Rio de Janeiro: the most photogenic city in the world?

Rio de Janeiro: the most photogenic city in the world?

Rio de Janeiro is a lively, colorful and life-affirming city. Here we illustrate why it was the perfect end to our year-long trip around the world

We made ourselves comfortable in a small hostel on Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is by far the worst accommodation we have had in months. Contrary to the extremely beautiful pictures on the hostel's website, our bedroom is tiny, stuffy, smelly and inexplicably loud.

A loud fog horn blares through the water pipes with incredible frequency and keeps us awake all night. We don't know what it is; just that it drives us crazy.

This would be a bittersweet end to our big trip around the world if Rio de Janeiro wasn't absolutely enchanting.

Like a Manic Dream Pixie Girl, Rio takes you by the hand and runs through busy streets glistening in the sunshine, soft beaches with beautiful people, high up to blinding views and then back down again until you beg her to stop, hands on knees, gasping for air.

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Rio de Janeiro is a vibrant, colorful, life-affirming city and, dare we say it, the most photogenic in the world. As we prepare to return to our beloved hometown in the UK, we illustrate why we fell in love with Rio thousands of miles away.

Rio de Janeiro: The essentials

What: City trip to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

Where: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Choose a hotel in Copacabana - we struggled at the Rio Deal B&B, but anything with a score of eight or above will usually do the trick.

When: Rio is great all year round. The infamous Carnival takes place in February or early March and is a great time to experience the city's energy - but of course more expensive. December sees the most rain, while temperatures rise from January to March. For gentle temperatures and fewer crowds, visit in May, June, September or October.

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How: We only had two days in the city, so we booked the Big Dude Tour with Brazil Expedition, a hassle-free way to see the city. The tour visits a number of attractions including Christ the Redeemer, the Escadaria Selaron Stairs, Tijuca National Park and lunch in Santa Teresa (meal not included).

Our tour guide, Estêvão, was charming, helpful and very funny (although he was less than impressed that we had spent a month in Colombia rather than two weeks in Brazil – sorry, Estêvão!).

The tour includes pickup and drop-off from your hostel and offers the option of being dropped off at Sugarloaf Mountain. Prices are $55 per person. Email info@brazilexpedition.com for bookings. You can fly to Rio from most major airports worldwide (book via skyscanner.net).

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Lonely Planet Brazil is a comprehensive travel guide to the country, ideal for those who want to both explore the top attractions and take the roads less traveled.

Additional photography: Dreamstime

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