Find the OTHER Statue of LibertyTrek out to Praca Miami in working-class Bangu, where a green Statue of Liberty by Bartholdi himself (yes, the New York guy) stands near the mall, baffling everyone who finds her.WeirdBold1 hr
Sit Next to Carlos Drummond de Andrade's Statue on CopacabanaOn the Copacabana boardwalk near Posto 6 sits Carlos Drummond de Andrade, cast in bronze, legs crossed, staring at passersby. Plop down beside him and watch the world go by like a true carioca.Photo HuntEasy15 min
Dance at the Free Monday Samba Roda at Pedra do SalAt Pedra do Sal in Saude, the carved stone staircase where samba was born, locals run a free open-air roda every Monday from 7pm. Grab a 10-real caipirinha and let the cobblestones shake.SocialEasy1 hr 30 min
Decode the Orange-Shirt Yelling ManOn any Rio beach, flag down an orange-clad vendor hollering Olha o mate and buy iced mate tea plus a bag of doughnut-shaped Biscoito Globo. Salgado or doce, you must choose.Food & DrinkEasy10 min
Drink on the Most Famous Wall in RioBuy a frozen beer from Bar Urca, cross the street, and park yourself on the Mureta da Urca, a low seawall where cariocas perch at sunset over Guanabara Bay. No bar stools, just concrete.Local DetailEasy45 min
Whisper in the Harry Potter LibraryDown a narrow street near Praca Tiradentes hides the Real Gabinete Portugues de Leitura, a free neo-Gothic reading room with three storeys of books and a stained-glass dome. Look up, gasp quietly.Rainy DayEasy30 min
Find the Pastel Ghost SquareTucked at the end of Rua Cosme Velho sits Largo do Boticario, a cluster of crumbling pastel colonial houses around a babbling stretch of the Carioca river. Eerily quiet, gloriously photogenic.Hidden GemMedium30 min
Hike Forte do Leme Behind Copacabana and Meet the Monkey PatrolFor about 4 reais, hike the 20-minute path up Forte do Leme behind Copacabana, where cheeky capuchin monkeys patrol the trail and the view beats every paid lookout in town.ActiveMedium1 hr
Eat Like a Northeasterner in a StadiumAt the Feira de Sao Cristovao, a giant arena-shaped pavilion of 700 stalls, devour carne de sol and acaraje while strangers dance forro around you. Bring stretchy pants.FamilyEasy1 hr 15 min
Ride the Bonde Tram Up to Santa TeresaBoard the bright yellow Bonde tram at Estacao Carioca and clatter across the old aqueduct up into bohemian Santa Teresa, on one of the oldest street railways still running anywhere.CultureEasy40 min
Run the Full Loop of Lagoa Rodrigo de FreitasLace up early and circle the 7.5 km flat path around the Lagoa, where carioca runners, rowers and cyclists clock their morning under the watch of Christ the Redeemer. Reward the lap with fresh coconut water from one of the lakeside kiosks.ActiveMedium1 hr 15 min
Jog the seaside path at Aterro do FlamengoHit the promenade of the world's largest urban seaside park at sunrise, weaving past Burle Marx gardens with Guanabara Bay on one side and Sugarloaf dead ahead. On Sundays the road shuts to cars and locals turn it into a runners' paradise.ActiveEasy45 min
Spot marmosets under the giant Imperial PalmsStroll the 750-metre avenue of towering Imperial Palms at the Jardim Botânico and keep little eyes peeled for capuchins and tufted-eared marmosets in the branches. Finish at the lake full of turtles near the old sundial.FamilyEasy1 hr 30 min
Walk the shark tunnel at AquaRioBrave the underwater glass tunnel at AquaRio, South America's biggest aquarium, where rays and sharks glide right over the kids' heads. Count how many of the 350 species you can name before someone gets distracted by the next tank.FamilyEasy1 hr 30 min
Hunt the cave aquariums at Parque LageExplore the fairy-tale mansion grounds at the foot of Corcovado and find the little grotto hiding twelve aquariums of Brazilian river fish. Snap the courtyard with Christ the Redeemer looming above, then refuel at the café before the kids melt down.FamilyEasy1 hr