The best viewpoints in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
I may be biased because I am from here, but I consider Rio to be one of the cities with the most beautiful landscapes in the world.
So, in this guide, I made a list of the best viewpoints in Rio de Janeiro where you can have panoramic sights over the city.
Some of these places are really local spots and some of them are quite famous tourist attractions. There is no need to visit them all, especially if you have limited time in the city.
I recommend you go through the list of the Rio viewpoints below and pick the ones that best fit into your itinerary.
Best free viewpoints in Rio de Janeiro
One of my favorite things about Rio is that there are a lot of viewpoints that you can access for free and have incredible views over the city! Here are my top picks:
Dona Marta Viewpoint
Dona Marta is one of the most special viewpoints in Rio de Janeiro because it is located between Christ the Redeemer and Sugar Loaf, which means you have clear views of both attractions!
From Dona Marta, you will have 360 views over the city of Rio. You can see all the main landmarks including the city center, Maracana Stadium, Sugar Loaf Mountain, Copacabana Beach, and much more!
There is no public transport to this viewpoint because it is located in the Tijuca National Park, so you will either need a car or an Uber to get here. There is no cell phone signal at the viewpoint, so make sure you arrange roundtrip transportation from the get-go.
Pro tip: This is one of the best places to watch the sunrise in Rio! You can book a sunrise tour here.
Vista Chinesa Viewpoint
This small viewpoint is very popular amongst the locals. It’s located in another part of the Tijuca National Park and it’s easily reachable from the Jardim Botânico neighborhood.
From Vista Chinesa’s viewpoint, you have the view over Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas and a few neighborhoods of the South Zone of Rio. It’s a unique angle and a really nice place to visit.
Leblon Viewpoint
If you continue walking along the sidewalk after the end of Leblon Beach, you will reach Leblon Viewpoint where you’ll have panoramic views of Leblon and Ipanema Beaches.
This viewpoint is very easily accessible, you can get here on foot, by bike, or by car.
There is a small kiosk at the viewpoint if you want to have a drink with the view.
Local tip: If you want to take this one step further, you can continue the road up to Vidigal Favela which has a lot of viewpoints as well! However, the view is quite similar since they are both at the same angle.
Joá Viewpoint
This is a cool spot known mostly by locals.
Joá Viewpoint is located along Estrada do Joá, a local road that connects the neighborhoods of Barra da Tijuca and São Conrado. From here, you can have beautiful ocean views.
Joá Viewpoint is a good place to stop when you are visiting Joatinga Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in Rio. You will need a car or Uber to come here.
Read also: Guide to using Uber in Rio
Pedra Bonita and the flight ramp
Pedra Bonita is the most popular flying point for hang gliding or paragliding tours in Rio. But, even if you are not flying, you can also come here for the views over the city.
If you want to take this one step further, you can also do the hike to the peak of Pedra Bonita and you’ll be rewarded with even better views of the city!
The hike to Pedra Bonita is quite short and easy, and it’s a great activity in Rio.
Pedra da Gávea
Located right next to Pedra Bonita, Pedra da Gávea is one of the main mountain peaks in Rio.
The hike to get to the top is more challenging, but it’s also extremely rewarding because it gives you incredible views over the city of Rio.
We did this hike during our last trip to Rio de Janeiro and we loved it! I highly recommend booking a guide for this one because the trail goes through an exposed section. This is the exact tour we did.
Parque das Ruínas
This viewpoint is located in Santa Teresa, a historic neighborhood in Rio.
Parque das Ruínas used to be a high-end mansion, but it today is a public area known for hosting artistic events and live music sessions.
I recommend coming here during the day, unless there is an event happening.
Arpoador
Last but not least, we have Arpoador, the best sunset spot in Rio de Janeiro.
Whether you will come here during the sunset or not, you are guaranteed to have incredible views of the city.
From Arpoador, you can see Ipanema and Leblon Beaches, with the Dois Irmãos Peak in the end.
