Rio de Janeiro Travel Forum

What are the main nature and cultural sites?
What is the best way to get around?
What are some good day side trips?
How many days does one need to see the highlights?
We keep hearing about the dangers...we plan to
carry little money any advice?
What are good things to buy there and where?

Natural sites are for sure the beaches, the Botanical Garden and the Tijuca Forest. As for cultural sites, perhaps you would like to visit museums and cultural centers. The best way to move around is the metro, because it is the safest way. How many days? I think that if you visit a large city for the first time, you should not stay for less than a week. Carry little money and prefer to use credit cards wherever they are wellcome. And let your jewells at home!

* Highlights may be watched during one week or so.
* Use bank credit cards to buy/deal. International banks are in Brazil: City
Bank, Bank of Boston, Santander,.. The most solid brazilian banks are Itau,
Bradesco, Banco do Brasil. You will need only to give legal force at your
country to use
your credit cards in Brazil. Here we use Visa, AmericanExpress, MaterCard.
* The best way to get around is by subway and walking, or bus, ferry, taxi.
To move round in Rio by yourself you will need only be spanish/portuguese
talkative or a good bilingual guide.
* Do not show the valuable when walking. Avoid beeing near favelas. Do not
carry notebooks, or light up with refined japanese cameras, gold/silver
jewels. Wear brazilian clothes and not the tourist dressings.
* During one week you may watch Pão de Açucar, Corcovado, Praia da Barra da
Tijuca, Praia de Grumari, Copacabana/Ipanema/Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas,
Niteroi, Parque do Flamengo. The spots near Rio are: Petropolis, Teresopolis
Nova Friburgo. Flight to Cabo Frio and watch Buzios and Arraial do Cabo.
* Search for tickets to watch show at Cidade do Samba
* Rio de Janeiro is a international city. You will find anything you imagine
to buy.At Shopping Centers you will listen brazilian songs/samba/axé/pagode.
This may be something different to you. And is cheap.
* At my town (Belo Horizonte) you would find cheap gems and precious stones and
jewels.
* Nighlife: Ipanema, Canecão, shows. I don't know how much you will adhere but
brazilian singers use to show skills and get some money at night.
I belive I have told you everything I know from Rio. Good luck! Enjoy Brazil!
Cassiovieggore

Thanks..what are Brazilian clothes?

Brazilians clothes are not similar to hawaiin ones, or indian, or neck tie or bow-tie...
Cassiovieggore

Cotton shorts and polo shirts bought (inexpensively) from local boutiques.