Whether you're on a beach holiday or a tourist looking for a cultural experience, Rio de Janeiro has plenty of great places to see. If you're not a beach lover, you may find it hard to imagine why this city is so popular. However, if you're into surfing, football or other sports, you'll be pleased to know that the city has a number of great places to practice your favourite sport.
You'll find plenty of places to watch the sunset in Rio, including Copacabana and Arpoador. In addition to the golden sands and surf, you'll find lifeguard stands, restrooms and changing rooms. You can also see the world famous statue of Christ the Redeemer in Parque Lage. This statue is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World and is the symbol of Rio de Janeiro.
You'll also find the newest major downtown attraction, the Rio Aquarium. This aquarium contains more than 8000 animals, including more than 350 species of fish. The highlight of the aquarium is a tunnel, which allows you to see fish and other animals close up. There's also a 3.5-million-liter aquarium, which is one of the largest in South America. You can also enjoy the aquarium's two dozen tanks.
If you're interested in learning more about the city's rich cultural history, the Museu Historico Nacional is a good place to start. The building was originally a chapel, but it now houses a number of relics from Brazilian history. There are also huge oil paintings of the Paraguay war, a full-scale model of a colonial pharmacy and the throne of Dom Pedro II.
You can also visit the port operations building, which has been converted into a cultural museum. On your tour, you'll see a fairytale-like tower and gain a fresh perspective of the city's dramatic bay. You'll also see Christ the Redeemer in a new light.
You'll also find a number of great art galleries. The top floor of the MAR is home to a fantastic restaurant, while the lower floor is devoted to exhibits. The galleries feature a mixture of international and Rio-specific exhibitions. The museum's collections include art, landscapes, challenges, conflicts, people and beauty. You may also want to check out the museum's UFO-shaped museum, which has a diameter of 164ft. (50m).
You can also visit Copacabana Fort Museum. You'll find it at Posto 6, which is close to Copacabana Beach. This former military base has been restored and is open to visitors. It's also the site of a marathon swimming event during the Summer Olympics in 2016.
Finally, you'll want to check out the Lagoa lagoon. You'll also find a number of hiking trails in this lush, tropical forest. The forest is home to Capuchin monkeys and colorful toucans, as well as quatis (Brazilian raccoons). You may also want to visit the Tijuca Forest, a 39-square-kilometer tropical-jungle preserve. The forest is home to Capuchin and quatis, as well as blue butterflies and other native species.
