The Saint Sebastian Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro.
There are several points of interest in Rio de Janeiro. Most foreigners, though, have only heard about Corcovado, Sugar Loaf, Maracana Football Stadium, and Copacabana and Ipanema Beaches.
However, there are many other points of interest that worth a visit in Rio. Actually, Rio de Janeiro is the city that offers the greatest number of lookouts, places of interest, and tourist attractions in Brazil. No wonder Rio is the most visited city in the country.
Find below a few of the points of interest that are locally known and worth a visit if you are interested in exploring Rio de Janeiro beyond the internationally known landmarks:
The Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden
Toucan in the Botanical Garden in Rio.
A beautiful garden, mostly green, which main highlight is the royal palm trees avenue.
Quinta da Boa Vista
Quinta da Boa Vista (Boa Vista Park).
A huge urban public park in the North-Zone of Rio, right before Maracana Football Stadium. The park is home for centenary lakes and trees as well as for the Imperial Museum, the Zoological Garden, and a nice restaurant which serves Brazilian as well as Portuguese food.
Jardim Zoologico (Zoological Garden)
Crocodile at Rio de Janeiro zoo.
The Rio de Janeiro Zoological Garden is the oldest in Brazil, dating back from 1945. The highlight is the Brazilian collection of birds and monkeys. Besides those, there are more than 2000 species of animals. This city zoo is definitely one of the main points of interest in Rio de Janeiro.
Teatro Municipal (Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro)
Municipal Theater in Rio de Janeiro.
This is one of the points of interest during a walking tour of Centro (downtown). The theater’s architecture is inspired in the Parisian Opera House (Palais Garnier). It dates back from 1909, and it is one of the most important theaters in Brazil. Definitely worth a visit if you are interested in interior architecture and history.
Parque Enrique Laje
This is a public park near the Botanical Garden and at the foot of Corcovado Mountain (you could, for example, combine a visit to the Chirst the Redeemer, Parque Laje, and Botanical Garden). The main points of interest are an old mansion, the walking trails, and a café. The mansion features in the video clip of the song “Beautiful”, by Snoop-dogg.
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Coming to Rio de Janeiro soon? Avoid standing in line, crowds, and annoyances when visiting the points of interest. Read all tips, recommendations, and insider’s advice in My Rio Travel Guide — the most practical, useful, up-to-date travel guide to Rio de Janeiro.
