The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization's newest batch of World Heritage sites are breathtaking — 19 places spanning from the Medici Villas in Tuscany to a Canadian whaling station and rice terraces in Yunnan, China — but none of the recent announcements were as surprising as UNESCO’s induction of Rio de Janeiro last year, the first time an entire city had been designated of “outstanding value” to the human race. The award cited the city’s unique combination of topographical and architectural features, including Sugarloaf Mountain, Christ the Redeemer Statue, Tijuca Forest, Copacabana Beach, and the Bay of Guanabara as reasons for its designation, but with The World Cup (2014) and the Olympics (2016) on their way, it’s an accolade that’s likely to add to visitor numbers — and, by the same token, lines. Time then, to explore of the Cidade Maravilhosa away from the tour groups.
An ideal way to see Copacabana’s famous black-and-white tiled promenade, designed by Brasilia's Landscaper Roberto Burle Marx, is with Rio’s new bike share scheme, BikeRio. It’s simple and cheap to use — much like’s NYC’s new CitiBike program — open to tourists and a great way of making use of Rio’s 155 miles of cycle paths in 60-minute hops. Take a ride from here, around the lagoon to the city’s bucolic Botanic Gardens.
To reach the foot of Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado Mountain, you can drive up or you can take the train, or if you’re not keen on waiting, you can fly. Hop in a helicopter down below at Lagoa and once up by those outstretched Art Deco arms, you’ll be able to see the whole city as Cristo does, from the Bay of Guanabara to some of the world’s most expensive real estate on the beachfront in Ipanema. Short 7-minute flights start at R$210 (~$90) per person, while longer 30- or 60-minute flights offer more comprehensive city tours (including the Sambadromo and Niemeyer’s museum in Niterói) for R$720 (~$315) and up.
Everybody knows the cable car that goes up from Urca to Sugar Loaf mountain, but a lesser known gondola, which opened in July 2011 has put the previously ignored northern suburbs on the tourist map. The Teleférico runs from Bonsucesso train station with a 30-minute round-trip out over the sprawling slums (favelas) of the Complexo Do Alemão. Picture postcard? Maybe not. Carioca? Absolutely. And unlike the helicopter, this view only costs $5.
Tijuca forest is the world's largest urban forest, and hiking up the Gávea rock in it is a great way to see the dense expanse of green that swallows the city's fringes. Once on top, if you don't feel like climbing down again, hang gliding or even BASE jumping are your other options.
Contrary to its stereotype as a party town, Rio isn’t that great for clubbing — São Paulo is where it's at if you're looking for DJ talent. That said, even the cream of underground Paulistano promoters are lining up to put on nights at a backpacker hostel-cum-club on top of the Vidigal favela, underneath the Dois Irmãos mountain. The reason? The terrace dancefloor has one of Brazil’s best vistas: Ipanema, Leblon, and the Atlantic Ocean.
As a new batch of cultural sites join’s the World Heritage ranks, we look back at last year’s most surprising pick — an entire city — and the best ways to check it out its maravilhosa offerings