10 Things to do in Rio de Janeiro at Christmas

Christmas celebrations in Rio de Janeiro begin with the lighting of the world's largest floating tree in Lagoa, and extend throughout the month of December, culminating in the celebration of one of the world's biggest parties in Copacabana: the Reveillon.

That's why one of the best things to do in Rio de Janeiro is to celebrate Christmas with your family or friends and stay until New Year's Eve. You can also visit the Christmas markets in the emblematic neighbourhoods such as Lagoa, Copacabana and Ipanema, or see Father Christmas descending from the top of Sugarloaf Mountain in a sleigh, among many other options that I will tell you about in this article.

One of the most representative sites in Rio de Janeiro is the Christ the Redeemer, the huge statue located at the top of Corcovado Hill, in the Tijuca National Park. The statue, considered one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, can be visited all year round, but it is during the holidays, and especially at Christmas, when you can enjoy shows, music, lighting and fireworks that will amaze you.

In addition, from approximately 20 to 28 December, one of the most iconic Christmas-related shows in Rio de Janeiro takes place: the projections on the statue of Christ the Redeemer. On these dates, works by famous painters and other images related to the holiday are projected on the statue, which can be seen from quite a distance.

The statue of Christ the Redeemer is about 710 metres high and has 220 steps from the base of Corcovado Hill. To visit Christ the Redeemer, you can take the cog railway, cycle or walk up, which will take about 3 hours. If you go by car, the usual way is to leave your car in a nearby car park and take one of the vans.

Interesting facts

• Location: at the top of Corcovado Hill in the Tijuca National Park, Rio de Janeiro.
• Opening hours: daily from 8 am to 6 pm.
• Admission: free of charge.

One of the most popular places to visit at Christmas time is Sugarloaf Mountain. There you can take the cable car up to enjoy Christmas shows, live music and even see Father Christmas come down the mountain in a sleigh. You can also enjoy one of the most breathtaking views of Guanabara Bay from the top.

Going up Sugarloaf Mountain by cable car is without a doubt one of the best things to do in Rio de Janeiro and one of the most popular with visitors. At Christmas time, the cable cars are lit up with Christmas decorations and lights, and Father Christmas often greets children who want to tell him their Christmas wishes.

One of the most anticipated shows is Father Christmas descending Sugarloaf Mountain with his sleigh from a height of 400 metres. Children and families usually wait for him at the base of the hill to take photos and hand him their letters with the presents they want for Christmas.

Interesting facts

• Location: Sugarloaf Mountain is located in Guanabara Bay.
• Opening hours: daily from 9am to 7pm.
• Entry fee: The ticket for the cable car starts at €40 per person.

Lapa and Santa Teresa are two traditional neighbourhoods of Rio de Janeiro, where you will find a more bohemian and artistic atmosphere, with restaurants, bars and nightclubs where you can celebrate Christmas Eve and Christmas. In these neighbourhoods you can visit some of the most visited attractions in Rio de Janeiro, such as the Selarón Staircase and the Lapa Arches.

Both neighbourhoods are known for their live music shows and samba rounds, a traditional Brazilian musical style. You can also enjoy the Christmas decorations, such as Christmas trees, lights and nativity scenes in the streets and shops.

Lapa is also home to the Lapa Cathedral or Catedral Metropolitana de San Sebastián, which stands out for its modern architecture with its circular and conical shape. There you can enjoy the Christmas choirs that take place during the month of December.

The neighbourhoods of Santa Teresa and Lapa are connected by a tram that makes a picturesque route with beautiful views, making it a popular choice for tourists and locals alike. As for the Selarón Staircase, it is a colourful staircase with 215 steps, and one of Rio's most visited attractions. Nearby are the Lapa Arches, a colonial construction with 42 Roman-style arches over 17 metres high.

At the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, located in the south of Rio de Janeiro, you can go and see the world's largest floating Christmas tree. At the beginning of December there is a special event to light this tree, which is then lit every night until the beginning of January. This event is celebrated with Christmas music shows and colourful synchronised lighting.

The lighting of the floating tree, which usually takes place on 1 December, signals the start of the festive season throughout Rio de Janeiro, making it a very special event for the Rio de Janeiro city. The tree, which is 85 metres high, has some 900 lights and more than 1,800 ornaments, has won the Guinness Book of Records for being the largest floating tree in the world. Nearby there is a lookout point from where you can appreciate this Christmas tree and the great panoramic view of the lagoon.

Without a doubt, attending this event is one of the best things to do in Rio de Janeiro in December during the holidays. It is a place where there are usually live concerts and shows for children, such as the visit of Father Christmas who will listen to the children's wishes.

Interesting facts

• Location: Lagoa district in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro.
• Opening hours: Monday to Thursday from 7pm to 1am, and Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 7pm to 2am.
• Admission: free of charge.

The Saara Market, also known as Saara Fair, is located in the centre of Rio de Janeiro. It is an open-air market that operates all year round, and is an ideal place to shop for gifts and Christmas decorations. The market covers a total of 11 streets, such as Rua Buenos Aires, Rua das Andradas, Rua da Alfândega, Rua Senhor dos Passos and Praça da República.

Throughout the market, you can find more than 1,200 shops with a wide variety of products for all tastes, such as clothes, Christmas decorations, toys, perfumes, jewellery and handicrafts. You can also find traditional food and drinks typical of the region, with which you can celebrate the festivities.

A particular fact about this market is that the prices are very cheap, although you can find products of different qualities. In addition, around the fair there are bars and restaurants where you can take a break from the market, and which are also priced accordingly. Nearby is the Plaza de la República, a historically important square that is visited on almost every tour of Rio de Janeiro.

Interesting facts

• Location: Rua das Andradas, Rua Uruguaiana, Rua da Alfândega, Rua Senhor dos Passos, Praça da República, Rua Buenos Aires and Rua Regente Feijó; in the centre of Rio de Janeiro.
• Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 9am to 1pm.
• Admission: free of charge.

One of the most popular beaches in Rio de Janeiro is Copacabana Beach, located in the neighbourhood of the same name. This white sandy beach of more than 3 kilometres is the site of the big celebrations at Christmas, New Year's Eve and Carnival. After Christmas Eve dinner, from 12 midnight, you can enjoy shows, concerts, live music, candlelight decorations and lots of LED lights illuminating the shore.

A good option is to book a Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve in one of the bars or restaurants near the beach or in the neighbourhoods of Copacabana, and then attend the celebrations on the beach, have a traditional caipirinha, and enjoy the shows.

You can also walk around the neighbourhoods of Copacabana early in the morning, as on Christmas Eve the houses and streets are decorated with Father Christmas dolls, nativity scenes, lights and stages where you can take selfies with family or friends. There are also events where you can listen to and dance the samba, a traditional Brazilian musical style. If you're up for it, you can take beginners' classes and join the dance floors.

During the festive season, Brazilians prepare special dishes that they enjoy both at Christmas and Christmas Eve. One of the most traditional dishes is bacalao, a sea fish that is usually accompanied by rice. Caipirinha is a must at any celebration. This is made from cachaza, a drink produced by distilling sugar cane.

There is a wide variety of Christmas dishes, with savoury dishes such as stuffed turkey and feijoada, a black bean stew. Christmas desserts include panetones and rabanadas, which are prepared with honey syrup and port wine.

There are many interesting bars and restaurants where you can dine, such as Marius Degustares in Copacabana and Le Vin Bistro Rio in the Leblon neighbourhood. After enjoying Christmas dinner, you can head to the waterfront for concerts and beach parties, or watch the fireworks. You can also go and listen to the Christmas choirs performed in the churches until 1am.

If you are particularly interested in Brazilian gastronomy, you can take a cooking class, which are usually held at sunset. Many of these classes include a dinner of typical dishes in a restaurant, so you can get to know Brazilian gastronomy in a more complete way.

Christmas time is one of the best times to take a cruise around Rio de Janeiro and Guanabara Bay, as you can admire the Christmas decorations on the shores. You'll also be able to see some of the city's main attractions on board while enjoying a traditional caipirinha.

Some of the Rio de Janeiro attractions you'll see from the sea include the iconic Sugarloaf Mountain, the statue of Christ the Redeemer and the Museu do Amanha, which has a curious shape inspired by bromeliads. You'll also see Villegagnon Island and the historic fortresses of Santa Cruz and Sao Joao.

Throughout the walk you will be able to see the Christmas scenes set up along the coast with lots of festive lighting and decorations. It's also a good opportunity to sample Christmas dishes and drinks, which are often offered on these cruises.

Useful facts

• Price: around €25 per person.
• Duration: approximately 2 hours.
• Means of transport: cruise or catamaran.

The Hippie Market is also known by the name of the hippie fair or hippie flea market. This popular market is noted for its products from Carioca artisans, making it a great place to shop for gifts and Christmas decorations. It is located in the Ipanema neighbourhood in southern Rio de Janeiro.

The market is usually only open on Sundays and is located in one of the busiest squares in Ipanema, General Osorio Square. There you can find clothes, shoes, Christmas decorations and handicrafts made from ceramics, stone, metal, bronze and other materials. You can also get oil paintings and souvenirs of Rio, or take your portrait painted by local artists.

This fair stands out for thecheap prices of the handicrafts you can find there. Nearby, there are bars and restaurants where you can have lunch, and Ipanema Beach is just a few steps away from the market. On the other hand, Ipanema hosts the Festival de Presépios, which is considered one of the largest nativity scene festivals in the world.

Interesting facts

• Location: Praça General Osório - Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro.
• Hours: Sundays from 8 am to 6 pm.
• Admission: free of charge.

On the last day of December, New Year's Eve, thousands of people flock to Copacabana beach dressed in white to welcome the New Year. This party, also known as the Reveillon Party, is one of the biggest events in Brazil.

Thousands of people from all over the world visit Rio de Janeiro at Christmas time for this celebration, which has been going on since 1980. Several stages are set up along the 3 km long beach. The music and shows start around 7pm and at 12 midnight, after a countdown, the long-awaited fireworks are launched. Without a doubt, going to this party is one of the best things to do at night in Rio.

On New Year's Eve, offerings are also made to the goddess Yemanjá, the goddess of the sea, in Copacabana. These offerings consist of boats filled with flowers and other gifts that the priestesses throw into the sea, in order for the deity to bless the new year. Candles are also often lit on the beach, creating a magical atmosphere worth seeing.