15 Best Things to Do in Rio de Janeiro

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   Botanical Garden

   Park & nature

   Rio's Jardim Botânico is a serene, green escape at the foot of the forested hills below Corcovado, founded over two centuries ago and now home to thousands of plant species across formal avenues and…

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   Theatro Municipal (Rio de Janeiro)

   Landmark

   The Theatro Municipal is an opera house in the Centro district of Rio de Janeiro, built in the early 20th century.

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   Tijuca National Park

   Park & natureFree entry

   Tijuca National Park is an urban national park in the mountains of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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   Sugarloaf Mountain

   Landmark

   Sugarloaf Mountain is a 396-meter peak on a peninsula at the mouth of Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro.

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5. 5
   

   Christ the Redeemer (statue)

   Landmark

   Christ the Redeemer is an Art Deco statue of Jesus at the peak of Corcovado mountain in Rio de Janeiro's Tijuca National Park.

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   National Museum of Brazil

   Museum

   The National Museum of Brazil, located in the Paço de São Cristóvão (former imperial palace) in Rio de Janeiro, is the country's oldest scientific institution.

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   Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden

   Park & nature

   The Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden is a lush 140-hectare sanctuary founded in 1808, home to more than 6,000 plant species.

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   Maracanã Stadium

   Landmark

   Maracanã Stadium, officially Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho, is a football stadium in the Maracanã neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro.

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   Escadaria Selarón

   Landmark

   Escadaria Selarón, also called the Lapa Steps, is a world-famous staircase in Rio de Janeiro.

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    Museum of Tomorrow

    Museum

    The Museum of Tomorrow is a science museum in Rio de Janeiro, designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava.

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    Banco do Brasil Cultural Center (Rio de Janeiro)

    Museum

    The Banco do Brasil Cultural Center (CCBB Rio de Janeiro) is a large cultural space on Primeiro de Março Street, opposite Largo da Candelária, in Rio’s Central Zone.

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    National Historical Museum (Brazil)

    Museum

    The National Historical Museum in Rio de Janeiro holds over 287,000 items, including the largest numismatic collection in Latin America.

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    Carioca Aqueduct

    Landmark

    The Carioca Aqueduct, also known as Arcos da Lapa, is an 18th-century aqueduct in Rio de Janeiro's Lapa neighborhood.

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14. 14
    

    Rio de Janeiro Cathedral

    Religious site

    The Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian, also known as the Rio de Janeiro Cathedral, is a modern Catholic cathedral in the center of Rio de Janeiro.

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    Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro

    Neighborhood

    Copacabana is a neighbourhood in Rio de Janeiro's South Zone, best known for its 4 km (2.5 mile) beach along the Atlantic shore.

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That covers the heavyweights. Browse by category for the rest.