May 16, 2025
Last updated on December 1st, 2025
7 things first-timers should do in Rio de Janeiro
They say Rio de Janeiro is the cidade maravilhosa (the marvelous city), and frankly, that’s underselling it. With beaches that shimmer like samba songs, mountains that punch the sky, and locals who live like joy is a birthright, Rio can be all-consuming. Here are seven great things to do in Rio de Janeiro if you’re headed there for the first time.
1. Buy a local SIM card
For a new mobile phone contract or data plan, a CPF (Brazil’s national ID number) is required. As a non-Brazilian traveler, you can get a SIM card by going to one of the larger Claro or TIM stores with your passport. Your SIM should be registered and set up right there within the store, and you should be able to use it immediately. Both Claro and TIM have tourist-specific packages, and when your data runs out, you can top up your balance by buying top-up cards from supermarkets or street vendors, or visiting your mobile phone network’s store. If you want to do away with the whole physical SIM card headaches altogether, get an eSIM from Airalo.
2. Do go chasing waterfalls
On my first trip to Rio, I would have missed Cachoeira do Horto had a local friend not taken me there. These falls don’t get a lot of space or praise in the tourist literature about the city despite being a tranquil, tropical escape only 30 minutes from the city’s urban buzz, tucked just behind the Jardim Botânico.
The first fall, Cachoeira do Quebra, is easy to access and family-friendly. But go a bit further and you’ll find Cachoeira do Horto, a five-meter cascade that rewards a moderate 30-minute hike with a deeper, swim-worthy pool. Standing beneath the falls is as exhilarating as it is refreshing. Look out for massive jackfruit trees and tropical birds as you walk, and consider going with a local who knows the trail.
3. Fall in love with the many beaches
You might have 99 problems in Rio, but a beach isn’t one of them. Rio has some of the most famous beaches in the world. Copacabana is the queen of the scene, famed for its wide curve, mosaic promenade, and front-row seats to a vibrant cast of characters. Just west is Ipanema, where the sand feels like crumbled butterscotch biscuits and the energy is always dialed up. The beach is broken into numbered lifeguard stations (postos), each marking a different subculture and vibe.
Praia do Arpoador is a smaller gem between Copacabana and Ipanema, famous for sunset rituals where crowds gather as the sun dips behind the sea. Head a little farther to Praia Vermelha, a quieter cove near Sugarloaf Mountain with calm waters and a peaceful hiking trail.
Beyond just their beauty, Rio’s beaches are the city’s great equalizer: welcoming, democratic, and gloriously alive.
4. Join locals at the Urca sea wall
Urca feels like a secret Rio whispers only to those who slow down long enough to listen. I love spending afternoons in this seaside neighborhood, starting off with the scenic boat ride to Flutuante, a floating bar and restaurant. Then just before sunset, I’ll head back to Mureta da Urca, a beloved stone wall where locals munch on little bites while gazing out at Guanabara Bay. Order a pastel de camarão (shrimp pastry) from Bar Urca, then perch on the wall with the rest of the neighborhood to toast the golden hour like a true Carioca (Rio local).
Each year in February or March, just before Lent begins, millions descend upon Brazil’s most photogenic city to shake, shimmer, and samba through the streets in a euphoric, five-day fever dream of music, color, and glitter. From the official parades at the Sambadrome, where samba schools compete in a riot of feathers, sequins, and thunderous drumming, to the rollicking blocos (street parties) popping up on every corner, Carnaval is a massive event and a state of mind.
Cariocas, ever the joyful hosts, throw themselves into the revelry with enviable abandon. Think hot dogs dusted in farofa, cold latões (mini cans) of beer in hand, and bodies slick with glitter under the sun. If you’re going to visit Rio once, do it during Carnaval. Just book early.
6. Stand beneath one of the New Seven Wonders of the World
You’ve seen it in photos, on postcards, in every travel reel that pans across Rio’s skyline, but nothing quite prepares you for the moment you stand beneath Christ the Redeemer, arms outstretched over the city like an eternal benediction.
Perched atop Mount Corcovado inside Tijuca National Park, this 98-foot-tall Art Deco statue is a monument, a compass, and a constant in the ever-moving story of Rio de Janeiro. A ride up the scenic cog railway delivers you through lush forest before opening out into that postcard-perfect panorama: Guanabara Bay to one side, Sugarloaf to the other, and the sprawl of Rio unfolding below.
Arrive early or on a weekday to dodge the crowds and get a front-row view of one of the New Seven Wonders of the World (and one of three in Latin America).
7. Admire the boats below Sugarloaf Mountain
Taking the cable cars to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar) is undeniably one of the best views Rio has to offer. While at the top, one may admire the Guanabara Bay below where dozens of tiny boats appear to have converged for a seaside soirée.
Reaching the summit is half the fun: two glass-walled cable cars ferry you first to Morro da Urca, then up to Sugarloaf itself for sweeping vistas that feel like a scene from a classic film. Alternatively, you could hike up Morro da Urca (30 to 40 minutes) and then take the cable car for the rest of the scenic journey.
