Good morning, Rio

Golden beaches, stunning sunsets and bossa nova rhythms – it’s no wonder that Rio de Janeiro is called Cidade Maravilhosa (Marvelous City). Get comfy at home and enjoy this virtual trip.

MORNING

We’re starting the day off with some mellow guitar rhythms, dreamy views and a brief language class. Ready?

Home of bossa nova

Rio has a special place in music history. When a group of students, artists and musicians came together in the late 1950s on the tropical beaches of Rio, bossa nova was born. Combining soft samba with traditional Brazilian rhythms and American jazz, this music is made for slow days.
Close your eyes and you’ll be transported to Ipanema Beach with this bossa nova playlist.

Listen here

Explore with one click

Rio has so many amazing sights. While you get busy making your very own must-see list, we’ve assembled a little virtual tour to start you off.
📍Christ the Redeemer
📍Enrique Lage Park
📍Copacabana Beach
📍Selaron Steps

Start here

Helicopter ride

Hop in a helicopter and enjoy the city from above.

Watch video

AFTERNOON

Time for lunch. Take a break to get energized, then it’s time to discover a bit of culture and history. And if you have kids, entertain them with a Rio-themed activity.

Talk like a local

Portuguese speakers will quickly notice the distinct accent spoken in Rio, known as the carioca accent. It’s the most widely recognized in Brazil, partly because the second-largest television network in the world is headquartered in Rio.
Ready for some Portuguese?

Start the class

Olá / Oi (informal)

Hello

Como você está?/Como está?/Como tá? (informal)/E aí? (informal)

How are you?

Tchau (informal)/Adeus (formal)

Goodbye

Bom dia/Boa tarde/Boa noite

Good morning/good afternoon/good night

Lunch time

There’s nothing more soothing than cooking a hearty Brazilian feijoada with bossa nova in the background.

Try recipe

Afternoon at the museum

Explore all the possibilities of the future at the Museum of Tomorrow

Start the tour

Fun facts

Rio was home to one of the biggest football (aka soccer) upsets in history when Brazil lost to Uruguay in 1950. Almost 200,000 people witnessed the defeat of the national team, and the silence of the fans was so loud, they gave it a name: Maracanazo.

Rio de Janeiro City Guide

At home with kids?

We’ve got you covered. Get them excited for their trip to Rio de Janeiro with this fun coloring activity.

Download it here

EVENING

Nighttime in Rio means samba, drinks and delicious food.

Happy hour

When life gives you lemons… make a caipirinha!

Here’s the recipe

Grab a bite

Craving a local bite? Grab some authentic Brazilian food for pickup or delivery. Find just the spot in your neighborhood on OpenTable.

Search OpenTable

Cultural encounters

Rio is the setting of many movies, TV series and popular Brazilian soap operas. Additionally, great writers were born here, so there’s plenty of literature to add to your list.

Book

This classic book is told by a protagonist who narrates his own life story from beyond the grave.

Binge-watch

Thinking about traveling back in time to experience bossa nova in the 1950s? This movie tells the story of a woman who heads to Rio to meet up with her husband, only to find out that he’s left her. She decides to stay and open a bossa nova club.

Movie

This iconic Brazilian movie follows the life of a young boy growing up in one of Rio’s most notorious slums.

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