RIO DE JANEIRO

TRAVEL TIPS

VISÃO GERAL ATRAÇÕESTRANSPORTE COMPRAS ONDE FICAR ONDE COMEROVERVIEW ATTRACTIONSTRANSPORTATION SHOPPINGWHERE TO STAY WHERE TO EAT

OVERVIEW

By its countless facets, Rio is the capital of the brazilian tourism. Cidade Maravilhosa (Wonderful City), as it is called by most people in Brazil, is located in the southeast region of the country, with 6 million inhabitants, is a mosaic of charms spreading between the sea and the mountain, as the city is incrusted in the most dazzling geographical accident of the planet. Rio is plural, and to every day creates solutions to attend all the desires and tastes.

Rio has some of the most visited postcards of the world and it is Brazilian’s trademark.

Corcovado, with the Christ was chosen one of the news 7 Wonders of the World, in an international contest. And it also has, the Sugar Loaf, a pleasurable walk that uncovers the city. Famous touristic points are countless, such as Maracanã Stadium, temple of the soccer team five times world champion and the Samba Footbridge, where parades the samba schools for the greatest event of the city, the carnival.

And, the most recent one is the City of Samba, built by the city Hall of Rio, in an area of 114 m., in the harbor and it shelters the factories

DUFRY TRAVEL TIPSRIO DE JANEIRO

TRANSPORT

CARS AND TAXIS

Driving in the city of the Rio de Janeiro requires redoubled attention. There are many cars circulating daily on the streets of Rio and the road signs are never enough. Pay attention to the speed limit and always be aware as regards to the speed limit permitted on the roads. In some roads in Rio de Janeiro electronic equipment check and penalize the conductor that drives above the speed permitted. It is prohibited to stop on zebra crossings and surpass the red light.

There is a big quantity of available taxis in Rio de Janeiro, mainly in the touristic areas, almost all equipped with air conditioning. The conventional taxi can be identified by the yellow color with a blue stripe, that circulate around the streets with taximeter. It charges an initial value and an additional one by distance and by time. The tariffs are more expensive in the night from Monday to Saturday, from 9pm to 6am and on Sundays and bank holidays.

BUSESThere are five kinds of urban buses that circulate around the streets of Rio de Janeiro. From the conventional urban bus with turnstile; the urban bus with air conditioned with turnstile; the microbus with turnstile without collector (ticket paid to the conductor upon entering in the vehicle); bus adapted for disables; to coaches. In the bus with air conditioning and in the coaches the prices are differentiated. Always be certain about the itinerary of the bus. If in doubt, ask the conductor before getting in or paying the ticket.

of samba, where the schools of samba prepare their parades, that occur in the carnival. The City of Samba is the synthesis of the carnival, the entire year, as it also has daily spectacles, workshops and others attractions.

Rio was chosen, after researches carried out by the universities of Michigan and of California, as the city with the most cordial people of the world. This is one of the greatest secrets of the marvelous city, the carioca spirit that turns all the urban spaces in mosaics of different appeals. Rio is: the beaches, the mountains, the gardens, the sports in the open air, the events such as New Year’s Eve, the carnival and so many others. Rio is transcript, is cultural, is diurnal, is nocturnal. Rio has its own flavor. It is for all ages. Rio is, as one of its main symbols, the Christ Redeeming, with open arms to welcome the visitors.

CLIMATERio de Janeiro is a typically tropical city. The summer begins in December and finishes in March with temperatures between 25 to 42ºC. The winter begins in June and finishes in September where the temperature can fall to approximately 20ºC during the day and 16ºC at night. As it is a city by the sea and it is hot, we recommend informal and light clothes.

SUBWAYThe subway has 2 lines in operation, Line 1 and Line 2, with a total of 34 stations, being 18 in Line 1 (Cantagalo to Saens Peña) and 16 in Line 2 (Estácio to Pavuna) stretched over 36 km. In all the stations there are maps with the routes of the lines and the intersection at Estácio Station, connecting the two lines (Line 1 and 2) paying only one ticket.

Also, it is offered the service of integration that allows the passengers to arrive to places where there are no subway stations. The passenger embarks in the subway and afterwards in the bus of the integration, or vice verse, paying one ticket and with discount. The value of the integrated journey is always less than the sum of the tickets using two different transports.

