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 until culminating in the celebration of one of the biggest parties in the world 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 neighborhoods such as Lagoa, Copacabana and Ipanema, or see Santa Claus 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 of Rio de Janeiro is the Christ the Redeemer, the huge statue that is 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 throughout the year, 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 about December 20 to 28, one of the most iconic shows in Rio de Janeiro related to Christmas 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 meters high and has 220 steps from the base of the Corcovado hill. To visit Christ the Redeemer, you can take the cog railway, go by bicycle or walk up, which will take about 3 hours. If you go by car, it is usual to leave it in a nearby parking lot and go up in one of the vans.

Interesting facts

• Location: at the top of Corcovado Hill in the Tijuca National Park, Rio de Janeiro.
• Hours: daily from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm.
• Admission: free of charge.

One of the most recognized places to visit at Christmas time is the Sugar Loaf Mountain. There you can take the cable car up to enjoy Christmas shows, live music and even see Santa Claus descend from the mountain in a sleigh. In addition, you can enjoy one of the most impressive views of Guanabara Bay from the top.

Going up Sugar loaf Mountain by cable car is undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Rio de Janeiro and one of the most popular with visitors. At Christmas, the cable cars are illuminated with Christmas decorations and lights, and Santa Claus usually greets children who want to tell him their Christmas wishes.

One of the most anticipated shows is Santa Claus descending with his sleigh down Sugarloaf Mountain, from a height of 400 meters. Children and families usually wait for him at the base of the hill to take pictures and give him their letters with the gifts they wish for Christmas.

Interesting facts

• Location: Sugarloaf Mountain is located in Guanabara Bay.
• Hours: daily from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm.
• Admission fee: the ticket for the cable car starts at 40 € per person.

Lapa and Santa Teresa are two traditional neighborhoods 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 neighborhoods you can visit some of the most visited attractions in Rio de Janeiro, such as the Selarón Staircase and the Lapa Arches.

Both neighborhoods stand out for their live music shows and samba rounds, a traditional musical style in Brazil. You can also enjoy the Christmas decorations, such as Christmas trees, lights and nativity scenes in the streets and businesses.

Also, in Lapa is the Lapa Cathedral or Metropolitan Cathedral of San Sebastian, which stands out for its modern architecture of circular and conical shape. There you can enjoy the Christmas choirs that are performed during the month of December.

The neighborhoods of Santa Teresa and Lapa are connected by a streetcar that makes a picturesque route with beautiful views, so it is very chosen by tourists and locals. As for the Selarón Staircase, it is a colorful staircase with 215 steps, and one of the most visited attractions in Rio. Nearby are the Arcos de Lapa, a colonial construction with 42 Roman-style arches over 17 meters high.

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

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

Undoubtedly, 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 Santa Claus who goes to listen to the children's wishes.

Interesting facts

• Location: Lagoa district in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro.
• 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 downtown Rio de Janeiro. It is an open-air market that operates 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 stores with a wide variety of products for all tastes, such as clothing, Christmas decorations, toys, perfumes, jewelry and handicrafts. You can also find traditional food and drinks typical of the region, with which you can celebrate the holidays.

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 tour, and also maintain a commensurate price. Nearby is the Republic Square, a square of historical importance that is visited in almost every tour of Rio de Janeiro.

Interesting facts

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

One of the most popular beaches in Rio de Janeiro is Copacabana Beach, located in the neighborhood of the same name. This white sandy beach of more than 3 kilometers 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, candle decorations and many LED lights illuminating the coast.

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 neighborhoods of Copacabana, and then attend the celebrations on the beach, to drink a traditional caipirinha, and enjoy the shows.

You can also tour the neighborhoods of Copacabana early in the morning, as on Christmas Eve the houses and streets are decorated with Santa Claus dolls, nativity scenes, lights and stages where you can take selfies with family or friends. There are also events where you can listen 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 on Christmas Eve. One of the most traditional dishes is bacalao, a sea fish that is usually accompanied by rice. Caipirinha is a must in any celebration. This is made from cachaza, a drink produced by distilling sugar cane.

The variety of Christmas dishes is very wide, with savory 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 go for dinner, such as Marius Degustares, in Copacabana; and Le Vin Bistro Rio, which is in the Leblon neighborhood. After enjoying Christmas dinner, you can head to the coast to attend concerts and beach parties, or watch the fireworks. You can also go listen to the Christmas choirs performed in the churches until 1 a.m.

If you are especially 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 will be able to admire the Christmas decorations on the shores. In addition, you can see some of the main attractions of the city aboard these cruises, while enjoying a traditional caipirinha.

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

Throughout the tour you will be able to observe the Christmas scenes set up along the coast with lots of festive lighting and decorations. It is also a good opportunity for you to try Christmas dishes and drinks, as they are usually offered on these cruises.

Interesting facts

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

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

The market is usually open only on Sundays and is installed in one of the busiest squares of Ipanema, the General Osorio Square. There you can find clothes, shoes, Christmas decorations and handicrafts made of ceramics, stone, metal, bronze and others. 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 crib 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 come to Copacabana beach dressed in white to welcome the New Year. This party, also known as Reveillon Party is one of the biggest events in Brazil.

On the occasion of this celebration, which has been held since 1980, thousands of people from all over the world visit Rio de Janeiro at Christmas time. Several stages are set up along the 3 km long beach. The music and shows start around 7 p.m. and, at 12 p.m., 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 lit on the beach, which creates a magical atmosphere worth seeing.