Four Days in Rio de Janeiro
Four Days in Rio de Janeiro: Thunderstorms, Carnival Drums, and a Hairdryer That Earned Its Keep
Rio de Janeiro wasted no time introducing itself. It was vibrant, noisy, colourful, and occasionally soaking wet. But never boring. Here’s how we spent four memorable days in this extraordinary city.
Day One: The Classics (and Why They’re Classic for a Reason)
Our first day in Rio was made extra special because we explored it with friends. There’s something lovely about seeing a city for the first time alongside people who share the same sense of wonder.
We hit all the iconic spots:
Sugarloaf Mountain, Christ the Redeemer, the Selarón Steps and the Rio de Janeiro Cathedral
What made these stops especially meaningful was how clearly they tell the story of Rio itself. From the sweeping views atop Sugarloaf Mountain, which reveal the city’s dramatic geography and relationship with the sea, to Christ the Redeemer, standing as both a spiritual symbol and a beacon of welcome, each site reflects a different layer of Rio’s identity. The colourful chaos of the Selarón Steps speaks to the city’s creative soul, while the soaring modern lines of the Rio de Janeiro Cathedral highlight Brazil’s bold architectural vision. Together, they form a perfect introduction to a city that is as complex as it is captivating.
Yes, they’re “touristy.” And yes, they are absolutely worth it. The views are jaw-dropping, the scale is humbling, and sharing the day with friends made it all the sweeter.
Caption: View from cable car to Sugar Loaf Mountain
Caption: Christ the Redeemer is about 30 meters tall
Caption: The Selarón Steps, 215 steps covered in over 2000 tiles, collected from 60 plus countries, named after the artist Escadaria Selarón
Caption: The Rio de Janeiro Cathedral's conical shape is 75 metres high and accommodates up to 20,000 people standing. Four towering stained-glass windows soar 64 metres from floor to ceiling.
Day Two: Centro, Carnival Drums, and a 29th-Floor Thunderstorm
We moved into a kitchenette apartment in the Centro region, close to the port, though we hadn’t realized that when we booked it. After wandering aimlessly from our hotel, we suddenly found ourselves right back at the cruise terminal we’d disembarked from that very morning, less than 500 metres away.
For context, the taxi ride from the port to our hotel had cost 100 BRL (about $25 CAD). We could have walked it in 5 minutes. Live and learn.
Remembering how useful ride-hailing apps were in Asia, I did a quick search and discovered "99", which lets you book taxis and order food. We used it several times for cabs and once for food. It was easy, reliable, and much cheaper than guessing with street taxis.
Sunday meant many small shops were closed, but pre-Carnival festivities were very much open for business. From our apartment on the 29th floor, we could hear drumming and chanting drifting up from the streets. Naturally, we followed the sound.
Down below, we found a full-blown street party: music, dancing, food vendors, and pure joyful chaos. A sudden rainstorm didn’t slow anyone down, except for us! We ran for cover and waited it out before wandering back toward the waterfront.
We ended the afternoon at the Museum of Tomorrow, then went hunting for dinner.
Language barriers can make menus an adventure, but help arrived in the most Rio way possible: a lovely young woman dressed as a dominatrix (with friends in full Carnival regalia patiently waiting) offered to translate and make recommendations. She convinced us to try coxinha, which is fried dough filled with shredded chicken and cheese.
Honestly? It reminded me a bit of bannock. Comfort food in a different accent.
That evening, our phones lit up with a weather alert. Moments later, the rain returned, this time with serious thunder and lightning. Watching it from the 29th floor was thrilling … as long as the power stayed on. I was not prepared to walk down 29 flights of stairs.
Caption: Coxinha
Caption: Museum of Tomorrow
Day Three: Libraries, Beaches, and Laundry Day
Monday brought the city back to full volume. Shops reopened, streets filled, and Centro buzzed with energy. There are street markets everywhere - very reminiscent of Asia - and I could happily wander them for hours.
We walked about 15 minutes to the stunning Real Gabinete Português de Leitura. If you love books, architecture, or both, this place is a must. Absolutely breathtaking.
Later, we hopped in a cab to Copacabana Beach. The sand is soft and expansive, the promenade lively, and the surf… aggressive. The waves were rough, but kids were having a blast. Beach sports, bars, and endless people-watching made it a fun stop, even if we only dipped a toe in the water.
We wandered side streets, found a cozy Italian restaurant for dinner, then returned to the apartment to do laundry, always glamorous, while prepping for our upcoming flight to Buenos Aires.
Caption: Real Gabinete Português de Leitura
Caption: Copacabana Beach
Day Four: Damp Clothes, Weather Warnings, and One Last Cake
Day four didn’t take us far. The clothes we’d hung to dry the night before were still stubbornly damp, so out came the hairdryer, once again pulling double duty.
I spent the morning working on a blog post about our other Brazilian destinations, and by the time we were ready to head out, another weather warning arrived. You could literally smell the storm in the air.
We made a quick dash to the bakery for snacks, iced coffee, and a slice of bolo de fubá, a Brazilian cornmeal cake with a subtle licorice note. Simple, comforting, and perfect with coffee.
Then the sky opened up.
We raced back to the apartment through a full-on tropical storm. And yes, back to the hairdryer to finish drying clothes and start packing for our early morning flight.
Final Thoughts
Rio is bold and beautiful, unpredictable and unforgettable. It’s a city of music echoing up skyscrapers, strangers offering help in the most surprising ways, sudden storms, and quiet moments watching lightning from above the clouds.
Next stop: Buenos Aires, where we’ll spend seven days soaking up a whole new rhythm of life, before heading right back to Rio for a day at Carnival!