Rio de Janeiro - Weekend Itinerary
Rio de Janeiro is one of the most vibrant cities in the world - carnival-clad streets combine with luscious beaches to create a fusion seldom seen anywhere else on the planet.
Attracting roughly 1.3 million international visitors a year, Rio is certainly not a destination lacking in things to do and places to see.
In one weekend, we could see all of the famous sites we wanted to see in Rio, as well as find some other hidden destinations that we will share with you.
Rio could be explored over a number of weeks, such is its vastness, but we are aware that most people will only have a limited amount of time to explore.
With that in mind, we decided to create the ultimate weekend itinerary for Rio de Janeiro. So, let’s dive into our recommendations of how to spend a weekend in Rio de Janeiro.
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Rio de Janeiro at a Glance
Language: Portuguese
Currency: Brazilian Real
Airports: Rio de Janeiro - Galeao Airport (GIG) and Santos Dumont Airport (SDU)
Best time to visit: the shoulder-season months of October/November or April/May
Highlights: Christ the Redeemer; Escadaria Selarón; Ipanema Beach; Sugarloaf Mountain; Tandem Hangliding Flight
Can I drink the tap water? Not advised unless you are using a LifeStraw to filter the water
Best Place to Stay: Hilton Copacabana
How to get from the airport(s) into the city of Rio de Janeiro:
Rio de Janeiro Galeão Airport (GIG):
Distance from the city centre - 17km
Bus - Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) operates buses from Terminal 1 arrivals and Terminal 2 arrivals. For a one-way ticket, prices typically start from around 4 Brazilian Real ($0.70).
Uber/Taxi - both are available from the airport (including designated Uber pick-up points) with prices averaging around 150 Brazilian Real ($30) for a lift to a hotel in the city.
Transfer - shuttle transfers to Rio Hotels are around $15
Want to make the most of the weekend in Rio? Then it’s best to join an organised day trip, where you get to visit all of the main sights in a fraction of the time it would take you to do it on your own. This affordable day Rio day trip takes you to Sugarloaf Mountain, Christ the Redeemer, a Brazilian Steakhouse for lunch and a trip to the Maracanã Stadium. You can check out prices and availability here.
Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport (SDU):
Distance from downtown Rio de Janeiro - 2km
Bus - Bus route 2018 takes you into downtown Rio before connecting with the other airport. Prices typically start from around 15 Brazilian Real ($2.80) for a one-way ticket bought on the bus.
Uber/Taxi - both are available from the airport (including designated Uber pick-up points) with prices averaging around 40-50 Brazilian Real (<$10) for a 20-minute journey to downtown Rio or around 70 Brazilian Real ($14) to Copacabana.
Transfer - transfer from Santos Dumont Airport around $20
Where to stay in Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro is a generally expensive place to stay, but that isn’t to say that you can’t find good deals.
We believe the best places to stay in Rio de Janeiro are the popular Copacabana and Ipanema areas. Both are lively neighbourhoods close to many bars and restaurants and, crucially, right on the shores of two of South America’s most famous beaches.
Here, we outline the 2 best recommendations for each area, including a budget-friendly hostel recommendation.
Our Rio Accommodation Recommendations
Best Hostel in Copacabana: Selina Copacabana
Best Hotel in Copacabana: Hilton Copacabana
Best Hostel in Ipanema: Mango Tree Ipanema
Best Hotel in Ipanema: Sol Ipanema Hotel
When to visit Rio de Janeiro?
The South hemisphere months between December and March are the best time to visit Rio if you want to experience sunny beach days. These months will unfortunately be the busiest as a result.
The shoulder months of Spring and Autumn, October/November and April/May, will prove to be less busy, and the weather will not be too unpredictable.
If you want to experience the famous Rio Carnival season, then February is the month you need to be planning your trip.
It is worth bearing in mind that accommodation prices will be inflated around the Carnival Season and for weekends featuring big events like the Rock in Rio Festival (typically hosted in September).
Weekend in Rio de Janeiro Itinerary
Rio is the second most populous city in Brazil and the 6th most populous in the whole of South America. Home to white sandy beaches, tranquil lagoons and mangrove-strewn mountains, the city has an incredible array of diverse environments and ecosystems.
When you throw in the mix the prospect of modern, high-rise plazas, luxury hotels by the beach and an abundance of nightlife options, Rio de Janeiro can truly cater to any traveller.
Brazil has made an international name through its world-famous carnival, talented footballing exports, and spirited samba dances. With all these tremendous accolades, it is easy to forget that the city of Rio itself has so much more to offer.
