All you need to know about the best neighborhoods in Rio de Janeiro

13.11.2023 - 08:53 / lonelyplanet.com

Rio de Janeiro is a continual cultural hotspot and each neighborhood in the city boasts its own unique vibe.

While you've probably heard of Ipanema, Copacabana, and even Lapa, there are some other up-and-coming and under-the-radar neighborhoods that you cannot afford to miss out on.

Here’s everything you need to know about Rio de Janeiro's coolest alternative neighborhoods – find the perfect fit for your style and start planning your next trip.

Jardim Botânico is the gateway to the Tijuca National Forest, the largest urban rainforest in the world, replete with waterfalls, hiking trails and breathtaking lookout points across the Marvelous City.

Thanks to its jungle-backed location, this primarily residential neighborhood is also overrun by tropical plants and tiny monkeys that run along the powerlines. 

You'll find some of the city's best restaurants along the tree-lined streets – check out La Bicyclette for brunch or JoJo Café Bistrô for oysters and champagne.

This neighborhood also has two of our favorite tourist attractions – the Jardim Botânico that gave the neighborhood its name and Parque Lage, a historic Italian-style palacete (mansion) built in a manicured jungle with an art school and cafe.

While there aren't many tourist accommodation options in Jardim Botânico, staying here will give you a great insight into what it's like to live in the city, not just visit it.

JB is ideally located near main sites like Cristo Redentor and Pão de Açúcar, and it's just a short drive to the Praça Mauá, but you'll have limited public transportation options. There are no metro lines in the area but you can get around using bikes, buses and ride-shares.

The most up-and-coming neighborhood in Rio sits just north of the city's center, in a formerly industrial zone that was once relatively abandoned.

Following the urban revitalization of Praça Mauá, Gamboa has developed into Rio's newest cultural center. Visit the breathtaking new Museu de Amanhã, the jewel of Mauá's revitalization, and its neighbor the Museu de Arte Rio (MAR). 

Follow your cultural adventures with lunch at Café Tero, located at the entrance to theMorro de Conceição quarter,and take a moment to stop at Cais do Valongo, an archaeological site marking the arrival point for enslaved Africans trafficked by European colonizers.

Explore the urban art scene at the Fabrica Bhering before taking a tour of the fabulous Cidade do Samba. For a night out, head to Pedra do SalandBafo da Prainha, followed by a stop atBar Dellas or an all-night rager at The Home or Sacadura 154.

Fun though it is, we don't recommend booking your accommodation in this ultra-urban zone. Instead, enjoy everything the neighborhood has to offer and then head back to your hotel on the other side of