10 Things to Do in Rio de Janeiro in December

Rio de Janeiro is an exciting city that will be able to conquer you with its variety of proposals to end the year. In fact, December is a warm month, with pleasant temperatures ranging from 23° to 29°. It is the most eagerly awaited season for Cariocas, as Christmas arrives and summer officially begins. Activities focus on making the most of the best things to do in Rio, such as plans in the favelas, the top of Christ the Redeemer and Christmas festivals.

If you are planning to travel to this Brazilian region, I recommend you to take advantage of the best activities in Rio de Janeiro that take place during these dates. You can get up close to the lighting of the floating Christmas tree, celebrate New Year's Eve with the Revellion party and explore the Christmas markets.

For years now, the lighting of the Christmas tree in Lagoa or Lagoon has been a much-anticipated event, as it officially kicks off the festive season. It is a floating tree on the water that measures approximately 85 metres and has more than three million lights. It is usually themed and each year it is inspired by different cultural elements of the city.

The best thing is that it can be seen from the main local viewpoints, such as Sugarloaf, a rocky outcrop whose vantage point offers unparalleled views of Rio, so you can watch the lighting from a privileged and comfortable location. In fact, some years you can even see a Santa Claus hanging from the cable car rails. For all this and the incredible panoramic views of the city, I suggest you book your tickets to Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro in advance.

Rio de Janeiro is known for the warmth of its people, open-air parties, favelas and colourful Christmas events. In this South American city, Christmas is experienced in a special way: after the lighting of the tree in the Lagoon, the most beautiful season of the year begins. Between the sea and the mountains you can enjoy the joy and popular rhythms, as well as the peculiar celebrations and traditions that emanate from the influence of the native peoples and the European colonies.

What's special about Christmas in Rio are the gift exchanges in the neighbourhoods, the fireworks displays, the picturesque houses decorated with lights and nativity scenes, as well as the nightlife vibes. To celebrate New Year's Eve I suggest you go to the best restaurants to taste the traditional dinner that includes the star ingredient, better known as Bacalhau. It is a very tasty type of fish, with sweet and savoury variations.

Local Christmas is family and fun oriented, so I recommend spending at least 3 days in Rio de Janeiro. Some of the activities you can enjoy are:

• Visit the Lojas Americanas department store, to do your Christmas shopping.
• Stop by the Rio de Janeiro Hippie Fair, which is held every Sunday of the year and has special events during Christmas.
• Browse the most sought-after bars, which come alive after midnight on Christmas Eve.
• Explore the city and climb Christ the Redeemer, which is a Brazilian monument that has an enticing energy at Christmas time.

Street markets are popular all year round in Rio de Janeiro, but in December they take on a unique atmosphere. As the Christmas spirit arrives in the city, these places are filled with the music, smells and handicrafts of the season. You won't have to dress warmly, as the region's pleasant climate will keep you company as you sample local drinks and explore traditional dishes. The best favela tours in Rio de Janeiro will take you to less crowded popular markets. Some of the markets I suggest you visit are:

• Lojas Americanas: a bazaar with a variety of Christmas items, especially decorative ornaments and gifts. You can also find street stalls to sample seasonal dishes.
• Saara Market: an inexpensive flea market located in the centre, in December it is usually very busy as there are all kinds of shops. The best tours in Rio de Janeiro usually take you to this kind of places with fun Christmas proposals.
• Hippie market in Ipanema: this is the ideal Christmas market to buy rare objects, unique gifts, local handicrafts and outdoor art.

The Boulevard Olímpico is a renovated space near the seaport that you must visit during your stay in the city. In December, a Father Christmas sleigh usually stops here to hand out goodies to the little ones. There is also a public children's park with activities such as robotic dolls, artificial ice areas, toy factories, candy houses, fantasy make-up booths, acrobatic shows and open-air theatre. If you plan to stay at least 3 days in Rio de Janeiro, you will have enough time to enjoy

The entrance fee to the park is approximately 2 euros. You can also enjoy the fireworks display at Christmas and New Year's Eve in a convenient and unobstructed location. On the other hand, it is close to important monuments and fun attractions, such as the Plaza XV which is an architectural jewel, AquaRio which is the largest marine aquarium in South America and the City of Samba where the Rio Carnival parades are prepared.

Favelas have become mythical corners of Brazil, where colourful little houses, open-air samba wheels and street food stalls abound. The largest is Rocinha and the most important is Santa Marta. When visiting them, be aware that they are communities with problems such as social inequality, crime and police clashes. It is safe to visit them, but never on your own as you should take certain precautions.

I recommend taking advantage of the best favela tours in Rio de Janeiro, especially in December. At this time of the year there is a Christmas atmosphere, in fact barbecues are organised to celebrate Christmas. In addition, families joyfully welcome foreigners by showing off their Carioca traditions. The most touristic favelas are:

• Favela Rocinha: it is inhabited by peasant communities that migrated to the mountains to be closer to the city. You can walk through the narrow alleys, get panoramic views of the city and see artistic murals.
• Favela Santa Marta: a popular neighbourhood that you can access by cable car to see the colourful houses and the statue of Michael Jackson.
• Favela Vidigal: nowadays it is one of the favelas with the best reputation, as it is safe for visitors. Its inhabitants are friendly and there are guesthouses where dinners are organised for all audiences, as well as traditional inns.

