Flying from São Paulo to Rio de Janeiro for a weekend getaway, leaving Friday night and returning Sunday.
1. Transportation
1.1 São Paulo to Rio: Plenty of flights are available, with round-trip tickets typically costing around 1000 reais.
1.2 Getting Around in Rio: Uber is your best bet for smooth and convenient travel.
2. Accommodation
2.1 I booked a beachfront hotel, priced at about 1200 reais per night—reminded me of a domestic Ji Hotel [laughing emoji]. The only redeeming feature was the tiny rooftop pool offering a breathtaking sea view. Unfortunately, I can’t recall the name, but I didn’t feel it was worth the cost, so I wouldn’t recommend it.
2.2 Beachfront hotels tend to be pricey, and honestly, most hotels in Brazil that I’ve encountered come with a hefty price tag [laughing emoji]. For instance, the neighboring Marriott costs over 2000 reais per night.
2.3 Later, some colleagues rented a villa farther from the beach, which worked out to only 200-300 reais per person.
Personally, I don’t think staying by the beach is necessary, especially since securing a room with a sea view is beyond our budget [laughing emoji].
3. Sightseeing
3.1 Beaches: The beaches are absolutely stunning, with incredibly soft sand that feels amazing underfoot.
3.2 Sugarloaf Mountain: A must-visit! Order a refreshing drink at the café atop the mountain and enjoy the mesmerizing sunset over the ocean.
3.3 Christ the Redeemer: When I visited, construction was underway below the statue, preventing me from climbing up to the shoulders—a bit disappointing.
Nevertheless, the views along the cog train ride and from the summit are breathtakingly beautiful.
3.4 Selarón Steps: Nothing extraordinary here—just colorful steps perfect for taking photos.
3.5 Cathedral: Quite underwhelming, not as grand as I had hoped. Like the steps, it’s mainly a spot for snapping pictures.
3.6 Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon: The surrounding area is picturesque and inviting. If I’d had more time, I would have loved to go boating or cycling around the lagoon.
3.7 Helicopter Tour for a 360-degree View of Christ: Worth trying if you’re into adventure, though I found it less cost-effective compared to visiting Iguazu Falls.
4. Dining:
4.1 Each day, I consulted Xiaohongshu and explored various restaurants I stumbled upon while walking the streets, but nothing stood out as particularly delicious enough to recommend!
5. Safety: Rio seems to be divided into tourist zones and local residential areas.
5.1 Tourist Zones: Along the beaches and lakeside areas, police cars and officers are stationed every few hundred meters, making it feel safer than São Paulo.
5.2 Local Residential Areas: There weren’t many police visible, and for some reason, I felt a tad uneasy there [laughing emoji].
Overall, Rio feels like a vibrant coastal tourist city with plenty to offer—hahaha!!!
