Making the most of Rio de Janeiro
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Ships dock at Pier Maua, Rio de Janeiro's main cruise terminal near downtown. Copacabana is approximately a 20-minute taxi ride away. The new VLT CARIOCA tram connects the port with other parts of the city centre.
Rio de Janeiro port underwent major renovation for the 2016 Olympic Games. Work began in 2010, making it the city's major infrastructure work of the past 30 years. Near the pier are food trucks, a new square and new atractions:
A Santiago Calatrava project, Museu do Amanhã, or the "Museum of Tomorrow", is a must see for the building itself.
MAR is the "Museum of Art of Rio".
AQUARIO is Rio's aquarium.
RioStar is a new 88 meters high ferris wheel, similar to the London Eye. It opens daily from 10AM to 06PM, with a fee of about 13 USD.
Take a printable map with you.
Find information for festivals and events in Rio de Janeiro while in port.
To enter Brazil, check visa requirements.
Every Rio de Janeiro visitor should see Corcovado. The Catholic Church constructed the Jesus Christ statue, which stands some 2,200 feet above sea level and is visible from nearly every city vantage point. You can visit the monument by taxi, but it can be very crowded, so buy tickets in advance.
Pão de Açúcar, the Sugar Loaf mountains—one taller, the other shorter—is Brazil's top landmark and unmissable, with an aerial tramway to the summit. A ticket up costs R$ 35. Buses 591 and 592, plus subway buses, reach the base station.
Copacabana and Ipanema beaches are musts that you will never forget.
Getting around
Rio de Janeiro's central major-sights area is very walkable, and taxis are readily available. Its excellent buses and metro can be difficult to figure out. The metro runs along Copacabana beach and includes Ipanema.
Using the Pier Maua tram is easy. Each person buys a Rio card from a platform machine, which accepts cash and debit cards, with no mention of credit cards. The card has a R$ 3 'deposit' charge. A refund is said to be possible but may require visiting a manned Metro station, which is not hugely helpful back at the cruise terminal. Top up only small amounts, so losing R$ 10 or so is no big deal. In December 2018, Tram fares were R$ 3.80 and Metro fares were R$ 4.50 to guide top-ups. Validate the card on Tram devices just by the…
First-time visitors may find an organized tour appealing.
Food and shopping
Stores line Copacabana and Ipanema Beach. Walking around these two areas is generally safe with common sense, though other Rio areas are often less safe.
Money
Currency: Brazilian Real.
Staying connected
Portuguese is spoken.
Customer free WiFi cafes are plentiful across the city, especially near Copacabana and Ipanema.
Opening Hours and
Most stores and businesses keep basic hours of 9am to 6pm, with an extended lunch from around noon to 2pm.
Many museums close on monday.