Free places to visit in cities around the world
510 places · 72 cities
SOUTH AMERICA BRAZIL
Copacabana and Arpoador make a natural south-zone seaside outing; Aterro do Flamengo, Parque Lage and the Selarón Steps are separate trips in different neighbourhoods. Use transit between these areas instead of treating Rio as one walkable loop. On Sundays, the waterfront lanes in Aterro, Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon close to cars from 07:00 to 18:00; check current city notices before setting out.
Browse 5 free-entry places with official visitor links. Check hours, access and booking rules before your visit.
01 IN RIO DE JANEIRO
FREE BEACH AND PROMENADEWalk Copacabana's wave-patterned calçadão from Leme toward the fort, with the beach on one side and the city on the other.
Photo: “Calçadão de Copacabana - Rio de Janeiro (3).JPG” by Allan Fraga · CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized and converted to WebP for this site.
FREE PUBLIC PARK GROUNDSExplore the airport-to-Botafogo waterfront park, with Burle Marx gardens and Sunday lanes closed to cars.
Photo: “Aterro do Flamengo - Flamengo Park, Rio de Janeiro (8709175602).jpg” by Douglas O. Mota from Rio de Janeiro, Brasil · CC BY 2.0. Resized and converted to WebP for this site.
FREE PUBLIC PARK GROUNDSSee the garden and mansion courtyard beneath Corcovado; the palace interior is closed for restoration.
Photo: “Historic building at Parque Lage, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.jpg” by Wilfredor · CC0. Resized and converted to WebP for this site.
FREE PUBLIC STAIRCASEFollow a mosaic staircase of more than 200 steps between Lapa and Santa Teresa.
Photo: “Escadaria Selarón - Rio de Janeiro - 20240417062601.jpg” by Donatas Dabravolskas · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and converted to WebP for this site.
FREE PUBLIC VIEWPOINTWatch the Atlantic from the Arpoador rocks between Copacabana and Ipanema, with the shoreline curving away on both sides.
Photo: “Arpoador Rock and City Mountains 1.jpg” by Donatas Dabravolskas · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and converted to WebP for this site.
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