Rio is a city that buzzes with music, beach life, and culture. To really take it all in, you'll want to dive into the Carioca lifestyle and spend time in the neighbourhoods where locals live, eat, and hang out.
There’s so much more to see beyond the usual sights. From a relaxed beach day with locals to a night out at a hidden jazz club on a hill, we list 9 non-touristy things to do in Rio de Janeiro that you won’t want to miss.
9 Alternative Things to Do in Rio de Janeiro
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. We only recommend products or services we have used or that we believe will add value to our readers. Thank you for supporting us!1. Have a beach day with locals at Ipanema Beach
Made famous by the Bossa Nova classic "Girl from Ipanema," Ipanema Beach is the place to be - and it’s less touristy than its neighbour, Copacabana.
We hung out around Posto 7 (that’s the lifeguard station marker), which tends to be a bit quieter than Posto 8 and 9. We rented a beach umbrella and two chairs for around $6 USD for the whole day.
The water’s colder than you would expect, but it’s the perfect way to cool off in the blazing sun.
✔️ Top Tip: Stay at an apartment or hotel near Ipanema Beach so you can leave your valuables at home and enjoy the beach without worrying about your stuff.
We walked over to Posto 9 to find the famous beachside sandwich stand featured on Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations. It’s called Barraca do Uruguai, a small, no-frills spot right on the sand.
We ordered a chicken sandwich with chimichurri to share and immediately wished we had ordered our own.
⚠️ What to avoid: We saw what looked like ice-cold fruit juice being sold by people walking up and down the beach with trays. Curious, we bought one only to take a sip and realize it was actually an alcoholic drink with a strong, artificial sweet flavour. A local nearby saw us try it and quickly gestured not to drink it. We're not exactly sure why, but we tossed it to be safe.
Read our article on 15 things to avoid in Rio de Janeiro.
2. See a Bossa Nova show
We LOVE Bossa Nova, so we were excited to find plenty of shows happening while we were in Rio.
Our first stop was Beco Das Garrafas, one of the original venues where Bossa Nova took off in the late 1950s. In 1960, Sérgio Mendes even played regular Sunday afternoon gigs here.
We caught a performance by Flavia Dantas, and she sounded just like the classic Bossa Nova tracks we love. The staff were super friendly, and the drinks and small bites hit the spot.
3. Experience Rio’s coolest jazz night at The Maze
If you’re in Rio the second Saturday of the month, you don’t want to miss The Maze - it’s one of the best jazz nights in the city and easily one of Rio’s top hidden gems.
Perched on a hilltop with sweeping views, The Maze is a guesthouse with an amazing outdoor patio that transforms into a lively music venue.
To get there, vans shuttle guests from the bottom of the favela, and staff guide you through the maze of streets to reach the party. The crowd was a mix of hip locals and visitors, young and old, and the atmosphere was electric.
The event ran from 10 pm to 4 am with a full jazz ensemble: trumpet, sax, piano, upright bass, jazz guitar, and a powerhouse vocalist.
See our list of the 9 best bars in Rio for socializing and music.
4. Explore the bohemian neighbourhood of Santa Teresa
As Anthony Bourdain once put it, Santa Teresa is “the most magical neighbourhood of Rio de Janeiro.”
Start your exploration of Santa Teresa by climbing the colourful Escadaria Selarón - the iconic tiled steps and one of the most Instagrammable spots in Rio.
At the top, hang a left and you’ll find yourself in the heart of this bohemian neighbourhood.
Keep walking and you’ll come across Bar do Serginho, a quirky bar/convenience store with graffiti-covered walls and plastic tables spilling out onto the street.
We grabbed a caipirinha and a cold beer, and shared a satisfying salami pizza. It has that neighbourhood bodega feel and made for a perfect lunch stop.
From there, wander down the street and check out the mix of funky bars and shops along the way.
We lucked out with a table at Explorer Bar, a 1920s teal-coloured mansion perched on the side of a hill with views over the main strip. The cocktails were delicious. It’s a popular spot, so we recommend making a reservation in advance.
5. Try a Caipirinha, Brazil’s national drink
Brazil's national drink, the Caipirinha, is a simple yet refreshing cocktail made with muddled lime, sugar, and Cachaça - a sugarcane based Brazilian spirit.
It’s the perfect drink for a hot day in Rio and a great go-to when you’re not in the mood for wine or beer. You’ll find it just about everywhere!
They are so refreshing, we started making them back at home for summer.
6. Party with locals at Canastra Bar
Canastra Bar is a hotspot in lively Ipanema, with outdoor seating that’s perfect for people-watching. On Tuesdays, the street beside the bar fills with vendors and a buzzing local crowd.
Most of the ladies were sipping bottles of Brazilian rosé, while the guys went for buckets of Stella.
