Rio De Janeiro For First Timers

Firstly let me start by mentioning how much I enjoyed visiting Rio De Janeiro and in case you’re wondering if it’s worth the hype then my answer is YES!! I could even say that it is underrated!

Allow me to elaborate…

Rio De Janeiro is a city in Brazil - most people even think that it’s the capital of Brazil, which is a false statement - and the home of the famous Rio Carnival.

Let me introduce you to Rio and mention a few things you need to know before visiting.

the Carnival

I obviously had to start with this one because I can’t lie, the main reason I decided to visit Rio was because of the carnival. The carnival apparently is the largest in the world and it’s taking place annually around February time lasting for about 5 days. Even if the parade (or Sambadrome) is not on, you’ll always find people dancing in the streets!

Contrary to what you might think, most locals don’t really go to the carnival but most people like dancing in street parties which makes Brazil such a vibe! I remember meeting a Japanese lady that’s lived in Rio De Janeiro for most of her life who was telling me that she’s never actually experienced it before. Most people that visit the carnival are in fact, you guessed it, tourists.

Which brings me to the next topic you should be aware of…

Safety

The best advice I can give you is the following: Research each area before going and avoid the favelas. Even better, have a local with you or a guide as they will tell you where and what is safe. I remember once when I was leaving our hotel for the first day out, I was wearing a cheap-ish necklace and the staff at the hotel advised me to remove it because you never know who you’d encounter.

If you’re visiting during the Carnival season be even more cautious and I suggest carrying your phone and money in a crossbody bag if possible. I’ve experienced a young boy trying to snatch my bag but he failed thanks to my crossbody bag. It really works!

Overall, I’d say Rio De Janeiro is safe and the locals are great but do your research, be sensible and don’t have valuables with you.

Locals

The locals, or else known as Cariocas, are absolutely amazing. Make sure you start conversations (sensibly) and ask questions.

the food

Please make sure you try the food especially the famous Pão de Queijo (cheese bread), Embanadas and the Brigadeiros. When I visited I made it my mission not to leave Rio without trying these 3 foodie treats!

Oh and don’t forget to try Agua De Coco by the beach!

Finally, tick off ‘try proper Caipirinha’ from your Rio bucket list. This should come with a warning because there’s a LOT of alcohol in there!

Sights

There are so many things to see in Rio but I if I had to pick the must see, I would recommend the famous Cristo Redentor statue (very impressive in real life), Pao de azucar (which translates to sugar loaf) and the colourful Escadaria Selarón. For chilled vibes, I recommend a nice walk at Jardim Botânico.