DUFRY TRAVEL TIPSRIO DE JANEIRO

ATRACTIONS

CHRIST REDEEMER

The Christ Redeemer, symbol of the City of Rio de Janeiro, was chosen as one of the 7 News Wonders of the Modern World, in voting organized by the New 7 Wonders Foundation, from Switzerland. Rio’s postcard, with 38 meters of height, had its fundamental stone thrown in 1922 and the inauguration in October 12th, 1931, being the only Brazilian Wonder. From the top of its 710 meters, the statue is the image of faith and pleasantness of the carioca people.

SUGAR LOAFThe Sugar Loaf is one of the most important icons of tourism in Rio de Janeiro, being one

of the main trademarks of Rio de Janeiro. Because of its unique characteristics, bordered by the waters of the Guanabara Bay, it is an international touristic reference for the city. Located in Urca, a complementary attraction is the cable car, interconnecting the Red Beach and the Urca Hill to the Sugar Loaf. Known as Bondinho, the cable car was idealized in 1908 and inaugurated in 1912, becoming the first cable car installed in the country and the third one in the world.

MARACANÃ Amongst the wonders of Rio de Janeiro, it is one of the most important sporting, cultural, and touristic patrimonies of the country: Maracanã, the greatest stadium of the world. Passion, emotion and a lot of adrenaline are mixed in the spectacular activities of the supporters, swinging the stadium leading the public to a delirium. Mandatory visit to foreigners and national tourists, Maracanã is not alone a blast for football matches, but also a stage for big musical concerts.

MUNICIPAL THEATERThe Municipal Theater catches the attention not only by its architectural conception but also by the stateliness of its facade and the beauty of its interior. The noble material used in its construction, as the colorful Carrara marble, the bronzes and the onyx, the mirrors, the furniture, together with the paintings and sculptures, make it a true temple of culture.

MUSEUM OF MODERN ARTThe Museum of Modern Art is in a privileged location and is full of history. The building is installed amid gardens in Flamengo Landfill, next to Guanabara Bay, and very close to the center of the city. At present, the museum possesses a collection with around 1,700 works, among paintings, sculptures and engravings of foreign and Brazilian artists. Beyond that a library specialized in arts and another one specialized in cinema.

COPACABANA BEACHIt is very difficult for the ones who visits Rio to resist to the appeal of its 80km of beaches.

And Copacabana, with its beautiful sidewalk at Av. Atlantica, made with black and white Portuguese stones that show a pretty mosaic in the format of waves, is probably the main responsible for such fascination. It is as busy during the day as it is in the evening, at the beach you find newsstands, bicycle lane, bicycle racks, toilets with places to shower, hotels, bars and restaurants. On top of that two Military Fortresses, on each extremity of the beach, open to visitation and to appreciate the beautiful panoramic view.

NATIONAL HISTORY MUSEUMIn a beautiful architectural assembly, created in 1922, that museum possesses a priceless collection. The National History Museum is installed in three distinct buildings, from different periods: The Train House, of 1762, the Real Arsenal, of 1822, and the Military Annex, of 1835. The place, once by the sea, was planned as a strategic point for the defense of the city.

DUFRY TRAVEL TIPSRIO DE JANEIRO

IPANEMA BEACHIpanema Beach is a famous meeting point for cariocas. Refined and with an intense nightlife, the neighborhood is a happy mixture of beach, bars and commercial shops. Permanent appeal during the day, the beach also receives a big number of regulars during the night. They go to the beach to walk, practice sports, fraternize in the stands drink coconut water or cycling by the bicycle lane.

BOTANICAL GARDENA true ecological sanctuary. That is how it can be defined, one of the ten most important of the kind in the world, it shelters rare species of plants from the Brazilian flora and from other countries, it is a great option of leisure for children and adults that enjoy contemplating the nature.

RODRIGO DE FREITAS LAGOONIt is surrounded by some of the most famous neighborhoods in Rio de Janeiro, Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon is framed by mountains and embraced by the Christ. The Pond impresses

because of its sunset and the golden consequence in its waters, what makes it a pleasant meeting point, for the cariocas and for the visitors. It is linked to the sea by a channel called of the Garden of Alah, its flange shelters parks, blocks of sports, ring of skating, heliport, trail for walks and running, bicycle lane and a gastronomical center distributed by restaurants that offer from German food to Japanese, as well as live music. Not mentioning the little boats that, in the Sundays and holidays, provide to the tourist an unique vision of everything that one of the most beautiful postcards of Rio de Janeiro has to offer.

