{"id":7894,"date":"2016-04-20T04:33:43","date_gmt":"2016-04-20T08:33:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.budgetyourtrip.com\/blog\/?p=7894"},"modified":"2020-07-22T20:11:08","modified_gmt":"2020-07-23T00:11:08","slug":"rio-on-the-cheap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.budgetyourtrip.com\/blog\/2016\/04\/rio-on-the-cheap\/","title":{"rendered":"Rio on the Cheap"},"content":{"rendered":"

Known as \u201cthe marvelous city,\u201d Rio de Janeiro is one of the hottest travel destinations in the world, and the most visited city in all of the southern hemisphere.\u00a0 Nature lovers and city slickers alike can find something to enjoy in the various terrains Rio has to offer, from its mountains and rain forests to the beaches and concrete playground of the city center.\u00a0 With the Summer Olympics quickly approaching, the costs to visit Rio de Janeiro<\/a> are expected to skyrocket.<\/p>\n

But wait a minute! Don\u2019t move Rio to the bottom of your list of places to visit just yet.\u00a0 A real saved is a real earned and we\u2019ve compiled a few ways to save you some cash so you can still enjoy Rio de Janeiro without burning your money belt.\u00a0 Here are ten ways to do Rio on the Cheap (or free).<\/p>\n

Eat Lanches and fresh fruit<\/h3>\n
\"Lanches
Lanches burger and fresh watermelon juice<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We all know that you can only cut so many corners when it comes to food, especially in a city so full of delicious options.\u00a0 While it\u2019s hard to refuse churrascaria, most of us can\u2019t eat a Brazilian barbecue buffet every day, and who would want to, granted there are so many other local foods to enjoy in the most populous city of Brazil?\u00a0 If you\u2019re looking for something lighter, quicker or even on-the-go, lanches can very well make the perfect meal.<\/p>\n

Lanches, which means \u201csnacks\u201d in Portuguese, are usually eaten between lunch and dinner, but it\u2019s just as common to see people taking their meals of sandwiches and burgers standing at a counter of a lanches bar.\u00a0 You can also find a variety of fruit juices and acai at these bars, which seem to be on almost every corner.\u00a0 Lanches bars offer a variety of different foods, including pasteis or \u201cparcels\u201d of fried, savory pies filled with beef, chicken, shrimp and\/or cheese. The best part?\u00a0 Lanches bars are generally inexpensive and depending on where you go, a few dollars can easily suffice for a meal.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t forget that the country you\u2019re traveling in has a wide variety of fruit and produce that won\u2019t come as cheap or delicious (not to mention, huge!) anywhere else in the world.\u00a0 Avocados, passionfruit, custard apples, persimmons, caju, mangosteens, mangos, guavas, pineapples, bananas, plums, papayas, the list goes on of the varieties local to this country. Fruit can be purchased cheaply at grocery stores and you\u2019ll be surprised how much fruit you can get for a few reais. When it comes to shopping at the markets, you can easily save a pretty penny by preparing your own breakfasts each day.\u00a0 A typical Brazilian breakfast of bread, cold cuts, cheese and fruit will cost you much less if you buy it at the market instead of a cafe.<\/p>\n

Explore the Tijuca Rainforest<\/h3>\n

The Tijuca Rainforest is the largest urban rainforest in the world, covering more than 12 square miles just next to the city.\u00a0 Though it was previously cleared to grow coffee and sugar, trees were replanted in the 19th century to help protect the city\u2019s water supply.\u00a0 While there are plenty of guided tours in the National Park, you can also independently explore the Tijuca Rainforest on foot and encounter countless rare plants and wildlife in their natural habitat, such as capuchin monkeys, sloths, birds and armadillos.\u00a0 Be sure to stop by the beautiful waterfalls, Vista Chinesa and incredible views of Rio you wouldn\u2019t otherwise see.<\/p>\n

Transportation using BikeRio<\/h3>\n
\"Biking
Biking in front of Teatro Municipal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Rio is a big city and exploring it in its entirety on foot would definitely be time-consuming but without a car, the only other option would be public transport, which is great and also inexpensive, but may sometimes limit your views of the city. Furthermore, some areas don\u2019t warrant a long stop for photos or a sit-down meal. This is where Rio\u2019s public bike-sharing program comes in handy and can change the way you see the city.<\/p>\n

BikeRio has stations all over the city so anyone can check out a bike and return it to another station for a small fee.\u00a0 All you need is a Brazilian cell phone number (easily acquired if you buy a SIM card for just a couple of dollars), a credit card and $5 Reais for a day pass or $10 Reais for a month pass.\u00a0 BikeRio is convenient with bike racks are spread out and well-located near main attractions and neighborhoods.\u00a0 On top of that, if you only need a bike to get from here to there under 30 minutes, it\u2019s free!\u00a0 Just be sure to return your bike within the allotted time.<\/p>\n

Recommendation for a Bike ride:\u00a0Start near Parque Flamengo, along Avenida Infante Dom. Henrique all the way to Leblon.\u00a0 This route will take you along the waterfront with beautiful views of Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer, through the bustling neighborhoods of Ipanema and Copacabana to the fancier side of Leblon, with many BikeRio stops in between if you want to park and have a snack or a drink.<\/p>\n

Hike to Christ the Redeemer<\/h3>\n

Some of Rio\u2019s attractions don\u2019t charge high admission fees for the view, but simply for the transportation to get to the vista, such as Christ the Redeemer.\u00a0 In this case, you have the opportunity to save your cash and take the scenic route.\u00a0 A hike from the city to the top of Corcovado Mountain to Christ the Redeemer takes about two and a half hours and gives you a chance to visit Parque Lage, waterfalls and experience the shelter and climate of rainforest canopies.\u00a0\u00a0 With a little extra energy and time, the sweeping view from the top will be that much sweeter.<\/p>\n

