Airline Tickets to Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro has long and rich history. After the short French period, in 1567 the Portuguese started to live there. At first, the city grew with a very slow speed, till on the territory of Brazil they found gold. In 1763-1960 Rio de Janeiro was the capital of the country, but in 1960 this honor was given to Brasilia. In the end of the 19th century thanks to the mass emigration from Europe and local villages the population of Rio started growing very quickly. At this very time such famous areas, as Copacabana and Ipanema appeared. It's also the time of birth of 'favelas', well-known quarters for the poor.

The special beauty of Rio de Janeiro can be mostly explained by its wonderful location: it takes place along the endless coast with marvelous beaches and rocky hills. At present day Rio de Janeiro has the population of 7 million people and it makes it one of the most populous cities in the world. The natives are friendly, self-confident and crazy about music, nightlife and, of course, football.

Copacabana and Ipanema Beaches. Beach life in Rio is a real art, which can be learnt in a moment. Show everything you can do – it's the motto of the world-famous Copacabana and Ipanema Beaches. The other thing why the natives come to the beach is to laze in the sun, listen to music, do surf-riding and play football or volleyball. Copacabana is the most popular beach. The largest hotels are situated there. The international beau-monde mostly prefers Ipanema and Leblon, the posh outskirts of Rio. Admission there is free. Endless boulevards along the beaches are full of music, bars and restaurants.

The statue of Jesus. On the very top of Corcovado Mountain you'll see the enormous statue of Jesus, which has become the symbol of Rio. Jesus can be seen in every point of the city. One can get to Corcovado Mountain by a small train, minibus or taxi. The marvelous view on the city is just unforgettable. At the bottom of the statue take place cafes, a small museum and the chapel. Train from Rue Cosmo Velho goes every half an hour from 8.30 to 18.15. If to go back by the last train, you'll have an opportunity to enjoy the fantastic view on Rio.

Pao de Acucar. Another place with a beautiful view on the city and the harbor (Bahia de Guanabara) is the rocky mountain to the south from the center Pao de Acucar (in Portuguese it means 'the sugar-loaf'). On half way to it you'll see Urca Mountain with its restaurants and small galleries. In evenings some open-air concerts are organized there. To get to the top of Pao de Acucar one can either use a funicular or go afoot, but in this case you should get prepared for a hard way. Pao de Acucar is very popular with alpinists: there are a lot of routes. Another way to look at Pao de Acucar is flying by helicopter.

Read further about Rio de Janeiro in our City Guide ...

Address: Rio de Janeiro-Galeão, Infraero-Empresa Brasileira de Infra-Estrurura Aeroportuaria, 21942-900, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Location: The airport is located 20km (13 miles) north of Rio de Janeiro. Website: www.infraero.gov.br E-mail: carlos_henrique@infraero.gov.br Telephone: (0)21 3398 4526 or 2155. Country Code: 55. Time Zone: GMT- 3 (GMT- 2 from the third Sunday in October to the third Sunday in February). Number of Terminals: 2. Transfer Between Terminals: The two terminals are linked by a travelator.