Rio de Janeiro is a city of beauty and contrasts – contrasts of colour, lifestyles and dazzling scenery that will always fascinate and make one long to be there.
It is one of the largest cities in South America widely renowned for its various cultural celebrations. Rio de Janeiro is a city sculptured on a thin strip of land between the mountains and the sea. It is renowned for its spectacular natural setting, its carnival celebrations, the beat of samba, a vibrant beach culture that plays out on the beaches of Copacabana, Ipanema or Leblon and the easygoing lifestyle of its inhabitants. Some of its most famous landmarks include the giant statue of Jesus, at the top of the Corcovado Mountain, which has recently been named as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World; Sugar Loaf Mountain with its cable car, the Sambodromo, a giant permanent parade stand used during The Carnival; and Maracana Football Stadium, one of the world\'s largest. Rio also boasts the world\'s largest forest inside an urban area, Tijuca Forest.

Places of interest
Maracana Football Stadium; Corcovado for the best view of Rio de Janeiro; Sugar Loaf Mountain; Tijuca Forest; superb museums; Copacabana and Ipanema beach.

Best buys
Small boutiques in Ipanema and Brazilian jewellery.

Out and about
Churrasco restaurants for fine barbecue beef and Colombo coffee houses.