Five Things You’ll Love & Hate About Rio de Janeiro
Greetings from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil! Today we’re sharing the five things you’re going to love (and hate) about Rio de Janeiro travel.
Rio Travel Hate #1: Crime in Rio
I won’t lie; there is a crime issue in Rio de Janeiro. It’s not as bad as they say in the news, but it does exist and there are things travelers can do to avoid it. Don’t wear fancy jewelry, clothing or have expensive electronics out on display.
Rio Travel Hate #2: Traffic in Rio
Traffic can be very slow in Rio. If you see travel times quoted in Rio, especially at the airport taxi stand, it is usually the “no traffic” time but there is always traffic in Rio, so make sure you factor that into your plans. Pedestrians never have the right of way, and buses like to run red lights at night, so you can never be too careful around traffic in Rio.
Rio Travel Hate #3: Things You Don’t Know & Lack of Portuguese
Not a lot of English or Spanish is spoken in Rio, so you have to know a bit of Portuguese. There are a lot of things you need to know when visiting Rio, such as: which beach to go to, where are the nightclubs, what should I wear to the beach, what is the best area to visit? Most guidebooks for Rio are inaccurate or incomplete, so you really need an “in” to get the answers to these questions. Without Portuguese, you’ll need to rely on your hotel concierge or front desk staff.
Rio Travel Hate #4 & 5: Summer Mosquitos, Slow Service, Heat and Crowds
If you visit Rio in the summer, the bugs can be a bit much, especially the mosquitos. Don’t forget the sunscreen and the bug spray. Along with that, bring extra patience. It’s Brazil, so things move at a much slower pace. It can also be very hot and crowded, depending on when you visit.
Rio Travel Love #1: The Rio Beach Experience
The beaches in Rio are fantastic! The entire beach experience is unique in Rio, whether it’s drinking from a coconut, relaxing at a beachside bar, or just people-watching. You’ll see so many beach games like volleyball, soccer and tennis, along with amazing views from the beaches.
Rio Travel Love #2: Visiting Christ the Redeemer & Sugarloaf
The worldwide symbol of Rio de Janeiro is the Christ the Redeemer statue on Sugarloaf Mountain. Getting up there can be sketchy, but you can take a train or a van to the top. The train up departs every 20-30 minutes, and tickets can be purchased online. It’s a really cool experience to get up there.
Rio Travel Love #3: The Weather
Even in July, the dead of winter, Rio has beautiful weather. It can get pretty hot in the summer, but you can enjoy Rio any time of year. Some mornings may be overcast, but it usually burns off into a beautiful day.
Rio Travel Love #4: People, Parties and Passion
Rio is a fantastic nightlife destination. Whether you hit the bars or the beach, there is always something fun to do in Rio. People in Rio are so fun and so friendly, you can’t help but have a great time in Rio, thanks to the people.
Rio Travel Love #5 Cultural Sites Around Rio
Beyond the beaches and Sugarloaf, there are so many things to do in Rio. It was once the capital of the Portuguese Empire, and the capital of Brazil until 1960. There are so many historic buildings in Rio, including the The Paço Imperial, the theater, so many cool museums, and the Botanical Gardens. Or, you can take day trips from Rio to several exciting destinations.
We really love coming to Rio. The media tends to overstate the negatives, but we’ve had a great time visiting Rio as a family. If you’re ready to start planning a Rio family vacation, check out some of our other videos and blog posts: