The 14 essential things to do in Rio de Janeiro

The statue towers over the city from the summit of Corcovado, about 700 m up, in the heart of Tijuca National Park. Built between 1922 and 1931 in reinforced concrete clad in soapstone, it stands 30 m tall on a pedestal of about 8 m. Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa designed it and French sculptor Paul Landowski modelled the figure.

From the terrace the view takes in Sugarloaf, Guanabara Bay, the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon and the South Zone beaches. It was named one of the "New Seven Wonders of the World" in 2007.

This 396 m granite peak guards the entrance to Guanabara Bay, in the Urca district. A cable car climbs it in two stages: the first stops at Morro da Urca, the second reaches the top of Sugarloaf.

From the top the view takes in Copacabana, the centre, Niterói across the bay and, in the distance, Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado.

Copacabana unrolls about 4 km of sand between the Leme fort and the Copacabana fort, along Avenida Atlântica and its wavy mosaic pavement. It is the beach for big gatherings, including New Year's Eve.

Past the Arpoador headland, Ipanema faces the twin peaks of Dois Irmãos. It gave its name to "The Girl from Ipanema", the bossa nova classic. Each stretch of beach is marked by a numbered lifeguard post (posto).

During Carnival, in February or early March, the top-tier samba schools parade at the Sambadrome, the grandstand avenue designed by Oscar Niemeyer and opened in 1984. Each school presents its theme (enredo) with hundreds of drummers, floats and thousands of costumed dancers, in front of a jury.

On the streets, free "blocos" draw crowds for several weeks around Carnival. In 2027, Shrove Tuesday falls on 9 February.

Opened for the 1950 World Cup, whose deciding match it hosted, the Maracanã also staged the 2014 World Cup final and the 2016 Olympic ceremonies. Renovated, it now holds about 73,000 seats.

Flamengo and Fluminense play their home games here. On non-match days, the tour takes in the dressing rooms, the players' tunnel, the pitchside and the press room.

Tijuca Forest covers about 39 km² in the heart of the city. Cleared for coffee plantations, it was replanted from 1861 and now forms Tijuca National Park, which also includes Corcovado.

Trails lead to Pico da Tijuca (1,021 m), the Cascatinha Taunay waterfall, the Mayrink chapel and viewpoints such as Vista Chinesa. Capuchin monkeys and coatis are common.

The 215 steps linking Lapa to Santa Teresa are covered in ceramic tiles from all over the world, laid by Chilean-born artist Jorge Selarón from 1990. He kept adding to them until his death in 2013.

The green, yellow and blue tones echo the Brazilian flag; look out for tiles sent by visitors from around the world.

Founded in 1808 by Prince Regent Dom João VI, the botanical garden covers about 140 hectares at the foot of Corcovado and holds some 6,500 species.

Its avenue of imperial palms, the greenhouses, the orchid house and the giant water-lily ponds are the highlights; it is also a research centre for Brazilian flora.

On the hill above Lapa, Santa Teresa lines up cobbled streets, 19th-century mansions, artists' studios and bars. The bondinho, a yellow tram, climbs up from the centre, crossing the Lapa Arches, a former aqueduct.

Parque das Ruínas and the Chácara do Céu museum give views over the bay and the centre.

Across the bay, the museum designed by Oscar Niemeyer, opened in 1996, sets its white saucer on a Niterói headland above a reflecting pool. It hosts exhibitions of Brazilian contemporary art.

The glazed circular gallery frames Guanabara Bay, Sugarloaf and Rio's hills.

In the São Cristóvão district, in the North Zone, the Luiz Gonzaga Centre of Northeastern Traditions fills a vast covered pavilion. Hundreds of stalls sell crafts, coalho cheese, carne-de-sol, cachaça and cordel, booklets of folk poetry.

On the stages, people dance forró and baião late into the night, especially at weekends. It is the meeting place for Rio's Northeastern community.

Sailing boats and schooners leave from Marina da Glória or Urca to sail past Sugarloaf, Botafogo beach, the Aterro do Flamengo and, opposite, Niterói and the MAC.

Some trips stop for a swim in a cove; sunset sailings show Christ the Redeemer silhouetted against the sky.

Rocinha, one of Brazil's largest favelas, covers the hillside between São Conrado and Gávea. Guided tours are led by residents: alleys, stairways, sea views and community projects.

The security situation in favelas changes quickly: never go alone or without a recognised operator, and cancel if your guide advises it.

Beneath the Lapa Arches, Rua Mem de Sá and Rua do Lavradio pack in bars and samba, choro and forró venues. At weekends the crowd spills onto the pavements.

Around Pedra do Sal, in the Saúde district, open-air samba circles (rodas) gather where Rio's samba took shape in the early 20th century. In the South Zone, the botecos of Leblon and Botafogo are quieter.