Rio is a city where the outdoors is the main attraction. Beyond the famous beaches, you can hike through the world's largest urban rainforest in the Tijuca Forest, ride the cable car up Sugarloaf Mountain, take in the panorama from Christ the Redeemer, or stroll through the 19th-century Botanical Garden. The more adventurous can hang glide off Pedra Bonita and land on Pepino beach, or take a sailing trip around Guanabara Bay.
The city has strong cultural depth. The Banco do Brasil Cultural Center in Centro hosts excellent exhibitions, and the Modern Art Museum sits on the waterfront at Aterro do Flamengo. The Real Gabinete Português de Leitura — the Royal Portuguese Reading Room — is one of the great library interiors in the world. For a quieter afternoon, Parque Lage offers lush gardens at the foot of Corcovado.
Don't miss the Selarón Steps connecting Lapa to Santa Teresa, the Sambadrome (best visited during a rehearsal rather than the main Carnival event), and the hidden colonial square of Largo do Boticário. Football fans must visit the Maracanã — if possible for an actual match.