//
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Photo: Junius, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The North Zone of Rio has fewer tourist attractions than other parts of town, but it's worth at least one trip to Maracanã Stadium.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Estádio do Maracanã
Once the world's highest capacity football venue, it was able to hold nearly 200,000 people. In modern times, the capacity has been reduced because of safety considerations, and the introduction of seating for all fans. It is undergoing renovation, to expand it to hold 80,000. The matches of Rio's football clubs like Flamengo or Fluminense are usually far from full, so go along and watch a game. There is also a Soccer Museum inside.
Parque Nacional da Tijuca, Sector Florestal
A few km north of the beach, this mountainous subtropical forest is Brazil's smallest national park. It is largely hand-planted as much of the original forest was destroyed to make way for coffee plantations. Despite this it contains hundreds of species, many of which are threatened with extinction. Corcovado is to the east of the park but if you really want to appreciate what the park has to offer you have to drive along some windy, hilly roads and get out and hike. This sector of the park can be reached via Rua Boa Vista, and from São Conrado in Zona Oeste.
Estádio do Engenhão
Estádio Olímpico João Havelange, known by its nickname of Engenhão, is a new soccer stadium built for the Pan-American Games of 2007. A modern construction, not as big as Maracanã but still worth a visit for soccer fans. The Botafogo team plays its matches there.
Parque Estadual do Grajaú
This 55-hectare park preserves some of the original forest and serves as a refuge for a wide range of species including marmosets, bush dogs, guinea pigs, parakeets, vultures, and hawks. The park includes the Pedra do Andaraí, symbol of the area.
Museu de Astronomia e Ciências Afins (MAST)
Also has an observatory.
Museu do Primeiro Reinado
A museum about the reign of Emperor Pedro I (1822-1831), but with a modest collection.
calçadas musicais
The mosaic sidewalks along Boulevard 28 de Setembro between Praça Maracanã and Praça Barão de Drummond are musical staves. Written in the stones are 20 complete musical works, including tunes by Ary Barroso, Martinho da Vila, Almirante, Noel Rosa, and other famous Brazilian composers who frequented Vila Isabel back in its Bohemian heyday. If you know who these guys are, you might also be interested in checking out the famous sculpture of Noel Rosa on this street at the entrance to the bairro.
If you won't be making it to the Amazon or the Pantanal, this is a good place to see some of Brazil's more exotic creatures.
Museu do Trem
A modest collection of 19th-century engines, train cars used by emperors and presidents, and streetcars.
The former residence of one of the founders of the Modern Art Museum, this museum hosts a collection of items from the history of Portuguese rule, including furniture, kitchenware, and an array of azulejos, or Portuguese blue tiles. There are also separate collections of Oriental art and Brazilian pop art.
Park
Igreja Nossa Senhora de Lurdes
Igreja da Sagrada Família
Capela São Roque
Igreja Matriz do Senhor Bom Jesus do Monte
Convento de Nossa Senhora da Ajuda
Many climbers take on the 444-meter Pedra do Andaraí, in Grajaú State Park. See the See section for details.
Praia de Ramos/Piscinae Ramos
A popular, in-bay, beach where the government built an artificial pool on the sand (piscinão). This area is not recommended for foreigners to visit. Inappropriate for bathing.
Founded in 1948, the city's fastest-growing samba school is now the third largest.
Conceived in 1931.
As the name suggests they are best at carne-de-sol. They have a full menu of typical Brazilian food in good-sized helpings.
This hole-in-the-wall joint has fantastic food that has attracted fans for over four decades. Lamb with vegetables and potatoes is a must-try.
Good-quality Italian restaurant with reasonable prices. Note that they do not accept credit cards.
This restaurant has for decades been the haunt of famous bohemian composers and poets such as Noel Rosa and Martinho da Vila. It remains the hotspot of Vila Isabel, with daily buffets, and feijoada on Saturdays. It also holds the distinction of having the highest annual draft beer sales of any restaurant in Brazil. Accepts Visa.
Fine dining in what used to be the chapel for the Imperial Palace. The food is a fantastic display of traditional Brazilian cuisine with formal service.
Famous for its shrimp risotto and empadinhas. Delivery available. Accepts credit cards.
Gay and lesbian nightclub.
An arts and research centre and hostel at the same time in the middle of the favela Complexo do Alemão. Run by the friendly and helpful Dutch Ellen and her Brazilian partner, who will include you in the local life and culture festivals. Very authentic and enjoyable place to stay, different from the usual tourist life in Rio.
A good place to stay if you arrive late to Rio or are leaving early in the morning. Clean rooms with all the convenience of being within the airport. Rooms have no windows.
Only has 15 rooms for those who are stuck in the airport. Rooms have TV, telephone and air conditioning but no windows.
The largest shopping mall in the Zona Norte, with two food courts, cinemas, and a range of stores and restaurants. Fitness center BodyTech (the largest fitness club in Brazil); Striker Bowling, Kinoplex UCI cinema (with 10 rooms, 3D), Magic Games playhouse, Mega bookstore. Cafes:Kopenhagen, Mc Cafe, Viena Café; Chocolate shops: Brasil Cacau, Cacau Show, Chocomundi. Pubs.
A great place to shop with plenty of stalls selling all sorts of food, textiles and local goods. Also a good place to get a taste of Brazilian culture from the northeast. Food, dance and music tantalize all the senses.
Mercadão de Madureira
A popular market where there are cheap bars and restaurants, plus little shops selling everything you can imagine, including everything you need for Afro-Brazilian rituals (statues, candles, food and animals). Not usually visited by gringos, but still an interesting place if you want to see how normal people live and have fun outside the Zona Sul.
One of the cheaper malls in the city.
Large shopping mall with 210 stores, a food court and a Kinoplex cinema.
Most tourists see Zona Norte for only a moment as they past through the Galeao International Airport or the Rodoviaria Novo Rio interstate bus terminal.
Read in the guideBy metrô
The Zona Norte is served by both lines of the subway system. They meet at Estácio, on the border with the Centro district. Useful stops include:
By bus rapid transit
By cable car
SuperVia Urban Trains
Opening Monday to Friday at 04:25. Last train Japeri: 22:52. Last train to Santa Cruz: 22:35. Last train Saracuruna: 21:53. Last train to Belford: 21:28.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Rio De Janeiro · International · GIG
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about Zona Norte and Brazil.
InspirationExplore the best places to visit in February across snow festivals, world-famous carnivals, tropical island beaches, and polar night aurora displays.
6 min read
Travel tipsPlan your trip with our Rio Carnival 2027 guide. Compare Sambadrome tickets, street blocos, safety strategies, and neighborhood hotel recommendations.
8 min read
ItinerariesLearn how to plan a trip around major sports events in 2027, covering ticket deadlines, rooms, flights, and costs for the world's biggest tournaments.
7 min read
Culture & historyAviation history in the context of museum and history tourism invokes various aspects of science tourism, including both civil and military aviation.
Wikivoyage
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.