Location: Zona Sul (South Zone)
Top Things to do in Zona Sul (South Zone)
What to do and see in Zona Sul (South Zone), State of Rio de Janeiro (RJ): The Best Lookouts
With its plentiful beaches, dramatic mountains, and backdrop of samba and bossa nova rhythms, it's easy to fall in love with Rio de Janeiro. Made famous in song, Ipanema Beach is still the place to stroll, sunbathe, and be seen. The largest Art Deco statue in the world, Christ the Redeemer, beckons visitors to Corcovado Mountain. Rio’s annual Carnaval celebrations are bacchanalian extravaganzas of feasting, music, dance, and costumed revelry.
Restaurants in Rio de Janeiro
1. Sugarloaf Mountain
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 55,956 reviews
One of the most beautiful attractions in Rio de Janeiro and one of the most famous in Brazil. Our mission is to take people to an enchantment, fun and entertainment journey – providing happy and unforgettable experiences as well as valuing Brazilian culture. We constantly invest in safety, comfort and innovative technologies. Our locations constitute natural, geological, historical, and touristic landmarks in the city of Rio de Janeiro. As a natural landmark, it reminds us of our reference to the sailors who come to Guanabara Bay. As a geological landmark, it reminds us of our geological site precisely dating the history of our planet. We also talk about historical landmark because on March 1, 1565, Estacio de Sa founded the City of Sao Sebastiao in Rio de Janeiro literally on its feet. And, finally, touristic landmark because the Cable Car opened on Sugarloaf projected Brazil’s name worldwide. It has been the first cable car installed in Brazil and the third in the world.
Reviewed By myom624 - Coquitlam, Canada
A different vantage point from the top of Corcovado with more land views than water views (or water seen past land), the top of this so-called 'Sugar Loaf' is actually kind of an "opposite nature" with more views of water than land from its two viewing areas (each of which kind of double-decked): one area facing north with a great wide view of Guanabara Bay & the "long bridge" at some distance straight ahead and from which there's also a view of a good-sized portion of the city (with a pretty nice skyline actually in a big sprawling area of modern high-rises) to the left & across the water with also some nice-looking beaches on that side; and another area facing south with the "open sea" & really quite a phenomenal view of the "entire length" of Copacabana Beach from the hill of Forte Duque de Caxias just shortly from this mountain to Forte de Copacabana on the other end about 3 km away (which is actually what to me was the "most worthwhile" view from this mountain top). I would just say a bit on the downside though is "not much" of ground to walk around up here, but yes there's Morro da Urca shortly below (just about a 5-minute cable car ride away which you have to come through to get up to this mountain top) which is "like a small park" for a nice walk around with also some old cable cars displayed outdoors, a small building with some cable car machinery on display, a small forest trail on a raised platform or such & yes the same views as from above (except for that of Copacabana to the south which cannot be seen from this "lower top") but actually kind of better I would say when it comes to some views such as that of the high-rises to the west across the water & that of the boats in the water also to the west (quite a number of those pleasure vessels to see actually!). And also, pretty nice for browsing and enjoying time up here (on the tops of both Sugarloaf & Morro da Urca) are some nice souvenir shops & restaurants & even a gemstone shop with beautiful sculptures of birds & such made of those stones (quite pricey ones though). And with no metro station close by, one way to not have to spend too much for taxi getting here is by taking the metro to Botafogo Station (both Lines 1 & 2) where you can take a cab outside for just a short ride of 5 to 10 minutes to the cable car station on the bottom of Morro da Urca where you start your "two-part" cable car ride (each just for about 5 minutes) first to the top of Morro da Urca then all the way up to the top of this mountain (which yes resembles a loaf of sugar but a "green one").
2. Leblon Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,679 reviews
Reviewed By kapaniris - Athens, Greece
This is maybe the best beach in Rio, amazing people, wonderful bars, breathtaking with superb beach volley fields !!
3. Morro da Urca
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 9,286 reviews
This is the first hill up on the way to Rio's famous Sugar Loaf. It offers it's own marvelous view from the top (215 meters) but its base is also a good place for hiking.
Reviewed By TSARBERGO - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
God, what a beautiful place !!! There could be no other expression to say what we feel when we visit Morro da Urca, located in the Marvelous City of Rio de Janeiro. You know that URCA means - Urbanization Carioca. This has to do with the Engineering and Earthmoving and Urbanization Company that at the time carried out with the residues of the Morro do Castelo deforestation, in which much of that removed soil was taken and placed there surrounding the sugar loaf and Morro daurca. It really is very beautiful, different and one of the most complementary views of the Sugar Loaf. (In time: it is called Pão de Sçucar because in the years of colonization, the sugar was dark - not refined - and it was packed in containers that when uninformed, let him with that same drawing of the Urca Stone. an enormous and huge basalt located at the entrance of the Guanabara Bay, an impressive natural view that exists in Rio de Janeiro and is recognized anywhere in the world.It draws attention to the details and intelligence of the engineering work that demonstrates how much human ingenuity can perform It is one of the most beautiful postcards in the world and I am sure you will remember this testimony when you visit it.Go, visit, photograph, walk, breathe and feel the unique landscape of this place.And from above, shout out loud: Long live Mother Nature !!!
