Shopping · Rio de Janeiro · Brazil
Shopping in Rio de Janeiro
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Rio's shopping is strongest for swimwear, flip-flops, coffee and cachaça, sold in Ipanema boutiques, large malls and street markets. Street shops open on Saturdays, and malls also open on Sundays. Best souvenirs: Havaianas, Cachaça and Brazilian coffee.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 3
- Markets
- 3
- Top souvenir
- Havaianas
Where to shop
Ipanema
Brazilian designers, swimwear labels and beach brands along Rua Visconde de Pirajá and Rua Garcia d'Ávila.
Shopping Leblon and Rio Sul
Two of the main Zona Sul malls, with Brazilian fashion chains, bookshops and air-conditioned food courts.
Saara
A dense grid of bargain streets in Centro around Rua da Alfândega, crowded before Carnival with costume and fabric shoppers.
Markets
Feira Hippie de Ipanema
Sunday crafts, leather goods, paintings and souvenirs on Praça General Osório, beside the Metrô station.
Feira do Rio Antigo
Antiques and street food along Rua do Lavradio in Lapa, usually on the first Saturday of the month.
Feira de São Cristóvão
The northeastern fair also sells hammocks, leather sandals, cachaça and regional sweets.
What to buy
Havaianas
Brazilian rubber flip-flops in every colour, often cheaper at home-grown shops and supermarkets than abroad.
Cachaça
Aged and artisanal cachaças from Minas Gerais and the Rio region make a better gift than mass-market bottles.
Brazilian coffee
Supermarkets and specialty cafés sell vacuum-packed beans and ground coffee from Brazilian farms.
Swimwear
Brazilian bikinis and sungas (fitted swim trunks) from Ipanema labels.
Gemstone jewellery
Brazil mines tourmaline, topaz and amethyst; buy from established jewellers that issue certificates.
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Biscoito Globo and iced mate, Açaí bowl, Cheese bread and Salt-cod fritters. From vendors walking every Zona Sul beach; bakeries and supermarkets also sell the biscuits. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Copacabana | $$ | Long beachfront avenue, big hotels and round-the-clock street life |
| Ipanema | $$$$ | Rio's best-known beach, design boutiques and sunsets at Arpoador |
| Leblon | $$$$ | Upscale and residential, with calm streets and polished restaurants |
| Botafogo | $$ | Bar streets, good-value restaurants and the classic Sugarloaf view |
| Lapa and Centro | $ | Colonial churches, the aqueduct arches and Rio's samba nightlife |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in BRL. Restaurants usually add a 10% service charge (serviço) to the bill, which is customary but optional. Tipping taxis and beach vendors is not expected, though rounding up is appreciated.
- Swimwear is normal along the beachfront, but cover up with a shirt and shorts in shops, restaurants and away from the sea.
- Cards, including contactless, are accepted almost everywhere, so you only need small amounts of cash for vendors and street markets.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in May–June and August–September; the busiest months are December–February.
- June: Festas Juninas — June festivals with quadrilha dancing and corn dishes (June–July)
- July: Festas Julinas — the June festivals continue into July
- September: Rock in Rio — large music festival held in some years (usually September)
- October: Festival do Rio — international film festival (usually October)
Staying near the shops
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, food lovers, shopping and beach
Ipanema
Rio's best-known beach, design boutiques and sunsets at Arpoador
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Rio de Janeiro?
Havaianas, Cachaça, Brazilian coffee and Swimwear.
+Where is the best shopping in Rio de Janeiro?
Ipanema: Brazilian designers, swimwear labels and beach brands along Rua Visconde de Pirajá and Rua Garcia d'Ávila.
+What are the best markets in Rio de Janeiro?
Feira Hippie de Ipanema, Feira do Rio Antigo and Feira de São Cristóvão.