Best Places For Outdoor Activities in Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro has lots of interesting museums, amazing beaches, and great shopping complexes. However, if you are looking for a place to enjoy outdoor activities in Rio de Janeiro, the city can also provide you with amazing options. There are several parks in Rio, where you can relax, enjoy nature, and spend a pleasant day. Check it out!

Aterro do Flamengo

Aterro do Flamengo is a recreation area located along Guanabara Bay, in the Flamengo neighborhood. It is the largest park in Rio de Janeiro. World-renowned designer Roberto Burle Marx was responsible for landscaping this 296-acres park. He did not forget to add trees from the Amazon rainforest to the design of the park. He planted tropical trees and other plants with different flowers and shapes to Aterro in order to cope with the local weather.

Construction of the park ended in 1965, offering Cariocas an amazing location for outdoor activities in Rio de Janeiro. Aterro do Flamengo has many outdoor recreational facilities available, such as basketball and tennis courts, football fields, and running and bike lanes.

On Sundays, the roads around Aterro do Flamengo are closed to cars, so you can enjoy more space to play sports, ride your bike, do picnics, hang out with family and friends, and take pictures.

What to do at Aterro do Flamengo

• Football
• Volleyball
• Tennis
• Basketball
• Running
• Biking
• Skate park
• Kids playground
• Picnic
• Watch the sunset
• Gardens
• Aeromodelling field
• Beach (unsuitable for bathing)

Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas

The park around Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas offers plenty of space for outdoor sports, such as bike lanes, baseball courts, multi-sport courts, and a skating rink.

These courts are free to use and available for everyone. However, if you have a bit more money to spare, there are other activities to make your day even more fun. You can find paddle boats for rent on the east side of the park and bike rental vendors along the lagoon. If you have kids, they will love to play in the bouncy castles available for rent as well.

There are also bars and restaurants where you can enjoy a nice drink while watching the beautiful sunset behind Morro Dois Irmãos. Moreover, there are plenty of green spaces for you to sit down, lay on the grass, and maybe do a picnic with your friends and family. Some people even organize fancy birthday parties at the park, as it is free and there is plenty of space for that.

What to do at Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas

• Football
• Volleyball
• Tennis
• Baseball
• Basketball
• Running
• Biking
• Skate park
• Kids playgrounds
• Picnic
• Watch the sunset
• Paddle boats
• Restaurants and bars
• Piers

Quinta da Boa Vista

Quinta da Boa Vista is located in São Cristóvão neighborhood. It is one of the largest urban parks in Rio de Janeiro and served as the residence of the Portuguese Royal Family in the 19th century.

There are plenty of green spaces for you to hang out with friends and family and do a picnic. A few multi-sport courts are also available for you to enjoy. There are also paddle boats and kayaks for rent, as there is a nice lake at the park.

If you are interested, BioParque do Rio is also located at Quinta da Boa Vista. This zoo was recently renovated and it now focuses on research, conservation, and education.

What to do at Quinta da Boa Vista

• Football
• Kids playgrounds
• Picnic
• Paddle boats
• Kayaking
• Zoo
• Restaurants and bars

Parque Madureira

Parque Madureira is the third-largest park in Rio de Janeiro. It is the perfect place if you are looking for a place to practice outdoor sports. It is complete with facilities for outdoor activities, such as volleyball, basketball and football courts, an artificial turf field, a bocce ball court, and a skating rink. There is also a running track and bike lanes.

If you want to hang out with your friends and family, a spacious garden with an artificial river sets the tone in this pleasant park. It often offers live concerts for everyone to enjoy free of charge. Furthermore, you can easily get there by train.

What to do at Parque Madureira

• Football
• Volleyball
• Basketball
• Bocce ball
• Running
• Biking
• Skate park
• Kids playground
• Picnic
• Gardens

Parque Lage

Located in Jardim Botânico, Parque Henrique Lage is a 52-hectare park founded in 1811 and the right choice for a place to spend your day. Within the area, there are activities for all ages, including a children’s playground, hiking paths – one of them leads to the Christ the Redeemer statue – a fountain, an aquarium, a few picnic and rest areas, and a parking lot. Access to the park is free.

Inside the park, there is also the Escola de Artes Visuais do Parque Lage (School of Visual Arts of Parque Lage), which has occupied the main Palace of the park since 1975 and exhibits students’ art to the public.

What to do at Parque Lage

• Football
• Picnic
• Hiking
• Jogging
• Kids playground
• Outdoor restaurant and café

Praia de Copacabana & Praia de Ipanema

The promenade of Copacabana and Ipanema Beaches is the perfect place for running, jogging, skating, and going for a bike ride. Also at these beaches, sand volleyball courts are available for you to play beach volleyball or footvolley, a favorite among Cariocas.

If you just want to hang out, the beach kiosks are the perfect place to enjoy a nice drink at the end of the day, while watching the sunset.

What to do at Praia de Copacabana & Praia de Ipanema

• Beach Volleyball
• Footvolley
• Beach paddleball
• Running
• Biking
• Skating
• Kiosks
• Beach

Parque da Cidade

If you are looking for a green area, where you can connect with nature, go for a walk and enjoy a nice breeze, Parque da Cidade is the right place for you. It is located in the Gávea neighborhood and is surrounded by the Tijuca National Forest.

Over there, it is also possible to get access to a hiking trail to Vista Chinesa, a gazebo that provides a great view of Rio de Janeiro from the inside of the Tijuca National Forest. It is a lovely place to take amazing pictures to take home with you.

What to do at Parque da Cidade

• Picnic
• Hiking
• Jogging

Hiking Spots

The rocky peaks, the forest, the buildings, and the stunning coastline — everything goes amazingly together in Rio de Janeiro. With breathtaking views, many trails in Rio de Janeiro lead you to wonderful lookout points, mountains, and hills. If you love adventure and going on long walks, do not miss out on the opportunity to enjoy Rio’s great outdoors.

There are dozens of hiking spots in the city so you can enjoy outdoor activities in Rio de Janeiro. Check this blog post for more information: Top 7 Hikes In Rio de Janeiro: Fun And Adventure!

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