Rio de Janeiro travelogue — Copacabana, Sugarloaf Mountain & Christ the Redeemer statue
- Buffet plates in Rio: approximately 2.50 euros, weighed at around 70 cents per 100 grams
- Beer or freshly mixed Caipirinha: 2 euros — even on the beach
- Christ statue on Corcovado: 30 meters High, entrance fee plus train fare approx. 15 euros
- Sugarloaf: approximately 40 minutes steep uphill climb, second stage only accessible by gondola
- Carnival cancelled — but accommodations still cost at least twice as much.
Contents of this post17 chapters
- 1Museu do Amanhã😊
- 2Science, technology and knowledge in sustainability🌿
- 3Escadaria Selarón😊
- 4Christ the Redeemer🤩
- 5Walk over the market
- 6Carnival🥳
- 7Beach Meet up ☀️
- 8Pão de Açucar
- 9Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro
- 10Next Stop: Cumbuco
- 11Rio de Janeiro sights between city and beach
- 12Rio de Janeiro travel report: Combining culture and views
- 13Sugarloaf Mountain Tips: Pão de Açúcar on foot and by gondola
- 14Practical Rio de Janeiro tips for food and carnival
- 15Content from Rio de Janeiro for Tourism Boards
- 16Relevant travel reports
- 17Frequently Asked Questions
🥗🥗 Food in Brazil is simply amazing! 🥗 🥗
There are cheap buffet restaurants on every corner (plate portion about 2.50 euros! 🤑) & here you really have everything to choose from, whether healthy 🥦, greasy 🍔, vegetarian 🥬 or grilled 🍗! The plates are weighed (about 70 cents per 100 g). Beer or a delicious Caipirinha freshly mixed will cost you 2 euros (also at the beach!). I especially LOVE Acai, whether as a milkshake, ice cream, or bowl! It just tastes SUPER 😍!
When shopping, every little thing is packed in an extra bag. Usually even directly in 2! Whatever 🤷♀️
We've gotten used to always bringing a cloth bag 🤓
Museu do Amanhã
Museum of Tomorrow
Science, Technology, and Knowledge in Sustainability 🌿
The museum was super interesting! But also somewhat frightening to see the "expected" future of the world… 🥺
Every day is great with my sweetheart! 🥰
Escadaria Selarón
by the artist Jorge Selarón
He called it "my homage to the Brazilian people".
You can't believe how crowded it was 🤯! People formed whole lines to get the "perfect" photo on the colorful steps 📸.
We just took one on the side 🤓. At 35 degrees and a lot of steps, we don't need to climb to the highest step 😝
Christ the Redeemer
… one of the 7 new wonders of the world…
The Christ the Redeemer statue on Corcovado Mountain was really impressive at 30 meters high! 😯
But at least as cool was the amazing view! 🔨
And not to forget: the cool train ride through the jungle! 🍃
Cost: about 15 euros per person for entry + train ride // Tip: the earlier, the better & book on the official website! 😉
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Walk over the market
Ohhh how I love markets! You never know what to eat or drink first.
Super cheap, freshly squeezed juice and traditional food! Yummy! 🤤 Yummy!🤤
Karneval
A little taste of it 🎉
Once again, our dear friend Corona spoiled the fun for us ☹️. The carnival was canceled. Of course, the hotel prices were not canceled though, they were totally overpriced. Accommodations were at least twice as expensive as usual and almost fully booked weeks in advance 💸. Nevertheless, some people still partied in the streets. Most people were dressed liberally or in funny costumes 🤡. Many men and women were topless and mostly wore thongs or swimsuits 👙. It was absolutely crazy. Everywhere, there was a good mood. People were covered in glitter, painted in bright colors, and dancing wildly in the streets 💃🕺!
The fact is: We want to experience the real carnival! That's why we're coming back at the end of April (new date for this year's carnival).
Beach Meet-up
That's why I love Facebook so much! We found a great group that regularly meets up at the beach.
Together, we chatted a lot and enjoyed some delicious passion fruit cocktails! 😍
Afterwards, we indulged in some delicious pizza! 🤤🍕
Pão de Açucar
Hike to Sugarloaf
It took about 40 minutes steep uphill. We were surrounded by magnificent plant life! 🌿
Unfortunately, we didn't see any monkeys or snakes, but we did see a Blue-chinned Sapphire hummingbird 😍
Good to know:
It is also possible to take the cable car up. There are two stages. You can hike up to the first stage, but you need a cable car ticket for the second stage!
The next few days, we saw the beautiful
Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro
☀️☀️ Small conclusion from Rio de Janeiro ☀️:
Rio is totally beautiful 🥰! The wide beaches, the delicious food, the fruity cocktails, the party-crazy people, and the impressive sights.
Unfortunately, there are, as in almost every country, also downsides here… Every day you are confronted full-on with the homelessness of people. They lie around randomly on the sidewalks. Among them, the garbage and one, two cockroaches. Feet as black as I have never seen them in my life. Some beg, some desperately try to sell something, and others just lie motionless. Definitely, there are also drugs in play more often. One day I even saw a child lying on the sidewalk. Opposite him, his father. Just terrible… 😔
But now it's time to say goodbye to Rio again! 👋🏻
We'll see you again soon! Keep your fingers crossed that the carnival won't be canceled again!
Next Stop: Cumbuco
Rio de Janeiro sights between city and beach
Rio de Janeiro combines expansive beaches with striking viewpoints and a diverse range of attractions throughout the city. For easier planning, Copacabana and the other destinations can be arranged sequentially: the Museum of Tomorrow, the Selarón Steps, the Christ the Redeemer statue on Corcovado Mountain, Sugarloaf Mountain, and the Rio de Janeiro Cathedral. A market complements this selection with freshly squeezed juice and traditional food.
