The Best Photography Spots in Rio de Janeiro (in Just 24 Hours)
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- By: Peter Orsel
Rio de Janeiro is an enormous city, and one of the best photography destinations in South America. Even though it’s not Brazil’s capital, it’s still the most famous city of the country and a bucket list destination for many people all over the world. It hosts one of the world wonders, Christ the Redeemer, and some of the most incredible city beaches in the world.
This guide covers everything you need to photograph Rio de Janeiro in a single day. It’s created with the expectation that you arrive around 3pm and leave around 3pm as well, but if you’re arriving and leaving in the morning, the program should work as well!
If you just have 24 hours in Rio de Janeiro and you want to take some incredible photos, this is what you should do.
In This Post
Where to stay in Rio de Janeiro?
You will probably arrive in one of the Rio de Janeiro airports (GIG or SDU). Take an Uber to get to your accommodation, traffic can be terrible in Rio, but during my time in the city it never took me longer than 30 minutes. One thing that’s for sure, you need accommodation for the night. The best areas to stay in Rio are Ipanema and Copacabana.
Two great options here are Windsor California Copacabana and Grand Mercure Rio de Janeiro. You’ll be beach front with stunning views, and not too far from all sights I mention in this article.
Seeing the Sunset at Pedra do Arpoador
Once you’ve settled into your accommodation, it’s time for your first stop. For a proper sunset in Rio, head to the edge of Ipanema beach. Here you’ll find Pedra do Arpoador. A rock formation giving you magnificent views on the beach, the ocean and the Dois Irmãos mountain peaks. You’ll see surfers, both locals and tourists grabbing beers.
My most used lens at this spot: Sony FE 70-200 F/4.
Sugarloaf Mountain
If you’re keen on seeing the sunset from a higher viewpoint, head to Sugarloaf Mountain. You can get on this mountain by cable car and the views of both Rio and the ocean are worth it. Unfortunately, I admired the Sugarloaf Mountain only from the ground, and I can only imagine how amazing the views must have been up there.
Before you sleep: a taste of Brazil
You’ll want to be in bed early, as sunrise is gonna be early. Grab dinner close to your accommodation so you’re not wasting time getting back, and skip anything too heavy. You’ll be up again in just a few hours.
Some of my favourite local food that you have to try:
- Feijoada – Brazil’s most traditional comfort food. This is a stewed black bean dish with pork and beans. A proper meal and something you have to try while visiting Rio de Janeiro.
- Coxinha – A breaded and frid chicken croquette, one of Brazil’s most popular snacks and my absolute favourite. Perfect for some quick cravings, but it’s not a full dinner.
- Brigadeiro – The perfect dessert. It looks small, but this chocolate sprinkle ball is rich and will be more than enough as a desert.
Waking up: Sunrise at Mirante Dona Marta
Shooting sunrises is my favourite thing in photography, as it takes effort to get to your spot at a super early time of the day. The sun rises early in Rio de Janeiro. The earliest sunrises in December are at 5:00 am and the latest will be about 6:30am in June. The best place to see the sunrise in Rio de Janeiro is Mirante Dona Marta.
How to get to Mirante Dona Marta?
As it will be an early morning, you need an Uber to get to this viewpoint. It takes about 20-30 minutes to get to the viewpoint, so make sure you order the Uber at least 45 minutes to an hour before the sun rises.
Getting an Uber back can be hard sometimes, as the internet connection isn’t the best at this location and cars are not always directly around.
What to shoot at Mirante Dona Marta?
Where I expected a peaceful sunrise without too many crowds, I had the bad luck that there was an organised photoshoot going on. About 50 people gathered all around the small spot, all wearing their most beautiful clothes and make up. Ready for their Rio de Janeiro photos.
Instead of interrupting them, I decided to send my drone to get my shots. I did this on the other side of the viewpoint, where you’ll find a helipad.
Taking photos of Christ the Redeemer
If you’ve ever seen an aerial photo of Christ the Redeemer, it was taken either with a camera or with a drone.
If it’s a sunset shot, it must be a helicopter shot. Helicopters circle around Cristo constantly around sunset. If it’s a sunrise shot, it’s most likely taken by a drone instead, since the helicopters aren’t up yet. It’s important you don’t fly your drone during sunset, as it’s dangerous for both you as the helicopter.
The statue is still a couple of kilometers away from Mirante Dona Marta, so make sure your Return to Home settings are set up properly before you take off. There’s a real chance your drone loses connection, especially once the statue gets between you and your controller.
