Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
Welcome to Brazil! Rio de Janeiro curls around a sparkling bay, with golden beaches on one side and steep green mountains rising up on the other. Locals call it the 'Marvelous City,' and once you see its curvy coastline, colorful staircases, and giant Christ the Redeemer statue watching over it all, it's easy to see why.
Why is it famous?
Rio's Copacabana and Ipanema beaches stretch for miles along the coast, drawing crowds of swimmers, sunbathers, and beach volleyball players every single day.
The colorful Selarón Steps are covered in over 2,000 tiles from more than 60 countries, all added over decades by one artist who wanted to brighten his neighborhood.
A city shaped by mountains and sea
Rio was founded over 450 years ago as a Portuguese port, tucked into one of the most dramatic natural harbors in the world.
Because steep granite mountains rise right out of the city, Rio grew in a winding, curvy shape instead of a flat grid, hugging the coastline and hillsides.
Amazing facts
Copacabana Beach's black-and-white wavy sidewalk pattern is so famous that similar designs have been copied in cities around the world.
Rio's Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas is a saltwater lagoon right in the middle of the city, ringed by joggers, cyclists, and stand-up paddlers.
Quick facts
- Copacabana Beach's black-and-white wavy sidewalk pattern is so famous that similar designs have been copied in cities around the world.
- Rio's Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas is a saltwater lagoon right in the middle of the city, ringed by joggers, cyclists, and stand-up paddlers.
- The Royal Botanical Garden's Avenue of Royal Palms was planted over 200 years ago and still lines a walkway with towering, arrow-straight palm trees.
- Rio was once the capital of Brazil for nearly 200 years before the government moved to the new city of Brasília in 1960.