Whether you’re looking to get off the beaten path and explore the lesser visited districts of the city, or whether you want to tick everything off your Rio de Janeiro bucket list by calling at every world-famous attraction the city has in store, our 48-hour itinerary in Rio is going to help you get the most from your weekend stay.
While we visited Rio, we were at the mercy of our Rio de Janeiro Guidebook - we referred to it at pretty much every stage of our adventure and it helped us make the most of our time in Rio.
Brasil Mosaic near Escadaria Selarón
Travel note: we tried to ensure that the majority of the destinations on the weekend itinerary were accessible to one another by foot, but often there will be times where a taxi or public transport may be needed. We found Uber to be very useful in Brazil, and as one of the 27 best apps to use when travelling, we recommend you download it before arriving in Rio.
Day 1: Morning in Rio de Janeiro
We are going to start our ultimate weekend itinerary in Rio de Janeiro on the morning of your first day in the city. Naturally, this itinerary can be adapted to any weekend or long weekend stay in the city, but for ease, we are going to assume you have arrived the night before after a long-haul flight and you’re now well-rested and ready to explore everything Rio de Janeiro has to offer.
For our itinerary, we would recommend staying in either the Ipanema or Copacabana districts. Both have a lovely, vibrant atmosphere, with a number of affordable bars, restaurants and coffee shops, making them great locations to base yourself in during your stay in Rio.
View from Centro Cultural Municipal Parque das Ruínas
Centro Cultural Municipal Parque das Ruínas
Located in the Santa Teresa district of Rio, the Parque das Ruínas is a small public park that acts as a wonderful, peaceful introduction to the city.
Originally a mansion belonging to the artist Laurinda Santos Lobo in the early 20th century, the site was abandoned until 1997, when the Brazilian government purchased the area to host an architecture competition. The ruins now stand in the centre of a contemporary garden, regularly hosting live music and cultural events.
The Parque das Ruínas sits at the very top of the hill and offers unrivalled views of the surrounding bays and city below. So grab yourself an iced coffee and gaze out across the idyllic Guanabara Bay.
Your weekend in Rio de Janeiro is going to be jam-packed with incredible once-in-a-lifetime moments, so at the beginning of the weekend, take a moment to savour where you are as you admire the Atlantic Ocean in the distance.
Artist Laurinda Santos Lobo’s Mansion
Escadaria Selarón
A 5-minute walk from the Municipal Parque das Ruínas, you will find one of the signature attractions of Rio de Janeiro - the Escadaria Selarón.
Measuring over 125m in length, the Escadaria Selarón are a series of 215 steps beautifully decorated with colourful tiles and ceramic mosaics. Also known as the Selarón steps, the tiled masterpiece was the work of Chilean artist Jorge Selarón, who claimed the work was his tribute to the Brazilian people.
Selarón began renovating the dilapidated steps right outside his house as a hobby, but it soon became an obsessive passion. Thanks to his tireless effort and dedication, the Escadaria Selarón is now graced with over 2000 ceramic tiles from over 60 countries around the world.
The steps straddle the border between the Lapa and Santa Teresa districts of Rio and are frequently visited by tourists looking to catch a glimpse of the spectacular artwork.
Escadaria Selarón
Day 1: Afternoon
Hang gliding
For the main activity in the afternoon, you want to go to the city's Western side, to the beautiful urban national park of Tijuca.
Reportedly the world’s largest urban forest, a fact often disputed with Johannesburg, South Africa, Tijuca National Park is home to an incredible array of biodiversity and over 30 waterfalls.
Despite boasting astounding beauty and a number of fantastic hiking trails, one of the main draws of the national park is the chance to experience the thrill of hang-gliding over the city of Rio.
After a brief introduction to hang gliding, alongside a safety briefing and rehearsal, you take off from the Pedra Bonita Ramp hilltop ramp. You are strapped to an experienced instructor, who will lead you on a tandem hang gliding flight and the promise of a true bird’s-eye view of the city.
On your hang gliding tandem flight, you will be treated to unparalleled views of Rio’s famous beaches, Sugarloaf mountain and the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue before a smooth landing at the São Conrado beach.
Rio de Janeiro is already an incredible city from street level, but being able to experience the South American metropolis from the skies is a whole new level of adventure.
Rio de Janeiro from above
Note: the climate in Rio de Janeiro tends to be fairly warm all year round, but on a particularly windy day, hang gliding can get fairly cold. We’d recommend bringing an extra layer or two just to keep warm. As one of our packing tips for long-term travel we always recommend bringing a spare layer with you in your day bag, wherever you’re travelling to.
