Rio de Janeiro is home to 10 million people, and all of them are dedicated to having the best time of their lives every day. The amazingly beautiful Avenida Atlântica is flanked on one side by white beach and azure sea and on the other by the pleasure-palace hotels that testify to the city's eternal lure. This is a city that has it all, great weather, great people, and great attractions.

Nearly all of Rio's attractions are found in the affluent Zona Sul, the neighborhoods on or near the beach. It is here that hotels, restaurants, shops, and nightlife are concentrated. During the day, Rio life focuses on the beaches, the most active of which remains Copacabana. The famed Ipanema beach is only a short beautiful walk down the Avenue. Beach life there is more restrained, but no less seductive. The western extension, Leblon, is an affluent, intimate community flush with good, small restaurants and bars. The more distant southern beaches, beginning with São Conrado and extending past the Barra to Grumari, become richer in natural beauty and increasingly isolated.

Rio is an amazingly modern city given its 400-year history. Most of the best urban attractions are located close to each other in the city center. There are amazing churches and museums that help present the best of this vibrant culture. Rio's restaurants serve some of the best steaks and meats to be had in the entire world, and the unique Brazilian style of cooking is not to be missed. Moreover, Rio features the greatest party in the world "Carnival" every year. Visitors to Carnival won't be disappointed when they see the amazing floats and beautiful people. Dancing, drinking, and having a good time are a must during Carnival, and also every other day of the year.

Visitors to Rio come with high expectations, and those expectations are definitely surpassed by what they find in this amazing city. The beaches are world-famous for a reason. The downtown area is simply amazing. The Brazilian culture is beautiful because the people of Brazil are amazingly warm and generous towards their guests. The motto here is certainly that everybody must have a great time. The people of Rio and its thousands of visitors are certainly dedicated to making that proposition come true.

Biblioteca Nacional (National Library) National Library, Av. Rio Branco 219 021-262-8255 This neoclassic library was built in 1910.  The library’s collection includes: two 15th-century bibles, New Testaments from the 11th- and 12th-centuries, first edition Mozart scores, several Carlos Gomes original scores, and books that belonged to the Empress Teresa Christina.

Catedral Metropolitana (Metropolitan Cathedral) Av. Rep. do Chile 245 021-240-2869 A truly unique design.  The interior is ornately decorated and highly representative of the period.

Cinelândia This downtown landmark is lined by a sequence of movie theaters.  It houses a large open area that has become Rio's version of London's Hyde Park.

Convento do Santo Antônio Largo da Carioca 021-262-0129 The convent was completed in 1780, but some parts date from 1608. This is one of Rio's oldest structures. Its baroque interior contains priceless and ornate colonial art. The convent exhibits woodcarvings and a variety of wall paintings. It is a local custom that single women looking for husbands come to pray here!

Igreja Candelária (Candelária Church) Praça Pio X. 021-233-2324 The classic symmetry of Candelária's white dome and bell towers are a well-recognized site of Rio.

Museu Chácara do Céu (Museum of the Small Farm of the Sky) Rua Murtinho Nobre 93 021-232-1386 The museum features an impressive modern-art collection donated by the Raymundo de Castro Maya. His collection included 20th-century masters as Picasso, Braque, Dalí, Degas, Matisse, Modigliani, and Monet. The museum also offers a great view of the city!

Palácio Catete (Catete Palace) Rua do Catete 153 021-225-4302 The former official residence of Brazil's presidents is today the Museu da República (Museum of the Republic).  The museum features  presidential memorabilia, period furniture and paintings.

Museu Histórico Nacional (National History Museum) Praça Marechal Ancora 021-240-9529 The museum is made up of an intriguing collection of colonial buildings.  The archives include more than 300 rare documents and colonial artifacts.

Museu Nacional das Belas Artes (Museum of Fine Arts) Av. Rio Branco 199 021-240-0160 The museum houses works by Brazil's leading 19th- and 20th-century artists.

Planetário da Cidade do Rio de Janeiro (Rio de Janeiro Planetarium) Praça Padre Leonel França 021-274-0096 Rio's only planetarium should attract anyone interested in the constellations of the Southern Hemisphere.  Classical music soundtracks accompany all shows. Visitors can also view the night skies through a telescope!

Parque Nacional da Tijuca (Tijuca National Park) Praça Afonso 021-224-324 This dense tropical rain forests provides a home for thousands of life forms. It is considered to be the largest city forest in the world.  The park is a paradise of gushing waterfalls, jungle trails, and tropical flowers.  Visitors can hike the trails as well as take a swim in one of the many majestic waterfalls

Quinta de Boa Vista Av. Rio Branco 021-254-2024 This natural park is a city-owned complex, which features the Jardim Zoológico zoo and the Nacional Museu, as well as hundreds of acres of lush park.  Canoes can be rented for paddling around the ponds, and shows are often performed on a stage located in the  middle of a lake.

Jardim Zoológico (Zoo) Av. Rio Branco 021-254-2024 The zoo offers a close-up of Brazil's native animals.  The zoo provides a home for  alligators, monkeys, snakes, big cats, an impressive tropical bird aviary, and elephants. Children can enjoy a ride in a little train throughout the park.

National Museum Av. Rio Branco 021-254-2024 The museum displays everything from prehistoric fish skeletons, artifacts from Pompeii, crafts by Native Americans and Amazonians, to traditional crafts.

Parque do Flamengo (Flamengo Park) Av. Infante Dom Henrique 85 021-285-7029 Flamengo Park is the largest city park in the world.  The park features an array of activities such as jogging and biking trails; basketball, soccer, tennis courts, playgrounds, and a sports arena. Wonderful for a picnic with the family.

Cinelândia This downtown landmark is lined by a sequence of movie theaters.  It houses a large open area that has become Rio's version of London's Hyde Park.

Planetário da Cidade do Rio de Janeiro (Rio de Janeiro Planetarium) Praça Padre Leonel França 021-274-0096 Rio's only planetarium should attract anyone interested in the constellations of the Southern Hemisphere.  Classical music soundtracks accompany all shows.  Visitors can also view the night skies through a telescope!

Quinta de Boa Vista Av. Rio Branco 021-254-2024 This natural park is a city-owned complex, which features the Jardim Zoológico zoo and the Nacional Museu, as well as hundreds of acres of lush park.  Canoes can be rented for paddling around the ponds, and shows are often performed on a stage located in the  middle of a lake.

Jardim Zoológico (Zoo) Av. Rio Branco 021-254-2024 The zoo offers a close-up of Brazil's native animals.  The zoo provides a home for  alligators, monkeys, snakes, big cats, an impressive tropical bird aviary, and elephants.  Children can enjoy a ride in a little train throughout the park.

National Museum Av. Rio Branco 021-254-2024 The museum displays everything from prehistoric fish skeletons, artifacts from Pompeii, crafts by Native Americans and Amazonians, to traditional crafts.

Parque do Flamengo (Flamengo Park) Av. Infante Dom Henrique 85 021-285-7029 Flamengo Park is the largest city park in the world.  The park features an array of activities such as jogging and biking trails; basketball, soccer, tennis courts, playgrounds, and a sports arena.  Wonderful for a picnic with the family.

Fazenda Alegria  (Happy Farm) Estrada da Boca do Mato 021-442-1992 This is a popular ecology farm for children.  It features waterfalls and a petting zoo. Animals in the petting zoo include lambs and miniature ponies.