Zona Oeste Attractions in Rio de Janeiro
Things to do in the Zona Oeste of Rio de Janeiro are many and varied - ranging from surfing and nature walks to sunbathing and shopping.
The 'west zone' is best known for Barra da Tijuca, a suburb so vast that it resembles a city within a city. With its modern high rise condominiums, shopping malls and wide avenues, it can feel more like Miami than Rio de Janeiro, and locals sometimes jokingly refer to it as the United States of Barra. If shopping is your thing, you won't be disappointed, as there are scores of shopping centers here - indeed, the vast Barra Shopping is the largest in Brazil.
Sunseekers will also be happy in Barra - the vast beach stretches for some 14 kilometers, and the water is generally much cleaner than at Copacabana and Ipanema.
A little further west, the beaches of Recreio, Prainha and Grumari are popular with surfers, while the neighborhood of Vargem Grande is the perfect spot for anyone looking to get back to nature.
Adrenaline junkies looking for high-speed thrills and spills will find plenty of Zona Oeste attractions to suit, including the Terra Encantada theme park and the Kartodromo Premium racing circuit.
The 'west zone' is best known for Barra da Tijuca, a suburb so vast that it resembles a city within a city. With its modern high rise condominiums, shopping malls and wide avenues, it can feel more like Miami than Rio de Janeiro, and locals sometimes jokingly refer to it as the United States of Barra. If shopping is your thing, you won't be disappointed, as there are scores of shopping centers here - indeed, the vast Barra Shopping is the largest in Brazil.
Sunseekers will also be happy in Barra - the vast beach stretches for some 14 kilometers, and the water is generally much cleaner than at Copacabana and Ipanema.
A little further west, the beaches of Recreio, Prainha and Grumari are popular with surfers, while the neighborhood of Vargem Grande is the perfect spot for anyone looking to get back to nature.
Adrenaline junkies looking for high-speed thrills and spills will find plenty of Zona Oeste attractions to suit, including the Terra Encantada theme park and the Kartodromo Premium racing circuit.
Surfing in Rio
Praça do Arpoador - Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 22080-070, Brazil
On the Crest of a Wave...
Terra Encantada
Avenue Ayrton Senna, 2800
Barra da Tijuca
Entertainment and culture at breakneck speed...
Itanhangá Golf Clube
Estrada da Barra da Tijuca, 2005
Barra da Tijuca
One of the oldest golf clubs in the city...
Fluminense Football Club
Rua Álvaro Chaves, 41
Laranjeiras
Football, tennis, shooting and fencing...
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