Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro is a large city on the southeastern coast of Brazil, stretching between the Atlantic Ocean, Guanabara Bay, and Sepetiba Bay. The city sits between water and steep green hills that rise to the edges of residential neighborhoods.

Portuguese settlers founded this coastal city in 1565 as a defensive post against French colonists. From 1763 to 1960, it served as the Brazilian capital and hosted the Portuguese royal family from 1808 to 1821, fleeing from Napoleon.

On weekends, people play football on the beach while the smell of barbecue drifts across street markets where local vendors sell fresh fruit and homemade snacks. In many neighborhoods, neighbors sit outside their homes in the evening, talking and sharing cold drinks while music drifts from open windows.

The city is reachable through two airports plus a network of metro lines, buses, and cable cars that connect different neighborhoods and hilltops. Most beach areas and central districts are best explored on foot, while higher zones require vehicles or public transport.

A botanical garden from 1808 preserves over 6,500 plant species from tropical and subtropical regions worldwide and operates as an active research center. Near the coast sits a small island with a preserved fort from the 16th century, originally built to defend the bay.

Location: Rio de Janeiro

Inception: March 11, 1565

Elevation above the sea: 31 m

Shares border with: Duque de Caxias, Nilópolis, São João de Meriti, Itaguaí, Mesquita, Nova Iguaçu, Seropédica

Address: Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Phone: +1746

Website: http://rio.rj.gov.br

GPS coordinates: -22.91101,-43.20937

Latest update: December 14, 2025 17:37