Best of Rio de Janeiro in 3 to 10 Days

Best of Rio de Janeiro in 3 to 10 Days

If You Have 3 Days

Spend Day 1 at Copacabana Beach and/or Ipanema Beach for an introduction to Rio's "beautiful people" and beautiful coastline. For lunch, get an introduction to Brazilian "barbecue" at Porcão in Flamengo. Catch the phenomenal sunsets from the Pão de Açúcartoward the end of the day. Do the Theatro Municipalin the morning on Day 2, and then wander around Centro, stopping at the Confeitaria Colombo for lunch and peeking into some of the churches, like the Catedral de São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro. On weekdays, swing by the little Museu Carmen Mirandato see the Brazilian bombshell's costumes, jewelry, and wild headdresses.In the evening join the fun at a samba show.

On your third day, trek out to Corcovadofor a sweeping view of the city. It's best to visit early in the morning before the haze and the tour buses have set in. Then hit the shops. If it's raining or you prefer indoor shops, go to Shopping Rio Sul mall. If you prefer the fresh air, stroll along Rua Visconde de Pirajá and its side streets in Ipanema. In the afternoon, go back to the beach, perhaps trying the more far-flung sands of breezy Barra da Tijuca, west of Leblon. If you're in the city on Sunday, wander through Ipanema's Feira Hippie. In the evening try the national dish, feijoada (a hearty stew of black beans and pork) at Ipanema's Casa da Feijoada.

If You Have 5 Days

On your first day take the cable car to Pão de Açúcar, and explore Centro. Catch some live music in the evening in one of the city's many bars and clubs. The next day jump on the cogwheel train to Corcovadoand set aside time for the captivating Theatro Municipalbefore indulging in a Brazilian barbecue at Marius or Porcão. Bike or walk off lunch at Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, then slide into a shopping center. On your third day stroll from Copacabana to Ipanema, stopping en route to order a tropical pizza at Bar Garota de Ipanema.

Take an organized favela (shantytown) tour in the afternoon (never wander into a favela alone) and in the evening dine on feijoada. On the fourth day head for Petrópolis to see the imperial palace, or make the 40-minute drive to Sítio Roberto Burle Marx to see the country house and gardens of Brazil's most famous landscaper. If you prefer to stay in town, wander through Centro and head for the Palácio do Catete. Try to also work in the Museu de Arte Moderna. Weekdays wind up the day at the kitschy Museu Carmen Miranda. Have your concierge check the evening schedule at the Banco do Brasil Cultural Center. On your last day take the Santa Teresa trolley to the Museu Chácara do Céu, then do some shopping, or head back to the Zona Sul to relax at the beach.

If You Have 7-10 Days

If you've got at least a week to spend in Rio, we recommend you leave the city for a few days. Follow the three- or five-day itineraries above, and then slide out of town to Petrópolis, Angra dos Reis, Parati, or Búzios. If you've got extra time in Rio, roam through the Jardim Botânico, bike around Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, and consider an escape to Prainha and Grumari beaches and the Sítio Roberto Burle Marx.