8. Tijuca National Forest

One of the largest city forest worldwide, the Tijuca National forest covers a substantial location of a primarily mountainous landscape. Visitors can hike to Rio's greatest peak, the Pico da Tijuca, to enjoy expansive views of Guanabara Bay and the city below.

Almost ruined in the early 1800s by intruding coffee plantations, much of the forest was replanted by hand in the latter half of the century with as many as nine million trees. Tourist attractions consist of the Mayrink Chapel, which has murals painted by the famed Brazilian neo-realism painter Cândido Portinari, and the toppling 100-foot Cascatinha Waterfall.

7. Lapa Community

Located in the downtown section of Rio referred to as "Centro", the Lapa neighborhood was once the city's red-light district. Today, the location is understood for its lively night life. Lined with samba and choro bars, the music and dancing spills out into the street on weekend nights.

The majority of the area's architecture go back to the 1800s, supplying a scenic backdrop to all the celebrations. It's the perfect place to meet up with friends and cariocas to sample local cuisine and to drink caipirinha, the national cocktail made with sugarcane booze and lime. Escadaria Selarón, a set of well-known steps links both the Lapa and Santa Teresa communities.

6. Santa Teresa Community

Set down on a hill overlooking the city's harbor, the Santa Teresa neighborhood welcomes visitors to step back in time and experience the faded beauty of Rio's.

The area got away development up until 1896, when an aqueduct was built that connected the community to the city. The district was a haven for artists, artists and authors in the 20th century, and although fashionable clubs and stores have actually given that overtaken the area, it still maintains a friendly artist-colony ambiance.

The city's last staying streetcar, the Santa Teresa Tram, utilized to be a popular tourist attractions in Rio de Janeiro but was closed after a severe accident on the line.

5. Jardim Botanico [SEE MAP]

Found to the west of the Lagoa area, the Rio de Janeiro Arboretum, or Jardim Botanico, houses more than 8,000 types of plants. Built in the early 1800s, the garden features numerous mature specimens, including avenues of towering palm trees.

Visitors flock to the park to see the 600 types of orchids. The garden consists of a number of monuments, fountains and functions, including a Japanese garden, a pond filled with water lilies and the new Museu do Meio Ambiente, which displays displays that focus on the environment.

4. Sugarloaf Mountain.

Rising 400 meters (1,300 feet) above the mouth of Guanabara Bay, Sugarloaf mountain is a monolith of quartz and granite that visitors can crest via a glass-walled cable television automobile called a "bondinho" or "teleférico.".

The cable cars and truck leaves every 20 minutes from the base of Babilônia hill and climbs to the top of the Morro da Urca hill. From there, visitors can take a second cable automobile as much as the mountain's summit.

3. Ipanema.

The beach made popular in the bossa nova song "The Woman from Ipanema" in the 1960s stays one of Rio's most popular traveler areas today. A long, arcing area of soft white sand and rolling waves, Ipanema regularly arrives of the "Best Beaches in the World" lists year after year. The beach is surrounded by a well-organized grid of stores, cafés and dining establishments along with a range of art galleries, theaters and clubs.

Found in the high end South Zone, or "Zona Sul", Ipanema lies in between the beaches of Copacabana and Leblon. Posts or "postos" mark off the beach into areas, and various types of individuals tend to gather in each location. Families favor the section in between posts 11 and 12 while the location near post 9 brings in dedicated sunbathers and free-wheeling artists.

2. Copacabana.

Separated from Ipanema to the west by surfer-favored Arpoador beach, Copacabana has a more active ambiance than its similarly well-known neighbor. Rio locals, called "cariocas," constantly appear to have a video game of soccer or volley ball in play, and vendors vociferously hawk their beverages and snacks from the kiosks that line the beach.

Fort Copacabana, a military base with a wartime museum that is open to the public, stands at one end of the beach. On the length of beach fronting the fort, fishermen offer up their morning catch for sale.

Visitors and cariocas alike like to stroll along the boardwalk that surrounds the 4 km (2.5 mile) long beach. Originally integrated in the 1930s, the pathway includes a wave-like design laid out in black and white stones. Inland from the boardwalk are closely-packed multistoried hotels and apartment or condos.

1. Christ the Redeemer.

Perched atop the 710 meter (2,330 feet) high peak of Corcovado Peak, the statue of "Cristo Redentor" stands with arms outstretched, looking serenely out over the city. Construction of the statue began in 1922 during the heyday of the Art Deco movement, and the concrete and soapstone statue is thought about the biggest statue designed in the category in the world.

Most visitors take a vertical cog train to reach the base of the top. From holiday destinations there, visitors to the monument as soon as had to climb numerous steps to reach the top. Today, elevators and escalators are readily available to shorten the journey.