About the city:
South America 's most popular beach and the cultural and tourist capital of Brazil, Rio de Janeiro is called popularly “cidade maravilhosa” (marvelous city). It is a spectacular destination that offers to the tourists fun loving, beach-orientated lifestyle. Picturesquely set between mountains and the sea, its numerous theatres, museums and galleries make it a sophisticated and cultural destination, and the number of restaurants, shops and nightspots have made it famous for its jazzy nightlife.
Rio de Janeiro is a city of stunning architecture, good museums, and marvelous food. It's a teeming metropolis where enthusiasm is boundless -- and contagious. Its white beach and azure sea testify to the city's eternal lure.
Every year thousands of visitors descend on Rio to enjoy the sun, get drunk, and have a riot of time. The international tourists take advantage of Rio's ritzy side also; it has much to offer the budget travelers. There are cheap hotels and restaurants aplenty, and the beach is a free entertainment zone.
Weather
Although the weather remains pleasant all the year round, the Carnaval is often a more important consideration than weather for travelers deciding when to come to Rio.
Tourist Attractions:
The attractions that Rio has to offer to the tourists are simply unbelievable and unending. For the art and culture enthusiasts it offers wondrous spots like the Catedral Metropolitana with its breathtaking sculptures, murals and other works of art; Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil that houses a cinema, two theatres, a permanent display of the evolution of currency in Brazil and excellent exhibitions;
The Museu Nacional with its widely interesting exhibits dinosaur fossils, sabre-toothed tiger skeletons, beautiful pieces of pre-Columbian ceramics, a huge meteorite, hundreds of stuffed birds, mammals and fish and exhibits on the peoples of Brazil.
For beach lovers Rio is simply a heaven offering several exquisite seashore stretches. The most famous of course is Copacabana. It's a spectacular and very crowded spot of sand with steep hills serving as backdrop. There is always something happening on the beach during the day and along the footpaths at night: drinking, singing, eating and making merry.
Southwest of Copacabana is Arpoador, a small beach with good surfing even at night also while the beach illuminated. Panema is Rio's richest and most chic beach. It's less crowded than Copacabana, as well as safer and cleaner.
Rising straight up from the city to 710m (2330ft), the mountain Corcovado (Hunchback) offers spectacular panorama of Rio and its surrounds. Its prominent feature is the statue Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer). At night, the brightly lit statue is visible from all over the city.
Two cable cars lift one 396m (1300ft) above Rio to the top of Pão de Açúcar (Sugar Loaf) summit. From here, Rio appears enchanting, especially as daylight dims and the city lights start to sparkle down below. Adventure lovers could take the long way to the summit and indulge in some strenuous granite-hugging climbing.
Close Destinations:
In just 15 minutes, one can leave the concrete jungle of Rio de Janeiro behind and reach the 120-sq-km tropical jungle of the Parque Nacional da Tijuca. The forest has beautiful trees, creeks and waterfalls, mountainous terrain and high peaks. It is home to several different species of birds and animals, including iguanas and monkeys. Highlights of this beautiful park are several waterfalls, a 19th-century chapel, numerous caves, a lovely picnic spot and various restaurants.
Ilha de Paquetá the island in the Baía de Guanabara was once a popular tourist spot and still holds a certain decadent charm for the unassuming tourist. The colonial buildings, quiet beaches and businesses catering to local tourism are its prime attractions.
Praia do Grumari is the most isolated and unspoiled beach close to the city. With mountains and natural vegetation, this beautiful setting is quiet during the week, but packed on weekends. Other beaches down south include Recréio, Prainha and Marambaia, which are all very beautiful and worth exploring. Prainha is one of the best surfing beaches in Rio.
Accommodation:
From luxurious high-rise hotels gazing out over the beaches and ocean to small inland inns, one can find a range of lodging options in Rio. Prices appear high, but the top-rate service and warm hospitality well buffer the initial shock. Many hotels have computers and business services, and some include generous breakfast buffets in their rates.
Search for lodging option can be based on the high and low priced stay or just the style and feel of the hotel on worldwide web. You can try one of the leading traveling websites that is hotel-listings-online.com, where you can grab the best deals on cheapest rates and discounts with amazing complimentary services. You will find here an exclusive range and excellence quality of contented and comfortable accommodation of all types in any city of USA, UK, and Europe and around the world with outstanding room amenities.
Hotel Rates and Charges:
Prices for standard double room in high season can be really high. Flamengo and Catete regions offer Rio's largest selection of low-end accommodation. A double room in various hotels here could be had in the range of $ 20 to $ 75.
Copacabana and Ipanema offer hotels with some rooms facing the ocean at a minimal price range of 75 to 100 $. If one is rolling in wealth, go for royal suites where one can rub shoulders with the stars in grand old-fashioned style for a princely $400 or so.
Lodging:
Restaurant, room service, pool, gym, health club, hair salon, massage, sauna, bar, babysitting, laundry service, concierge, business services are mostly common to all hotels in Rio. Some hotels have rooftop tennis court and pools. Good service, modern day conveniences, welcome drinks, great beds, baths and furnished living rooms with dining area and complementary breakfast are also a part of the whole package.
Amusing and amazing Facts about the city:
The early 1920s to the late 1950s saw Rio's golden age. In the mean time until now, it became a romantic, exotic destination for Hollywood stars and international high society, which came to frolic in the city's posh casinos and nightclubs. The city remained the political capital of Brazil until 1960.
The people of Rio are called cariocas. The term "carioca" comes from the country's early history, when it meant "white man's house" and was used to describe a Portuguese trading station. Today the word defines more than birthplace, race, or residence. It represents an ethos of pride, sensuality and a passion for life.
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