Rio de Janeiro

Pao de Acuar

From the sugar loaf hill you probably have the best view of one of the most impressive and beautiful cities in the world. Try to avoid the "prime-time" tourist times because it can really become very crowded so that enjoying the panorama is out of the question.

Take food and drink as the prices at the top restaurant are sky high. This pointed mountain, one of the symbols of Rio de Janeiro, can be reached via a cable car but can also be climbed from the back with some art and flight work.

Ipanema & Copacobana beach

Perhaps the world- most famous beach Copacobana has the name and reputation but the trendy Ipanema beach steals the real show. Along the boulevard with trees on both sides of Ipanema are numerous restaurants, cafes, shops and clubs and is a place for old hippies but also pop stars, models and children from the poor favelas.

Life starts in Brazil on the beach and is a very important cultural thing. The beach is narrow because of the strong current something that is locked in the name "Ipanema" but is certainly packed on weekends. The Copacobana beach is much wider, quieter and here you will find a lot of volleyball and football youth playing “ball”. It is lit up at night but it is not advisable to just snoop around here because it can be dangerous. 

Carnival (Sambadrome)

The most exciting, exotic and extravagant parade of “floats” in the specially made stadium, the Sambadrome, is the crème de la crème for the largest carnival party worldwide.

The party, the people, the enthusiasm and the show are the ingredients for an unprecedented experience that equals nothing on earth.

If you have the chance to attend this you have to go, despite the sometimes high costs. In addition to the Sambadrome, many "blogs" are held every day during carnival in different city districts at different times and in different styles - street stages with a dancing crowd with drinks and music. 

Other attractions:

• Jardim Botanico and the neighborhood Lapa.

Rio de Janeiro was founded by the Portuguese on 1 March 1565 under the name Saõ Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro, with the intention of expelling other Europeans, in particular the French, from the area. They had attempted to take possession of this area. In the course of time, Rio became an increasingly important trading city for the Portuguese, as a result of which competitors such as the French and Dutch attacked the city several times.

Eventually the Dutch were expelled from the area in 1654 by the Portuguese. At the end of the 17th century Rio was the third most important settlement in Brazil (after Salvador and Recife-Olinda). This was mainly due to the flourishing cultivation of sugar cane and the exploitation of the mines in Minas Gerais. In 1807, Napoleon's troops advanced to Lisbon in Europe. Two days before the invasion, 40 ships left with passengers the Portuguese Crown Prince “Dom João VI” and his full court of 15.000 people. When he later became King of Portugal, he proclaimed Rio the capital of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarve. 

When Brazil became independent from Portugal in 1822, Rio de Janeiro became the capital of the new nation. At the end of the century, many European immigrants came to Rio and many (former) slaves settled in the city and it grew explosively. Rio developed in the early 20th century as an exotic and romantic place and many Hollywood stars and people from the high society brought in money. In 1960 a new capital of the country was built, Brasilia, and (unfortunately) many colonial buildings were demolished for new construction. Also the first large favelas (slums) were created that are still clearly visible throughout the city.

Rio will organize the 2016 Summer Olympics. In 2009 the city was chosen over Chicago, Madrid and Tokyo. It will be the first time that a South American city will receive the organization of the event.