We stayed for hours, ordering the burrata and ceviche, and soaking up the atmosphere. It really felt like we were part of the local scene - it was so much fun!
✔️ Top Tip: Get to Canastra Bar before 6:30 pm on a Tuesday so you can get a table.
Canastra opened a second location in Botafogo, and it looks like a great spot to check out. We’re excited to try it out next time we’re in Rio.
7. Explore the Leblon neighbourhood
Leblon is one of Rio’s most upscale neighbourhoods - and it’s packed with some of the city’s best restaurants and bars.
Head to Rua Dias Ferreira, the main strip, where you’ll find a long lineup of buzzy spots to eat and drink.
We had dinner at CT Boucherie, a steakhouse that was one of the best steak experiences we’ve ever had. Ari ordered the ribeye, and I went for the prime rib. Each cut was distinct and delicious, like they were teasing us to come back and try the other next time.
Throughout the meal, servers came by offering a rotating selection of freshly made sides. We paired it all with Brazilian sparkling rosé, which was so good we ordered a second round for dessert.
Leblon comes alive at night, so after dinner, we kept the evening going with a little bar hopping down the strip.
Burnt Potato 🥔💨: Fogo De Chão
➡️ a touristy thing to avoid in Rio!
We were really excited to try a Brazilian steakhouse in Rio since we enjoyed them back home, but it ended up being expensive and underwhelming.
The experience felt exactly the same as it does in North America: you’re left guessing which cuts are the best as they come around and try to avoid the cheaper cuts.
If you're craving a Brazilian steakhouse experience, we recommend skipping Fogo de Chão and heading to CT Boucherie instead. It was way better and cost about the same.
8. Take a walking tour through Rio’s largest favela
Although you'll mostly see tourists on this tour, this is an alternative thing to do in Rio de Janeiro since not many visitors do it.
Rocinha, the largest favela in Rio, is an eye-opening place to visit. We joined a tour with Favela Walking Tour, led by a guide who lives in the community.It was interesting to see everyday life inside the favela, hear stories from someone who grew up there, and get a sense of the people and place beyond the headlines.
One of the most memorable moments was visiting a local school, where a group of kids put on a drum performance. Their joy was infectious. At one point, a student asked Ari if he was filming for YouTube, then pulled a friend in and started dancing like crazy for the camera!
We always felt safe during the tour. While there were drug dealers around, our guide explained that they’re part of the community and coexist with mutual respect. “No photos here,” he’d say as we passed certain areas.
Read the reviews.9. Drink the coldest beer in the world!
Cariocas love their beer cold, brain freezing cold. It was an amazing fact that often led to ordering another.
The coldest beer we found in the city was at Bar Urca, an award winning seafood restaurant.
We hope you enjoyed these non-touristy things to do in Rio de Janeiro!
🎥 See what it was like in our Rio vlog.
Bonus: Our top hotel picks in Rio de Janeiro
We recommend staying in the Ipanema neighbourhood - it's less touristy than neighbouring Copacabana, and has a great local scene. It also has some of the best beaches, restaurants and bars in the city.
Our top hotel picks close to Ipanema Beach:
- Hotel Arpoadar - bright, contemporary rooms next door to the beach.
- Ipanema Inn Hotel - a cute boutique hotel half-a-block from the beach.
Get started on planning your trip to Rio de Janeiro
- 💡 Travel tips: see our list of 14 things to avoid in Rio de Janeiro
- 🏖️ Classic sights: see our list of the 7 most Instagrammable spots in Rio
- 🛏️ Accommodation: Booking.com is our go-to for finding places to stay. Sort by top reviewed.
- 🚆 Cog Train: Reserve your train ticket to see Christ the Redeemer
- 🚡 Cable Car: Reserve your cable car ticket for Sugarloaf Mountain
- 🛫 Flights: use Skyscanner to compare flights across different airlines (we recommend booking direct with the airline however)
Don't forget about travel insurance
👩⚕️ For affordable travel insurance: go with SafetyWing - it's budget-friendly and you can even buy it while abroad, but note the max medical coverage is $250,000 USD. 🏥 For comprehensive travel insurance: go with World Nomads - it's more expensive, but the max emergency medical coverage is $5-10 million, depending on the plan.Planning a tour of South America? Check out our other SA travel guides:
- 1 Week Argentina Itinerary for the Wine & Food Lover
- 12 Unique Things to Do in Buenos Aires
- 2 Week Itinerary in Chile for the Adventurer
- Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu Travel Guide
Save and pin these alternative things to do in Rio de Janeiro for later:
Looking for more travel inspiration? Check out our list of Unique Cultural Experiences to Inspire Your Next Trip and list of 20 Relaxation Travel Ideas to Clear Your Mind
Are you a food lover? Don't miss our list of Outstanding Culinary Experiences Around the World.