LAPAOnly one neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro can aggregate varied musical manifestations without dazing genre and artists. This place is Lapa, in the city center, where you find the Arches of Lapa. Stage to the romance sung in the lyrics of samba, the chords of the sound from the northeast and the modernity of electronic music, all of it played in perfect harmony.

DINING OUT

The geography of Rio de Janeiro, allows you to circulate easily by the city, it can also help you to choose where and what to eat. Italian and French restaurants are located in the corners of Ipanema, Leblon and Botanical Garden, while the typical establishments of to eat fish can take you to a long drive all the way to Vargem Grande and Guaratiba Bay – but it is worthwhile! In the downtown area, Lapa, Flamengo and Botafogo, the Brazilian gastronomy reigns in the menus. But in Copacabana, the mix of styles include from the traditional sandwiches, that are as big as a meal; to the international cuisine of hotels, commanded by famous European chefs. In Barra da Tijuca, the options concentrate specially in the shopping centers, that in some cases, have whole floors full of good restaurants of varied types.

WHERE TO STAY

You can find many types of hotels in the city of Rio de Janeiro. The hotels in Rio de Janeiro are concentrated mainly in the South Zone of the city. There are hotels for all kinds of tourists and prices that go from the most luxurious and refined to the simplest. In the city of Rio de Janeiro you can find alternative lodgings situated in the shantytowns and luxurious five stars hotels of international standard.

SHOPPING

In the city of Rio de Janeiro there are many options to shop, from shopping centers, fairs to entire areas dedicated to shopping. The center of the city is the ideal place for those who seek rare and old books or musicals instruments. But the big highlight of the center of Rio de Janeiro is the popular centers for shopping of the city: the Sahara and the Camelódromo. In the Sahara, stretched around 11 narrow streets

DUFRY TRAVEL TIPSRIO DE JANEIRO

with more than a thousand shops, you can find decorations for parties, things for carnival, customized jewelry, toys and clothing. In the Camelódromo, the street vendors sell imported products, electronics, clothing, amongst others. Beyond those two centers where it is possible to find products on sale, big department stores of clothing and diversified products are found in the center of Rio, more precisely in Ouvidor and Uruguaiana streets.

Fashionable designs and jewelry stores are also there, but in Rio Branco Avenue. But it is mainly in the neighborhood of Ipanema, Visconde de Pirajá Street to be more precise, that you find the best options for clothes, shoes, jewels and others products from famous international trademarks.

Generally the shops on the streets are open from Monday to Friday, 9am to 7pm, and on Saturdays from 9am to 1pm. However,

depending on the location, the shops stay open longer than that. The main shopping centers are open from Monday to Saturday, 10am to 10pm, and on Sundays from 3pm to 9pm. There is still in the city some convenience stores, open 24 hours daily.

STREET MARKETSAn infinity of open markets of all types with crafts, antiquities and fashionable clothes happen around the city at weekends. The most traditional is the Ipanema Fair, at General Osório Square. For it unites purchases, gastronomy and fun, followed by the Northeast Traditions Fair, in Saint Christopher neighborhood, full of bars, restaurants, shops of art crafts and intense programming of shows with bands to dance.

IPANEMA FAIR: The old hippie fair is situated at General Osório Square since the end of the 60’s, always on Sundays. Among the exhibitors are artisans and artists that offer charts, customized jewelry, purses, clothes etc.

RIO ANTIGO FAIR: Full of antiquaries, the historical Lavradio Street was chosen to host the Rio Antigo Fair that happens every first Saturday of each month. During the whole day the shops keep their doors open and the streets are taken by booths that offer furniture, accessory, clothes, disks of vinyl, objects of decoration and an infinity of trinket for all tastes. The cultural program includes activities as exhibition of photographs, MPB concerts and dance shows.

NORTH EAST TRADITIONS CENTER: The traditional Fair of Saint Christopher got a refurbished house, but the animation continues the same. The space of 34 thousand square meters offers 700 standardized stalls, two stages for shows, a square for repentistas, parking and banks. From Monday to Thursday, it works only for lunch, but from Friday to Sunday the programming is uninterrupted.

CURRENCY The Real (acronym R$) is the currency in Brazil. After successive monetary changes, Brazil adopted the Real in 1994, and allied to a drastic fall on inflation rates, now the country has a stable economy. The change of foreign currency for national currency (Real) can be done in banks and at exchange bureaux.

DUFRY TRAVEL TIPSRIO DE JANEIRO

192193190

AMBULANCE

FIRE BRIGADE

POLICE

TOURIST HELP BUREAU

3399-7171

IMPORTANT NUMBERS