Paid attractions with great views of Rio
Besides the free viewpoints, some of Rio’s most popular attractions also have incredible views of the city. Here is a list of my favorites:
Christ the Redeemer
When you visit Christ the Redeemer, you have a view of the statue itself but also the city below.
Christ the Redeemer is one of the best viewpoints over Rio de Janeiro because it is one of the highest points in the city. This allows you to see almost the entire South Zone of Rio and some of the suburbs as well.
There is no need to book a tour to visit Christ the Redeemer, but I do recommend booking the tickets in advance, especially if you choose to go up with the cog train. During the summer, the lines can get quite long because this is a very popular spot.
Sugar Loaf Mountain
Another one of Rio’s most popular attractions, Sugar Loaf Mountain offers some pretty spectacular views over the city.
One of my favorite things to do in Rio is to visit the Sugar Loaf Mountain during sunset so you can see the entire city lighting up while the sky turns gold.
The Maze Rio
The Maze is a very unique viewpoint in Rio that few people know about.
Located in the community of Tavares Bastos, this viewpoint is an art installation with mosaics made by travelers from all around the world.
The house is the project of a British artist and it works as a viewpoint, bar, and hostel. You can visit the place and the viewpoint, but they charge a small fee.
Leme Fort
Located at the very end of Copacabana Beach, the Leme Fort offers incredible views of the most famous beach in Rio de Janeiro!
This spot is usually super empty because not a lot of tourists know about it. They charge a small fee for entrance, but the views are definitely worth it.
Read also: Best places to visit in Rio de Janeiro
Very local viewpoints in Rio
The following spots are what I would consider local or secondary viewpoints in Rio. They are either located very far away from the main tourist areas or are so specific that you should probably get a local guide to come with you.
Pedra do Telégrafo
This hike became super famous a few years ago after it went viral for the illusion effect photos.
Whether you like the photos or not, the truth is that this place offers incredible beach views in Rio!
The downside is that Pedra do Telégrafo is located quite far away from the tourist part of Rio. So, to get here, I normally recommend getting a guided tour like this one.
Pedra do Pontal
Pedra do Pontal is the peak that divides the beaches of Recreio and Macumba. It offers a very unique view from the top, with the beaches separating right below the rock.
Similarly to the previous spot, Pedra do Pontal is also located quite far from the South Zone of Rio. But, if you will be exploring the more remote beaches in Rio like Prainha or Grumari, I definitely recommend adding this stop to your itinerary!
The hike to the top of Pedra do Pontal can be tricky, so I recommend asking a local for help.
Parque da Cidade
This is one of the viewpoints with the best views of Rio de Janeiro in my opinion, but it is quite far because it is located in Niteroi, not in the city of Rio.
Niteroi is a small city located on the other side of Guanabara Bay. It is a very local and residential city.
Parque da Cidade is the best viewpoint in the area, and from here you will have panoramic views of the entire skyline of the city of Rio.
It’s a popular sunset spot, but you can visit it at any time of the day. Access is free, but it’s best to have a car.
Parque da Catacumba
To get to this viewpoint, you need to do a short hike. You will have the views over Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas and the Dois Irmãos Peak in the end.
I recommend coming here with a local.
Mirante do Pasmado
This is a small viewpoint in Botafogo. It is free to access but it has recently gone through a few renovations, so I added it last because access has not been the best lately.
I hope this changes soon because it’s a nice spot to visit.
Organizing your trip
To help you plan your trip to Brazil, we have put together our favorite planning resources:
- Flights: Get affordable flights to Brazil on Skyscanner.com.
- Travel insurance: Make sure you are protected during your trip. We use SafetyWing whenever we are traveling abroad.
- Renting a car: We always use Discover Cars to get the best car deals.
- Accommodation: Find the best hotels and apartments on Booking.com.
- Activities: Get fun ideas of what to do and buy unique activities with Get Your Guide.
- SIM Card: Stay connected during your trip with Airalo.
- Personalized itinerary: We can create a travel plan tailored to your wishes!
- Rio de Janeiro map: All of our favorite places on one map.
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