Beach in Búzios

Rio de Janeiro is a state in the Southeast of Brazil. It is a small coastal state wedged between São Paulo to the west, Espírito Santo to the northeast, and Minas Gerais to the north. Rio de Janeiro is most famous for the sun, sand, and samba of its eponymous capital, but the state hosts a wide range of other environments, with quaint colonial villages, rugged mountain parks, lazy coastal towns, and hip beach resort destinations.

Regions

Regions of Rio de Janeiro

Northwest A coffee-growing region in the hills near the borders with Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo

North

Serrana Breathtaking mountains from Petropolis and Teresopolis to the northeast

Lakes Region Coastal cities such as sophisticated Búzios and the popular Cabo Frio

Grande Rio Includes the State's capital and neighbouring Niteroi.

Valley Region

Costa Verde (Green Coast) Forest meets beaches, islands and history in Paraty, Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande.

Cities

• 1 Rio de Janeiro
• 2 Angra dos Reis - Beautiful two-hour coastline including 365 islands
• 3 Macaé - Brazil's booming oil capital.
• 4 Niterói - Just across the bay from Rio de Janeiro, go here to see Oscar Niemeyer's amazing Niteroi Museum of Contemporary Art (shaped like a UFO).
• 5 Nova Iguaçu - Famous for its violence and crime. This city has a myth of the only Brazilian volcano (scientifically not a volcano).
• 6 Paraty - A 18th century well-preserved colonial town on the coast, just 260km West from Rio de Janeiro on the green coast
• 7 Penedo - A Brazilian version of "little Finland" with euro architecture, cobblestone streets, small shops and lots of trout restaurants. Just outside of Resende.
• 8 Petrópolis - A lovely city in the tops of the mountains. A good place to cool off from the Rio sun!
• 9 Teresópolis - A very nice city in the mountains close to Rio de Janeiro

Other destinations

• Agulhas Negras - Mountain climbing at Itatiaia National Park
• 1 Ilha Grande - Near Angra dos Reis, this island boasts some beautiful beaches.
• 2 Serra da Bocaina National Park

Go next

• Espírito Santo — Although somewhat off-the-beaten path, the state north of Rio de Janeiro has much to offer tourists. The capital Vitória's beautiful bay and bridge; Vila Velha's Convento da Penha (a 16th-century hilltop Franciscan convent); Guarapari's beaches and summer parties; the German-colonized town of Domingos Martins; Pedra Azul State Park's beautiful blue rock; and Itaúnas's dunes and forró (a Northeastern Brazilian dance); are some of the main attractions that should guarantee tourists a good time.