Rio de Janeiro

The Christ the Redeemer statue, high atop Corcovado mountain, is the most famous icon of Rio—and one of the best-known attractions in the world. — Travel + Leisure

On sunny, clear days, the cable car ride up to 700-foot Morro da Urca and then on to the taller, 1,300-foot Pão de Açucar is a classic Rio experience. — Concierge

The National Museum of Fine Art has 16 000 works, making it one of the largest collections in the country. — Michelin Guide

Brazil's prime venue for the performing arts, the elegant Parisian-style Teatro Municipal stages everything. — Frommer's

Ipanema and Leblon are two chic and fashionable districts located in the south of Rio next to the ocean. — Michelin Guide

Founded in 1808 by King Dom João VI, it covers an impressive 338 acres of the city, giving Cariocas a real oasis within the city limits. — Concierge

Located in the waterfront Flamengo park, the MAM is a long, rectangular building lofted off the ground by an arcade of concrete struts. — Frommer's

It's worth stepping inside this gorgeous neoclassical building just to gaze up at the soaring domed atrium. — Frommer's

Beautiful public park off the beaten path and away from tourists.  — Atlas Obscura

Housed in a former 17C fort, the museum is a must-see, especially since a successful renovation has ensured the collections are done full justice. — Michelin Guide

The Imperial Palace stands at the heart of the Praça XV. Now one of the city's foremost cultural centres, it holds temporary exhibitions of painting and sculpture and has its own cinema. — Michelin Guide

The MAC is a thriving art and cultural center across the Bay of Guanabara in Niterói. — Frommer's

Works by Brazil's leading 19th- and 20th-century artists fill the space at the National Museum of Fine Arts. — Fodor's

Behind the elegant and restrained façade of this church, which was built on top of a hill, there is an astonishing Baroque interior. — Michelin Guide

Once part of a Brazilian nobleman's estate, it's studded with exotic trees and thick jungle vines and has several waterfalls. — Fodor's

The estate's lush, tropical foliage. — Afar Magazine

The Museu da República, located in the Palácio do Catete , has been wonderfully restored. — Lonely Planet