Ipanema / Copacabana Beach
With your feet safely back on the ground, make your way back along the coast towards the revered beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana.
No Rio de Janeiro travel itinerary can possibly think about missing out on the famous beaches, and for good reason. Ipanema and Copacabana are, arguably, the signature destinations in Rio de Janeiro and attract swathes of visitors from around the world annually.
Begin your walk along the oceanfront by taking in the sounds and smells of Ipanema - the beach perhaps best-known for inspiring the famous song ‘The Girl from Ipanema’. Along the way, you will find yourself idly wandering into a number of the open-top bars that are dotted along the shoreline.
Finish off your Caipirinha, Brazil’s signature cocktail, before heading around the bay to the equally beautiful Copacabana beach. The walk between the two beaches is a manageable 3km, and with plenty of cocktail and refreshment stops along the way, it acts as a perfect way to relax after your day’s earlier adrenaline-fuelled exploits.
Despite being a little more touristy than Ipanema, Copacabana is still a beautiful place to hang out for the afternoon and is simply unmissable when visiting Rio de Janeiro. If you’re feeling adventurous, ask one of the locals to join in a game of beach volleyball, or lie back and feel the sand between your toes.
Copacabana Beach
Day 1: Evening
Carretao Ipanema Classic Grill
Ipanema is the place you’re going to want to hang out for the evening, and there is no better venue to start in than the Carretao Ipanema Classic Grill. If you want to experience the real flavours of Brazil, then this place cannot be missed.
The Carretao Ipanema, located 2 streets inland from Ipanema Beach, is a traditional steakhouse serving a full all-you-can-eat style buffet. Hosts come around to your table with an ensemble of barbequed meats, ranging from the finest Brazilian steaks to prime ribs straight from the bone.
You are given a little card when you are sat at your table, that is to remain face up until you have had enough food. At this point, you flip over the card, and the hosts will know that you have finished sampling all the meats on offer.
You will have had a very busy day up to this point and will no doubt have built up quite the appetite, so treating yourself to an all-you-can-eat buffet of the finest Brazilian meats at the Carretao Ipanema is the least you deserve. In terms of authentic culinary experiences in Rio de Janeiro, it is hard to beat.
With a full stomach, you have the choice of wandering back down the beachfront of Ipanema to soak in some of the iconic nightlife, or simply head back towards your accommodation for an early night, before another full day of exploring resumes in the morning.
Ipanema Beach
Day 2: Morning
Sugarloaf Mountain
You’re going to start your second day in the lively Rio de Janeiro by visiting one of the most iconic spots in the city, Sugarloaf Mountain.
Named after its resemblance to the concentrated refined loaf sugar, the mountain towers over Guanabara Bay, rising 396m above the harbour. While a 2-hour hike offers the chance to explore Rio’s forests as you ascend your way up Sugarloaf Mountain, by far the more popular route to the top is through the famous cable car system.
Taking the cable car to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain actually involves taking two separate rides. The first cable car takes you from the sea-level station at Morro da Babilônia to Morro da Urca, the first of the two peaks that form the iconic skyline. The second cable car takes you further on to the actual Sugarloaf Mountain peak itself.
In terms of providing panoramic views of a city, the cable car ride up to Sugarloaf Mountain is unrivalled.
Once you reach the summit, there are a number of cafes and little shops, as well a small forested area to walk around. In truth, though, once you make it to the summit, all you want to do is stare out across the bay and beyond.
Returning back to ground level can be done by riding the cable car back down or choosing the hiking trail through the forest. On the way down, the trail is fairly straightforward and only takes around an hour or so.
Stress-free tour option: if you prefer to have an organised tour and guide for major cultural attractions in the cities you visit, then we would certainly recommend the Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain tour
Sugarloaf Mountain Cable Car
Christ the Redeemer
As if Sugarloaf Mountain wasn’t quite enough, the next step on your weekend adventure in Rio de Janeiro is one of the most recognisable monuments on the planet and one of the world's new wonders.
Christ the Redeemer is a 30 metre (98 feet) high statue of Jesus Christ, erected between 1922 and 1931. Created by French sculptor Paul Landowski and built by Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa, the statue is a symbol of Christianity across the world. It has become a significant cultural icon of both Rio de Janeiro and Brazil more widely.
In terms of reaching the statue itself, you have 3 different options. You can either hike to the top, take a van, or, the most exciting and most traditional, ride the cog train.
