other things. The hotel facilities include a meeting room, a swimming pool, a lobby bar, beauty parlour, and restaurant which serves international cuisine.
rio-de-janeiroOrla Copacabana
The new kid on the block, the Oral has style and space with a wide choice of rooms, all come with a fridge, free WI-FI access, cable TV, air conditioning and safe deposit box. On the rooftop you’ll find a pool, sauna, and fitness centre.
rio-de-janeiroSofital Rio Palace
While the website is a bit hard to navigate, the Sofital has 388 rooms with terraces, one of the few hotels with them. The facilities include a solarium, two pools, saunas, a fitness centre and massage. There is also an art gallery, florist, gift shop and the staffs are multi-lingual with Arabic, Spanish, English, Italian, German and French being spoken.
rio-de-janeiroIpanema Inn
The rooms are simple but nice with en-suites. Each room comes with its own personal safety box, TV with cable, mini-bar and phone. The staff is multi-lingual and the hostel is near the beach.
History and today in Rio de Janeiro
Read the city today, its history, residents, culture, and character before planning your route.
Rio de Janeiro Today
Rio continues to enjoy its status as one of the must-see destinations and is perhaps the most visited city in the southern hemisphere.
City Information
Rio de Janeiro History
The city earned its name through the ignorance of Portuguese explorer and sailor, Gaspar de Lemos. He entered the huge bay (that would become known as ‘Baia de Guanabara’) in January 1502 and, thinking he’d sailed into a river, named the area Rio de Janeiro (January River). The Tamoio, natives of that area, were originally living there. The French became the first settlers of the area, establishing a colony in 1555. The Portuguese, wanting to keep their claim over the area, eventually kicked them out in 1567, despite the French alliance with the Tamoio who hated the Portuguese for their cruelty. The Portuguese stayed on, eventually expelling the Tamoio in a succession of devastating battles. Building their empire through sugar plantations and the slave trade; the Portuguese settlement would grow during the Minas Gerais gold rush of the 18th century. The result of this expansion was that the Tamoio tribe was wiped out, those not taken into slavery dying of disease or being sent to be ‘pacified’ by the Jesuits in settlement camps. By 1763 the population reached 50,000 people and Rio became the colonial capital of Brazil. By the time the 20th century began, with an economic surge in coffee and mass immigration from Europe, Rio had reached 800,000 residents. The 1920s to 1950s are considered to be Rio’s Golden Age, with the city becoming a romantic, exotic destination for international aristocrats. Brasilia would eventually take over as Brazil’s political capital in 1960 but Rio continues to be the cultural capital of the country. In 1992 it was chosen as the host of Eco, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.
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Visa Information
Requirements for a visa include your passport being valid for six months from date of issue, a passport photograph and your travel documents (or legitimate copies). If your don’t have travel documents then proof of financial support – such as credit cards and financial statements – are acceptable. The fee for a visa is reciprocal – usually between US$40 and US$60.
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Rio de Janeiro Residents
The country of Brazil is a melting pot of racial populations: 55% white, 6% black, 38% mixed and 1% other. Rio de Janeiro is no exception with Portuguese, Indian and African lineages also mixing things up along with the immigration of Italians, Spaniards, Germans and Japanese just to name a few. The Brazilian spirit seems to be a split personality at times, celebration life to full during Carnaval then drowning in nostalgic melancholy of saudade. However what is constant is kindness and patience, something that Brazilians have no shortage of. Residents of Rio are called ‘Cariocas’ and are one of the many Brazilian groups that make up the kind hearted yet complicated soul of the country. Cariocas welcome everyone to their city and it’s hard not get caught up in their free-spiritedness and sensuality. Having said that, Brazil has a reputation of having one of widest gaps of income between the rich and the poor and you won’t find that more obvious then in Rio. Dating as far back as the mid-19th century, mass immigration has given birth to favelas (urban slums) that surround major cities in Brazil. Dwellings are nothing more than a few boards put together and access to fresh water, sewage, schools and healthcare is almost non-existent. Crime is rampart in the favelas and drug lords control the streets.
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When to go
December to March is the peak tourist season in Rio de Janeiro so it is best to book accommodation in advance (especially if you intend to go during Carnaval). Prices rise during this period and crowds are everywhere but this is Brazil’s festival season after all, so it is worth the bustle and noise. The low season is during the winter which is May to September (Brazil is on the other side of the equator, so summer and winter months are opposite from ours); this period is the cheapest and least crowded time to visit, with the exception of July which is school holiday month.
