Rio de Janeiro is an exhilarating tourist destination to discover; the amazing white sand beaches, spectacular mountain backdrop and exciting (if a bit gritty) city life make for a holiday to remember. There are few other cities in the world that can boast such a fabulously tropical setting and wonderfully laid-back lifestyle. Here is some basic information and tips for first timers to the Brazilian capital.

Rio enjoys a tropical climate which means it is good to visit at any time of year although December to March (summer in the southern hemisphere) is the high season and therefore the hottest and most expensive. If you are hoping to experience Rio’s world-famous carnival in February – book your accommodation in Rio well in advance to avoid disappointment. People travel from literally all over the world to experience this frantic, colourful, hedonistic four day celebration. Hotels in Rio come in all shapes and sizes and to suit all budgets although they tend to fill up quickly in the high season and rates go up slightly but even then they are reasonable compared with other major world cities.

You needn’t worry about eating and drinking well in Rio if you are travelling on a budget as life here is relatively inexpensive. There are street vendors and snack bars dotted around town with very reasonable prices and surprisingly tasty food and juices made with fresh, local products. Be warned that portions served in restaurants in Brazil are, generally speaking, huge – so, unless you have an enormous appetite, you might want to order less from the menu than you would do back home. You can’t leave Rio without trying a Caipirinha – a typical Brazilian cocktail made with limes, sugar and an alcohol made of sugarcane. Divine – a real taste of paradise!

Getting around is made easy and cheap in Rio too thanks to an effective local transport system of metros and buses.

Rio has earned itself a reputation over the years for being slightly grimy and a little dangerous in certain neighbourhoods due to economic difficulties. While this is true, the dangerous areas are easy to avoid and Rio is sufficiently vibrant, beautiful and exotic to make none of this matter for the many Brazilian and foreign residents that wouldn’t live anywhere else in the world even if you paid them!