Hiking up Corcovado mountain through the Tijuca National Park is a beautiful way to reach the statue, but a number of unfortunate thefts and muggings on tourists have reduced the appeal to most visitors.
Safety advice: one of the things you should know before visiting South America is that the continent isn’t as dangerous as people make out. On the whole, our experiences in South America, and particularly Brazil, were all pleasant. Just remember that thieves are likely to target really touristy areas, so just be sensible, and you should be absolutely fine.
Christ the Redeemer
A van ride up the mountain is the cheapest of the two transport options, but we wouldn’t recommend it over the cog train.
Riding through the forest on the cog train is part of the overall appeal and experience of visiting Christ the Redeemer, and it would be a shame to skip out on the opportunity.
The cog train ride begins at the Trem do Corcovado station, and throughout the 20-minute journey, you are treated to beautiful views of the forests and city of Rio de Janeiro.
Once you reach the end of the cog train line, it is a short hike up to the base of the statue. This hike, though brief, does involve a number of steep steps. The reward, however, is a breathtaking view from directly underneath the famous monument.
More than likely, there will be a flurry of activity surrounding the base of the statue, but you should find it reasonably easy to find a little spot to grab your photos in peace.
Visiting Christ the Redeemer is sure to be the highlight of your weekend in Rio de Janeiro.
Day 2: Afternoon
Botanical Gardens
After a busy morning exploring the busy sites of Sugarloaf and Cristo Redentor, it is time to unwind and relax in the afternoon.
The beautiful Botanical Gardens are a short 5km taxi ride from the Trem do Corcovado station and offer the rare chance, in a city of over 6 and a half million people, to find relative peace and tranquillity.
Strolling around, soaking up the 6500 species of flora and fauna that are present within the garden boundaries, you’d be forgiven for thinking you were actually on one of the many tropical islands scattered around the shores of Rio.
Escaping the hustle and bustle of the city, you can reflect on the incredible adventures you have had during your 48-hour stay in Rio de Janeiro.
Rio de Janeiro Botanical Gardens - ©GetYourGuide
Parque Lage
The equally tranquil Parque Lage is a short 30-minute walk from the botanical gardens, still within the Jardim Bôtanico district.
The public park, the former residence of industrialist Henrique Lage and his wife, singer Gabriella Besanzoni, is home to a number of walking trails that take you through the subtropical forest.
You may even spot a monkey or two feasting in the tree canopy high above the trails if you're lucky.
Located at the foot of Corcovado Mountain, the public park also boasts a cafe in the former mansion of Lage - a wonderful place to relax and regain your energy, ready for your final evening in Rio de Janeiro.
Parque Lage
Tour option: it is possible to do a guided tour of the Botanical Gardens and Parque Lage. This is a great option for those travellers that prefer to learn more about the places they are visiting.
Day 2: Evening
Garota de Ipanema
There is no better way to spend your last night in the city than soaking up the atmosphere in the lively Ipanema district. Ipanema has featured on both evenings of our weekend travel itinerary in Rio de Janeiro, and for a good reason - the fusion of bars, cafes, restaurants, and nightlife makes for a buoyant, entertaining evening.
There is no place that better typifies the spirit of Ipanema than the Garota de Ipanema bar. In this pub, composers Antônio Carlos Jobim and Vinícius de Moraes wrote their famous hit song.
Formerly known as the Veloso bar-café, the Garota de Ipanema bar is a rather modest bar serving draft beers and a casual food menu that can act as a springboard for exploring the sounds and sights of the wonderful Ipanema district.
Follow in the footsteps of the eponymous girl from Ipanema and head down to the beach for one final cocktail in front of the charming Guanabara Bay - the final destination on our perfect weekend itinerary in Rio de Janeiro.
Day tour options from Rio de Janeiro
Angra dos Reis Boat Trip with Lunch
Rio de Janeiro is a city that would take months, if not years, to become fully acquainted with. The twisting, bustling side streets could be explored for hours and hours. But for those needing a stricter schedule, we hope our travel itinerary for Rio de Janeiro has pointed you in the right direction.
When we were on our 6-week backpacking trip through South America, we could only afford a whistlestop tour of Rio. Although we did manage to squeeze a lot into our stay, it is certainly a city we would love to return to one day and explore in greater detail.
We are going to introduce you to some of the best packing tips for long-term travel that we have found throughout the years. We will guide through what to pack, how to pack, and how much you need to pack for long-term travel.