When you think about Rio de Janeiro, you probably imagine a city composed basically of beaches and green mountains. So one may ask, “Why should I visit a park in a place that is pretty much a park itself?” Well, once you travel to Rio you realize that to get into the bigger green areas – like Floresta da Tijuca for instance – you have to get really into the wild, doing tracks and such. And sometimes, you just need to relax a little bit while sightseeing. At those moments, you may pass by the beach or maybe go to a fresher place, like a park.  
Parks in Rio de Janeiro / Joao Camarneiro, canva pro
  Below you have a list of the best parks in Rio de Janeiro. Some of them are tourist attractions in themselves. Others are great stops to relax during a sightseeing day or to take a break from the beach.

Botanical Garden

“Jardim Botânico” is one of the most famous Rio attractions. It is definitely a must-visit during a trip to Rio. It has 54 hectares of green space, with lakes and 32 thousand tree species. The fact that it is so close to Parque Nacional da Tijuca, makes it a great place to spot little monkeys, exotic birds and much more! The orchid’s garden is one of the high points of the park.  
Rio's Botanical Garden: main pathway /  Micahgoulart, canva pro
 

Parque Lage

The botanical garden is in Jardim Botânico, a neighborhood named after it. Once you’re there, it would be nice to visit Parque Lage as well. It is much smaller than the Botanic Garden, but it has its own charm. There’s a small palace inside it where you can have one of the best brunches in Rio and there’s also a fine arts school in the building.  
Parque Lage: right below Christ the Redeemer / btinoco, canva pro
 

Parque do Flamengo

Usually known as “Aterro do Flamengo” because the sea was originally in the area it is in and was covered with earth (“aterrado” in Portuguese), Parque do Flamengo is a great place to walk, run or bike, with amazing views of Sugar Loaf and Guanabara Bay. On Sundays, it is closed to cars, and families fill Flamengo Beach that is beside it (you should be careful though, because the water is usually not suitable for swimming).  
Aerial view of of Parque do Flamento and Sugar Loaf / Marcio Santos, canva pro
 

Quinta da Boa Vista

A little bit outside the main tourist circuit is a park in the São Cristóvão neighborhood, where most members of the Brazilian court used to live in the XVII century. Actually, Quinta da Boa Vista itself was the home of the king of Portugal for many years. Nowadays, what used to be the royal gardens are open to the public. There are lakes, a cave and a restored castle that is now a museum of natural history. The best way to get there is by subway until São Cristóvão station and then take a taxi to the park.  
Quinta da Boa Vista: an oasis next to the city center / celsopupo, canva pro
  A trip to the Marvellous city is not complete without stopping off at the beautiful parks in Rio de Janeiro!

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By: Daytours4u Content Team.