FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.

Global City Guidebook: Rio de Janeiro

by mary.melnick

Jul 20, 2023

PHOTO: © MIKOLAJ64 | DREAMSTIME.COM

GCGB 2023

Contrary to popular belief, Rio de Janeiro isn’t the capital of Brazil, despite its nearly 7 million inhabitants, picture-perfect beaches, iconic Christ the Redeemer statue and annual Carnaval festival. With part of the city designated a World Heritage site, Rio de Janeiro draws millions of visitors for its natural beauty, lively sports and culture atmosphere, and fascinating history. The city only continues to grow in popularity following the 2016 Olympics.

GETTING THERE & AROUND
The city’s main airport, Galeão-Antônio Carlos Jobim International Airport, sits 12 miles from downtown Rio. Blue and yellow taxis are available and bookable at arrival halls. The TransCarioca line of the BRT links terminals 1 and 2, and passengers can access the entire subway system at the Line 2 Vincente de Carvalho station. Buses are the main form of public transportation in the city, with nearly 440 municipal bus lines. Rio is also served by Rio de Janeiro Metro with three subway lines and 41 stations, as well as a commuter rail system by SuperVia that connects Rio with other locations in Greater Rio de Janeiro. While driving is a possible mode of transportation, large numbers of cars and heavy traffic dissuades travelers from taking to the roads.

LODGING
Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel, Rio de Janeiro
Immerse yourself in Art Deco décor at this 1923 property, complete with period furniture and original artwork. Contemporary features of rooms and suites complement the building’s history, with suites including direct pool access and wet bars. A renowned pan-Asian restaurant and Italian eatery further elevate the property, along with a piano bar, tennis courts, gym and spa.
Av. Atlântica 1702, Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
tel 55 21 2548 7070
belmond.com

Emiliano Rio
Warm, stylish rooms; designer suites with vintage touches; and a posh restaurant with a vertical garden await at this boutique property. Emiliano Rio also boasts a Champagne and caviar bar as well as a rooftop infinity pool, spa and state-of-the-art fitness center.
Av. Atlântica 3804, Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
tel 55 21 3503 6600
emiliano.com.br

Fairmont Rio de Janeiro Copacabana
This modern hotel within the Copacabana district offers easy access to the beach. Rooms include balconies and upscale amenities, with suites boasting ocean or mountain views. The hotel includes a tapas bar and café, fine-dining restaurant, infinity pool and boutique spa.
Av. Atlântica 4240, Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
tel 55 21 2525 1232
fairmontrio.com

DINING
Aprazível
Enjoy artisanal Brazilian cuisine overlooking the gardens and city. Highlights include a fish stew native to Brazil, filled to the brim with rich ingredients and a savory broth. The menu also offers delicious, homestyle chicken and beef dishes as well as a delicate crème brûlée.
Rua Aprazível 62, Santa Teresa, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
tel 55 21 2507 1277
aprazivel.com.br

Lasai Restaurante
Headed by Chef Rafa Costa, this Basque-inspired restaurant uses local and fresh ingredients to bring diners on a flavor journey. With only a tasting menu on offer, diners sample a wide range of flavors and products from the restaurant’s gardens, the nearby sea and the neighboring land.
Largo dos Leões 35, Humaitá, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
tel 55 21 3449 1854
lasai.com.br

Térèze
Dine beside panoramic bay and valley views at this trendy restaurant serving Nuevo Latino fare. This restaurant often draws diners looking for a romantic evening.
Santa Teresa Hotel RJ – MGallery, Rua Felício dos Santos 15, Santa Teresa, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
tel 55 21 3380 0259
santateresahotelrio.com

ATTRACTIONS
Copacabana Beach
This 2.5-mile stretch of beach sits between two historical forts. Bordering the beach are a variety of restaurants, bars and nightclubs, while the beach itself serves as the perfect spot for a walk along the promenade, a dip in the water or lying under the sun.
Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden
Covering 130 acres with more than 6,500 species, these gardens also contain historical, artistic and archaeological monuments. Founded in the early 1800s, the gardens include some endangered flora species as well as statues of notable historical figures, international-inspired architecture and beautiful fountains.
Rua Jardim Botânico 1008, Jardim Botânico, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
tel 55 21 3874 1808
gov.br

Sugarloaf Mountain
Take a cable car to the top of this iconic mountain for panoramic views of the city and ocean. Part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, Sugarloaf Mountain sits nearly 1,300 feet above sea level, less than a 40-minute drive from the equally impressive Christ the Redeemer statue on nearby Corcovado Mountain.
Av. Pasteur 520, Urca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
tel 55 21 2546 8433
bondinho.com.br

Introducing

FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.