Copacabana and Rio de Janeiro on the beach
Copacabana is one of the defining names of any trip to Rio de Janeiro. The expansive beaches aren't the only attraction: freshly mixed caipirinhas are served on the beach, and a group found through Facebook met there regularly. Anyone looking to connect with others during their trip can therefore look for relevant groups. This particular meeting included conversation and a passion fruit cocktail, followed by pizza.
A reusable shopping bag is incredibly practical when you're out and about. When shopping, even the smallest item ended up in its own bag, sometimes even two at once. Bringing your own bag eliminates at least some of that waste. It's a simple travel tip that can be easily incorporated into a day at the beach or in the city without any extra planning.
Rio de Janeiro travel report: Combining culture and views
Rio de Janeiro attractions: Museu do Amanhã and Escadaria Selarón
The Museu do Amanhã (Museum of Tomorrow) is dedicated to science, technology, knowledge, and sustainability. The possible future of the world depicted there can be not only interesting but also frightening. As a cultural attraction, the museum thus offers a stark contrast to beaches, viewpoints, and markets.
The Escadaria Selarón was created by the artist Jorge Selarón, who described it as his homage to the Brazilian people. Lines formed at the colorful staircase, all eager for the perfect photo on the platform. In the 35-degree heat, a photo taken from the side was a convenient alternative to climbing to the top. Those who plan their visit to both locations combine future-oriented themes with a vibrant work of art in the urban landscape.
Rio de Janeiro landmark: Christ the Redeemer statue on Corcovado Mountain
The 30-meter-high Christ the Redeemer statue atop Corcovado Mountain is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. A visit includes not only the statue and the view, but also the train ride through the jungle. The entrance fee and train ride cost approximately €15 per person. A tip: arrive as early as possible and book through the official website. This way, your itinerary will include the route up, the time, and the booking process for this attraction.
Sugarloaf Mountain Tips: Pão de Açúcar on foot and by gondola
Sugarloaf Mountain can be partially hiked. The steep climb to the first step took about 40 minutes and led through magnificent flora. No monkeys or snakes were seen, but a blue-chinned emerald hummingbird did. This sighting is part of the described route and is not a guarantee for further hikes.
Sugarloaf Tips for the two levels
The Pão de Açúcar climb is divided into two stages: The first stage can be reached on foot. Alternatively, a gondola ride to the top is also possible. A gondola ticket is required for the second stage in any case. Those who wish to hike can therefore plan for the approximately 40-minute steep section for the first stage and factor in the ticket for the continuation.
Together with Corcovado, there are two different ways to reach the viewpoint: at Sugarloaf Mountain, you can choose between hiking and taking the cable car, while at the Christ the Redeemer statue, the train ride is part of the described visit. This allows both destinations to be planned separately without confusing the different modes of transport.
Practical Rio de Janeiro tips for food and carnival
Buffet, market and drinks in Rio de Janeiro
In Rio, buffet restaurants offering healthy, fatty, vegetarian, and grilled dishes are found on many street corners. Plates are weighed, with prices quoted at around 70 cents per 100 grams and approximately €2.50 for a plateful. Beer or a freshly mixed caipirinha cost about €2, even on the beach. Açaí was available as a milkshake, ice cream, or in a bowl.
The market offers very reasonably priced freshly squeezed juice and traditional food. Those who enjoy discovering a variety of food and drinks can therefore consider the market as a separate stop alongside a buffet restaurant. The prices mentioned are from the travel report and are not current price guarantees.
Rio de Janeiro: Tips for accommodations around Carnival
Carnival was cancelled during the stay described. Nevertheless, accommodations cost at least twice as much as usual and were almost fully booked weeks in advance. Despite this, some people still celebrated in the streets in fun costumes, with glitter and colorful face paint. For travel planning, this experience primarily demonstrates that the accommodation situation around Carnival can be strained even if it is cancelled.
Rio, besides its beaches, food, and sights, also reveals its darker side. The travelogue explicitly includes homelessness, litter, and drugs in its conclusion. These observations are as much a part of the overall picture as the beautiful places and should not be ignored.
Content from Rio de Janeiro for Tourism Boards
Tourism boards planning professional content about Rio de Janeiro, including beaches, attractions, and city experiences, can find more information about possible formats on the page for collaboration.
Relevant travel reports
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does food cost in Rio de Janeiro?
There are inexpensive buffet restaurants on every corner: a plateful costs around €2.50, weighed at about 70 cents per 100 grams. You can get a beer or a freshly mixed caipirinha for €2, even on the beach.
How much does it cost to visit the Christ the Redeemer statue?
Around €15 per person for entry and the train ride. My tip: the earlier the better, and book on the official website. The statue is 30 meters high, and the train ride through the jungle is at least as cool as the view.
Can I hike up to Sugarloaf Mountain?
There are two levels. You can hike up the first one—for us it was about a 40-minute steep climb, surrounded by magnificent flora. For the second level you need a gondola ticket.
How do I connect with people in Rio?
Via Facebook. We found a group that meets regularly at the beach — chatting, cocktails, then pizza.
When is the best time to visit the Christ the Redeemer statue on Corcovado?
Go as early as possible in the day and book through the official website. The visit includes the train ride through the jungle and the view.
How much does the food cost at the weigh-in buffet in Rio?
The weight is approximately 70 cents per 100 grams, a plateful costs about 2.50 euros (as of the article's date).
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