There are many places of interest to compose your own cultural tour of Rio de Janeiro. Below are some of the top 10 cultural sites you must visit when travelling to Rio. Some of these cultural attractions require just a brief stop in front of it, while others invite you to explore inside and in more details to get an in-depth cultural experience.
• Lapa Arches
An aqueduct constructed more than 250 years ago, over which the venerable Santa Teresa tram has run for more than a century. Originally the aqueduct was used to carry water to the city. It is on the way to the Metropolitan Cathedral and fits perfectly as the first stop on your cultural tour.
• Metropolitan Cathedral
An impressive modern Catholic cathedral, built in the 1960s-70s, that bears little resemblance to a traditional church. It has a conical form which may appear unappealing at a distance, but inside are huge, beautiful, stained glass windows. The cathedral is used for weekly worship but above all draws large crowds at Christmas and Easter. You should definitely include it on your tour even if you are not Catholic.
• Cinelândia
The political and cultural center of downtown, encompassing magnificent buildings dating from the early 20th Century, including the Municipal Theater (Opera House), the Fine Arts Museum, and the City Parliament. It also includes the National Library (largest library in Latin America), which dates from the early 19th Century. The square’s official name is Praça Floriano, but popularly called Cinelândia.
• Maracanã
The main Rio de Janeiro stadium is the temple of football (the sport deeply rooted in the Brazilian culture) and was built in two years for the first World Cup in Brazil in 1950, when Brazil lost the final against Uruguay in front of 200,000 spectators. The stadium is undergoing a complete renovation (2010-2013) since it will host the World Cup Final in 2014.
• Sambadrome
A half-mile long concrete stadium where the Carnaval parade takes place annually in Rio. Built in 1984, it is a project of the famous Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer (the same who designed Brasília, the capital of Brazil). Understanding and watching a Carnaval parade is another way of diving into the Brazilian cultural heritage.
• Samba City
The place where Carnaval floats and costumes are built. During certain times of the year, you can watch the floats building process and view the ones from previous Carnavals. Beware that Cidade do Samba (Samba City) has very special opening hours (you may not be able to include it on your tour during your stay in Rio de Janeiro).
Other must visit attractions during your Rio de Janeiro cultural tour are:
Colombo Café
Santa Teresa District
Sélaron Staircase
International Museum of Naive Art
For further travel information on how to properly visit these and other attractions, get a copy of the e-book (in PDF) My Rio Travel Guide – The Essential How-To Visitor’s Guide to Rio de Janeiro.