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Rio Travel Planner

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A Week in Rio: Tuesday - Day 2

A City Tour Around Rio

Our second day is quite full of activities. We are going on a city tour to get an overall idea of the diversity Rio de Janeiro has to offer. You can do this on your own, with a group, or with a private guide. You can also take City Rio, a service where you pay for a one-day ticket, and you can hop on and hop off the air-conditioned bus as you wish.

A typical city tour features the historical parts of Rio, from Flamengo to Centro. You will be passing by attractions including the Sambodrome, the Cathedral, financial district, museums, colonial churches, and a host of squares, monuments, and green areas. There's usually a stop either at the Sugarloaf or Corcovado. A full-day tour includes both.

To do a city tour on your own stop first at the Riotur office in Copacabana (on Av. Princesa Isabel). Get some free literature, brochures, and maps. Take the subway at the Lido station nearby, one of the most colorful in Rio. Do not miss Batman's Vent either (just keep looking up, and you will see). You may get off at Cinelandia or Pra�a XV. Cinelandia is a charming square, surrounded by attractions like the Municipal Theater, Museum of Fine Arts, Municipal Library, and Passeio P�blico. Pra�a XV concentrates many landmark buildings of historical importance. Other stations also have point of interest nearby. For highlights and tips, check out our downtown heritage tour.

You want to leave Centro before the rush hour. Take a taxi to go on to the Sugarloaf, in Urca. Buy your ticket at the stand on the foot of Urca Hill, and go all the way up for a bird's eye view of the city. You could also go to Corcovado, the mountain topped by the famous statue of Christ the Redeemer. It can easily be reached by taxi. Take the train up, take your photos, and when you come down explore the Museum of Na�f Art across the street. Take a taxi back to your hotel, and maybe stop for more photos at Largo do Botic�rio, a quaint square surrounded by mansions in colonial style.

Another great way to end this day is going on a helicopter tour. Fly over the beaches, downtown, the hills, forests... Tours start at Lagoa, near Piraque Island. Tours take anything from fifteen minutes to an hour and a half, with prices starting at about $50. If you are afraid of heights, rent a swan-shaped pedal boat, and watch from the lake the city lights on as the sun goes down.

This is your second night in town, and you are not staying home. After dinner we are going to Leblon, Ipanema's neighbor and soul sister. Choose one of the three major Baixos for a beer, soda or snack. It's just an excuse to hang out people-watching, and maybe make friend or two. Stretch the night at one of the favorite clubs in Leblon. Catch the performance of a local artist at People, go dancing at Club R9 (owned by soccer player Ronaldo), or meet local yuppies at El Turf, in neighboring G�vea. There's more fun ahead on Wednesday.

Related Sections and Pages:

https://ipanema.com/citytour/ -- Revised: July 99
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Disclaimer: Virtual City Tours and Maps is part of All About Rio, the insider's guide offered by www.ipanema.com and IPACOM TRAVEL. It portrays personal opinions, and should not be considered as official advice. Please read our web-friendly copyrights policy if you want to borrow our photos and maps. We reserve the right.