Barra da Tijuca is a large neighborhood in Rio's West Zone. With urban and native beachs, high structured for sports, this is the Paradise for sports lovers.Barra, as the close locals calls, is a different Rio de Janeiro. Your landscape is painted for skyscrapers, mountains, huge avenues, lagoons, shopping malls, and beachs. Recently for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, modern sport complex buildings were built, and the controversial art center Cidade das Artes are the newest point of interest in Barra.
(Internet) Gigóia Island at Barra da Tijuca
Planning your trip:
What to do The Barra is usually sought for people in business travel, sports travel, shoppings or beach lovers. Regardless of your profile, we will give you all the tips for your visit. Barra da Tijuca is shared in a lot of regions and huge condominiums, we'll talk about here just that areas that improve some interest for travelers. Jardim Oceânico Jardim Oceânico is the first region in Barra, who is coming from south zone by Joá Express way. This neighborhood has two interesting beachs. The first one is Quebra Mar and the second one Praia do Pepê.
Quebra Mar in Barra da Tijuca (Internet)
Loved by surfers, kite surfers, stand up paddle practitioners, Praia do Pepê and Quebra have a lot of charming kiosks with lounges to rest, drink cocktails or taste natural sandwiches. The most famous one is The Quiosque do Pepê.
Praia do Pepê with kite surfers and Quiosque do Pepê (Internet)
However, although Jardim Oceânico is a very peaceful neighborhood very wooded and with small luxury buildings, it has the most famous street with bars and restaurants in Barra: Olegário Maciel Street is usually called "little south zone" by locals.
Void General Store- Olegário Maciel St (Internet)
The Void General Store and Guacamole Mexican Bar are two most popular places at Olegário Maciel St.
Guacamole Mexican Bar -Olegário Maciel St (internet)
Ilha da GigóiaIlha da Gigóia is a islands complex in Barra da Tijuca, at Tijuca Lagoon. You'll be transported to an incredible natural paradise inside a big city like Rio.
Houses in Gigóia Island (Internet)
The most famous bar in Gigóia Island- Bar do Cicero (Internet)
It is nearby to Armando Lombardi Av, in front of Jardim Oceânico metrô station. To get there, you'll need to catch a little boat( R$5,00/each way). The boat station is located in a small pass between Unimed building and Shell Gas station. The shores of the islands are lined with weekend homes, bars, restaurant, like the most famous Bar do Chico and an enormous native mangrove with birds. Avenida das Américas. The Avenida das Américas is a huge avenue with more than 20 kilometers, lined by huge shopping malls, condominiums and the giant Cidade das Artes Foundation( a large art and entertainment complex).
Cidade das Artes at Avenida das Américas (Internet)
Maybe at Avenida das Américas, you will feel like in Miami ( Any similarity is not coincidental). Besides Cidades Artes, malls like Village Mall, Barra Shopping, New York City Center, does a huge shopping mall complex with more than 600 stores. With national brands like Richard's, Osklen, Farm, Reserva, Livraria da Travessa and international brands like Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Hugo Boss, Desigual, Zara, Ermenegildo Zegna, Forever 21, FNAC and Apple Store.
The Luxury Village Mall (Internet)
The Intertainment complex New York City Center -NYCC (Internet)
Planning your trip:
Barra Olímpica
This region is the most important area the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games. Located between Avenida Embaixador Abelardo Bueno and Avenida Salvador Alliende, the main attraction in Barra Olímpica are sports events, shows, business events like conventions and fairs.
Rio Centro Convention Center view (Internet)
Massive Events like Rock in Rio festival each two years on September become the Parque dos atletas in the city of Rock.
Rio 2016 Olympic Park (Internet)
The Parque aquático Maria Lenk, HSBC Arena, Olympic Park complex, Convention Center Rio Centro, Vila dos atletas and Shopping Metropolitano are the top buildings in the region.
Where to Stay
There are lot of new hotels, charming Inns and Fashioned short term apartments in Barra da Tijuca. We have searched some of best options to stay in "Santa". Enjoy It! ;-)
With a breathtaking view of Olympic Park, this fashioned apartment has a beautiful decoration and cozy 2 bedrooms. Check here reviews and availability at book.com.
Recently opened, this luxury design resort in front of Barra Beach, brings to their guests a unique experience. Check here the availability and reviews at book.com.
3. Mercure Rio de Janeiro Barra da Tijuca
Located in front of Praia do pepê beach in Jardim Oceânico district, close to metro, this hotel has one of best location to stay in Barra da Tijuca.
