When it comes to discovering all of the wonders of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, it’s natural that your mind tends to wonder to the many tourist attractions. And while those spots are popular for a reason, there is one district that all travellers to Rio should experience: downtown Rio de Janeiro.
Downtown Rio de Janeiro – the not so obvious Rio de Janeiro – may not have any beaches that bring in the masses, but its old churches, theaters and grand facades will soon have you under their spell.
See also: Top Things to Do in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The revamping of downtown Rio de Janeiro
To the surprise of many who first encounter downtown Rio de Janeiro, there is quite a bit to do there! From more cultural and historic scenes to outdoor adventures, this location has been created with every tourist in mind.
For starters, the local City Hall has been dedicating its time and resources to renewing and revamping this area. From the moment you step downtown you will immediately notice a newfound energy and life in this space that definitely makes it worth the visit. Every corner of this location is being redesigned to cater to the needs of locals and tourists whilst offering everyone access to authentic Brazilian experiences.
Top attractions in downtown Rio de Janeiro
Don’t be blinded by all of the attractions in the city centre that you accidentally overlook all that downtown has to offer you. There is an exquisite list of attractions that will keep you busy and entertained for hours. Better yet, many of them are affordable too, meaning you won’t have to break the bank trying to truly experience downtown Rio de Janeiro.
After only a few minutes of walking through the streets of downtown Rio you will immediately notice that there are dozens of museums, cultural centers (some are free, like CCBB), and lots of places that still have a touch of that 19th century feel. In fact, it’s like walking into the past and getting to reexperience all of its gorgeous surroundings. We can all thank City Hall for this as this has been a great part of their mandate – to refurbish and restore many of the historical artefacts of the area.
If you aren’t too sure where to start when it comes to figuring out where you should go first, then here are a few ideas for you:
- Go to the Municipal Theater – Theatro Municipal. It was inspired by a similar building in Paris – the Opera House. It has been carefully restored, Praça Floriano s/n. It is a striking building with a rich history that deserves your attention. You can also take in the architectural sophistication of this building too as its designs and structures have transcended various eras.
- Just around the corner, you will see the National Library – Biblioteca Nacional (Av. Rio Branco, 219 – Centro), inaugurated in 1910 and holding about 9 million items and the National Museum of Fine Arts – Museu Nacional de Belas Artes (Av. Rio Branco, 199 – Centro). Not only will you be enthralled by their book collections but by the aesthetic appeal of this national library!
- A little further, an example of modern art on open air, that you can appreciate freely, by one of the most important artists of the world, Candido Portinari. This one deserves a top spot on your list too.
- If you would like to visit the hillside neighborhood of Santa Teresa, just take the tram and enjoy the ride – there is plenty to feast your eyes on whilst route the destination. Always remember to take very good care of your personal belongings, especially because the tram is open. It’s very cool, but I recommend that you do it during the day for safety reasons.
- If it’s the first Saturday of the month, you should definitely visit the Lavradio Fair. It will immediately remind you of San Telmo, in Buenos Aires, or Portobello Road, in London. But you will have no doubt that you are in Rio de Janeiro – the music will tell you. It’s in the busy streets that are filled with locals chatting and playing music as well as the decadent smells coming from all of the restaurants that dot the area.
See also: Casa Rosa: Best Place to Be on a Sunday Afternoon in Rio De Janeiro
Among the best places where you can go to eat and/or have fun are:
– Carioca da Gema (Avenida Mem de Sá, 79, Lapa, cover charge varies by show, check the current program)
– Rio Scenarium (Rua do Lavradio, 20, Lapa), live music most nights from around 7:30 pm, so check the current program before you go
– Democraticus (Rua do Riachuelo, 91, Lapa, check current opening days and cover charge)
– Santo Scenarium (Rua do Lavradio, 36, Lapa, Open for Lunch, shows on Saturdays, usually 9:30 pm)
See also: Foods, Drinks and Bars You Should Try While in Rio de Janeiro
Read about Day Trips from Rio.
