Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide

This city brings together a deep blue ocean, a lush forest right in the heart of town, a 24-hour life, and an enviable climate in which to enjoy these aspects.

Beaches

In this cidade maravilhosa, the fun begins in the morning. On Copacabana or Ipanema, one can experience the true carioca spirit, sipping a cold draft beer in one of the many bars on the beach and watching beautiful people stroll by. When the sun starts going down, it's time to look for a good spot to watch the glorious summer sunsets.

Music

For some live music, go to Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, where the many food stalls form a veritable gastronomic park, and live music is often heard. Rio is the country's musical capital and the shows are abundant. The biggest and most famous venues are Canecãoand ATL Hall, formerly named Metropolitan, where the big names of Brazilian and international music usually perform. However, for superstars, the choice is Maracanã or Praça da Apoteose, where Frank Sinatra and the Rolling Stones have played.

Every year in September, the Museu de Arte Moderna hosts one of the most important musical events in Rio, the Free Jazz festival, a gathering of local and foreign artists in settings that vary according to the musical style. There are also more intimate locations to listen to good pop and jazz, like the Teatro Rival, Mistura Fina and Casa de Cultura da Universidade Estácio de Sá, or in a typically Brazilian chorinho like the Café das Artes.

For more tourist-oriented shows, try the Plataforma I and its mulattas.

High-brow musical entertainment has its venues too: the grand Teatro Municipal, for bigger orchestras, and the charming Sala Cecília Meirelles, for chamber music and soloists.

Cinema

Brazil is one of the major movie markets of the world. Although Rio has recently been losing some of its quainter, more traditional theaters, it has been gaining more efficient modern facilities like the Cinemark and UCI New York City Center complexes, which account for some 30 new screens. Art movies play on the Estação network and cultural centers such as Centro Cultural do Banco do Brasil.

Dance

Dance is another popular art in Rio. The most famous international and Brazilian ballets usually perform at the Teatro Municipal, while other dance companies can be seen at the Teatro Villa-Lobos and Teatro João Caetano.

If you would rather partake than observe, there are many discotheques, gafieiras and ballrooms. Yuppies go to Provisório, El Turf or Dado Bier, while the new wave crowd attends occasional functions like the parties at Cine Íris or Fundição Progresso. If you want to try Brazilian dancing, go to one of Rio's traditional gafieiras, Elite and Estudantina. In a romantic mood? Try dancing cheek-to-cheek at Antonino.

Museums and Galleries

It is worthwhile to visit the city's museums and art galleries. Museu de Arte Moderna, the Museum of Modern Art, is an interesting building that houses temporary exhibitions and a fantastic permanent collection. Also check out the exhibits at Paço Imperial, Casa França-Brasil, Museu Nacional de Belas Artes or Centro de Arte Hélio Oiticica.2008-08-02T07:29:22.000 101