Budget Break in Rio

Our Local Expert Says:

Don't be startled by locals jumping on and off the tram as it clatters along - an unwritten rule holds that the ride is free for anyone who travels standing on the platforms on the side of the tram.

Description:

The Santa Teresa bonde (streetcar) is the last reminder of what was once Rio's principle form of public transport. But far from being just a historical artifact, the rattling yellow tram is great fun to ride, as it clatters over the iconic Arcos da Lapa and up the winding cobbled streets of Santa Teresa. Locals jump on and off the bonde as it rattles by - there is no charge for those who choose to stand on the running board instead of taking a seat. There are two lines - one to Paulo Mattos, and one to Dois Irmaoes. Both pass tram stops at Largo do Curvelo, where there is regular live samba on Sundays, and Largo do Guimaraes, which is the central point for the neighborhood's many excellent bars, restaurants and shops. Jump off at either point and you will be well-placed for exploring this bucolic neighborhood.

Description:

If youre looking for the best weekend nightlife action there's only one place to head - Lapa. And for those on a budget, the good news is that you don't even need to pay to enter a club in order to party until dawn. From Thursday to Saturday (Fridays are busiest), the area around the Lapa arches fills up with partiers, live music, and countless vendors selling food and drink - be sure to try some of the mouthwatering cocktails made with vodka and mango or strawberry. The crowd is mainly young and dress is very relaxed. Live music can crop up anywhere but is most often found on the square next to the famous arches - take care here and in other crowded paces as the area is rife with pickpockets.

Our Local Expert Says:

If you want to take photos here consider visiting as part of an organized tour. Lapa is not the safest part of Rio and lone tourists with cameras can be a target for thieves. Ask around about tours that take in the 'Lapa Steps'.

Description:

The steps between Lapa and Santa Teresa have been turned into an ongoing work of art by eccentric Chilean artist Selarón. The artist has used painted and decorated tiles from across the world to create something truly unique - musicians such as Snoop Dogg and Pharell have shot promotional videos here.

Our Local Expert Says:

By day, Santa Teresa is a great place to pick up some arty knick-knacks and enjoy a bite to eat in one of the many traditional restaurants. By night, the neighborhood becomes a hip hangout for bohemian types of all ages, as the bars, cafes and restaurants become packed with students, musicians and artists.

Description:

Once home to Rio's wealthiest inhabitants, the charming hillside neighborhood of Santa Teresa began to fall into disrepair during the 1960s and 70s, when the emergence of favelas nearby drove the rich towards the city's beaches. Artists and musicians moved into the abandoned mansions, and today Santa Teresa is known as Rio's most bohemian neighborhood. Vintage clothes stores, artists workshops and wonderfully laid-back bars and restaurants make the neighborhood well worth a visit, and the iconic yellow tram that clatters its way along the twisting streets is a joy to ride. Despite its close proximity to the city centre, Santa Teresa has preserved a charming small-town atmosphere, and there is a real community atmosphere to the place. Santa Teresa is well-policed and its reputation as a dangerous area to visit is largely undeserved , however, do take the usual precautions, and take taxis between here and Santa Teresa at night.

Our Local Expert Says:

Finish your meal with a delicious, creamy coconut or passionfruit 'batida', condensed milk and cachaca - that famous Brazilian firewater. It might taste like a dessert, but it packs a punch!

Description:

If you're looking for good food that will fill you up without blowing the budget, Bar do Arnaudo is the place to come. This traditional, homely restaurant (no, it's not actually a bar…) serves delicious food from the North East of Brazil in absolutely enormous portions. The set meals for one easily serve two or even three - take your pick from sundried meat or queijo coalho (a hard white cheese, similar to halloumi, served grilled), with brown beans, yucca, rice and pumpkin farofa (toasted seasoned yucca flour). Wash it down with a large, ice cold bottle of beer to share, or - even better - a delicious coconut or passionfruit batida. These creamy drinks are made with fruit, condensed milk and cachaca, the sugar cane rum that is Brazil's national drink. Beware, however, that although they may taste innocent they really pack a punch!

Description:

Rio Hostel is within a five minute walk from the busy center of Rio de Janeiro and the most electrical nightlife of Lapa. Santa Teresa and the biggest urban rainforest in the world are also located nearby. This youth hostel is the perfect choice in a city of millions of people and a great deal of charm and swing, with unforgettable dashes of samba and soccer, lust and rest, summer and carnival. This hostel has a pool, bar, and internet access.

