Day 1: The Essential Rio in 24 Hours
Christ the Redeemer & Cosme Velho
Start early at Cristo Redentor, the iconic 30-metre Art Deco statue atop Corcovado. Take the cog train from Cosme Velho station (R$95 return, book online). The view from the top (Sugarloaf, Copacabana, Guanabara Bay, and the city sprawling between mountains and ocean) is one of the most spectacular on earth. Arrive by 8am to beat the clouds and crowds.
Copacabana & Ipanema Beaches
Metro to Copacabana for the world's most famous beach: 4km of sand, football games, and carioca culture. Walk the mosaic boardwalk designed by Burle Marx. Continue to Ipanema beach: younger, trendier, and home to the famous sunset behind the Dois Irmãos (Two Brothers) mountains. Grab an açaí bowl from a beach vendor (R$15–25) and a caipirinha from a kiosk (R$15–20).
Lapa: Samba & Nightlife
Lapa is Rio's legendary nightlife district. Start at the Escadaria Selarón, a mosaic staircase of 250 steps covered in tiles from around the world. Walk under the Arcos da Lapa aqueduct to the bar-lined streets. Pedra do Sal on Mondays has outdoor samba with hundreds of people dancing in the street. Drinks are R$10–15 for beer. Rio Scenarium is a multi-floor samba club in a colonial building (cover R$40–60).
