Brazil Blog

Brazil Talk!

Rio de Janeiro tourist info

Filed under: Ask Us - February 20th, 2006

Your Question:

I am looking for information on the Lapa area in Rio de Janeiro. I am looking for hotel lists and pictures, night life, shopping, distance from other areas, safety, best deals as well as a list of bars, clubs and restaurants. Whre are the best places to meet the local people. Thank you.

I was at the Hotel Alantico in 20 January, 2006 until 24 January, 2006. I plan on coming back to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in March and I need to start planning my trip.

Our Reply:

Well, since you may already be aware of some of the things Rio has to offer, I will do my best to inform you of some of the things you may not already know. Lapa is a very popular place to go out during the night. It has many pubs and clubs located in a condensed area which makes it easy to see a few different places at once. Lapa during the day is also very beautiful. There are many historical buildings, including Argos da Lapa as well as Largo da Lapa.
As for hotels in Rio, there is an unlimited supply. Rio is a very popular tourist destination, making hotels easy to find. Price is always different depending on where you want to be, as well as how clean you want the sheets;). Just kidding. We have links to some of the best hotels in Rio on our website which you can check out, but there are also many other ways of finding hotels in Rio. Simply typing it into google you will find a variety. Hotels in Rio de Janeiro.

Nightlife in Brazil is never ending. In Rio de Janeiro, there are options for any night of the week. Every bar has a different style of music that they play, but if you are looking to go out, you will not have a problem in Rio. If you are looking into live concerts, or live bands there are many famous Brazilian singers that perform their shows in Rio.

Shopping is another common find in Rio. You will find many shopping malls, or ferias to attend whenever you are feeling like getting new things! One of the most famous shopping centers in Rio de Janeiro is Barra Shopping. It is located in Barra da Tijuca, which is easily accessible by bus, car or taxi. There are also beautiful beaches nearby so you can do both in the same day.

Safety is a definite concern. Always be aware of what’s going on around you, and if you notice the same people following you either stop in a busy place to see if they continue, or go talk to someone for help. I recommend not wearing jewelery, or showing off expensive things such as watches, cell phones, mp3 players, etc. I also recommend that you don’t flash money around, especially in places such as ferias. These are popular tourist destinations and there are many poor people that hang out there to see who is carrying large amounts of cash.

Best deals can be found at many locations in Rio. Unfortunately it is hard to find a lot of this information on the internet, and many of the best deals come and go. One piece of advice I will give you is that the first price you hear is usually marked up a great deal, especially if you ask in English, or with an accent. Be prepared to barter!

Restaurants, bars and clubs are located everywhere throughout the city, so I would recommend that wherever you decide to stay, you ask for assistance in a list of the nearby attractions.

Locals are everywhere! I am not sure if you are able to speak Portuguese, but if so, don’t be shy in striking up a conversation with anyone. However; if you are unable to speak Portuguese, don’t let this stop you from trying to communicate. Many people have a base understanding of English, and with the right hand gestures you might just have a great talk!

So, just to let you know, kind of a coinsidence. I was in Rio on the same days you were. I had a great time. What were you doing there? I wonder if we crossed paths, wouldn’t that be crazy!