MAC — Contemporary Art Museum in Niteroi.
There are several side trips from Rio de Janeiro to nearby cities such as Niteroi and its beaches, little towns in the mountains, or coast fishing villages — all in the Rio de Janeiro State.
Note that both the city and the state are called ‘Rio de Janeiro’.
The less famous side trips from Rio de Janeiro, but completely doable by independent foreign tourists are:
Niteroi, Camboinhas, and Itacoatira
Niterói is a half-million people city, just across Guanabara Bay. You can view it from Corcovado Mountain and from Sugar Loaf.
The greatest attraction in Niteroi is MAC (Contemporary Art Museum), by Oscar Niemeyer, the world-famous Brazilian architect who also designed Brasilia, the capital of Brazil. The museum is an architecture wonder.
In Niteroi there are other attractions such as the Santa Cruz Fortress, from where you can have a different perspective of Rio de Janeiro.
Besides the fortress, Camboinhas and Itacoatiara are the nicest beaches in Niteroi, which are approximately 30 minutes after MAC.
Do you want a one-day side trip from the frenzy Copacabana/Ipanema? That’s the one — visit MAC and then proceed to spend the day on the white-sand beaches of Niterói.
The most famous side trips from Rio de Janeiro are:
Buzios
Nice little town with several white-sand beaches to chose from. It has been launched by Brigitte Bardot in the 1960s. Nowadays, it is an extremely popular destination among Brazilians and foreigners, especially from South America.
View from Armaçao Beach in Buzios, in Rio de Janeiro State.
Paraty
Popular beach and historical town 240 km (150 miles) from Copacabana Beach. It is one of the must do side trips from Rio de Janeiro.
Paraty is also famous for the Paraty Literary International Festival (FLIP), the Bourbon Festival Paraty, and the Cachaça Festival (cachaça is the Brazilian rhum used to make caipirinha — the national cocktail).
Both festivals happen every year in the winter (July-August [which is not at all cold if compared to the North-American and European winters]).
Ilha Grande
Eco-tourism heaven just a few hours from Rio de Janeiro. Hiking trails, diving, waterfalls, perfect beaches, lush vegetation, peace, safety — it is all there. A side trip for relaxing and recharging your batteries before or after exploring Rio de Janeiro.
A rented car, an intercity bus, or a private or group tour are the best options to get to these destinations.
Planning a trip to Rio de Janeiro soon? Learn all you need in My Rio Travel Guide — The Essential How-To Visitor’s Guide to Rio de Janeiro.
Click below to have a fantastic trip to Rio de Janeiro!
