IT'S A CELEBRATION
We are extremely happy to have our friends and family joining us to celebrate our wedding in the Cidade Maravilhosa ("Marvelous City")!
To help you make the most of your time there, we've prepared this page with all the essential information to make your stay as smooth and enjoyable as possible.
It's very important to us that you have an incredible time in Rio.
FLIGHTS TO RIO
Direct flights from major European cities (London, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt) take approximately 11 hours and cost around €1,000 with checked luggage included. Unfortunately, there are no direct flights from Berlin.
The most common airlines operating these routes are British Airways, Air France, KLM, TAP, Lufthansa, and LATAM. Rio's international airport code is GIG.
Tip: If you find a flight under €1,000 and shorter than 15 hours, it's a great deal!
Sometimes it's cheaper to fly into São Paulo, in case you’d like to explore the largest urban economy in Latin America. From São Paulo to Rio, it’s just a 46-minute flight, and the best option is to land at Santos Dumont Airport (SDU) — right in the heart of Rio.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Hotels in Rio can be surprisingly expensive — for some reason! On the other hand, Airbnbs tend to offer more affordable prices, which vary depending on the level of sophistication and location. Make sure to check if the accommodation has aircon. Sometimes great deals only pop up close to your stay date — hosts in Rio can be quite spontaneous with their travel plans.
The nicest area for tourists to stay (and for cariocas to live) is Ipanema — no wonder The Girl from Ipanema became such a bossa nova classic! (check out the song).
In Ipanema, you’ll find the beach, great restaurants, the Lagoa (a beautiful lagoon) just behind the beach, and good public transport connections.
Leblon is quite similar to Ipanema, just a bit calmer and more upscale. The beaches of Leblon and Ipanema are essentially one continuous stretch, only divided by a small canal.
To the east of Ipanema Beach lies Arpoador, a rocky point famous for offering one of the most iconic sunsets in Rio and good surf!
Gávea is another good option — it’s a bit more affordable than Ipanema and Leblon, while still being safe and well-located.
As for Copacabana: despite the global fame, it’s not the best place to stay. While a stroll along the beach is nice, the neighborhood itself can feel too crowded and a bit overwhelming.
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CITY ATTRACTIONS
To truly enjoy Rio without stress, plan to stay 5 to 7 days. The top attractions — Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer — are usually crowded, so it’s best to go early or buy priority/fast-lane tickets. Despite the crowd, sunset from Sugarloaf is absolutely worth it.
Other recommended spots:
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Botanical Garden (paid) and Parque Lage (free): both on the same street, filled with lush tropical vegetation. Parque Lage was the backdrop for Snoop Dogg and Pharrell’s Beautiful video.
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Pedra Bonita: an easy 45-minute hike with one of the best views in Rio. You can Uber to the trailhead — and even book a hang-gliding session there.
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Barra da Tijuca Beach: for a more relaxed beach day, take the metro or an Uber here. It has fine white sand, cleaner water than Ipanema, and stretches over 18 km.
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Other fun ideas:
Rent a bike and ride along the coast and around the Lagoa
Explore Santa Teresa and ride the yellow tram to Lapa to see the Selarón Steps
Sip a caipirinha and people- watch at Ipanema Beach.
Get all your questions answered about travelling in Rio and Brazil from our local expert Renatinha Click here.
Here are some fun facts and hidden gems of the city - yes, it's food, food and some more food. Click here.
When you're traveling to Brasil, check out this page to see what other lovely places you can visit. Click here.