On the south side of Rio de Janeiro, Barra da Tijuca has wide beaches, a quieter atmosphere, and modern shopping malls. It feels more like a Miami suburb than the rest of Rio — all wide avenues, gated condominiums, and beachfront high-rises. The beach runs for 18 kilometres along the Atlantic coast, making it the longest in Rio, less crowded than Copacabana or Ipanema and with better surf.
The Cidade das Artes, opened in 2013, is the home of the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra and the largest concert hall in South America — a striking piece of architecture by Christian de Portzamparc, elevated on stilts above the main avenue. Further west, Prainha Beach is one of the finest and most protected beaches near Rio, tucked into a nature reserve about 20 kilometres from the main Barra strip.