Some of our favourite places to visit and things to do in and around Rio de Janeiro
There can be few better places in Rio to start the day than at the charming Parque Lage mansion, set in gardens and forest, accompanied by live Brazilian music and with the Corcovado Mountain and Christ the Redeemer statue rising high in the background. Enjoy a delicious breakfast served in the inner patio, next to the pool.
We then continue on to the Hippie Market in Ipanema, a market which has been running since the end of the 1960s. Around 150 artisans exhibit their wares, varying from clothes, leather goods, bags, jewellery and souvenirs, to sculptures and paintings. Many of the articles are hand-made by the artisans themselves and are of a very high quality. The fair is popular with locals and tourists alike and it is also a chance to sample foodstuffs from other parts of Brazil and is an excellent place to do some people-watching to observe local life.