December is the start of summer, so it's the perfect time to go hiking and enjoy unobstructed views at the city's main viewpoints. I recommend climbing Christ the Redeemer, an emblem located at the top of Corcovado Hill, which can be seen from different points. It is ideal to visit at Christmas time, as every year different activities are organised for the holidays.

Tours to the Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro are an experience not to be missed, as it is an emblematic monument known worldwide. The statue is a religious symbol, which, according to Carioca traditions, provides protection to the city. Tickets start at 6 euros and children under the age of four are free. To get there you can use the Corvado Train, a minivan or take advantage of the open-air trails.

The Festival de Presépios de Rio de Janeiro is a massive event that takes place at Christmas. It holds the Guinness Award for the largest outdoor nativity scene exhibition in the world. As such, it brings together art, culture and history in a single space. The participants use different types of materials and techniques, so it is worth a detailed tour. It is the biggest showcase of Rio's Christmas spirit, which has its own style during the nativity season.

There are even living nativity scenes and exhibitions with giant figures. In addition to the nativity scenes, you can enjoy traditional music shows, children's shows and performances of Carioca culture. This event is part of the Brasil Natal Fest, which is a set of events that bring Christmas to life, and includes the following festivals:

• Vila do Papai Noel: this is the Father Christmas Village which includes outdoor attractions for children, with music, games and make-up makeovers.
• Festival de Noéis: is an artistic and cultural exhibition set up on Avenida das Américas in Rio de Janeiro to showcase various Father Christmas sculptures.
• Sabor de Natal: is a gastronomic festival that takes you to taste the flavours of the Christmas season in Rio de Janeiro. Stalls often offer colourful rice, panettone, farofa, prawns in large quantities and more.

To put the old year behind them and focus on the new energies of the coming year, the citizens of Rio de Janeiro sign up for a fun party until dawn known as Reveillon. It is an annual event, the main attraction of which is the fireworks display at midnight.

Specifically, it takes place on Copacabana beach and it's important to adhere to the dress code: all clothing must be white, so keep this in mind when packing your suitcase. This is due to an ancient Brazilian tradition that augurs good luck to those who welcome the year in this way.

During the party there are open-air concerts in Copacabana, as well as in nearby locations including Flamengo, Ilha de Paquetá, Parque de Madureira, Sepetiba, Guaratiba, Ramos and more. Admission is free, but bars in the area offer VIP locations away from the crowds at varying costs depending on the establishment. This is one of the best activities in Rio de Janeiro, as the countdown takes place, while at the same time, in honour of Carioca traditions, flowers are presented to Yemanjá, the goddess of the sea.

If you are travelling alone and plan to be in Rio de Janeiro for 3 days or more, you probably don't want to be bored or spend the holidays alone. To create a safe social space, major embassies and international societies organise events just for foreigners. For example, the Commonwealth Society (BCS) organises fun activities every year, such as themed parties, snacks and concerts for Brits. The International Club of Rio (InC) hosts events for all types of foreigners such as plays, New Year's parties, food fairs and more.

If you are travelling to Rio de Janeiro from the US, I suggest you take advantage of the American Society of Rio de Janeiro (AmSoc Rio), which offers outdoor picnics, fireworks shows, happy hours, group tours and other festive events in December. Some are free, but you should check in advance which ones require a fee and a reservation.

The Municipal Theatre is an ideal cultural building to enjoy Christmas shows in Rio de Janeiro. It has an imposing presence, with its ancient architecture and variety of statues. It is an excellent place to learn and be entertained, which will amaze you with its luxurious facilities. It hosts ballet shows, opera concerts and Christmas events, with the programme varying every year.

It is located very close to the Selarón steps in Rio de Janeiro's bohemian neighbourhood, a popular and picturesque location where open-air samba dances are held. In the area you can find Christmas-inspired bohemian handicrafts and take a gastronomic tour of the surrounding street stalls or restaurants.

• Avoid walking in desolate areas, as Rio can be an unsafe city if you don't take certain precautions.
• Never visit favelas on your own, it's best to take advantage of favela tours in Rio de Janeiro as they are communities with a complicated history, where it pays to move around carefully.
• Don't imitate Carioca dress, it's considered disrespectful.
• Take the opportunity to try the typical gastronomy of the Christmas season, it is completely worth it as it is varied and tasty.
• If you are planning things to do in Rio de Janeiro at night, preferably get around by taxi as it is the safest option.
• Plan in advance how many days you will be staying and the activities to do, in December there is so much to do that I recommend booking at least 3 days in Rio de Janeiro. Don't forget to buy tickets to popular attractions in advance, as this month is high season.