\"The
The view from the Christo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Relax at the beaches<\/h3>\n

The best things in life are free, and that includes the sun, sand and sea in Rio de Janeiro. Whether it was first in a photo or movie, we\u2019ve all seen the famous views and beautiful crowds of Copacabana.\u00a0 Copacabana and Ipanema beaches neighbor one another and are the perfect setting to lay out and enjoy a coco verde or to swim and play in the water.<\/p>\n

Parties and art in Lapa<\/h3>\n

A walk through the historic district of Lapa is a must for anyone interested in art and bohemian Brazilian culture.\u00a0 Check out the Lapa Arches, colonial buildings on Rua da Lavradio which have been converted into shops and restaurants, and of course, the iconic Lapa Steps, also known as Escadaria Selar\u00f3n.\u00a0 A former meeting place for intellectuals, artists and creatives, Lapa overflows with free cultural experiences, from the Metropolitan Cathedral to the Teatro Odiss\u00e9ia to the beautifully detailed street art painted on the walls.<\/p>\n

At night, Lapa is the the hotspot for clubs, nightlife and music, especially Samba.\u00a0 It\u2019s also famous for its street party in front of the Arches on the weekends.\u00a0 All are welcome and it doesn\u2019t cost a thing to dance.\u00a0While numerous bars keep drinks pouring early into the morning, some clubs offer free admission or entry and unlimited drinks for much lower prices than you might be used to in your home country.<\/p>\n

Free Walking Tours<\/h3>\n

While you can arrange many local tours with your hostel, hotel or online, Free Walker Tours provides free tours on a tips-only basis.\u00a0 They offer free walking tours to Ipanema and Copacabana, Downtown and Lapa, food tours in Santa Teresa and pub crawls in Lapa and Ipanema.\u00a0 For more information, visit their website<\/a>. (Note: food and pub crawl tours cost $60 Reais.)<\/p>\n

Jardim Botanico (the Botanical Gardens)<\/h3>\n

A mere 9 reais for admission will provide you what many call the best value in the city.\u00a0 Located in the South Zone of Rio, the botanical gardens boasts over 6,500 species of local and foreign flora and many artistic, historical and archaeological monuments.\u00a0 Within the gardens, visitors can stroll through lakes, caves, additional gardens, and Parque Lage, a public park to see beautifully manicured landscapes, fountains and ponds.\u00a0 There are also daily horse races free for spectators. Food and drinks are sold in the Jockey Club for reasonable prices and bets can be placed at as low as 2 Reais.<\/p>\n

Local Markets<\/h3>\n
\"Pasteis\"
Pasteis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Even if you don\u2019t want to spend, the local markets in Rio are not to be missed, as perusing the stalls are an event in themselves.\u00a0 Here is a brief list of markets that take place across the city:<\/p>\n

1. The Hippie Fair in Ipanema<\/strong>
\nSundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
\nGood for: everything – souvenirs, art, food, bags, crafts, local and unique items<\/p>\n

2. The Night Market in Copacabana<\/strong>
\nMonday to Saturday from 6 p.m. to midnight
\nGood for: beachwear, souvenirs, sports apparel<\/p>\n

3. Feira The Laranjeiras Market<\/strong> in Praca Jardim Larajeiras
\nSaturdays
\nGood for: samba, organic produce, flowers<\/p>\n

4. Feira de S\u00e3o Cristov\u00e3o – Pavilh\u00e3o de S\u00e3o Crist\u00f3v\u00e3o<\/strong>
\nTuesday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
\nFriday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
\nGood for: music, crafts, clothing and food<\/p>\n

5. Uruguaiana Arabian Market<\/strong> – near Uruguaiana Metro station in Centro
\nMonday to Friday from 9a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
\nGood for: everything – electronics, clothing, toys, spices, perfumes, tobacco<\/p>\n

6. Pra\u00e7a XV Flea Market<\/strong> – Praca Quinze de Novembro in Centro
\nSaturdays, early morning until 2 p.m.
\nGood for: antiques, second hand items<\/p>\n

7. Babil\u00f4nia Feira Hype<\/strong>
\nLocations and hours change; check website here<\/a>.
\nGood for: fashion, art and decor, crafts, food.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Known as “the marvelous city,” Rio de Janeiro is one of the hottest travel destinations in the world, and the most visited city in all of the southern hemisphere. Nature lovers and city slickers alike can find something to enjoy in the various terrains Rio has to offer, from its mountains and rain forests to the beaches and concrete playground of the city center. With the Summer Olympics quickly approaching, the costs to visit Rio de Janeiro are expected to skyrocket.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":7902,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_links_to":"","_links_to_type":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1237,1233],"tags":[150,493,99,16,679,730,681,561,174,483,718,488,487,426,584,705],"class_list":["post-7894","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-budget-travel","category-south-america","tag-beaches","tag-brazil","tag-cheap","tag-cost","tag-hike","tag-horse","tag-mountain","tag-party","tag-photos","tag-portuguese","tag-restaurant","tag-rio","tag-rio-de-janeiro","tag-shopping","tag-souvenir","tag-wildlife","entry","has-media"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-08-18 07:14:02","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.budgetyourtrip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7894","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.budgetyourtrip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.budgetyourtrip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.budgetyourtrip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.budgetyourtrip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7894"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.budgetyourtrip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7894\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11674,"href":"https:\/\/www.budgetyourtrip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7894\/revisions\/11674"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.budgetyourtrip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7902"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.budgetyourtrip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7894"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.budgetyourtrip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7894"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.budgetyourtrip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7894"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}