Above all, Buzios is a haven for outdoor activities, most of which are water based. Chartered boats offer tours of the coastline as well as fishing excursions, while child-friendly banana boats skip all of the sightseeing and focus on the ride. Local travel agents can set tourists up on diving and snorkelling tours. Those without their sea legs will find a few excellent land-based activities, like mountain biking in the countryside.

Banana Boating
Capable of carrying up to 10 people, banana boats are a perennial hit with children. In fact, Buzios (particularly Ferradura Beach) was one of the first places in the world to offer this fun water sport. Families with especially young children (under three years old) can arrange an easygoing, kid-friendly ride.

Boating
Boat tours of the coastline are a popular pastime with tourists. Schooners disembark from the central beach area (Armacao Beach) and carry passengers past some of the area’s finest beaches and islands. There is also a glass-bottomed catamaran in town embarking on twice daily tours over some of the area’s best marine habitats.

Cycling
One of the best ways to enjoy the sights of Buzios is on two wheels. Road bikes are well suited for coastal tours outside of town, and it’s even possible to visit outlying fishing villages that look a lot like Buzios did a few decades ago. There are also several excellent mountain biking trails opening remote portions of the countryside that aren’t accessible by car.

Diving
The comfortably warm and clear waters off Buzios’ coast are ideal for scuba diving and snorkelling. The beaches at Lagoinha, Azedinha, Joao Fernandinho and Forno Azeda offer exceptional snorkelling, and convenient beachside merchants rent out all the gear that you’ll need. Diving tours head for deeper waters out at sea, revealing colourful coral reefs, tropical fish and sea turtles. Phone: +55 22 2623 2441 (Casamar diver operator).

Fishing
At its heart, Buzios is still a fishing village, and visitors have the opportunity to charter a boat (complete with captain and tackle) from the Fisherman’s Colony on the city’s main waterfront row. Fresh catches include snapper, grouper and even shark. Local captains can recommend islands and secluded beaches that support some of the best fishing. 
Phone: +55 22 2623 4515 (Colonia dos Pescadores)

Horseback Riding
Horseback riding tours through the Atlantic Forest are popular. Knowledgeable guides lead groups through portions of the backcountry, making use of old roads that were used at the height of the fishing village. Tours usually last two or three hours and can be tailored to accommodate a variety of skill levels.

Wakeboarding
This high-octane sport is particularly popular here. Beginners can enrol in classes while seasoned professionals may head straight to water to show off their abilities. Experts recommend training during the early part of the morning, when the water is flat and novices have the best opportunity to practice wake-to-wake manoeuvring without dealing with choppy surf.

Built in a few decades over the top of a sleepy fishing village, the cultural attractions in Buzios have more to do with the arts than history. Galleries and outdoor exhibits across town display works by prominent local artists, especially along the bustling Rua das Pedras. Two of the most colourful times to visit are during Carnival and the Annual Jazz Festival.

Bronze Sculptures
Artist Christina Motta specialises in bronze sculptures that seem to have a life of their own. Visitors will see her work prominently featured around town in dioramas that look real at first glance. Her two most famous works are The Fishermen (casting their nets at Armacao Beach) and Brigitte Bardot (perched on a seawall and gazing out to see at Bardot Beach).

Capoeira
Capoeira was originally conceived in the 1500s as a means of disguising martial-arts training as a benign series of dance moves that could be rehearsed in public without attracting negative attention. Today, this mixture of dance and combat is flaunted on dance floors in clubs across Buzios. Anyone with an interest in the sport can sign up for lessons during their holiday.

Carnival
The most exciting time to visit Buzios is the week leading up to Ash Wednesday, when Carnival festivities take centre stage. This is an undeniably raucous occasion with plenty of parading, partying, eating and dancing. Hotels hand out guides to the festivities, which include a schedule of events. This wild festival is not for the faint of heart.

Flour House
A 19th-century Casa da Farinha was disassembled and relocated to the Taua Ecological Reserve, where it was rebuilt. Movers were careful to reassemble the house according to conventional methods and without the assistance of modern machinery so it maintains an air of authenticity, despite its relocation.

Galeria das Artes
Buzios has had great success as an arts centre, which attracts international masters while encouraging home-grown artists. The city’s art gallery on Rua das Pedras captures the spirit of Buzios’ art community with a lovely permanent collection. Peruse some of the city’s finest sculptures and oil paintings with the option of purchasing a stand-out piece.

Jazz Festival
A favourite time to visit Buzios is during the annual Jazz Festival, usually held in mid- to late July. World-renowned performers take to the stage in six prominent clubs around town as well as the city’s outdoor stage. Be sure to reserve a seat ahead of time, as the clubs fill up quickly.

Rua das Pedras
At the heart of Buzios is Rua das Pedras, the pedestrian thoroughfare that ties together waterfront shops, restaurants and hotels. A perfect people-watching venue, the street lights up after hours, when the Buzios nightlife picks up. Rua das Pedras is ideal as a launching ground for a day’s activities or as a place to unwind after a full day of sightseeing.

Rua das Pedros hosts countless boutiques and art shops in a charming, high-energy environment. You won’t find international mega-stores, though the main brands are well represented in smaller shops here. Fashionable clothes (especially beachwear) are on display all along the avenue.

There are countless gift and craft shops in the area. Most of them major in souvenirs, incorporating seashells or nautical themes. There’s a strong, eclectic energy in shops like these, and many stock their shelves with items sourced from around the world.

There’s a thriving community of artists in the area, encouraged by local government to get their work out into the public eye. Many art galleries couple with touristy shopping districts, giving tourists the opportunity to peruse the local work and maybe even invest in a piece.

Buzios’ tendency towards the eclectic covers the dining scene as well. Expatriate communities are represented by a range of ethnic restaurants featuring Moroccan, Italian, Chinese and Thai cuisine. No matter where you choose to dine, the freshest local seafood headlines the menu.

The greatest concentration of eateries is situated on Rua das Pedras, extending to cover portions of Ossos and Bardot beaches. Brigitte Bardot’s house has been converted into a restaurant, Cigalon, serving French-style cuisine. While many of the best places in town are decidedly upmarket, less expensive fare is available from food stalls and open-air bars operating on the major beaches. These spots offer tropical cocktails, great views and a tireless ocean breeze.