Things to see in Rio de Janeiro

A large suburb of Rio, Copacabana is best known for its amazing, wide, sandy beach that stretches for 4km (2.5 miles). The beach is hugely popular with both residents and tourists and usually lies beneath a mass of beautiful and fit bodies. Carioca girls, in minimalist bikinis, bask in the scorching sun alongside families with their youngsters, geriatrics and business people. The beach is always a hive of activity. Displaying the Brazilians' passion for sport, joggers and power walkers use the trademark wavy black and white mosaic path that fringes the beach, cyclists whizz by in the cycle lane and the soccer fields and volleyball courts are in constant use. Strong currents can prove dangerous for swimmers, although an excellent lifeguard system exists.

The fishing community of Copacabana only became part of Rio when tunnels were built for the Rio Tramway. In 1923, the Copacabana Palace Hotel was inaugurated and other hotels, nightclubs and casinos attracted the rich and famous during the 1930s and 40s. Nowadays, hotels and apartment blocks dominate the skyline along the busy avenues and crowded beach. It is advisable for visitors to take the very minimum of possessions and money, as the easily identifiable tourist is an obvious target for petty thieves.

The Statue of Christ the Redeemer, standing 30m (98ft) tall and overlooking the city of Rio de Janeiro, is one of the tallest statues in the world. The statue represents Jesus standing with outstretched arms and is one of the most famous symbols of this lively city, and of Brazil. Developed by the engineer Heitor da Silva Costa and originally conceived in 1921, construction started in mid-1926 and was completed in 1931. The statue sits on top of Corcovado Mountain (Hunchback Mountain) located in Tijuca National Park, a popular area for picnics and walking. From the statue, there are superb views of Sugar Loaf Mountain, downtown Rio de Janeiro and Rio's beaches.

This sophisticated Rio neighbourhood is an enticing blend of beach, bars and boutiques. The area became famous worldwide with the success of the song, The Girl from Ipanema. The song was written by composer Tom Jobim and lyricist and poet Vinicius de Moraes, who were inspired by a local beauty, who walked past the Velosa Bar each day when returning from school. The very bar where they sat, now known as Garota de Ipanema (Girl from Ipanema), is a popular meeting place for locals and a place of pilgrimage for visitors.

The focus of Ipanema is the beach, which is nestled between Aproador and Leblon beaches, beneath the imposing peak of Pedro Dois Irmãos. Like Copacabana, many people visit Ipanema to exercise or lie on the sand and the Aproador is a popular sunset-watching spot. But shopping is also a major pastime and the area boasts a variety of fashionable and expensive outlets. Ipanema is also home to a Sunday arts and crafts market known as the Hippie Fair and workshop museums for jewellery shops Amsterdam Sauer and H Stern.

The Museu Internacional do Arte Naif contains one of the most comprehensive collections of naive art (folk art) in the world. The simplistic, colourful exhibits line the walls of a historic mansion, situated next door to Corcovado Railroad Station. The museum displays a selection of its collection of over 8,000 works of folk art, which were created between the 14th century and the present day by artists from Brazil and 130 other countries. Works include a huge painting depicting Rio de Janeiro and Guanabara Bay, as well as a mural (the largest naive artwork in the world) that tells the history of Brazil. The museum also displays temporary exhibits by renowned naive artists throughout the year.