One of the most difficult parts when traveling is knowing what to see. Eclectic cities like Rio de Janeiro have enough must see spots to overwhelm the most experienced travelers. The wonderful thing about this Thursday plan is that you can cross 3 very important Rio neighborhoods off your must see list! https://instagram.com/p/vTrc50r7ED/

Santa Teresa: A Bohemian way to start your day

You can not spend one week in Rio de Janeiro without seeing the The Escadaria do Selaron. These must see stairs amaze Brazilians and foreigners alike. In 1990 Chilean-born artist Jorge Selarón started tiling the stairs that ran along the front of his house in Lapa. The stairs were initially one of Selaron’s side projects but it quickly became the artist’s passion. As Selaron’s tiled stairs became more and more famous, he started receiving tiles from around the world. By the end he tiled far more than his stoop, covering 250 stairs with over 2000 tiles. Before his death Selaron declared the stairs a gift to the people of Rio de Janeiro.

After taking a ridiculous amount of photos of tiles, which everyone does, climb the stair up to the Bohemian neighborhood of Santa Teresa. Santa Teresa is the home of artists, hippies, and organic food lovers. The winding streets filled with old Brazilian homes charm anyone and everyone who visits.

Top places to visit in Santa Teresa:

  • Parque das Ruínas, a cultural center on Rua Murtinho Nobre, is a must see stop. This beautiful mansion was left for ruin until the city took it over in 1997. The structure alone is worth a visit, but the view is what makes it something you shouldn’t miss.

  • Chácara do Céu Museum, located next door from Parque das Ruínas. There you can see the art collection of the late Castro Maya. While small, his collection still boasts pieces from artists such as Matisse and Seurat. Like Parque das Ruinas, the museum also offers picture perfect views.

  • Have a traditional Brazilian lunch at local favorite Mineiros. Mineiros, located on Rua Paschoal Carlos Magno, is famous for all things Brazilian but I highly recommend trying the Carne seca desfiada c/ purê de abóbora (Shredded jerked beef with mashed pumpkin). Maneiros is also famous for their stupidly cold beer (cerveja stupidamente gelada, as carioca would say). In case you didn’t know, stupidly cold beer is a good thing in Rio de Janeiro.

An afternoon in Rio de Janeiro’s centro!

Rio de Janeiro’s historical downtown is full of must see gems that even non-history buffs will love. Start out in Cinelândia with a view of the Municipal Theater. Plaza XV in centro is the perfect place for tourists to get a taste of Rio de Janeiro’s rich history. Also make sure to stop by the Candelaria Church and Centro Cultural do Banco do Brasil . While centro offers metros, buses, and taxis, the best way to see everything is on foot. Make sure you don’t miss any must see Rio de Janeiro historical landmarks by signing up for a Historical walking tour . This way you are guaranteed to visit all of centro’s top spots, including the São Bento Monastery and Plaza Carioca. You only have one week in Rio de Janeiro, you may not have time to go back if you miss something. [caption id="attachment_2241" align="aligncenter" width="610"]Downtown Street Scene in Rio Street Scene in downtown Rio / source[/caption]

Drinks and Music evening in Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana:

By Thursday night Rio de Janeiro locals are already getting excited for the weekend, and you should too. Grab a drink at Copacabana’s Botequim Informal on Rua Domingos Ferreira #215. Known for their cold draft beers and snack food, this spot is a must see first stop on a night out in Copacabana. Make sure you try their shrimp empada. Think of it as a mini pot pie with Brazilian flare. If you want to skip the snack and head straight for some live music, check out Copacabana’s Bip Bip on Rua Almirante Gonçalves #50 near the Cantagalo metro station. Here you will find Brazilian musicians jamming with each other in a tiny hole-in-the-wall bar or boteco as Cariocas call it. While seating is limited, the atmosphere will easily distract you if you happen to be left standing. One week in Rio de Janeiro wouldn’t be complete without dancing. Come 11pm you can start thinking about where you’d like to dance. Fosfobox on R. Siqueira Campos, 143 is one of the hottest clubs in Copacabana. Depending on the dj, you can find anything from Carioca funk to hardcore Rock n’ Roll. If you are looking for a younger crowd, maybe more of a student scene, check out Mariuzinn on Av. Ns. de Copacabana #435. Also opening their doors at 11pm, the music ranges from electronic, to pop, to r&b to whatever else kids are listening to these days. For more information check out their facebook page. After a day like this, you can easily say you have gotten to know three of Rio de Janeiro’s must see neighborhoods. Every Carioca has a special place in their heart for the beauty of Santa Teresa, the history of Centro, and traditional Copacabana. Now you can say the same. Tomorrow is Friday and that means breakfast in the forest, a sunset to remember, and a night out in Rio de Janeiro’s hottest neighborhood.