My favorite things to do in Rio de Janeiro (beyond the tourist attractions)
A guide to unique experiences in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro is famous for iconic tourist attractions like Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain and Copacabana Beach. But the city’s real magic often appears in everyday moments. Watching the sunrise from the ocean, cycling along dramatic coastal roads, or listening to samba echo through a historic street reveals a deeper side of Rio.
Many of the best experiences in the city are also surprisingly affordable. In fact, some of my favorite moments in Rio cost little or nothing at all. If you are planning your trip, you might also enjoy my guide on how to visit Rio de Janeiro on a budget.
Here are some of my favorite things to do and see in Rio de Janeiro beyond the classic tourist attractions.
Experiences in Rio at a glance
Sunrise stand-up paddle in Urca
Birdwatching at the Botanical Garden
Boat tours in Guanabara Bay or Cagarra Islands
Cycling through Tijuca Forest
Cycling along Avenida Niemeyer to São Conrado
Hiking Pedra Bonita
Samba at Rua do Ouvidor
Capoeira at the MAM pilotis
Beaches at Prainha and Grumari
Sunset at Mureta da Urca
Rio de Janeiro in the morning
Rio mornings have a special rhythm. Before the beaches fill and the city becomes busy, the early hours reveal a quieter side of the city.
Sunrise stand-up paddle in Urca
Starting the day paddling at Praia Vermelha as the sun rises over the ocean is one of the most beautiful ways to watch Rio wake up. From the beach, you can see the sunrise appearing over the water while Sugarloaf Mountain towers beside the bay.
The water is usually calm in the early morning, and the scenery includes fishing boats and a city that is still quiet.
Sunrise stand-up paddle sessions are also available at Copacabana, but Urca usually offers calmer waters and fewer crowds.
Birdwatching at the Botanical Garden
In the early morning, guides lead small groups through the forested paths of the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden to observe birds hidden in the Atlantic Forest. Toucans, tanagers, and parakeets often appear, with Christ the Redeemer sometimes visible above the treetops.
Birdwatching walks are usually scheduled in the early morning, and the latest program can be found on the Botanical Garden’s official website.
If you enjoy early mornings, you might also like this guide to the best sunrise spots in Rio de Janeiro.
Boat tours and ocean experiences in Rio
Rio is deeply connected to the ocean, and some of the most memorable experiences in the city happen on the water. Boat tours in Rio de Janeiro offer a completely different perspective of the landscape, revealing the coastline, the mountains, and the city skyline from the sea.
Sailing in Guanabara Bay or to the Cagarras Islands
Many boat tours in Rio de Janeiro begin inside Guanabara Bay, where classic views of the skyline unfold. Boats pass by Botafogo, Urca, and Sugarloaf Mountain, often while planes approach and depart from Santos Dumont Airport, creating one of the most iconic urban landscapes in the city.
Other routes head into the open ocean toward the Cagarras Islands. On these trips, the perspective shifts from the bay to the Atlantic, with views of Ipanema, Arpoador, and the dramatic coastline of Rio’s south zone from the water. Around the islands, the sea becomes clearer and seabirds circle above the rocky cliffs.
Tijuca Forest: Rio’s urban jungle
Just minutes from the beaches lies Tijuca Forest: one of the largest urban forests in the world.
Cycling through Tijuca Forest
Cycling along the winding roads of Tijuca National Park leads to viewpoints, waterfalls, and stretches of Atlantic Forest where monkeys and birds appear among the trees. It is one of the most immersive ways to experience Rio’s wild side without leaving the city.
However, the climbs can be steep and the route requires a good level of fitness. I did this ride on a guided cycling tour using an electric bike, which made the logistics and the climbs more manageable while still keeping the sense of adventure.
There are small group cycling tours available, including some listed on Airbnb Experiences.
Cycling Rio de Janeiro’s coastline
After cycling through the forest, another unforgettable way to explore Rio is along its coastline. The city has one of the most scenic urban bike routes in the world, with paths connecting several beaches of the south zone.
Cycling to São Conrado
One of the most beautiful bike rides in Rio follows the coastline from Leblon to São Conrado along Avenida Niemeyer. The road runs between cliffs and the Atlantic Ocean below, offering dramatic views of the coast along the way.
When you reach São Conrado Beach, it is common to see paragliders and hang gliders landing on the sand after taking off from Pedra Bonita high above the city.
Hiking for the best views in Rio
Rio’s landscape is defined by dramatic granite peaks rising between the forest and the ocean. Some of the most spectacular views in the city come from short hikes that lead to the top of these mountains.
Hiking Pedra Bonita
If you watched the paragliders landing at São Conrado Beach, this is where many of them take off. A short hike leads to the summit of Pedra Bonita, one of the most accessible viewpoints in Rio de Janeiro.
From the top, you can see São Conrado, the massive granite wall of Pedra da Gávea, and the coastline stretching along the south zone. It is also one of the most famous paragliding launch sites in the city.
Samba and music in Rio de Janeiro
Music is everywhere in Rio, but nowhere feels more authentic than a street samba gathering, where musicians and locals come together around the rhythm.
Samba at Rua do Ouvidor
In the historic center, on Saturday afternoons, samba gatherings often transform Rua do Ouvidor and Rua do Mercado into a lively street celebration.
If you want to explore more places like this, you can also read my guide on where to see live samba in Rio de Janeiro.
Capoeira and cultural life in Rio
Rio’s cultural life often unfolds in public spaces, where music, movement, and tradition naturally become part of everyday life.
Capoeira at the MAM pilotis
Under the modernist pilotis of the Museum of Modern Art (MAM), groups often gather to practice capoeira with Guanabara Bay in the background.
Usually taking place on Saturday mornings, the sound of the berimbau echoes through the open space while capoeira players form a roda beneath the building’s striking architecture. Around them, other activities often unfold at the same time, from dance classes to percussion workshops.
This spontaneous mix of music, movement, and people turns the MAM pilotis into a true cultural melting pot, creating one of the most unique scenes in Rio.
Rio’s wild beaches: Prainha and Grumari
Beyond the famous beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, Rio still has stretches of coastline that feel surprisingly untouched.
Beach day at Prainha or Grumari
Prainha is often considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Rio de Janeiro. The approach itself is unforgettable, with a scenic road that reveals the small bay from above before descending toward the sand. Surrounded by mountains and Atlantic Forest, the beach feels far removed from the busy shoreline of the south zone.
A little further along the coast, Grumari offers an even wilder side of Rio. Located inside a protected environmental area, the beach is framed by forest-covered mountains and remains largely free of development, giving the landscape a remote and untouched feeling.
Within the Grumari area lies Abricó Beach, the city’s official nudist beach.
The sunset ritual
Some of the most memorable moments in Rio happen at the end of the day.
Sunset at Mureta da Urca
In the late afternoon, locals gather along the Mureta da Urca, a small seawall facing Guanabara Bay, to watch the sun disappear behind the mountains.
Many people stop by the nearby bars to grab a cold beer or snacks before sitting along the wall. Simple, relaxed, and social, it is one of the most carioca rituals in the city.
Experiences like this are a reminder that some of the best things to do in Rio de Janeiro are often the simplest ones.
Continue exploring Rio de Janeiro
If you enjoyed these experiences, you might also like these guides to explore the city even further:
