Rio de Janeiro with Kids: Cable Cars, Caipirinhas, and Carnival Magic

Praia de Urca

A tiny, calm, and locals-only feeling beach tucked inside the bay that is ideal for younger children because there are almost no waves. Grab an açaí bowl or coconut water from one of the small kiosks

Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf Mountain) Cable Car

Ride the iconic two-stage gondola up to the 396-meter summit for panoramic views of Guanabara Bay and the city skyline below. Kids love spotting marmosets that often appear near the upper stations, an

Fortaleza de São João

This 16th-century Portuguese fortress sits at the entrance to Guanabara Bay and offers free entry with impressive cannons and ramparts that kids can clamber around. The short walk from Urca beach make

Círculo Militar da Praia Vermelha

This open-air restaurant right on Praia Vermelha is run by the Brazilian Army and offers a relaxed, affordable lunch with cold drinks and classic Brazilian plates like grilled fish and rice. The beach

Museu Casa do Pontal

Located nearby and housing Brazil's largest collection of popular folk art, this museum is filled with vivid handmade figurines depicting everyday Brazilian life, carnival scenes, and fantastical crea

Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer)

Take the Trem do Corcovado cogwheel train from the Cosme Velho station up through Tijuca Forest to the base of the 38-meter statue, which sits at 710 meters above sea level. Book tickets online well i

Aprazível Restaurant

Perched in the hillside neighborhood of Santa Teresa, Aprazível serves elevated Brazilian cuisine in a lush garden setting with hammocks and fruit trees surrounding the dining area. The relaxed, natur

Escadaria Selarón

Chilean artist Jorge Selarón spent decades covering this famous staircase with over 2,000 colorful tiles sourced from more than 60 countries, and the result is one of Rio's most visually dazzling land

Confeitaria Colombo Filial Copacabana

This historic Copacabana outpost of Rio's legendary Belle Époque patisserie serves sandwiches, pastries, and excellent coffee in a setting that feels like stepping into old Brazil. The pastéis de nata

Copacabana Beach

Spend a leisurely morning on one of the world's most famous beaches, renting chairs and umbrellas from the postos (beach kiosks) and letting kids dig in the sand while vendors bring fresh coconut wate

Riocentro Bossa Nova Mall

A modern, family-friendly shopping mall in Copacabana with a good mix of Brazilian clothing brands, toy stores, and a food court offering everything from açaí to pizza. It is a practical late-afternoo

Forte de Copacabana

Built in 1914 and still an active military installation, this oceanfront fort houses a military history museum and a branch of Confeitaria Colombo right inside its walls. The dramatic coastal artiller

Parque Nacional da Tijuca

The world's largest urban rainforest wraps around the city and contains multiple waterfall trails suitable for families, with Cascatinha Taunay being an easy 20-minute walk from the main park entrance

Os Esquilos Restaurant

Nestled inside Tijuca National Park itself, this beloved open-air restaurant has been serving traditional Brazilian lunch dishes like feijoada and grilled meats in a forest clearing since 1945. Eating

Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro

Founded in 1808 by King João VI, this stunning 137-hectare botanical garden contains over 6,500 plant species including a famous avenue of towering imperial palms that children find genuinely awe-insp

Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas Kiosks

The string of casual food and drink kiosks encircling this scenic urban lagoon is a beloved local tradition for evening snacks, cold drinks, and bike or paddleboat rentals as the sun goes down. Paddle

Feira Hippie de Ipanema (Ipanema Hippie Market)

Every Sunday this sprawling open-air market fills the streets around Praça General Osório with hundreds of vendors selling handmade jewelry, paintings, leather goods, hammocks, and Brazilian folk art.

Garota de Ipanema Restaurant

The bar that inspired the classic bossa nova song of the same name, this neighborhood institution now serves a full menu of Brazilian dishes including excellent grilled meats, cold chopp draft beer fo

Praia de Ipanema at Posto 9

Spend the afternoon at the most iconic stretch of Ipanema beach, where the backdrop of the twin peaks of Morro Dois Irmãos provides one of the most photographed views in all of Brazil. Beach vendors w

Espaço Museu da Imagem e do Som (MIS Experience)

This cutting-edge interactive museum in Ipanema uses large-scale projection and immersive technology to bring Brazilian music, film, and carnival culture to life in a way that captivates children and