The Brazilians are a very family-oriented group of people and take their kids everywhere. As a result, Rio offers much in the way of attractions for children, with the constant allure of the beaches, a quality zoo, fun theme parks, and much more.

Child-friendly beaches
Kids love beaches and there are several more to choose from besides the sometimes over-crowded Copacabana and Ipanema. One of the best beaches in Rio de Janeiro for children is Leblon Beach (west of Ipanema), which boasts the play area known as the Baixo Baby. There are toys galore here, plenty of sand to build sandcastles and excellent facilities for mums and dads.

Jardim Zoológico
Rio de Janeiro’s zoo is located at Quinta da Boa Vista and has several special features integrated into the zoo to keep children happy. These include the huge variety of colourful animals such as Brazilian reptiles, birds, and mammals, a monkey house and a large walk-through aviary.

Planetário
Rio’s Planetarium is another favourite for kids. The museum offers a range of activities and facilities. Children will be overwhelmed by the far-seeing telescopes in praça dos telescopes (telescopes square), the main planetarium where thousands of stars are projected onto the insides of several domes and the interesting Museu do Universo (Universe Museum). The museum features a Foucault's Pendulum, sundials and a snazzy Mars exhibit. Visitors can view the night sky through the telescopes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Wet 'N Wild Rio
Wet ‘N’ Wild Rio is a water park for the entire family, especially for older kids, and a place where rapid water slides descend steeply into the abyss. Located in the Barra district of Rio, Wet 'N’ Wild Rio’s main and most popular features are the Kamikaze, Splash, Yahoo, Cyclone, Black Hole, Titanic, and the Twister, all of which are fast and furious. There is also the Lazy River and Wave Pool for the less adventurous and younger children. The park is open from September to May. Visit www.wetnwild.com.br for more information.

Rio de Janeiro is a highly cultured city with many fine attractions representing the city’s ethnic mix. From old churches and modern cathedrals to grand palaces and a whole host of brilliant museums and art galleries, Rio does not disappoint in this department.

Catedral Metropolitana
The Metropolitan Cathedral is a fairly new addition to the Rio city skyline as it was inaugurated in 1976. The cathedral took 12 years to build and is a giant cone with four enormous stained-glass windows. The cathedral can accommodate up to a staggering 20,000 people. Inside are numerous works of art, including sculptures and murals, while the Museu de Arte Sacra (Museum of Sacred Art) contain many historical items such as the throne of Dom Pedro II. For more information, telephone: +55 212 240 2869.

Igreja de São Francisco da Penitência
This 18^th century church was 40 years in the making and features a striking gold-leaf interior and numerous wooden sculptures. The nave is resplendent and contains the first perspective painting in Brazil, of St Francis.

Ilha Fiscal Palace
With its superb location in the Baía de Guanabara, the neo-Gothic Ilha Fiscal palace is a late 19^th century structure that was originally used as a port office. Designed by renowned engineer Adolfo del Vecchio, the palace also held imperial balls and can be visited on a guided tour from the dock near Praça XV. Please contact +55 21 38706025 for more information.

Monumento aos Pracinhas
This monument and museum honours the fallen Brazilian soldiers of World War II and features two lofty columns either side of the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. A changing of the guard display can be seen here on the first Sunday of every month. The monument museum displays medals, documents and military uniforms that belonged to soldiers.

Museu Carmen Miranda
Carmen Miranda was a prominent Brazilian singer who made it to Hollywood. She died in 1955 at the age of 46 and has become a cultural icon for the gay and lesbian community. The museum displays many of her photographs, outrageous costumes and jewellery. Visit www.carmenmiranda.net for more information.

Museu de Arte Moderna
Situated on a beautifully landscaped patch of land, the Museum of Modern Art is situated in a post-modern building and includes quality works from many renowned Brazilian artists. Di Cavalcanti, Bruno Giorgi and Maria Martins all have paintings here and the museum also has regular temporary exhibitions featuring some fabulous photography. Much of the museum’s contents were destroyed by a fire in the 1970s, although there is no evidence of it today as the museum has been completely replenished. Please telephone +55 21 22102188 for more information.

