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 Local Rio de Janeiro: What to Do Around Mercure Rio Boutique Copacabana
At Mercure, we believe you shouldn't need a guidebook to feel like you belong somewhere. That's the idea behind Discover Local: since 1973, every Mercure hotel has been built around its neighbourhood, not just dropped into it — from the décor on the walls to the flavours on the menu. Step into any Mercure and our teams are on hand with the kind of tips you won't find in a guidebook: the market stall locals queue for, the bar where nobody speaks English, the walk that skips the crowds. They live here. They know. Discover Local isn't a generic city guide — it's a short, honest list of the restaurants, markets and neighbourhoods our own hotel teams actually recommend to guests, updated as the city changes around us. Below, you'll find our picks for Rio de Janeiro, an interactive map to help you find your way, and answers to the questions travellers ask us most. So — where will Discover Local take you?
Rio de Janeiro in 5 picks
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.
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.
Where to sleep
See Mercure hotels in Rio de Janeiro, all within reach of these picks.