"Cidade Maravilhosa" - Rio de Janeiro

The area of Rio de Janeiro and the South American coastal strip of what is now Brazil was settled by Arawak and Carib indigenous peoples before the arrival of the Spanish seafarer Vincent Yáñez Pinzón in the 1500s. A few months after the Spanish discoverer, the Portuguese sailor Pedro Alvarez Cabral visited the newly discovered world of South America and sailed with his crew off the coast of what is now Rio de Janeiro. This gave Portugal and Spain the power to settle their colonies, which prohibited other European nations from colonising the newly discovered world. In 1502, Portuguese explorers reach the coast of what is now Rio de Janeiro, and in 1530 they collaborate with European nations to establish 15 administrative districts. 25 years later, hundreds of French colonists settled the islands of Guanabara Bay and created the colony of La France Antarctique.

Exactly 10 years after the establishment of the French colony in 1565, the Portuguese monarchy, headed by the Portuguese warlord Estácio de Sá, seizes the territory of La France Antarctique and establishes the city of Sã Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro. The battle between the Portuguese and the French colony lasted two years, as long as it took for the French colony to withdraw from the area of the newly established city. Sebastian I of Portugal builds the Portuguese fortress of São Tiago da Misericórdia in São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro after his victory and attack on the French fortress of Uruçú-mirim on the former hill of Morro do Castelo. In the second half of the 17th century, São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro becomes the seat of government of the Portuguese administrative units, home to more than half of the Indians and African slaves who profit the Portuguese colony by extracting sugar from sugar cane plantations.

A travelling plan

Brazil is a major cultural centre and the largest Latin American country, with 3,800 museums to visit. The capital of Rio de Janeiro State consists of 50 central museums with permanent and temporary collections of historical and artistic artefacts from South American and European history. Much of Rio de Janeiro's culture is the Catholic faith, which has dominated Brazil since the early 16th century. The Monument to Christ the Redeemer, 38 metres high on Corcovado Mountain, is the largest monument in South America and can be seen from all districts of Rio de Janeiro. Gardens, national parks and hiking trails with tropical forests and views of vast sandy beaches from beneath the mountainous landscape of the state and the capital, Rio de Janeiro, are the tourist attractions to discover on group or solo trips. To visit some of the most popular tourist attractions, check out the following offers:

• Maracanã Stadium or Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho
• AquaRio Aquarium - South America's largest marine aquarium
• Statue of Christ the Savior — the largest statue made in Art Deco style
• Botanical Garden or Jardim Botânico and entrance to Parque Lage
• Tijuca National Park and 696 meters high Pedra Bonita Mountain
• Pedro do Telégrafo with a view of Pedro da Bigorno

On a museum tour with a visit to the Maracanã Stadium - Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho, the largest marine aquarium in South America, AquaRio, the statue of Christ the Redeemer with a train ride to Corcovado Mountain, the Jardim Botânico Botanical Garden with an entrance to the Parque Lage, Tijuca National Park and the Pedra Bonita Mountains and the Pedra do Telegrafo with its unique view from the Pedra da Bigorna rock. Learn all about the history of football, the marine ecosystem, botany and other natural and cultural attractions. By participating in the tour, you get to know and experience the culture of Rio de Janeiro and the tropical environment, where you can spend the rest of the day at the two sandy beaches of Grumari and Prainha.

Rio de Janeiro itinerary

With a tropical temperament and inviting neighbourhoods along a sandy coastline, Rio de Janeiro is nothing more than a popular tourist destination, welcoming 5 million tourists annually. A tourist hub with two more vibrant neighbourhoods, Copacabana and Ipanema, where various events take place, it quickly becomes the centre for every traveller in Rio de Janeiro. Some restaurants, bars, and clubs offer both traditionally prepared beverage dishes and nightly parties with a diverse musical experience. Live music parties and electronic music clubs bring together people from Latin American countries and visitors from all over the world. The surrounding area of the Copacabana and Ipanema neighbourhoods in the Lagoa district comprises a marine lagoon with the richest neighbourhood in South America, where there are cycle paths and parks such as the Parque Natural Municipal da Catacumba, ParCão Lagoa, Parque das Figueiras, Parque dos Patins, Parque Lage, etc.

