If you are travelling to Rio de Janeiro soon it is time to get some travel tips. Nothing is more disappointing than missing something you wished you had done when visiting a distant city, for lack of information and tips. In many instances, the same opportunity never comes back.
Here are the top 5 travel tips that apply to visiting Rio de Janeiro, Brazil:
1. Safety Tip – Be where locals are
Rio de Janeiro is no longer as dangerous as it used to be in the 1980-90s. However, you still need to be preventive. For example, it is not recommended to walk in isolated areas where there are no pedestrians. To be safe in Rio, be where locals are. It sounds obvious to some travelers, but it is incredible the number of tourists who don’t follow this tip and take risks by exploring deserted areas.
2. Transportation Tip – Put aside money for taxis in Rio
Rio de Janeiro is spread out and many places of interest are not at walking distance from each other. The fastest, safest and most convenient way to travel from place to place is by taxi. Buses are fine but lack itinerary information at bus stops and inside the buses. Subway is modern but has basically two lines — there are very few subway stations that are located near places of interest for tourists.
3. Sightseeing Tip – Start early
Rio is becoming more and more popular as a travel destination and the famous attractions usually get crowded by mid-morning, especially on weekends in the high season. Leave your hotel early to beat the crowd. That’s a tip that can make a whole lot of difference when you go sightseeing by yourself.
4. Restaurant Tip – Order for one person because it might be enough for two
Many dishes in Rio de Janeiro mid-range restaurants are enough for two people. However, that is not always indicated on the menu neither the waiter always advise you on it. Always confirm if the dish feeds one or two people (some dishes for two feed even three).
5. Accommodation Tip – Prefer to stay in Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, or Leme
Stay in any of these neighborhoods and you will be well-located. There are accommodations in other areas such as Glória, Catete, Flamengo, Botafogo, Santa Teresa, Downtown, São Conrado and Barra da Tijuca. However, these districts have at least one of the following negative points:
- ► may be far from the beaches
- ► may be isolated from the rest of Rio
- ► may lack convenient public transportation
- ► may be difficult to hail a taxi at night
- ► may offer cheaper accommodations but not cheap enough to justify to stay there
There are dozens of important tips that combined can turn your visit to Rio into an unforgettable travel experience. Read all the updated, detailed and relevant tips in My Rio Travel Guide – The Essential How-To Visitor’s Guide to Rio de Janeiro.
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