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Fast Facts
-Location:: Southeast of Brazil -Dialing code: country +55 (Brazil) city 21 -Emergency numbers –Please include the following:; Police:: 190; Fire:: 193
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Currency and Exchange Rates
Brazilian currency is the Reais. Coins are of 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 cents and banknotes are of 100, 50, 10, 5 and 1 Brazilian Real
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Public Holidays
• Ano Novo (New Year’s Day): January 1st • Carnaval: Friday to Tuesday, preceding Ash Wednesday, February to March. • Paixao and Pascoa (Good Friday and Easter Sunday): dates vary, March/April • Tirandentes: April 21st • Dia do Trabalho (May Day/Labour Day): May 1st • Corpus Christi: 60 days after Easter, Sunday in May/June • Dia da Independencia (Independence Day): September 7th • Dia da Nossa Senhora de Aparecida (Day of our Lady of Aparecida): October 12th • Finados (All Soul’s Day): November 2nd • Proclamacao da Republica (Proclamation of the Republic Day): November 15th • Natal (Christmas Day): December 25th
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Shopping in Rio de Janeiro
Explore 19 shopping stops, from malls, markets, and book bazaars to fashion streets and souvenir finds.
rio-de-janeiroBarra Shopping
Location: Av das Americasa 4666, Barra de Tijuca The largest shopping mall in the Barra district, it has over 500 shops, 42 restaurants and 5 cinema screens.
rio-de-janeiroSao Conrado Fashion Mall
Location: Estrada da Gavea 899, Sao Conrado Upscale boutiques are what you’ll find here.
rio-de-janeiroRio Design Centre
Location: Av das Americas 7770, Barra da Tijuca A stylish, up-scale place where you’ll find chic home furnishings and gorgeous decorative pieces.
rio-de-janeiroEmporio Brasil
Well-known for selling some of Brazil’s most beautiful art, you’ll find this place hidden behind a small shopping centre. Works are produced by local Brazilian artists including jewellery, vases, instruments and baskets.
rio-de-janeiroRio Sul
Location: Rua Lauro Muller 116, Botafogo The most centrally located shopping mall in Botafogo.
Signature sights in Rio de Janeiro
A curated pick of the city's standout sights, led by the strongest editorial recommendations.
Festivals and events in Rio de Janeiro
Plan around 13 festival seasons, public events, Ramadan/Eid periods, book fairs, art cycles, and winter food activity.
rio-de-janeiroDia de Sao Sebastiao
Date: January 20th This festival commemorates the patron saint of the city. A procession carries his image from the Igreja de Sao Sebastiao dos Capuchinos in Tijuca to the Catedral Metropolitana. When it arrives at the Catedral it is blessed in a Mass celebrated by the archbishop of Rio de Janeiro.
rio-de-janeiroDia da Fundacao da Cidade
Date: March 1st This festival celebrates the founding of the city by Estacio de Sa in 1565, with a Mass in the church of its patron saint Sao Sebastiao.
rio-de-janeiroSexta-Feira da Paixao
Date: March or April Celebrated throughout the city, this festival is all about Good Friday. A re-enactment of the Stations of the Cross under the Arcos do Lapa is carried out by more than 100 actors.
rio-de-janeiroCarnaval
Date: officially from the Friday to the Tuesday preceding Lent (Ash Wednesday is the close of the festival) This festival is what you come to Rio for!
rio-de-janeiroPortas Abertas
Date: one weekend in March and November Portas Albertas is a semi-annual festival where the artists of Saint Teresa open their studios to the public and neighbourhoods become living art installations. Dates vary so stop by the Cama e Cafe or Parque das Ruinas for current information.
Rio de Janeiro tours and experiences
Heritage walks, food crawls, coastal trips, museum circuits, family days, and guided ideas for an easier day out.
rio-de-janeiroMarcelo Armstrong Favela Tour
Tel: 3322 2727/9989 0074 Price: US $20 per person
rio-de-janeiroCultural Rio
Tel: 3322 4872/9911 3829 Duration: 4hr tour Price: US $50 per person
rio-de-janeiroLuiz Amaral Tours
Tel: 2259 5532
rio-de-janeiroPrivate Tours
Tel: 2232 9710 In existence since 1992, Pedro Novak leads excursions around the city and further out; there are also jeep tours to Tijuca and Praia de Grumari. He is multi-lingual speaking English, French, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese.
rio-de-janeiroGray Line Tours
Address: Av Niemeyer 121, Leblon Tel: 2512 9919 Price: per person US$30
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Rio de Janeiro travel guide sections
Focused sections for articles, directories, maps, and trip planning.
