Opened in 2024, the famous red bus is a new alternative for visiting the city's main tourist attractions. The open-air bus—which has fares starting at $17—departs from Copacabana and takes around 2 hours and 15 minutes for the full tour. But tourists can also hop off at one of the indicated points and hop back onto the next red bus that comes along. It also tours at night, and for the LGBTQ+ community, it has several stops at bars and gay nightclubs.

The other option to get around Rio is to use the metro, which works very well and is bilingual (including audio announcements and maps). However, this option won't work if you want to visit Sugarloaf and Corcovado, but transportation apps like Uber can take you there.

Visiting Sugarloaf Mountain and Corcovado (where Christ the Redeemer is situated) are obligatory stops for any first-time visitor to the city. From both places, you'll get a fabulous view. If your stay is short, set aside a whole day to visit both (and hopefully you’ll get clear skies). There are more things to do at Sugarloaf due to its size, so allow more time for this. In addition, the cable car to Sugarloaf also goes to the beach, so you can swim or take a walk along the shore.

Rio goes beyond beautiful beaches and abundant nature; the city also has its cultural side. The center is home to some of Brazil’s best museums and galleries, which highlight Brazil’s history as well as contemporary arts and culture. Make sure to check out Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil (CCBB), Centro Cultural dos Correios, Paço Imperial, and Casa França-Brasil. All of these are free, close to each other, and have interesting temporary exhibitions. Note that these places are not open on Mondays. Remember that the city's main cultural attractions are concentrated in the south zone and center.

You don't have to pay a lot to eat well in Rio. The city is full of good restaurants of two types: La Carte—choose your dish from the menu—or food by weight—a varied buffet of options, where you choose what you want to eat and then weigh it on the scales. For a taste of typical Brazilian food, don't miss the traditional feijoada, a Brazilian stew, or a barbecue with a large variety of meats. There are several good gastronomic alternatives, especially along the Ipanema and Copacabana waterfronts. Even the waterfront kiosks offer meals.

Though you may plan on eating a lot of feijoada while in Rio, remember that it’s a very heavy meal, and you should leave room for traditional Brazilian sweets. Some of the famous include the Brigadeiro (a small chocolate ball), bolo de aipim (cassava cake), and Paçoca (made with peanuts, cassava flour, and sugar). When it comes to drinks, don't miss out on the natural lemon tea usually sold on the beach.