By Robert Schrader | Published on January 28, 2026
As you walk along the sands of Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, the history of Rio de Janeiro may be the farthest thing from your mind. Brazil's Cidade Maravilhosa (marvelous city), after all, is famous more as a timeless coastal paradise than for the centuries of heritage that reside onshore.
If you're traveling to Rio de Janeiro, it's important to dive into the city's past before you take a dip in its captivating scenery. From top attractions like Sugar Loaf Mountain and the Christ the Redeemer statue, to historical neighborhoods like Lapa and Santa Teresa, Brazil's premier paradise is so much more than the pretty face it presents to the world. It's also fascinating to learn more about the history of Brazil's famous Carnival celebration, even if you don't plan to be in the city when it occurs.
If you’re visiting this lively city on your next cruise, here is a brief history followed by some must-see attractions and events to add to your itinerary.
Key Takeaways
- ● Rio de Janeiro offers much more than beaches — it’s rich in history, culture and heritage.
- ● Iconic landmarks like Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain and Maracanã Stadium are must-see attractions.
- ● Neighborhoods such as Santa Teresa, Lapa, Botafogo and Flamengo showcase Rio’s historic and cultural roots.
- ● Rio’s Carnival is a world-famous celebration blending tradition, music and vibrant costumes.
- ● Exploring cultural sites like the Botanical Garden, Quinta da Boa Vista and Museu do Índio provides insight into Brazil’s past.
- ● Experience Rio firsthand on a South American cruise with Royal Caribbean — the perfect way to combine history, culture and adventure.
The Founding of Rio de Janeiro
Let's go back in time, specifically to 1502, when Portuguese explorer Gaspar de Lemos first laid eyes upon what is now Rio de Janeiro. An interesting fact: The city founders named it this — "Rio" meaning river in Portuguese — because they mistakenly thought that Guanabara Bay was the mouth of a river.
Of course, people had been living in this area for centuries before the Europeans arrived. Specifically, the Guarani and Tupiniquim were among the most numerous native inhabitants of precolonial Rio. If you want to learn more about Rio's indigenous heritage, be sure to visit the Museu do Índio in the city's Botafogo neighborhood!
From the city's official founding in 1565 all the way until the present day, Rio de Janeiro has been one of the most important cities in South America. In 1763, it became the capital of the Brazil colony, a title it retained in 1822, when Brazil declared independence from Portugal. Rio remained the capital until 1960, when the current capital of Brasilia (one of the world's first modern "planned" cities) was built.
Thankfully, the history of Rio de Janeiro didn't end when its tenure as Brazil's political center ended. And neither did the rise of São Paulo, Brazil's commercial capital, knock Rio off its pedestal. The city's gorgeous beaches have made it one of the world's top tourism destinations. It remains a hub of cuisine, culture and sport — the latter of which culminated when it hosted the 2016 Olympics.
Tourist Activities in Rio de Janeiro
Here are some of the most beautiful things to see in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil:
Sugarloaf Mountain
Sugarloaf Mountain is an iconic symbol of Brazil. However, while the “Pão de Açucar” (as it's known in Portuguese) has always been a famous landmark in Brazil, its worldwide fame only began in the 20th century, when the cable car that currently runs to the top every 30 minutes opened in 1912. Before this, reaching the top would have required some pretty sick climbing skills!
Maracanã Stadium
Not surprisingly, many of the other tourist attractions you can visit while traveling to Brazil have interesting stories, too. A more modern one is that of Maracanã Stadium in Rio's downtown. Since opening in 1950 for that year's World Cup, it remains an icon of Brazilian “futebol” (soccer) and is one of the world's most famous such stadiums. Even if you're not a big sports fan, a guided tour of the massive complex is a worthwhile endeavor.
Quinta da Boa Vista
Not far from Maracanã sits Quinta da Boa Vista, a public park that has its own important place in the history of Rio de Janeiro. Today, it's a public green space, but it's also home to the Quinta Palace, which originally opened in 1803 as the home of Brazil's imperial family. Combined with the lushness of the trees and flowers that now carpet its grounds, this heritage building does seem to take you back to another time, particularly if you pair it with the on-site Rio de Janeiro Zoological Garden, which opened in 1945.
Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden
Another icon of cultural tourism, and one of the top Rio de Janeiro activities and attractions in Brazil, is the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden, which was founded just five years after Quinta da Boa Vista. The gardens are a historical, green escape in the heart of the city. These days, more than 6,500 plant species populate the 133-acre footprint — including the dramatic row of towering palms that runs along its main path. If you aren't distracted by the monkeys roaming to and fro in front of you, make sure to look up to see Rio's most famous icon standing, arms outstretched, above you.
Corcovado and Christ the Redeemer
Christ the Redeemer (known as Cristo Redentor in Portuguese) is visible from almost anywhere in Rio de Janeiro and has been since it debuted in 1931 after a decade of construction. The best place to get a sense of the 100-foot-tall statue's magnificence is at its base atop Corcovado Mountain — and not just so you can get the famous photo pose with your own arms outstretched.
The view from the 2,310-foot summit of Corcovado is legendary, offering a panorama of the aforementioned Sugarloaf Mountain, as well as the beaches of Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon. Although the statue has a 1920s Art Deco aesthetic, the idea was actually conceived in the 1850s, when someone suggested it to the Brazilian emperor as a monument to honor his daughter, Isabel.
While Christ the Redeemer was added as one of the seven wonders of the world in 2007, people in Rio de Janeiro have been enjoying the view of the mountain peak and its foothills since 1884, when the funicular railway that runs to the top of the mountain first opened, nearly 30 years before workers broke ground on the statue. If you don't want to ride the train, you can hike to the top of the mountain, although the trail passes through many favela shanty towns that can be dangerous if you accidentally wander into them.
If you want the absolute best view of Rio with the Christ the Redeemer, you can take a helicopter ride that circles around and behind Corcovado, allowing you to see the statue towering over Rio's famous beaches. Enjoy the opposite perspective down on the Arpoador, a massive rock that sits between Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, from which you can see Cristo Redentor towering over Ipanema.
Top Things to Do in Rio de Janeiro
Experience Carnival
Rio's premier cultural tourism experience is its annual Carnival celebration, which takes place in January or February, depending on the year. Like other similar celebrations in Europe and North America (the most famous there being New Orleans' Mardi Gras), Rio's Carnival serves as a festival of debauchery, a last hurrah between the Catholic celebrations of Advent and Lent.
The roots of the festival were planted in the 18th century when Portuguese immigrants brought their traditional festival, called Entrudo, to Brazil. Entrudo is a variation on traditional European Carnival celebrations, which saw people hold feasts to honor the Greek gods of wine. In celebration, people would pour out into the streets and dump buckets of mud, water and food on each other. It was a somewhat messy display by modern standards.
Today, the glitzy and glamorous Carnival is far from what it once was. Over time, it has evolved to become more distinctively Brazilian. Typical Carnival outfits consist of flamboyant, colorful samba costumes, with feathered accents and loud headpieces. Now a global event, Carnival has also become more cosmopolitan, with throngs of tourists from every corner of the world cheering as the parade passes.
What was once a chaotic street party has now become a well-choreographed parade, and a strong part of the culture of Rio de Janeiro, which, despite its large size and hyper energy, is extremely organized. Rio's Carnival is the most famous one in Brazil, but it's not the only one. If you happen to be in other cities like Salvador and São Paulo at this time, you can expect to see similar festivities.
Explore the Local Neighborhoods
Santa Teresa and Lapa
Rio de Janeiro’s hilltop Santa Teresa neighborhood is a mashup of past and present. Heritage streetcars, which date back to the late 19th century, still run along cobbled streets. In Lapa, just beneath Santa Teresa, stands an even more ancient structure. The Carioca Aqueduct, more commonly known as the Lapa Arches, was Rio's main water source when it opened way back in 1723. Today, it's one of the city's best places to take a selfie or a group photo!
Downtown Rio de Janeiro
Meanwhile, not far from Lapa is Rio de Janeiro's modern downtown. Don't be fooled by all the skyscrapers, however — history abounds here. The turn-of-the-century Municipal Theater, whose design was inspired by Paris' Opera House, stands formidably amid the modern glass jungle. While the Rio de Janeiro Cathedral is newer, having been built in the 1970s, the unique and slightly off-color way it pays tribute to Brazil's predominant Catholicism is timelessly fascinating.
Botafogo and Flamengo
Heading south from downtown takes you to the neighborhoods of Botafogo and Flamengo, which sit right on Guanabara Bay, with Sugarloaf Mountain looming in the distance. Both of these neighborhoods are replete with heritage: Botafogo hosts the aforementioned Museu do Índio, while Flamengo's name is an homage to the Flemish sailors who made an unsuccessful attempt to invade Rio in 1599. In Urca, which is right at the base of Sugarloaf, you can find Rua São Sebastião, Rio's oldest street.
Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon
The popular beachside neighborhoods of Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon are slightly less rich in history, with Copacabana in particular having only gained notoriety after the tourism boom of the 1970s. However, an important piece of cultural heritage — the 1960s song "The Girl from Ipanema" — has its origins, not surprisingly, in Ipanema. You can still have dinner at Garota de Ipanema, the restaurant where it's said to have been written.
Reading up on the history of Rio de Janeiro is a must while planning your vacation to Brazil. Rio is replete with rich heritage — from the very first days of its (re)discovery by Portuguese explorers, to the later development of neighborhoods like Botafogo and Flamengo, and the establishment of tourist attractions like the city's botanical gardens and the tradition of Carnival. You may find that taking a cultural tourism vacation to discover the history of Rio firsthand will enhance your experience and understanding of this wanderlust destination.
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