It's around a 25 to 29-minute drive from the Copacabana area, depending on traffic, with vans and a cog train both running up Corcovado mountain to the statue.
Discover Authentic Rio de Janeiro: A Local Travel Guide by Mercure
No stock lists here. Recommended by the team at Mercure Rio Boutique Copacabana. What follows is their actual advice for Rio de Janeiro — the spots they'd send a friend to, not what ranks well online. Find our picks below, an interactive map, and the FAQs travellers ask us most.
Our map pins local favourites such as the Museum of Tomorrow, Fort Copacabana and Bar do David, alongside our Mercure hotels.
Top 5 Things to Do in Rio de Janeiro
Copacabana beach boardwalk
The black-and-white wave-pattern mosaic along Avenida Atlântica is as iconic as the beach itself. Walk it at sunrise before the sand fills up, when the joggers and coconut-water vendors are just setting up.
Christ the Redeemer
The statue watches over the whole city from Corcovado mountain. Go early or book a timed slot — the viewing platform gets packed by mid-morning, and clouds can roll in fast.
Sugarloaf Mountain
Two cable car legs carry you up granite peaks for a view over Guanabara Bay. Late afternoon works well — you get the daylight view on the way up and the city lights coming on for the descent.
Ipanema and Arpoador sunset point
Arpoador rock, between Ipanema and Copacabana, is where locals gather to watch the sun drop behind the hills — a small ritual of applause often follows a good one.
Copacabana Fort
A working military fort at the southern end of Copacabana beach, with a small museum and a café terrace looking straight down the length of the sand.
Explore Rio de Janeiro's Best Local Spots with Our Interactive Map
What's on the map in Rio de Janeiro
We've mapped local spots across Rio, from futuristic museums to seafood feijoada with a view. Where will you start?
Museums & culture
Museum of Tomorrow
Santiago Calatrava's museum juts out over Praça Mauá towards Guanabara Bay, cooled by bay water and topped with sun-tracking panels. Inside, five themes, from Cosmos to Tomorrow, ask where we're heading.
Praça Mauá · Science museum · Made for curious minds
Museu de Arte do Rio (MAR)
Opened in 2013 on Praça Mauá, MAR links a neoclassical palace and a modernist building under a wave-shaped canopy. Inside: Rio's history and Brazilian artists.
Praça Mauá · Art museum · Perfect for art lovers
Casa de Arte e Cultura Julieta de Serpa
A 1920 French neoclassical mansion hosting exhibitions, theatre and music. Stay for lunch, or afternoon tea in the Winter Garden.
Flamengo · Cultural centre · Ideal for afternoon tea
Casa de Cultura Laura Alvim
A seaside mansion left to the city by arts patron Laura Alvim, now a cultural centre for theatre, cinema and art.
Ipanema · Cultural centre · Great for culture
Teatro Claro Mais RJ
A 623-seat theatre designed by Henrique Mindlin, with comedy, concerts, plays and musicals.
Copacabana · Theatre · Perfect for a show
Copacabana & food
Fort Copacabana
Built in 1914 at the southern tip of Copacabana Beach, its 12-metre-thick walls now hold the Army History Museum – and sweeping Atlantic views.
Copacabana · Fort and museum · Made for views and history
Confeitaria Colombo, Fort Copacabana
Inside the fort, a branch of the famous Confeitaria Colombo. Breakfast, afternoon tea or pastéis de nata on a terrace above Copacabana Beach.
Copacabana · Café · Perfect for tea with a view
Bar do David
Founded by former fisherman David Bispo in Chapéu Mangueira, this award-winning bar is famous for seafood feijoada and feijoada croquettes. The view over the city and ocean comes free.
Chapéu Mangueira, Leme · Bar · Great for creative bar food
Café 18 do Forte
Inside Fort Copacabana: creative dishes, all-day breakfast and one of the finest views of the beach.
Copacabana · Café · Ideal for breakfast with a view
Boteco Belmonte Flamengo
The original Belmonte, pouring cold beer and serving Brazilian snacks near Flamengo Park since 1952.
Flamengo · Bar · Perfect for a beer
Bar do Adão
More than 60 sweet and savoury pastéis, from shrimp to brie with apricot. Can you pick just one?
Bar · Great for a casual bite
Pavão Azul
A Copacabana fixture since 1957: sidewalk tables, cold beer and snacks with Portuguese roots. Pull up a chair.
Copacabana · Boteco · Made for local atmosphere
Bardana Cozinha Natural
A plant-based self-service buffet, paid by weight.
Restaurant · Perfect for vegetarians
Cervantes
A Copacabana favourite since 1955, famous for its generous pork sandwiches – especially late at night.
Copacabana · Bar-restaurant · Ideal for late-night food
Nature & adventure
Ilha da Gigóia
A tiny car-free island in the Tijuca lagoon: mangroves, canals, open-air bars and capybaras. Slow down.
Barra da Tijuca · Island · Perfect for a slow afternoon
Rio by Bike tours
Guided cycle tours past landmarks and back streets, from Copacabana's promenade to Flamengo Park and Sugarloaf.
Bike tour · Great for first-time visitors
Tijuca National Park
39 km² of Atlantic forest right inside the city: trails, waterfalls, caves and howler monkeys.
Tijuca · National park · Made for hiking
Cachoeira das Almas
A small waterfall in Tijuca National Park, reached by a shady 3 km walk, with a rocky pool to wade in.
Tijuca · Waterfall · Perfect for a picnic
Pedra Bonita trail
A 3 km guided trek through Atlantic forest to a rocky summit above the coastline and Pedra da Gávea.
Tijuca · Hike · Ideal for views
Ilhas Tijucas
Jet-ski out to the small islands off Barra da Tijuca and snorkel among colourful fish.
Barra da Tijuca · Snorkelling · Made for adventure
FAQ
Yes — it's well connected by metro, with Siqueira Campos station a short walk from the beachfront, and it puts you close to Ipanema, Sugarloaf Mountain and the city's main beach culture.
It's a black-and-white Portuguese-style wave pattern (calçada portuguesa) that runs the length of Avenida Atlântica, one of Rio's most recognisable design details.
A science museum designed by Santiago Calatrava on Praça Mauá, exploring the universe, the Earth, human impact and possible futures.
Confeitaria Colombo's branch inside Fort Copacabana has a terrace overlooking the beach, perfect for breakfast or afternoon tea.
Bar do David in Chapéu Mangueira is known for its award-winning seafood feijoada.
Where to Sleep in Rio de Janeiro
These Mercure hotels appear on our map:
- Mercure Rio Boutique Copacabana
- Mercure Rio de Janeiro Nova Iguaçu
- Mercure Rio de Janeiro Barra da Tijuca