Let's start with our favorite area of Rio de Janeiro - Ipanema of course. This relatively small neighborhood between the lake and the sea was the inspiration of many songs. The Girl from Ipanema, describing the routine of a local girl on her way to the beach made it a world-famous destination. But there's lots more to do and see, even if you are not into sun and sand. Ipanema's Diamond Row with a selection of jewelers and luxury shops is perfect if you want to keep pale.

Copacabana, Rio's Princess of the Sea, is the largest South Side neighborhood with a beach. And what a beach it is! With it's horseshoe shape stretching from Forte de Copacabana to Pedra do Leme, it accommodates as many as 2.5 million people on New Year's Eve. Its landmark hotel Copacabana Palace helped put Rio de Janeiro on the dream map - , this is where Fred met Ginger for the first time while Flying Down to Rio

If you are coming to Rio you cannot leave without visiting the main sights and tourist attractions. Soccer aficcionados will run first thing to the Maracana Stadium. Other mortals will probably first start with either the Sugarloaf, with its famous cable car, or the Corcovado, topped by the statue of Christ, the Redeemer. This is just the tip of the iceberg, though. Discover the Lapa Arches and its streetcar, the Botanical Gardens that date back to colonial Rio, historical churches, world-class museums...

Historical churches and convents abound in Rio, and range in style from Brazilian Baroque and Rococo to contemporary glass and concrete structures. And when it comes to museums, there are so many that you have to priorize, or you would stay your whole trip indoors. Museu Histórico Nacional is a good place to start. It has an impressive collection of colonial and imperial relics - including a mold originally used to bake a sugarloaf - the Portuguese bread that lent its name to Rio's famous postcard.