Important note: check the regulations on drone flights yourself. Rules change constantly, and depend on the kind of drone you want to fly. It’s your own responsibility to comply to the laws. This is only a ‘how to get the shot’ instruction, not how to obtain the right permit.
After Sunrise: Breakfast at your accommodation
After sunrise, grab some quick breakfast. My recommendation: get an açaí bowl. Brazil is home to the açaí plant, which makes it one of the cheapest places in the world to have this superfood. People in Brazil eat it at all times of the day, but I love it as a refreshing morning snack. More into something savoury? A pão de queijo is a Brazilian cheese ball. A must try and one of my favourite Brazilian snacks.
Real Gabinete Portugues Da Leitura: One of the Most Beautiful Libraries in the World
The next stop for some amazing photos is the public library of Rio de Janeiro. It’s called Real Gabinete Portugues Da Leitura, literally translated: the royal Portuguese reading room. It opens at 10am and I recommend to be one of the firsts inside, to take some people without crowds in your shot.
Somehow I managed to get my photos without people during the day, but it takes some patience. The public area consists just out of one room, but it will surely blow your mind. I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen so many books stacked together and I was happy with all the photos I got. Make sure you have a wide angle lens to capture the place as beautiful as possible.
The photo above is one of the photos I sold as an individual license to Assouline, you’ll find it in the Assouline: Rio de Janeiro book.
Last stop: Take a coffee and a snack at Confeitaria Colombo
One of the most beautiful cafes in Rio de Janeiro must be Confeitaria Colombo. They have several locations, but as you’re coming from Real Gabinete Portugues Da Leitura, it’s best to stay close to it and visit the main location. This traditional coffee house opened first in 1894 and you will feel the vibes of more than a century ago. One of their specialties is the Pastéis de Belém and if you’ve ever tried them in Lisbon, you should try them here as well. I loved the different coffee blends they had and it’s the perfect stop after a busy morning. If you’re already fancying lunch or maybe a brunch, this is also the place to be.
If you prefer a beach view, Confeitaria Colombo has a Fort location as well. It’s close to the edge of Copacabana beach and gives a great view over the ocean and the beach. You have to pay an entrance fee to get into the fort, where the cafe is located. On Tuesdays the entrance is free.
Extra Time on Hand? Dois Irmãos
If you have more than 24 hours, Dois Irmãos is worth adding to your trip as well. It’s the twin-peaked mountain behind Ipanema and it gives a stunning view over Rio de Janeiro, including Christ the Redeemer.
The trail starts inside the Vidigal favela. This is considered one of the safer favelas, but it’s still recommended to do the hike during daylight. You can reach the entrance on Avenida Niemeyer, a short drive from Ipanema or Leblon, then take a motortaxi from there up to the trail near the football field. This costs only a couple of reais. The hike itself takes around 40 to 45 minutes, and it can get steep, but shouldn’t be too difficult.
FAQ: The Best Photography Spots in Rio de Janeiro
Can you fly a drone at Christ the Redeemer?
No. You can’t visit Christ the Redeemer and fly your drone there. If you want to get your shot, you should fly from a different place. It’s important you don’t fly during sunset, helicopters are hovering around the statue all the time at that hour and it’s dangerous for your drone.
Check the regulations on drone flights yourself, rules change constantly and depend on the kind of drone you fly. It’s your own responsibility to comply with local laws, this only covers how to get the shot, not how to get the right permit.
Is it worth visiting Christ the Redeemer as a photographer?
If photography is your main goal, no. It’s crowded every day, and standing right underneath the statue makes it hard to get a good photo.
If you’re after the best angles as a photographer, you’re better off wandering the city for viewpoints instead, the same way I did with the shots in this guide.
Visit Christ the Redeemer if you want to tick off one of the Wonders of the World and see it up close, but don’t expect spectacular photos from the visit alone.
Is one day enough to photograph Rio de Janeiro?
One day is enough for the highlights covered in this guide: a sunset viewpoint, a sunrise viewpoint, and two standout stops in between. But it’s tight. If you have the chance, book some extra days so you can enjoy more time on the beach, do extra hikes and understand this big city a bit better.
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About Me
Peter Orsel is a Dutch travel photographer based in Bali, specialized in drone and landscape photography. He has visited over 40 countries and writes detailed, no-nonsense guides based on firsthand experience.