Photo: Junius, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
This guide does not list individual places yet.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Convento de Nossa Senhora da Ajuda
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.
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.
Park
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.