Ten Things That Will Shock You About Rio de Janeiro Culture
Greetings from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil! Here are ten things that shock tourists about Rio de Janeiro when they visit.
Rio de Janeiro Culture Shock #1 Lots of Skin on the Beach
When you come to the beach in Rio, you’ll be shocked at all the skin you see. It’s not just the young, sexy, studly Brazilians that are scantily clad. It’s all Brazilians, young and old, fit and not so fit. One thing you can’t do at the beach in Rio is go topless. Regardless of how tiny your suit it, you do need both pieces!
Rio de Janeiro Culture Shock #2 Rio Beach Experience
Going to the beach is a quintessential Rio experience. At beaches like Copacabana, Ipanema and Leme, people watching is great. You’ll see lots of sports like beach tennis, foot volleyball and surfing. You may smell some funny business on the beach in Rio; it’s illegal, but still happens. The overall Rio beach experience can be shocking compared to other beaches you are used to, so go and enjoy it!
Rio de Janeiro Culture Shock #3 Crime in Rio
Rio has a bad reputation for crime in the media. It’s not quite as bad as they would have you believe, but it is fairly prevalent, so you need to take extra precautions. Don’t go to the beach at night, ask your hotel staff where you should and shouldn’t go. Don’t wear flashy jewelry or carry expensive electronics, do not go wandering through the favelas, and if you’re in a taxi, don’t let them stop for anything along the way. Be extremely vigilant late at night.
Read: The 10 Culture Shocks Tourist Have When They Visit Brazil
Rio de Janeiro Culture Shock #4 Safety in Rio
While there is a lot of crime in Rio, you might be shocked to learn that it’s possible to have a great and safe vacation in Rio. There are many safe parts of Rio for you to enjoy. This is why research is important when you are planning your trip. Leme Beach is one of the safer beaches. It’s attached to Copacabana, but it’s nice and safe for families. Don’t let crime deter you from visiting Rio.
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Rio de Janeiro Culture Shock #5 Traffic in Rio
The traffic in Rio will shock you. The airport signs will tell you that a taxi into the city is 35-40 minutes, but that must be only at 3 a.m. with no traffic. Traffic in Rio is insane, and can easily add another hour to that estimate. As a pedestrian, you have to be on alert because they don’t always follow the traffic signals. Especially at night, buses will just fly through red lights.
Rio de Janeiro Culture Shock #6 Noise in Rio
Rio is a noisy town. You’ll be shocked at the continuous noise in Rio. Whether it’s construction, car horns, music and parties, and even the crashing waves of the ocean, Rio is really noisy. If you’re expecting a quiet, calm beach experience, you’ll be shocked at how loud Rio is. It’s part of the Brazilian culture, so you just have to embrace it.
Rio de Janeiro Culture Shock #7 Visiting Sugarloaf or Christ the Redeemer
One of the best shocks of visiting Rio is making the trip up to see the Christ the Redeemer statue on Sugarloaf Mountain. You can watch the clouds roll in below you and it’s a cool Rio experience. Book a train ticket ahead of time online, or grab a van shuttle up to the top.
#8 There’s more to Rio than Sugarloaf and Beaches
Rio de Janeiro Culture Shock #8 Cultural Attractions in Rio
There’s so much more to Rio than amazing beaches and a statue of Christ. Rio was the capital of Brazil until 1960, and there’s tons of Portuguese historical palaces, museums and arts. It’s shocking that you can have a really cultural experience when you come to Rio.
Rio de Janeiro Culture Shock #9 Homemade Shrines
As you walk through Rio, you might notice small shrines lying about. You might see a liquor bottle, cigarettes and candles; but it’s not a voodoo thing! These are just small religious shrines and should not be touched at all.
Rio de Janeiro Culture Shock #10 Rio Cariocas
The tenth shock of coming to Rio is how crazy fun the Cariocas are. People in Rio are so much fun. They’ll want to show you a great time, and will tell you where to go and where not to go. If you’re not sure of something, the locals are more than willing to help you out. It helps if you know some Portuguese, though. The nightlife in Rio is legendary, too, if you’re up for it.
Rio is an amazing city. Don’t be shocked if you fall in love with the beaches, the people and all the fun things to do in Rio. For more Brazil travel tips, check out some of our other travel videos: