Copacabana, Carnival and top models – these terms are probably the first things that come to mind. We missed the carnival and the top models, but we were really looking forward to celebrating Sven’s 34th birthday at Copacabana 😊
Our hotel – Miramar Hotel by Windsor – had 2 big advantages. It was in the first row directly at the Copacabana and had an ingenious rooftop pool.
Of course we immediately packed our beach bag and went to Copacabana Beach. We quickly gave up the search for spindly top models, we found that the opposite was more the case. We were later told that Brazilian men like curves.the Brazilians love curves.
When we came back from the beach there was already a little surprise waiting for Sven in the hotel room – a birthday cake 😋
We celebrated Sven’s birthday in the Brazilian Churrascaria Restaurante Marius Degustare recommended by the hotel. The ambience was an experience and the caipirinhas simply delicious 😋
The next day we looked forward to the trip to Corcovado on which the world-famous Christ statue Cristo Redentor stands. The view from the top was breathtakingly beautiful.
Rio’s second beach, Ipanema Beach, is not as well known as Copacabana Beach, but we liked it better.
Another successful day had come to an end. What could be nicer than to end it with a nice dinner and a glass of wine.
As you already know, we are absolute early risers even on vacation – well Sven definitely and I try 😉
However, getting up early has often paid off on our travels. Otherwise we would miss such wonderful sunrises. And if you have ever been up, you can go jogging right away 😉 At this time it is incredibly quiet even in a metropolis like Rio de Janeiro.
An absolute must in Rio is definitely a trip to the Sugar Loaf. In addition to the Christ statue and the Copacabana, this is one of the most important landmarks. The cable car is the easiest way to get up. Since we had already done sports and the temperatures have meanwhile risen well, this was also our choice. The view was terrific.
Our 5 days in Rio de Janeiro were over that quickly – our next destination was São Paulo. Rio will stay in our memories forever, this city has absolutely impressed us. Who knows, maybe next time at the Rio Carnival 😉
Our personal opinion about Rio de Janeiro:
- very impressive city
- great viewpoints
- less suitable for a pure beach vacation
- some knowledge of Spanish would be an advantage
Best travel time:
Für ganz BraYou will never find the perfect travel time for all of Brazil, as there are different climates. Rio de Janeiro is really worth a visit at any time of the year. In our opinion, May to October would be the perfect weather for sightseeing, and this is also the time when there is the least amount of rain. The Rio Carnival takes place in February / March.
Hotel recommendation:
Miramar Hotel by Windsor
Restaurant recommendations:
- Restaurante Marius Degustare
- Don Camillo Restaurante e Pizzaria
Mote tips & recommendations:
A trip to the Corcovado and the Sugar Loaf Mountain is a must – an absolute MUST in Rio.
We knew that little English was spoken in South America. From a metropolis like Rio de Janeiro, however, we had expected more in this regard. Even in restaurants at Copacabana we could be happy when we were given a menu in English. Well, it’s been several years since this vacation in Brazil, maybe something has changed in the meantime. However, it doesn’t hurt to memorize a few phrases in Spanish at home.
