Nova Friburgo sits in the Serra do Mar at around 850 metres elevation, which gives it the cool, misty climate that attracted Swiss settlers in the 1820s and continues to attract Cariocas escaping Rio's summer heat. The surrounding mountains offer serious hiking, rappelling, and rock climbing, while the valleys hold waterfalls, rivers, and the kind of scenery that encourages slow mornings and long walks.
The town itself has a Swiss-influenced aesthetic in places, a legacy of its unusual founding, and a growing craft beer scene. The real draw is the landscape and the nearby village of Lumiar, which has developed into one of the better adventure sports bases in Rio de Janeiro state.