Get to know Rio - as a local
Passeio turístico
Call an Uber and choose "Praia Vermelha" as the destination. This is a place in Urca, which is considered the safest neighborhood in Rio where Sugarloaf is located. When you stop at "Praia Vermelha", you will see a big square, the Suggarloaf entrance, the beach. Looking to the beach, to your left you will see a public elementary school where the "Claudio Coutinho track" begins. You can walk for 1.5km surrounding the ocean in a very pleasant place. You can also take a trail, after walking ~700m, and get to the top of the first Sugarloaf mountain without paying anything. The trail is easy and you can even go with kids.
297 locals recommend
Pista Cláudio Coutinho
Call an Uber and choose "Praia Vermelha" as the destination. This is a place in Urca, which is considered the safest neighborhood in Rio where Sugarloaf is located. When you stop at "Praia Vermelha", you will see a big square, the Suggarloaf entrance, the beach. Looking to the beach, to your left you will see a public elementary school where the "Claudio Coutinho track" begins. You can walk for 1.5km surrounding the ocean in a very pleasant place. You can also take a trail, after walking ~700m, and get to the top of the first Sugarloaf mountain without paying anything. The trail is easy and you can even go with kids.
This is one of the most beautiful places in Rio in my opinion. I go there quite frequently by bicycle but you can also go walking although it´s not easy (4km climbing 10% inclination ladders). You can also go by car between 9 to 5pm but I would recommend climbing by foot early in the morning as you will be in the middle of the Tijuca forest with lots of other people and fresh air. The view from the Chinese View is really amazing.
308 locals recommend
Vista Chinesa
This is one of the most beautiful places in Rio in my opinion. I go there quite frequently by bicycle but you can also go walking although it´s not easy (4km climbing 10% inclination ladders). You can also go by car between 9 to 5pm but I would recommend climbing by foot early in the morning as you will be in the middle of the Tijuca forest with lots of other people and fresh air. The view from the Chinese View is really amazing.
Leblon is the most expensive neighborhood in Rio but the Leblon beach is very democratic. You can either get there by the subway, stopping at the "Antero de Quental" station but I would recommend getting an Uber and stopping by "Posto 11". You can rent a tent and a chair for around 25 reais and you will pay up to 10 reais per beer.
13 locals recommend
Praia Leblon
710 Avenida Delfim MoreiraLeblon is the most expensive neighborhood in Rio but the Leblon beach is very democratic. You can either get there by the subway, stopping at the "Antero de Quental" station but I would recommend getting an Uber and stopping by "Posto 11". You can rent a tent and a chair for around 25 reais and you will pay up to 10 reais per beer.
Traveler advice
What to pack
Do not take expensive stuff when going to the beachs
As any other big city, Rio has its social problems and it´s not impossible to get sfuff robbed if you go to the beachs with too much (e.g. expensive cellphones, gold chains, huge cameras). Try to be as much as low profile as possible trying not to look like a "crazy vidaloca gringo". :-)