What should I know before visiting Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro is a huge, sprawling city
Rio de Janeiro covers an area of 1,255 square kilometres (485 square miles). While travelling around the city after your cheap flights to Rio de Janeiro, be sure to plan ahead in case your destination is far away. Also keep this in mind while booking accommodation. If you’re hoping to stay in the centre after booking airfare to Rio de Janeiro, look for a hotel in the Copacabana, Flamengo or Botafogo neighbourhoods.
Carry cash after your flights to Rio de Janeiro
While a decent number of vendors accept card payments, it’s always a good idea to carry some cash after flights to Rio de Janeiro. In Brazil, many banks don’t recognise international credit cards, so you may not be able to withdraw cash in Rio. Exchange dollars for Brazilian real before departing Australia or at a currency exchange at Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG).
English is not widely spoken in Brazil
Many Brazilians are not fluent in English, even in major cities like Rio de Janeiro. In order to communicate with locals when you have return flights to Rio de Janeiro, take the time to learn some Portuguese phrases. Important phrases include oi (hello), sim (yes), não (no), obrigado (thank you), Eu não falo português (I don’t speak Portuguese), and Você fala inglês? (Do you speak English?). You may also find it helpful to download a translation app to your phone to use after your cheap flights to Rio de Janeiro.
What are Rio de Janeiro’s most famous landmarks and monuments?
Christ the Redeemer
Christ the Redeemer is known around the world as Rio’s most iconic landmark. It’s an Art Deco statue that portrays Jesus Christ. Christ the Redeemer is an impressive 30 metres (98 feet), but appears even taller due to its location at the peak of Corcovado Mountain. After your flights to Rio de Janeiro, you’ll be able to catch glimpses of Christ the Redeemer towering above you from many different vantage points. You can also catch a train or taxi to the top of the mountain where the statue is located. In addition to seeing Christ the Redeemer up close, you’ll see a beautiful view over Rio de Janeiro.
Sugarloaf Mountain
Handfuls of hills and mountains surround Rio, which give it a unique feel to any other city in the world. One of the most famous is Sugarloaf Mountain, which is located on a peninsula jutting out from the city centre. Hiking the steep mountain should only be left to highly advanced climbers, but visitors with airfare to Rio de Janeiro can experience Sugarloaf Mountain by cable car. The cable car reaches an altitude of 528 metres (1,732 feet), providing expansive views over Rio de Janeiro, the waterfront, and the dramatic mountains that surround the city.
Copacabana Beach
There are countless beaches to discover when you book tickets to Rio de Janeiro. The most well-known is Copacabana, which is located just south of the city centre. The beach is located right beside Sugarloaf Mountain and is known around the world for its vibrant atmosphere. Copacabana Beach is always teeming with activity and is bordered by a lively promenade. Along this promenade are a wide variety of cafes, restaurants, and bars to visit after your return flights to Rio de Janeiro.
What is the best way to get around Rio de Janeiro?
There is a vast network of public transportation that you can use after your flights to Rio de Janeiro. The city has a metro, overground trains, buses, and BRT (bus rapid transit).
The metro is the most common way to explore Rio de Janeiro. It’s made up of three lines that operate through the centre and into the northern and southern suburbs. Major stops along the metro include Flamengo, Siqueira Campos, and Central. Overground trains are also available to take when you have return flights to Rio de Janeiro. Also known as the SuperVia, this train network operates across seven lines. Each line originates in Central station and offers service into Rio’s outer suburbs. SuperVia is primarily used by local commuters but can be useful if you’re visiting a spot off the beaten path.
In addition to trains, Rio de Janeiro operates more than 1,750 bus routes. Bus routes that you’ll find useful after your cheap flights to Rio de Janeiro include Troncal 1, Troncal 3, and bus 581, which visit tourist hubs such as Copacabana and Sugarloaf Mountain. Another bus network in Rio is the BRT. While it’s technically a bus, it operates more like a tram. Visitors who have booked tickets to Rio de Janeiro can utilise the BRT across three lines that service Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG) and the relatively untouched beaches in southern Rio.
