Enclosed by green mountains on one side and traced by white-sand beaches on the other, it’s not surprising that Rio de Janeiro is also referred to as Cidade Maravilhosa (Marvelous City). The metropolitan city that now huddles against hilltops was first established by the Portuguese navigator Goncalo Coelho in 1502 and has since been growing rapidly in size and importance. Rio de Janeiro acted as Brazil’s capital city until 1960, when Brasilia took over the title. Nowadays, Rio is known for its sport and music scene, including the world-famous carnival.
You should always pre-book your flight and hotel in Rio de Janeiro. Coming from the UK, you can take flights from Dublin to Rio de Janeiro or reach Rio de Janeiro via Cork. International flights arrive at the Aeroporto International Galeão, from which you can take a taxi or bus. For city breaks in Rio de Janeiro you will receive a visa on arrival. Check the specific requirements prior to your departure. Once you pass immigration, make sure that your passport was stamped. Keep your immigration landing card in a safe place, as you will need it for departure.
You will find ATMs and money exchange services at the airport where you can get your hands on Brazilian Real, the local currency. Even though Rio de Janeiro hosted the 2014 Football World Cup, the use of English is still limited. Learning a few Portuguese phrases before booking your flight and hotel in Rio de Janeiro will make your life a lot easier and put a smile on locals’ faces.
The climate in Rio de Janeiro is temperate throughout the year. With an average temperature of 25°C, June, July and August are the coolest months. During the hotter months between December and March the average temperature rises to 35° and humidity increases. It is also the rainy season.
If you want to use your weekend in Rio de Janeiro to experience the world-famous carnival which happens every year just before Lent, you need to book early in advance. To avoid crowded beaches and strike better deals you should plan city breaks in Rio de Janeiro during the winter months. There really is no bad time to go.
Your package holidays in Rio de Janeiro give you the opportunity to explore the countless activities the city has on offer. You can visit cultural sights on day-long city tours. For the more adventurous travellers, the city offers a range of water sports, as well as opportunities for biking, trekking and paragliding. And if you want to take it easy, there is nothing wrong with enjoying a fresh coconut on the beach.
When the day is over, the streets light up. You can find live performances of street musicians and impromptu street parties on almost every corner, and numerous salsa and forro clubs will tempt you to test your skills on the dance floor.
Complete your package holidays in Rio de Janeiro with this checklist and make sure you don’t miss out.
To have an experience off the beaten path you can do a guided graffiti tour through one of the Favelas or explore Santa Teresa, the artistic and bohemian part of town on your own.
Traditional dishes include feijoada (dish rooted in African cuisine which includes meat and black beans) and feijao (made of beans and rice). For the sweet tooth, the Brazilian cuisine offers a delicious mix of tapioca, sugar and coconut milk, or pao de mel (honey sweet) for the cake-crazy. However, by far the top must-tries in Rio are the acai bowls as well as homemade cheese bread (pao de queijo) – both a great pick-me-up for the morning after a long night dancing or a day-long city tour.
Whether you want to keep a reminder of your weekend in Rio de Janeiro, or get some small gifts for your family and friends; you can find an array of souvenir shops along the beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana. Here you get the usual printed T-Shirts and tote bags, as well as miniature statues of Christ the Redeemer. If you are looking for more unique gift ideas, you can get Brazilian coffee in most local supermarkets or browse through local galleries and art shops that sell unique paintings, post cards or magnets.