Before You Go
Best months to visit, entry requirements, health notes, currency, a realistic daily budget, and your first Portuguese phrases.
Written first-hand in Rio · Updated for 2026
Rio de Janeiro,
without the guesswork.
A concise field guide for your first trip — where to stay, how to get around, what to eat and how to stay safe, so week one feels like your fifth visit.
Get the guide — $9
Instant PDF download · $19 launch price
- 10 chapters, cover to cover
- 1, 3 & 5-day itineraries
- Read it offline on your phone
Most first trips to Rio are spent decoding the city instead of enjoying it — which neighbourhood to book, whether to take the taxi or the metro, which beach kiosk to trust, how much a day should cost. This guide answers those questions once, in plain English, so you can put the phone away and look up.
0chapters, cover to cover
0ready-made itineraries
0neighbourhoods compared
0hand-picked places
What's inside
Ten chapters. Every decision a first-timer has to make.
Getting There & Around
Both airports explained, when to pick Uber over the metro or a bus, buying a SIM card, and the traffic hours to avoid.
Where to Stay
Copacabana, Ipanema, Lapa, Santa Teresa and Barra compared side by side — plus picks for luxury, mid-range and budget.
What to Do
Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf, the Selarón Steps, Maracanã, the best beaches, gardens and museums — and day trips beyond the city.
What to Eat & Drink
Feijoada, moqueca, pão de queijo and the caipirinha — with the cafés and churrascarias that locals actually go to.
Events & Festivals
Carnival, Réveillon on Copacabana, Festa Junina and Rock in Rio — what each one is really like and how to prepare.
Travel Tips & Local Etiquette
Greetings, tipping, personal space, and the street-smart habits that keep your trip trouble-free.
Suggested Itineraries
Hour-by-hour plans for 1, 3 and 5 days, built so you never double back across the city.
Shopping & Souvenirs
The Hippie Fair, Saara market, Havaianas, cachaça and gemstones — plus the tourist VAT-refund tip most people miss.
Emergency Contacts & Resources
Emergency numbers, the tourist police, hospitals, consulates, and the five apps to install before you land.
A look inside
Specific, not generic.
Budget
Plan around US$40–80 a day. ATMs are everywhere and cards work almost anywhere — but keep small change for buses and beach kiosks.
From the airport
Uber is usually cheaper and more predictable than a street taxi. In the city, the metro is clean and fast for Copacabana, Ipanema and Centro.
One day in Rio
Christ the Redeemer early, cable car up Sugarloaf before lunch, the afternoon on Ipanema, then samba in Lapa after dark.
First five phrases
- Olá Hello
- Obrigado / Obrigada Thank you
- Por favor Please
- Com licença Excuse me
- Quanto custa? How much?
Who it's for
- It's your first time in Brazil and you don't speak Portuguese.
- You have a short stay or a layover and no time to research.
- You want to feel safe without missing the city.
- You'd rather read thirty focused pages than open thirty browser tabs.
Why it's different
- First-hand knowledge, not paragraphs scraped from old blog posts.
- Organised by the decision you're making, not by search rankings.
- Short enough to finish on the flight down.
- One price, yours to keep — no accounts, no upsells.
Get the guide
One file. Everything above.
The Rio de Janeiro Field Guide
Digital PDF · English · Instant download
$9
$19
Launch price
- The full 10-chapter guide as a clean, mobile-friendly PDF
- Ready-to-follow 1, 3 and 5-day itineraries
- Neighbourhood comparison and daily budget breakdown
- Portuguese starter phrases and a one-page emergency sheet
- Download once, keep it forever, read it offline
Secure checkout via Kiwify · card & Pix accepted · backed by a 7-day refund policy
Questions
Before you buy
What format is the guide?
A PDF. Read it on your phone, tablet or laptop, or print it. Nothing to install and no account to create.
How do I get it after paying?
Kiwify shows a download link the moment your payment clears, and also emails it to you. If anything goes wrong, the contact details on your Kiwify receipt reach support directly.
Is it written in English?
Yes — the whole guide is in English, written for international travellers visiting Rio for the first time.
Will it work offline?
Yes. Save the PDF to your phone before you fly and use it with no signal and no roaming.
Is the information current?
It's been reviewed for 2026. Opening hours, prices and transport details still change, so always double-check anything time-sensitive close to your trip.
Can I get a refund?
Yes. If it's not what you expected, request a refund within 7 days of purchase through Kiwify.
Who wrote it?
Fernando Souza, from first-hand time spent living in and travelling around Rio de Janeiro.
Land knowing your way around.
Nine dollars now saves you the first two days of figuring Rio out.
Get the guide — $9