About Rio

Marvelous City

Rio de Janeiro, or Rio, for short, is the second largest city in Brazil (the first is São Paulo), and is internationally known for its cultural and landscape icons such as Sugar Loaf (Pão de Açúcar), Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor), a coastline with miles of beaches, including the famous Copacabana and Ipanema, the Maracanã Stadium, the Carioca Carnival, the Bossa Nova and the Samba rhythms. For this reason, and much more, in 2012, part of the city was designated World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO, with the name "Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscape between Mountain and Sea".

There is always a 'not to be missed' selection of outdoor programs, walks through cultural centers, unforgettable gastronomic experiences. Discover the architecture, natural beauties and lifestyle of the people of Rio de Janeiro (the cariocas). The joy is contagious, whether walking along the beach, playing volleyball or footvolley on the sands, kitesurfing, hang gliding, or even at a sidewalk table outside a bar. The weather in August is mild, and temperatures pleasant. Rio is the birthplace of samba and bossa nova and today offers a rich blend of rhythms with various influences.

 

 

Where to stay

The city has a track record of political and scientific conventions and major sporting events, including the 2014 FIFA Football World Cup, the 2016 Summer Olympics and the Rock'n Rio 2017. Transportation and lodging around conference venue have received a big boost in order to host these events. There are hotel room options in all price ranges around Botafogo and neighborhoods of the South Area (Zona Sul), where the event will be held. We will soon release a complete list of HDRio2018 partner hotels.

RECOMMENDED HOTELS

 

Transportation

The main forms of public transportation in Rio are metro underground trains, buses, the BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) and VLT (Light Rail Vehicle) system. There are bus stop and metro station close to HDRio2018's locals. Yellow cabs are a cost effective transportation option for groups of people. Rio also has a bike sharing system.

Food

In Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian cuisine is well represented with several regional specialty restaurants. There is a wide selection of restaurants offering the best of local and international cuisine. Take a look at http://visit.rio/: truly mouth-watering!

Places to visit

Make your itinerary through some of the city's must-see places. All of them are close or very easy to reach from the South Zone of the city, where HDRio2018 will be held.

The beaches

Some of the best known beaches in the world are located in Rio de Janeiro that meet and attract many tourists mainly during the summer - whether it's for diving, sunbathing, playing ball or simply setting up for hiking, racing and pedaling. On Sundays, when the streets of Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon beachside are closed to the cars, the movement of people is everywhere, leaving car tracks, kiosks and sidewalks as crowded as the sand beaches.
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Sugarloaf Hill

The Sugarloaf cable-car links the Morro da Urca hill to the Morro do Pão de Açucar, better known as the Sugarloaf hill, which offer dazzling views over the city. The sunset is a must.
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Museum of Tomorrow

The main exhibition takes visitors through five main areas: Cosmos, Earth, Anthropocene, Tomorrow and Now via a number of experiments and experiences. The museum mixes science with an innovative design to focus on sustainable cities.
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Christ the Redeemer

Biggest scripture Art Déco of the world, it’s located at Parque Nacional da Tijuca, 710 meter above the sea level, where anybody can appreciate one of the most beautiful views of the city. To get into the monument, there’s a nice ride by train that, during 20 minutes, it crosses a green hill until the top.
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Marine Aquarium – AquaRio

It is the largest aquarium in Brazil and South America and is located in Porto Maravilha region. About three thousand animals of 350 different species can be seen in the most diverse marine ecosystems that the place harbors.
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Santa Teresa

Neighborhood that reminds old Rio, with its bucolic air, a rich cultural life and the rails of a cable car that still circulates up the hillsides. The staircase is the work of the Chilean artist Jorge Selarón, and gathers several tiles from various parts of Brazil and the world.
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Lapa Arches

Rio’s old Carioca Aqueduct, is one of the best known sites in the city, as well as one of the most representative symbols of old Rio, fully preserved to this day at the bohemian neighborhood of Lapa.
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Tijuca Forest

Ideal place for the practice of outdoor activities, walks and trekkings. Birds, native plants and fruit trees make up the flora and fauna of this area, one of the largest urban forests in the world.
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Botanical Garden

The year of its foundation coincides with the arrival of the Portuguese Royal Family in Brazil: 1808. In addition to being one of the most beautiful and well preserved green areas of the city, the institution also houses monuments of historical, artistic and archaeological value.
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Municipal theatre

One of the most imposing and beautiful buildings in Rio de Janeiro, Theatro Municipal is considered the main house of spectacles in Brazil and one of the most important in South America.
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National Library

Considered by UNESCO as one of the ten largest national libraries in the world, it is also the largest library in Latin America. It's worth a guided tour.
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Copacabana’s fort

Located at the end of Copacabana Beach, it is a nice place for an afternoon walk. It houses the Historical Museum of the Army and a branch of the famous coffe shop Columbo.
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Rio Antigo Fair

Rua do Lavradio houses historic mansions, bars, antique shops and concert halls, and the fair happens every first Saturday of the month with hundreds of handicraft stalls, antiques, accessories and decorative objects.
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Beyond the city

The Marvelous City is a captivating place with many attractions to explore. However, if you have interest we recommend including time in your itinerary to get out of the city for a day trip to experience the incredible beauty of Rio de Janeiro’s surrounding areas. It is worth mentioning: Petrópolis, Teresópolis and Itaipava, which are cities of the montain region, and also Búzios, Ilha Grande and Paraty with paradisiacal beaches and very pleasant walks.