50 Essential Must Dos While in Rio

If you think Rio de Janeiro is only beaches, think again! Museums, parks, bars, waterfalls, hikes, music… the list of what to do while in Rio is infinite. It’s not by chance that Rio’s nickname is Cidade Maravilhosa. It’s a city that embraces diversity and offers activities for all tastes and styles.

Being a pseudo carioca who has lived here almost my entire life, I confess to being deeply in love with the city. Therefore, I want to share with you my list of 50 essential must dos while in Rio:

Enjoy!

Stroll through Jardim Botânico before having a few chopps at Baixo Gávea (better known as BG)
Dance the samba in Lapa at Bar Carioca da Gema
Eat queijo coalho and dance forró at the Feira de São Cristóvão aka Centro Luiz Gonzaga de Tradições Nordestinas
Take the children to the Planetarium in Leblon
Go cachaça tasting at Academia da Cachaça in either the Barra or Leblon
Eat carne-seca at Jobi in Leblon (if you can get a table)
Take a tandem hang gliding flight from Pedra Bonita in São Conrado

Spend an afternoon at the Paço Imperial
Rent bikes and pedal around the Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas
Spend a Saturday at the Cobal shopping for organic fruit and veggies
Go to a concert at Sala Cecília Meireles
Relax while having breakfast at the Parque Lage in Jardim Botânico
Eat Biscoito Globo and drink mate limão on Leblon beach

Have your photo stamped on a plate at Pão de Açúcar (corny, but why not?)
Look for your apartment or hotel from Corcovado
See an art exhibit at MAM (the Museum of Modern Art) on the Aterro do Flamengo
Go to a Fla-Flu game at Maracanã

Listen to a Gregorian chant at the Mosteiro de São Bento on a Sunday morning
Drink batidas de coco at Bar do Oswaldo in the Barrinha
Go to a Sunday concert at the Theatro Municipal
See Getúlio Vargas’ bed at Museu da República (a bit morbid, but why not)
Eat moqueca at Bira’s in Guaratiba
Give homage to Iemanjá, the goddess of the sea, on Copacabana beach a few days before New Year’s Eve

Have lunch downtown at Confeitaria Colombo
Take the bondinho up to Santa Teresa to visit the Museu Chácara do Céu
While in Santa Teresa, eat carne do sol at any of the botecos
Visit N.S. da Glória church
Get inked in Arpoador at the Galeria River

Have afternoon tea at Forte de Copacabana while watching the lights go on on Av. Atlântica
Drink a graviola juice at Bibi Sucos in Leblon
Watch a film at Instituto Moreira Salles in Gávea
Explore and experience applied sciences of the future at the Museu do Amanhã
Check out the ceramics at the Museu de Folclore Edison Carneiro
Eat seafood and watch live Brazilian popular music at Casarão Ameno Rosedá
Marvel at the books at the the Real Gabinete Português de Leitura downtown

Eat chicken hearts and linguiça with molho à campanha and farofa at Galeto Leblon
Stroll along the Claudio Coutinho path in Urca at sunset
Walk to the waterfall in Paineiras
Go to a rehearsal at the Salgueiro Samba School, and dance the samba!
Parade with a samba school at the Sambódromo