Best Photography Spots in Rio De Janeiro Brazil. Rio de Janeiro is a vibrant and beautiful city located in the country of Brazil. There is a little bit of everything here from oceans, mountains, and beaches to city, historic buildings, and cultural landmarks.
Much of the architecture in the city is inspired by the Portuguese. There is so much to do here and even more to see. Spend the morning exploring the jungles and the afternoon dining in an elegant cafe. You’ll definitely want to plan out your trip to make sure you’re capturing all the sights. Here is a list of the best photography locations in the city.
THE GEAR
The gear we recommend is a good camera and the holy trinity. A wide-angle lens. 14-24mm or something similar. A 24-70mm or something similar and, of course, a 70-200mm or something similar.
If you do not have these particular lenses, do not worry; something similar will be just fine. It would be best if you also had a tripod.
1. Sugarloaf Mountain
Sugarloaf Mountain is a fun place to be that gives you a gorgeous, panoramic view of the city of Rio de Janeiro. It was named because the mountain resembles a pile of brown sugar. You can capture amazing shots from the top or take advantage of the cable car ride on the way up to get different views of the city. You can see the beach and the mountains all from one point.
2. Christ the Redeemer Statue
The Christ the Redeemer statue is one of the most iconic statues in the world. It is no wonder that it is one of the new Seven Wonders. This is a can’t miss a photo opportunity and the great thing is that it can be captured from so many different locations in the city from a wide range of angles and perspectives. It is located on top of Corcovado Mountain, about 680 meters above sea level. Get up close by hiking the mountain or find cool vantage points from a distance.
3. Mirante Dona Marta
This viewpoint of the city rivals that of Sugarloaf Mountain. It is less busy and crowded which gives you time to get your shots. It is a great place to be at sunset and gives you a great overlooking view of a lit-up city. You can photograph this view from the helicopter pad on the mountain or a set of stairs overgrown with jungle plants.
4. Ipanema Beach
Ipanema Beach is a beautiful place to be and is known for its colorful sunsets. There are great views of the ocean, the city, and the mountains from here especially if you look to set up your equipment on Arpoador Rock which is located right on the beach.
5. Escadaria Selaron
These steps are well-known in Rio de Janeiro and were created by an artist who fell in love with the city. It took him over two decades to finish decorating the steps with distinct designs and colors. It’s also been featured in many music videos.
6. Rio de Janeiro Botanical Gardens
The botanical gardens is one of the most photogenic places in the city. This is a Royal Botanical Garden that houses imperial palm trees, thousands of species of plants, fountains, lakes, and many other sights. The flora in these gardens will leave you in awe of their beauty.
Best Photography Spots in Rio De Janeiro Brazil
7. San Sebastian Metropolitan Cathedral
Designed by Edgar de Oliveira da Fonseca and inspired by the Mayan pyramids, this cathedral is a beautiful location to visit. It is over 75 meters high and has four walls covered in stained glass windows. This unique architectural icon has also appeared in many movies and TV series.
8. Arcos do Lapa
These arches are characterized by the 42 white vaults that form the Carioca Aqueduct and were originally created to give the city’s inhabitants access to a water source. Nowadays it is the path that the tram takes in order to travel to Santa Teresa. It is a well-known yellow train that would highlight any picture.
9. Teatro Municipal
This building was inspired by Paris and has many similarities to the Paris Opera House. While the outside is very luxurious with turquoise roofs and gold detailing, the inside looks more like that of what you’d find at other theaters. It is home to the Rio de Janeiro Opera, Orchestra, and Ballet.
10. Contemporary Art Museum
The Niteroi Contemporary Art Museum is one of the main landmarks within the city and is a 4 story, 10-floor structure that resembles an upside-down alien spaceship. It sits right on the cliff and looks magnificent against the sea and the sky.
11. Portuguese Reading Room
This reading room was inspired by the Jeronimos Monastery in Portugal. It gives off an old and mysterious vibe and houses over 350,000 books within its walls. The interior and exterior are equally beautiful with ornate wooden ornaments, a stained-glass dome, and endless books to read.
12. Parque Lage
Parque Lage is a private estate that has since been turned into a public park and it is visited for its grand and elegant design. The center of the mansion houses a pool and cafe that creates a quaint setting for photographers and for people looking to catch a good meal. You can even see the famous Christ the Redeemer statue from the courtyard.
13. Praia Vermehla (Red Beach)
Located near Sugarloaf Mountain, this beach is easy to add to your list of stops once you get off the cable cars. It gives you the opportunity to capture a cool view of the mountain from below and is also fun to capture on its own because of all of the colorful beach umbrellas.
14. Santa Teresa Neighborhood
Santa Teresa is one of the many interesting neighborhoods in the city. This quirky spot is colorful, bright, and lively. There is no lack of street art, mansions, shops, and cobblestone streets to explore and capture.
Best Photography Spots in Rio De Janeiro Brazil
15. Recreio dos Bandeirantes
This area is located in the West Zone of the city and is the name of a beach and a neighborhood. There are no skyscraper buildings and plenty of jungle and cliffs. The unique aspect of this is that you can get a cool view of the city in the distance with a strip of beach sand separating the ocean.
16. Museum of Tomorrow
This museum has stunning architecture and is a ginormous structure with a distinct overhang that sits near the waterfront. It was created by Santiago Calatrava and is a great place to learn and a beautiful place to photograph.
17. Pedra Branca State Park
This state park is well worth a visit and is also home to the Telegraph Stone, “Pedra do Telegrafo”. There are plenty of trails to explore and many stunning views of the ocean, beaches, and mountains.
18. Telegraph Stone
This is a very popular photography location located about an hour and a half from the city. You should make sure to get here as early as you can in the mornings because there is usually a long line of people waiting to take their pictures. The path to this rock that seems to hover in the sky takes you through a tropical forest with many wildlife photo opportunities.
19. Copacabana
This state park is well-known for the tile pattern that lines the white sand. This is a world-famous beach that gives you beautiful views of the ocean, city life, and the mountains. It rivals the notoriety of Ipanema but can get more crowded.
These are the best photography spots in Rio De Janeiro Brazil.
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