With kids · Rio de Janeiro · Brazil
Rio de Janeiro with kids
Family-tested sights, a calm base and the practical details that make travelling with children easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Arne Müseler, CC BY-SA 3.0 de
Quick answer
Rio works well for families who keep days short and plan around the heat: cable cars, the cog train, the aquarium and calm-water beaches suit children, and Brazilians are very welcoming to kids. Plan outdoor sights for the morning, as the sun is strong year-round. Top picks: Sugarloaf Mountain, Christ the Redeemer and AquaRio. Families usually base themselves in Leblon.
Key facts
- Family picks
- 7
- Best area for families
- Leblon
- Rainy-day options
- 2
- Busiest months
- December–February
Best things to do with kids
Landmark · Urca
1.Sugarloaf Mountain
Two cable cars lift you from Praia Vermelha in Urca first to Morro da Urca and then to the 396-metre summit of Sugarloaf, which rises straight out of the entrance to Guanabara Bay. The views take in Copacabana, Christ the Redeemer and Niterói across the water, and both peaks have paths, cafés and space to wait for sunset.
Arrive about an hour before sunset to see the city in daylight, at dusk and lit up; fit walkers can climb Morro da Urca by trail from the Pista Cláudio Coutinho path at Praia Vermelha.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- Couples
- Kids
- After dark
Landmark · Corcovado
2.Christ the Redeemer
The 30-metre Art Deco statue, completed in 1931, stands on the 700-metre summit of Corcovado with its arms spread over the city. The cog train from Cosme Velho climbs through the Tijuca forest in about 20 minutes, and official vans run from Copacabana and Largo do Machado. From the platform you see Sugarloaf, the Lagoa, the beaches and the Maracanã.
Take one of the first trains on a clear morning; cloud often settles over the summit later in the day, so look at the sky before you set off.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours including the train
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Buy timed train or van tickets online in advance for weekends, holidays and the December–March high season.
- Iconic
- Views
- Kids
- Photo spot
Aquarium · Gamboa
3.AquaRio
Billed as the largest marine aquarium in South America when it opened in 2016, AquaRio holds sharks, rays and Brazilian coastal species in tanks that include a walk-through tunnel. It is a short walk or VLT ride from Praça Mauá, so it combines easily with the Museum of Tomorrow.
Visit on a weekday morning; weekend afternoons and school holidays are crowded.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
![tsc_traveler [2]](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:JdBotanico3-CCBY.jpg){kind=link}
Garden · Jardim Botânico
4.Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden
Founded in 1808 by the Portuguese prince regent Dom João, the garden is known for its avenue of imperial palms, its orchid and bromeliad collections and the view of Christ the Redeemer above the trees. Marmosets and toucans are often seen, and the shaded paths make it a cooler choice on a hot day.
Combine it with lunch in the Jardim Botânico neighbourhood and a walk or bike ride around the Lagoa.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Museum · Praça Mauá
5.Museum of Tomorrow
Santiago Calatrava's white, ribbed building juts into Guanabara Bay at the end of the redeveloped port, and inside an interactive science museum explores climate, population and the planet's future. Outside, the Boulevard Olímpico waterfront passes Eduardo Kobra's huge Etnias mural, painted for the 2016 Olympics.
Pair it with the Museu de Arte do Rio across Praça Mauá and ride the VLT tram back to Centro.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Photo spot
Waterfront · Lagoa
6.Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas
The lagoon behind Ipanema and Leblon is ringed by a 7.5 km path used for running, cycling and evening strolls, with Corcovado and Christ the Redeemer rising above. Kiosks along the shore serve drinks and food, and swan-shaped pedal boats and playgrounds keep children busy.
Rent a bike from a bike-share dock and ride the full loop in the late afternoon, then stay for dinner at a lakeside kiosk.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Active
- Views
![[www.flickr.com/photos/26912057@N02/ bisonlux]](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Praia_de_Copacabana_-_Rio_de_Janeiro,_Brasil.jpg){kind=link}
Beach · Copacabana
7.Copacabana Beach
Four kilometres of sand curve from Leme to the Copacabana Fort, backed by Avenida Atlântica and Roberto Burle Marx's wave-pattern mosaic promenade. Kiosks, volleyball and footvolley courts and rented chairs fill the beach, and the fort at the southern end has a small army museum and a café looking back along the bay.
Walk the promenade early in the morning when locals jog and play footvolley, and leave valuables at your hotel.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Rainy-day ideas
- Museum of Tomorrow — Pair it with the Museu de Arte do Rio across Praça Mauá and ride the VLT tram back to Centro.
- AquaRio — Visit on a weekday morning; weekend afternoons and school holidays are crowded.
Where families should stay
$$$$ · Best for luxury, families, quiet stays and food lovers
Leblon
Beyond the Jardim de Alah canal at the western end of the beach, Leblon is Rio's most expensive neighbourhood, with a residential feel, restaurant and bar streets around Rua Dias Ferreira and Avenida Ataulfo de Paiva, and the twin Dois Irmãos peaks at the end of the sand. Metrô Line 4 stops at Jardim de Alah and Antero de Quental.
- Good
- Calm and well kept; Strong restaurant scene; Family-friendly beach section
- Watch out
- Among the most expensive areas; Further from Centro and Sugarloaf
- Nearby
- Leblon Beach, Morro Dois Irmãos, Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, Shopping Leblon
Family travel tips
- Praia Vermelha in Urca, beside the Sugarloaf cable car, has calmer water than the open-ocean beaches.
- Use high-factor sunscreen and hats; the midday sun is strong even in winter.
- Many restaurant dishes are sized for sharing, which suits families with small appetites.
- Ride-hailing cars rarely carry child seats, so bring a travel booster if you need one.
- The Lagoa has playgrounds, pedal boats and flat paths for strollers and scooters.
Day trips for families
- Petrópolis (About 1.5 hours by bus) — The emperors' summer retreat in the mountains holds the Imperial Museum in Dom Pedro II's palace, the Gothic-style cathedral with the imperial tombs and the iron-and-glass Crystal Palace.
- Arraial do Cabo (About 2.5–3 hours by bus or transfer) — Cold currents keep the water off Arraial do Cabo unusually clear and turquoise, making it one of Brazil's best-known spots for boat trips and diving.
When to go with children
The best months overall are April–June and August–October. December–February are the busiest, so book the big sights early. Weather by month.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Rio de Janeiro good for kids?
Rio works well for families who keep days short and plan around the heat: cable cars, the cog train, the aquarium and calm-water beaches suit children, and Brazilians are very welcoming to kids. Plan outdoor sights for the morning, as the sun is strong year-round.
+What can kids do in Rio de Janeiro?
Sugarloaf Mountain, Christ the Redeemer, AquaRio, Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden and Museum of Tomorrow.
+Where should families stay in Rio de Janeiro?
Leblon: Upscale and residential, with calm streets and polished restaurants.