Districts · Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro by district
A first visit covers five clusters: Copacabana and Ipanema on the beachfront, Urca and Sugarloaf on the bay, Cosme Velho and Corcovado in the hills, and Lapa with Santa Teresa inland. Everything else (Centro, Botafogo, Leblon, Barra) is a ride away.
About these names
Give the driver the street name and number, or a landmark such as a beach lifeguard post (posto); Ipanema and Copacabana use posto numbers as meeting points.
- CopacabanaseesleepeatSuits: First visit, budget and mid-range beds, the metro, big-city beach lifeThe long curve of beach with the promenade and the widest choice of hotels. Busy and mixed; keep the phone out of sight and use a car at night.2 sights · 1 eats · 1 sleep areaDistrict guide →
- Ipanema and LeblonseesleepeatSuits: Quieter evenings, restaurants, sunset at ArpoadorFlatter, calmer and more expensive; the safest-feeling streets after dark.1 sights · 2 eats · 1 sleep areaDistrict guide →
- UrcaseeeatSuits: A morning at Sugarloaf and a beer on the sea wallA small, quiet residential neighbourhood under the Sugarloaf; go by car and stay for Bar Urca.1 sights · 1 eatsDistrict guide →
- Cosme VelhoseeSuits: Christ the Redeemer via the Corcovado trainThe station at the foot of the mountain; not a place to stay.1 sightsDistrict guide →
- Lapa and Santa TeresaseeeatSuits: The Selarón steps, samba nights with a car, art and old housesInland and hilly; good by day, and a car door to door after dark.1 sights · 1 eatsDistrict guide →
- CentroseeSuits: Museums and historic buildings on a weekdayBusy on weekdays and empty on Sundays and evenings; go by day.Short entry only: too little in this guide for a full page yet.
- Barra da TijucasleepSuits: Long stays, families, events at the Olympic parkNewer, car-based and far from the sights; a long ride to Zona Sul.Short entry only: too little in this guide for a full page yet.
Hover, tap or tab to an area to see what it is like. Pins are sleep areas; arrows at the edge point to the airport.
Off the map: Rio de Janeiro–Galeão International Airport (GIG) (55–95 min by the usual route).
Not drawn yet (no coordinates in this guide): Centro, Barra da Tijuca. See the table above.
Where’s what, as a list:
- Copacabana: The long curve of beach with the promenade and the widest choice of hotels. Busy and mixed; keep the phone out of sight and use a car at night. Suits: First visit, budget and mid-range beds, the metro, big-city beach life. Price band $$.
- Ipanema and Leblon: Flatter, calmer and more expensive; the safest-feeling streets after dark. Suits: Quieter evenings, restaurants, sunset at Arpoador. Price band $$$.
- Urca: A small, quiet residential neighbourhood under the Sugarloaf; go by car and stay for Bar Urca. Suits: A morning at Sugarloaf and a beer on the sea wall.
- Cosme Velho: The station at the foot of the mountain; not a place to stay. Suits: Christ the Redeemer via the Corcovado train.
- Lapa and Santa Teresa: Inland and hilly; good by day, and a car door to door after dark. Suits: The Selarón steps, samba nights with a car, art and old houses.
- Centro: Busy on weekdays and empty on Sundays and evenings; go by day. Suits: Museums and historic buildings on a weekday.
- Barra da Tijuca: Newer, car-based and far from the sights; a long ride to Zona Sul. Suits: Long stays, families, events at the Olympic park.
- Sleep area Copacabana: suits First visit, budget and mid-range beds, the metro, big-city beach life, price band $$.
- Sleep area Ipanema: suits Quieter evenings, restaurants, sunset at Arpoador, price band $$$.
- Rio de Janeiro–Galeão International Airport (GIG), 55–95 min by the usual route.