Rio de Janeiro, also known as the "Marvelous City" has a postcard image, Christ the Redeemer. But beyond this famous monument, we have countless walks and places to get to know and enjoy.
 The “Cidade Maravilhosa” has an image that is on all postcards / Photo: Gonzalo Ramirez
  The first place to discover is the coastal avenue that borders the sea. It begins in Leblon and is called Delfim Moreira, then in Ipanema at a place called Vieira Souto and finally in Copacabana’s Av Atlántica. The first impression when you arrive stays with you forever! The surrounding landscapes will impress you. Palm trees, the sea, hills and a contagious climate. Here you can perceive a lifestyle full of energy that the Cariocas have. Walking this coast from end to end can be done quietly for a day making stops at the places that draw your attention, eat something light, take a dip into the sea and continue until the end. Travel tip: If you go on a weekend, the avenue is blocked off for pedestrians and it is when it is in its greatest splendor. You are going to cross with people playing sports, walking their dogs, skateboarding, riding bicycles and enjoying the sunshine. Take advantage of this incredible bicycle tour in Parks and Beaches. The first section from Leblon to Ipanema is about 3 Kms long, you can already see the turquoise color of the sea, the variety of street vendors, the “Kiosks” which are the food stalls that populate the walk. These places are decorated differently and you can take advantage to try their freshly squeezed and rich natural fruits, ice cold beer and something that you cannot be without in front of the sea, "Bolinhos de Camarão"! Unlike other places of beaches, here prices are not too high for eating directly there.  
 The "Pedra do Arpoador" is one of the busiest places to watch the sunset / Photo: Gonzalo Ramirez
  Looking towards the sea, we have on the right the "Morro dos irmãos" and separating Ipanema from Copacabana the "Pedra do Arpoador". Here is one of the busiest places to watch the sunset. The sunset seen from here is amazing! The view that you get from the city, the beach, from the people walking, the fronts of all the hotels, is amazing!  Here it is worth sharing a beer, a mate or whatever you like to drink, chat, relax and take several photos that will then be remembered forever. When the last rays of sun disappears, people applaud and get excited to have enjoyed the show!  Travel Tip: To reach the famous Copacabana beach from Ipanema, you can cross the park "Garota de Ipanema" and that way you will arrive quickly and do not miss the best Gastronomic Experience in Copacabana with Daytours4u. The first thing you will see is the Copacabana Fort with the possibility to visit it. Here there are 4 km of pure beach. Its sectors are numbered from 1 to 6, they are called (Posto), in Ipanema they run  from 7 to 10 and in Leblon from 11 to 12. On the pole where each of those numbers  are painted, are the lifeguards and the bathrooms. Opposite Posto 3, there is the Hotel “Copacabana Palace” that was the first luxury hotel in the area. Its facade is impressive!
 On the famous Copacabana beach you will find 4 km of pure turquoise tones / Photo: Gonzalo Ramirez
  Getting a little bit away from a beach day, we can visit a place that is beautiful, the “Pão de Açúcar” (SugarLoaf Mountain). It can be accessed between 8 am and 7 pm, there is no need to rent a car or go by taxi. You can easily arrive by the 511 Bus. The route is very easy, go along the avenue parallel to the waterfront and at the end of Copacabana enter Princess Isabel Avenue, then through a tunnel and in 5 minutes, you will leave them at the entrance to the cable car. This tour has 2 parts. The first is the Morro Urca, where the first stop is made and the second and highest is the "Pão de Açúcar" (SugarLoaf Mountain). Ideally, when you get on the cable car, it is best to stay near the windows to enjoy a unique aerial landscape! When you get off at the first stop (Urca) you will be able to observe the Guanabara Bay, the busy airport, you can even see the landings and takeoffs, the Niteroi bridge and the beaches! Remember not to lose your ticket, which is necessary to be able to make the second route of the climb. There are places to sit and eat too.  Travel tip: Experience the best Sugar Loaf Mountain and Beach Tour and don't forget to bring a hat, a water bottle, and sunscreen. The heat up there is punishing. I recommend that you take this walk in the morning so you will avoid having the sun in front of both the photos and enjoying the views in person. On the descent, when it ends, you will see a square. If you go through it, you will find the “Praia Vermelha” that is tiny and really beautiful! If you want to learn about the city’s beginnings and its downtown, it is a magnificent walk to do. Especially on those days that the weather does not allow you to enjoy the beach.  
“Praia Vermelha” is a beautiful corner almost hidden in the city of Rio de Janeiro, with an impressive view of the Sugar Loaf  / Photo: Gonzalo Ramirez
  In the historic center, they will find narrow and cobbled streets. Here you can visit the Colombo Bakery, founded in 1894 and one of the first in Rio de Janeiro! Its interior is very beautiful, it takes us back in time, we can imagine it at the beginning of the 20th century and how a good coffee was enjoyed accompanied by sweet delights that are displayed on a counter when entering the premises. You can buy to take away, but I suggest you go to the first floor, choose a table and spend a little while enjoying your snack and see the hustle and bustle from above. It is a unique experience. If you also wish to do so, you have a souvenir shop, with cups, pens, notebooks, plates and other accessories with the logo of the bakery.  Near here, we have the metro station “Cinelandia '' that marks the exact point of the center. From there we have several options. One is along Paraguay Avenue where we will find the Metropolitan Cathedral that is worth visiting. And if we continue on until we meet the Rua do Passeio, we will end up leading to the Arches of Lapa. Remember that these arches were the aqueduct of the old Rio de Janeiro. Here the photos are very beautiful. If we go along about 2 more blocks, we will enjoy a magical place, the Staircase of Selarón, which connects the lower part with the neighborhood of Santa Teresa that is above. Its name is due to the Chilean artist who decorated the entire neighborhood. He was laying tiles that he was getting from different parts of the world. Sitting on it and asking to have a nice picture taken is mandatory!  
 The Staircase of the Convent of Santa Teresa is one of the jewels hidden by Rio de Janeiro, known worldwide as the Staircase of Selarón  / Photo: Canva Pro
  If the culture of Brazil and its music catches your interest, it is a good idea to go through the Garota Bar in Ipanema. It is decorated with photos of Tom Jobim, Vinicius de Moraes, Helô Pinheiro (It is the Real Garota de Ipanema that inspired artists to compose this song), there are also scores and instruments. Here all the portions are huge for sharing. Haddock, cod and "Picanha" are some of the specialties that can be ordered. Another way to get to know the city and worth doing is the bike tour. Travel tip: Pedal through the most sophisticated neighborhoods of the city, passing by beaches, parks, the Botanical Garden and the spectacular Rio Lagoon. This guided bike ride will take you to some of the most beautiful places in the city. You can do it with public bikes (they are orange) or rent them in many of the premises that offer the service. The city has many kilometers of bike paths that allow you to get around without any problems.  A circuit worth doing is through Copacabana-Botafogo-Flamengo. Everything is done along the sea. And the landscape will make you want to make stops to contemplate the beautiful views. One of the ones I recommend is when you arrive at “Aterro do Flamengo” where the panorama of “Pão de Açúcar” and Guanabara Bay is impressive, for a postcard! Before that, you can also stop at the Urca neighborhood, which is quiet and beautiful. And there are some bars to take a break and enjoy some cold beers. Finally, we recommend that you do not stop enjoying the markets offered by the city, there are all kinds and for all tastes.  In Ipanema, at Plaza Osorio, on Sundays and in Copacabana every day in the afternoon, in front of Posto 5 there are plenty of crafts to offer you the best souvenir to remember your trip to Brazil forever.  
  By: Gonzalo Ramirez, author of the Travel Blog GonTraveler