Rio de Janeiro travel tips from someone born and raised here.

Real experiences, honest advice, no AI-generated guides.

Illustration showing Rio de Janeiro's landmarks including Sugarloaf mountain and Christ the Redeemer

Explore my Rio guides

Image of a samba school at sambadrome in Rio de janeiro

Image of Copacabana beach, Rio de Janeiro

New Year’s Eve guides

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Party, December, New Year's Eve

Copacabana, Barra da Tijuca, Flamengo, Botafogo, New Year's Eve, Events, December

Where to stay in Rio de Janeiro for New Year's Eve: Copacabana & the best alternatives

Copacabana, Barra da Tijuca, Flamengo, Botafogo, New Year's Eve, Events, December

Compare Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, Botafogo, Flamengo, and Barra to find the neighborhood that best matches your budget and travel style.

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Copacabana, Barra da Tijuca, Flamengo, Botafogo, New Year's Eve, Events, December

Where to stay, Copacabana, Transport, New Year's Eve, Events, December

New Year's Eve in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro: What it's really like and how to plan it

Where to stay, Copacabana, Transport, New Year's Eve, Events, December

New Year's Eve in Copacabana is unlike anything else on earth, but it's also easy to get wrong. Here's how to plan for Rio’s busiest night.

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Where to stay, Copacabana, Transport, New Year's Eve, Events, December

Summer in Rio de Janeiro: Month by month guides

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Carnival, Summer, Summer month

Summer, Pre Carnival, Samba, Summer month

Rio de Janeiro in January: Summer, Carnival warm-up and where to stay

Summer, Pre Carnival, Samba, Summer month

Hot days, full beaches, and Carnival warming up in the streets. Here's what to expect in Rio de Janeiro in January, from weather to where to stay.

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Summer, Pre Carnival, Samba, Summer month

Copacabana, Christmas, New Year's Eve, Summer, December, Summer month

Rio de Janeiro in December: Weather, Floating Christmas Trees and New Year’s Eve

Copacabana, Christmas, New Year's Eve, Summer, December, Summer month

December in Rio means floating Christmas trees, the countdown to summer, and the world's most famous New Year's Eve on Copacabana. Here's everything to expect.

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Copacabana, Christmas, New Year's Eve, Summer, December, Summer month

Karina, creator of Going to Rio sitting at the Selaron Steps

Your Friend in Rio

Oi! I'm Karina, a Rio-born architect, carioca to the core, and the person behind Going to Rio.
I've traveled to 55+ countries and spent years working in travel, from searching flight deals to managing destinations in Turkey.
Now I'm sharing the Rio I love: the rodas de samba, the Carnival and the bars most tourists walk right past. Here you'll find honest, local advice to plan a trip that feels more like Rio.