The best way to explore the cuisine and culture, as well as the fun and relaxation of the South American capital, Rio de Janeiro, is with a traveller's itinerary plan, which tells you everything you need to know about the capital's culture on your trip. The free digital edition of the Accessible Rio de Janeiro city guide contains four chapters that include everything about trip planning, exploring the capital, survival issues, and city locations with city maps. For a free edition of the Rio de Janeiro Guide, read the article in the online magazine Globetrotter Rio de Janeiro with or without masks and tips from additional content for self-guided trips in Rio de Janeiro.

An active day with daily trips

Rio de Janeiro offers a variety of activities for day trips in and out of the city. The area around the centre of Rio de Janeiro offers many hiking trails and paths leading to the top of the surrounding hills. Water springs, exceptional views and tropical flora with the bustle of the city offer travellers peace and relaxation. Sports opportunities by hiking to the natural attractions of Morro Dois Irmãos, Pico da Tijuca, Pedra da Gávea, Pista Cláudio Coutinho and Wodospad Gruta are excursion points for outdoor activities. You can also fly a kite on Pedra Bonita Mountain from a height of 525 meters, where you can enjoy the views of Copacabana, Ipanema and the sea lagoon Lagoa. A trip outside Rio de Janeiro with five stops on the islands of Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande, where swimming with colourful tropical fish and deep-sea snorkelling is organised, invites you to lunch in a fishing village. Make stops to discover the blue lagoon and the beaches of Cataguases, Japariz and Araçá.

Active leisure time on holiday in Rio de Janeiro is also a gondola ride that connects Morro da Urca and Sugarloaf mountains. The ride to the first mountain, Morro da Urca, is three minutes long, with panoramic views of the city, and continues for another three minutes to Sugarloaf Mountain. You can also see the surroundings of Guanabara Bay with the 13-kilometre Rio-Niterói Bridge, the Christ the Redeemer Monument and Sugarloaf Mountain on the Yup Star panoramic bicycle. The 88-meter-tall panoramic bicycle in Porto Maravilha displays, among others, the tourist attractions of the Cidade do Samba cultural centre, the Central do Brasil clock tower, and the Museum of Tomorrow. You can wear a parade costume, learn behind the scenes of the Rio Carnival and master the dance moves of the samba. Take photos in brilliant costumes ready for the carnival, and toast the end of the tour with a Caipirinha cocktail.

Why Rio de Janeiro?

When you think about travelling and ask yourself questions about the tourist destination you would like to visit, you certainly think about everything that defines the culture of a particular nation. Why to Rio de Janeiro, a tropical environment, the answer is simple. Friendly locals, excellent cuisine, sandy beaches and outstanding scenery are all part of the Rio de Janeiro culture. A well-organised trip also includes accommodation where you can take the time you need to sleep. Choosing this time El Misti Ipanema hostel in the heart of the Ipanema neighbourhood, just 3 minutes from the beach, is the right choice for anyone with a desire for HI accommodation and its services. El Misti Ipanema's hostel management will arrange for you to experience Rio de Janeiro all day and night. For travellers planning a trip to Rio de Janeiro, we recommend spending your holiday in a relaxed neighbourhood on the surfing beach of Ipanema.

Did you know?

• The famous Escadaria Selarón stairs were the scene of many commercials by famous brands and musicians.
• Traditionally prepared Feijoada stew contains beans with beef or pork.
• Rio Carnival was first organised in Rio de Janeiro in 1723.
• The Portuguese call the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro the "January River", when the bay was discovered, thinking it is the mouth of the local river.
• Popular Brazilian street fast food with filling is Pastel, Tapioca Recheada and Coxinha.
• The Metropolitana de São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro Cathedral is designed by Edgar de Oliveira da Fonseca in the Mesoamerican tradition of the architectural style of the former Mayan civilisation of Central America.

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