Suggestions of activities in Rio de Janeiro
if you are staying 1 week!

Day 1

          Botafogo - Monastery of São Bento - Museum Histoirico Nacional                                  Botafogo - Monastery of São Bento - Museum Histoirico Nacional

In the morning, get your bearings with a panorama of the city by visiting Sugar Loaf. You can have lunch at Garota da Urca, which has a pretty view of the Botafogo Bay. In the afternoon take a trip to the National History Museum and the Sao Bento Monastery. Have dinner in one of the many churrascarias (steakhouses) in Botafogo, like Estrela do Sul.

Day 2

                                           

Get up early and head to the Tijuca National Park. Spend the morning exploring the park and finish up in Santa Teresa for lunch. After lunch you can take the tram down from Santa Teresa and visit the Parque das Ruinas Cultural Center, The Chácara do Céu Museum and the Carioca Arcs. In the evening dinner in Gavea or Lagoa would be perfect.

Day 3

                                           

In the morning take a trip to the Botanical Gardens, Parque Lage and the Jockey Club. Have a fresh juice and a vegetarian sandwich in Ipanema for lunch and enjoy the spectacular blue waters of Ipanema. In the late afternoon you could spend some time at the Republica Museum and the Catete Palace. The night is a great time to catch at soccer match at the Maracaná stadium.

Day 4

The gardens and landscape of the residence of Burle Marx is worth the one hour trip as well as the folklore art museum, Casa do Pontal. Have lunch in Vargem Grande and spend the afternoon on the beaches of Recreio and Grumari. You can take advantage of being in Barra and have dinner there before heading back to the city.

Day 5

It's time to visit Christ the Redeemer and Corcovado! The International Art Museum Naif is also very close and around the corner is Flamenco Park. Cinelandia is a good plan for the afternoon but not before having lunch in a Portuguese bodega in downtown. As well, the recently restored Municipal Theater, the Museum of Fine Arts and the National Library all are within one block of one another in downtown.

Day 6

Spend the morning on the beaches of Copacabana, Ipanema and Arpordor. Take a stroll down Nossa Senhora in Copacabana and have a seafood lunch in the Beira del Mar or in the Copacabana Palace. In the evening take some time to visit the Candelaria church and the Banco do Brasil Cultural Center. We recommend that you stick around and have a happy hour drink on Rua do Lavradio or in Rio Scenarium.

Day 7

You could take a day trip to Buzios or Angra das Reis... If you do stay in the city we recommend that you go to one of the farmers markets in the neighborhood or if you want to get some gifts, check out Saara in downtown or the Rio Sul Shopping Mall. In the evening, check out Plaza Quinze / Arcos de Tele and the Imperial Palace and finish your day with a typical Brazilian meal and some local music in Carioca da Gema in Lapa.