Description:

This hostel is located in a quiet/safe street in the heart of Copacabana (2 min walk to the beach). It is recommended by Lonely Planet as one of the nicest hostels in Rio. Arpoador beach is within walking-distance to Arpoador beach, one of most consistent breaks in the city and perfect for travelers wishing to catch great surf.

Description:

Barril 1800 sits directly opposite Ipanema beach, serves some of the best draught beer in Rio, and its Saturday feijoada (bean and meat feast) is the stuff of legend. The barbequed meats are also excellent, as is the seafood. The service here is formal but the atmosphere very relaxed - you won't look or feel out of place here in your shorts and flip flops. And don't feel you have to eat - this is also a lovely spot to just kick back and relax with a cold beer or caipirinha cocktail.

Our Local Expert Says:

Be sure to visit the Lagoa if you are in Rio over the Christmas season. An enormous Christmas tree is placed in the centre of the lake, and the lights sparkling on the water make this an ideal place to come for a romantic Christmas meal or drink.

Description:

Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas (or Lagoa, as it is popularly known) is the perfect place to come to unwind. A vast lagoon surrounded by dramatic mountains, Lagoa attracts fitness fanatics making use of the running track and exercise stations; families taking to the water on peddle boats; couples and groups of friends wining and dining at the many waterside bars and restaurants; and pensive types mulling things over as they stroll around the lake and take in the stunning views. The 7.5 kilometre running/cycling/walking track is a great way to exercise in beautiful surrounds, and the nearby Parque Catacumba, entrance to which is free, boasts walking trails that will lead you through bamboo groves to a lofty viewpoint with stunning vistas across the lake and over to Ipanema beach.

Description:

A dramatically different park that has featured in videos for Snoop Dogg and Pharell Williams as well as the Black-Eyed Peas, Parque Lage sits right next door to Rio's famous Botanical Gardens, but remains something of a secret to tourists. The park is set in teh grounds of a beautiful 1920s mansion, now a coffee house and art school, and the grounds are dotted with little caves that are filled with tropical fish tanks. Teh cafe is a beautiful spot to enjoy a leisurely breakfast or brunch, or make like local families and bring along a cool box filled with picnic goodies and wine. For the more adventurous, trails run into the Tijuca National Park from here.

Our Local Expert Says:

If you don't want to pay the 10 per cent service charge that is imposed in almost all Rio bars, queue up at the smaller serving area rather than the main bar. The downside is that your drink will be served in a plastic glass.

Description:

Open nightly until around 4am, Emporio gets particularly busy on Mondays, when people spill onto the streets. Attracts hordes of local people but is also a good spot to meet other travellers. DJs spin a mix of American and UK alternative and rock music, with a bit of vintage Brazilian MPB.

Our Local Expert Says:

You have a choice of eating in or take away ('para viagem'), and there's a great health food store tagged onto the side of this restaurant.

Description:

New Natural is a fantastic health food buffet. It's largely veggie-friendly, with a lot of soy dishes, although chicken and fish do make an appearance. The nourishing and delicious soups, pastries and hot dishes are popular with Ipanema's health-conscious beachgoers, as well as with travelers staying at 'Hostel Alley', the strip of backpacker accommodation next door to the restaurant.

Description:

Possibly the most famous stretch of sand in the world, Copacabana beach is synonymous with the hedonistic side of Rio - with sun, sea, beautiful bodies and New Year celebrations on the beach. Stretching for around five kilometers (the beach is called Leme at its northern end), Copacabana boasts soft white sand that is crammed with locals in tiny bikinis and shorts. Stalls selling ice-cold beers and caipirinhas line the beachfront, and joggers run along the pavements - famous for their distinctive wave-patterned black and white tiling. Copacabana beach is overlooked by the attractive, jungle covered hill of Morro do Leme, and Sugar Loaf mountain is resplendent in the background. Avenida Atlantica is the busy road running along the beachfront, and across from the sands the road is lined with towering high rise hotels and apartment blocks, as well as any number of places to eat and drink. Be warned, however, that while a visit here is a must, Copacabana is not the best place to sunbathe. The water is too dirty for swimming, the beach is rife with pickpockets, and vendors selling tourist tat are annoyingly relentless in their drive to relieve you of your tourist dollar.