Explore Excursions

#globility

Insta Feed
Daily
Sep 6, 2024

Indio, California is “Hot” Right Now, and We’re Not Talking About the Weather

Although most travelers are familiar with the name Palm Springs, the oldest city in the Greater Palm Springs region is Indio, California, Coachella Valley's "City of Festivals,” which has been experiencing an exciting downtown revitalization.

New Suites Brand Prototype Variations with Enhanced Flexibility for Business Travelers

IHG Hotels & Resorts unveiled new prototype options for three suite brands: Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites and Atwell Suites. By offering expanded design choices, IHG looks to meet the growing demand for flexibility among guests in the rapidly expanding suites space. Coupled with IHG Business Edge, these suite brands provide business travelers with a multitude of destinations worldwide, ideal for their stays.

September 2024
Sep 6, 2024

Escape to Tahiti for a Captivating Island-Hopping Cruise

The 118 islands of French Polynesia reveal themselves layer by fascinating layer, with the spirit of mana (vital force) linking them all the way from Tahiti to the remote reaches of the Marquesas. This is part of the world best savored on a journey that dives as deep into culture as natural beauty, both above and below the water’s surface. A cruise makes it easy to cover a lot of ground while unpacking just once (and sneaking in some work done in comfort, too, during at-sea days). And cruising offers particular appeal within this semi-autonomous French territory sprawling across nearly 2 million square miles of ocean and covering five archipelagos.

Daily
Sep 6, 2024

Experience the Awe of Fall Foliage at These 5 U.S. Hotels

‘Tis the season for flannels, pumpkin spice and beautiful fall colors. With seasons changing, leaves turn to stunning gold, red, orange and yellow, making it the perfect time for travelers to hit the open road and explore five fall foliage hotels in the United States.

Sunflower Accessibility Program Featured at O’Hare and Midway Airports

Travelers with invisible disabilities passing through O’Hare and Midway International Airports can now discreetly signal they need assistance thanks to a new Chicago Department of Aviation partnership that helps create more accessible and inclusive spaces.

Daily
Sep 6, 2024

Finnair Celebrates 5 Years of Platinum Wing Lounge

Finnair’s exclusive Platinum Wing lounge in Helsinki opened in summer 2019 and recently celebrated its fifth anniversary. Open to Finnair and oneworld’s top-tier customers, the lounge offers travelers a place to drink, dine and unwind pre-flight. Featuring Nordic-inspired design, the lounge offers areas for working, relaxing and dining, accommodating up to 155 customers at a time.

eFlyer Reviews
Sep 4, 2024

The Shelbourne Review

Facing the vast St. Stephen’s Green in the heart of Dublin sits the iconic and historic The Shelbourne. Few hotels master the perfect blend of history and luxury, but The Shelbourne gets it right. The site of the signing of the Irish Constitution in 1922 granting the Republic of Ireland its freedom from England, The Shelbourne has hosted its fair share of notable figures, from Michael Collins to Princess Grace Kelly to John Ford, the latter of which was the name of my suite.

Colombia: A Different Kind of Beauty

Colombia’s beauty defies description — it’s that unique, that special, that different — and travelers are taking notice as 2023 marked the country’s best year for tourism, welcoming more than 6 million international travelers. The Country of Beauty looks to continue growing and enhancing its regions and communities in 2024 and beyond.

eFlyer News
Sep 4, 2024

Illinois Becomes First Great Lakes State to Ban Certain Single-Use Plastic Bottles in Hotels

All hotels in Illinois with 50 or more guestrooms are now required to eliminate the use of small, single-use plastic bottles containing personal care products in individual rooms and public bathrooms beginning July 1, 2025. By Jan 1, 2026, all hotels are expected to make this transition.