Museu Histórico Nacional
Rio’s National History Museum displays numerous interesting relics, papers, religious art, cannons and carriages, with the building being an attraction in itself. Hailing from the colonial days of the mid-1800s and featuring battlements dating back over 400 years, the museum is a must-see for history buffs as it offers a fascinating insight into the country’s history. For more information, telephone +55 212 550 9224.

Theatro Municipal
The Municipal Theatre is perhaps Brazil’s most stunning theatre. It is a grand and opulent structure located in the city centre and has been modelled on Paris’ Opera House. The theatre was opened in the early 1900s and offers masses of ambience. This is not simply because of the impressive colourful performances that are staged here, but also due to the interior of the building, which features dazzling furnishings, fixtures and fittings. The theatre seats over 2,300 people and is less opulent the higher you get, possibly signifying lower-class seating but perhaps more to do with funds running low when the structure was being fitted out. Please telephone +55 212 299 1711 to gain further information.

Rio de Janeiro’s cuisine is as diverse as the many different cultures that populate this incredible city. You will find an abundance of Brazilian and Portuguese dishes, not to mention a slew of Italian and Japanese eateries. With close to 1,000 cafés and restaurants in the city, almost every possible style of eatery is catered for.

Grilled-meat restaurants (churrascarias) are very popular in Rio. They are all-you-can-eat places specialising in grilled meat on skewers that are continually brought to your table. The Brazilian national dish known as feijoada (a rice dish with pork, dried meat, and black beans) and is delicious although mainly served in the big hotels. Beverage-wise, you could try the local chopp beer on draft or a caipirinha (sugarcane liquor).

Being on the ocean, seafood dishes are very popular in Rio. Shellfish should however be approached with caution in all but the most established eateries. Lunch is usually a laid-back affair for the locals, with dinner being the all-encompassing meal and potentially going on for hours. Some of the best eateries with the most fantastic views are located around the Leblon, Ipanema and Copacabana beaches.

Brazil offers a huge variety of shops in all categories, including the many exquisite fashionable boutiques as well as popular street fairs and modern, glitzy shopping malls. Leather and suede is in abundance and can be bought at a good price, while all types of clothing, art, coffee, and music CDs are also a good buy. Brazil is also renowned for its jewellery, especially gold and gemstones.

Popular shopping areas in Rio are Ipanema, famed for its upper-class arcades and boutiques and the tourist and souvenir shops along Avenida Nossa Senhora de Copacabana in Copacabana. 

The best area for jewellery is just outside Rio in the Minas Gerais province although there are many outlets in Rio itself, where high-quality jewellers’ shops are properly certified, especially along Avenida Atlântica.

For the more physically-active visitors, Rio de Janeiro offers many options for getting out and enjoying a number of sporting activities. Rio offers several lofty hills and national parks which are all within easy reach. Rock climbing and hiking are popular as are water sports and cycling.

Cycling
Although cycling can often be a little hairy riding around with city traffic, Rio de Janeiro also has a large network of cycle paths that stretch for approximately 45 miles in and around the city. The most popular cycling paths are along Barra da Tijuca, around Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, and from Leblon to Leme on the oceanfront. For more seclusion, try the four-mile bike path in the Tijuca forest from Cascatinha to Açude.

Hiking
With all the mountainous terrain in and around Rio, hiking will often reward visitors with outstanding city and ocean views. Some of the most popular city hikes include the Corcovado area and Pão de Açúcar, while the Tijuca forest also offers great trails. There are numerous trails in the three national parks nearby, although it is advisable to join a group tour or at least have a guide due to unscrupulous muggers hanging around the likes of Corcovado.

Rock climbing
The rock climbing scene in Rio de Janeiro is very well established, with hundreds of documented climbs in and around the city. It’s best to climb during the cooler season – from April to September – as cliff face temperatures in the summer can be unbearable. Most rock climbing clubs also include nights out with climbing packages.

Surfing
Surfing is best practised on Arpoador Beach, which lies on the peninsular to the south of the city between Ipanema and Copacabana.