Rio de Janeiro is a city of contrasts and great diversity. Squashed in between imposing mountains, the ocean and a massive bay, the Rio enjoys one of the most spectacular settings in the world. There’s no denying that the city has a lot of issues – poverty, inadequate infrastructure, high prices and crime to name a few – but there’s just something magical (dare I say sexy) about the city that keeps drawing me back like an excited kid to a candy store. It’s hard to explain but I’m going to try anyway… with the help of some of my favourite photos of Rio de Janeiro.
The iconic views
Rio de Janeiro boasts some of the most breathtaking vistas of any city in the world. The panoramic views from the Corcovado mountain (on which the Christ statue stands) and from the Sugarloaf mountain are just mind-blowing! Read about my favourite Rio de Janeiro viewpoint.
The beaches
The beaches in Rio like Copacabana and Ipanema are famous the world over. Any city that has such gorgeous beaches at its doorstep has a big plus in my book! And Rio is absolutely blessed in this respect. The beaches are fabulous and the people-watching is unparalleled. That perhaps explains part of Rio’s magnetic appeal.
Read about my experiences while exploring Rio de Janeiro with locals.
The colours
Rio is a colourful city… a very colourful city! From samba costumes to the amazing street art, there’s colour around every corner!
See more photos of street art in Rio de Janeiro.
Stunning sunsets
The sunsets in Rio are special. The fabulous light combined with the surrounding mountains and the ocean make for some of the most breathtaking sunsets I’ve ever seen. It’s not hard to guess why I have so many beach sunset photos of Rio!
Gorgeous architecture
Rio has many architectural gems. Famous Brazilian architects like Oscar Niemeyer have left a significant mark in the city’s modern landscape but my favourites are the old, often delapidated, Art Deco, colonial and neo-classical buildings that can be found scattered around downtown Rio (Centro), Lapa and Santa Teresa.
The lifestyle
Cariocas (as the people of Rio are called) are famous for their laid-back lifestyle. They love a good party, hearty food and lounging, playing or strolling on the beach – my kind of lifestyle!
There it is! Some of the reasons why I LOVE RIO and why I think this city is just absolutely magical. I hope you enjoyed my photos of Rio de Janeiro!
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Thank you Duke for your lovely comment. Hope you get to make that trip to Rio soon.
Cheers,
Keith 🙂
Just lovely photos here of Rio. I really want to visit there and seeing images from the World Cup started that desire. Your post has rekindled my need to see that beach you posted and the Christ Redeemer. Seriously, great post. I loved reading and flipping through the photos.
its awesome! i would like to visit rio someday..
Just love the mist that the surf puts up in the air in Rio … I want to try my hand at surfing when I get down to Brazil!
Their spring but also winter is a good time to visit in my opinion. Less crowds. 🙂
Awesome pictures, they really inspire me to visit this spectacular city. Thank you for sharing these great memories. It looks like a magical place to visit. When is the best time to go?
[…] It’s not hard to be inspired by Rio de Janeiro. I recently published a photo essay about the magic of Rio. In the video below, I describe why I’m such a big fan of Rio. Check it […]
Thank you Sandra! 🙂
Really great photos, Keith! Rio looks like a place I certainly would enjoy. Thanks for taking me on a photography tour.
Beautiful! The vibrancy of colours all over the place is great, and the beaches look so inviting – no wonder Brazilians are a happy bunch! Thanks for sharing – enjoy your time there – it surely must be about to go crazy with the world cup!