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Best Ideas for Holiday Shopping in Rio de Janeiro

The where and what of finding distinctly Brazilian gifts in this spectacular city
Lucy Bryson

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Rio de Janeiro Local Expert

 
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    Shopping for Gifts in Rio de Janeiro Is Often an Outdoor Pursuit

    Shopping for gifts in Rio de Janeiro tends to be more of a pleasure than a chore. There are ample opportunities to shop and sightsee at the same time, thanks to the many open-air street markets such as Ipanema's famous Hippie Fair. And it's even possible to pick up souvenirs right on the beach; vendors stroll past selling everything from replica football shirts to miniature Christ statues. Then on rainy days, the city's many large shopping malls are perfect places to pick up gifts such as bikinis, sandals and foodie items. 

    Photo courtesy of Lucy Bryson

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    Replica Christ Statue

    Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer statue is the city's most iconic image, and officially one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. There's no shortage of opportunity to buy scaled-down replicas of the statue, and these make perfect gifts. The replicas range from the kitsch – think colorful plastic and even flashing lights – to tastefully small ceramic or wooden versions in a range of colors. You can buy them at souvenir stores across Rio, with the most kitsch to be found in Copacabana and the most artistic to be found in Santa Teresa. Prices start at around R$15. 

    Photo courtesy of Lucy Bryson

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    Granado Toiletries Gift Package

    Charmingly retro packaging, delicious smells and gorgeous natural ingredients combine to make Granado toiletries great gift options. The company has been selling affordably priced glycerine soaps for decades, and it's now branched out into body lotions, bath salts and gift sets for men and women. Granado gifts can be found at pharmacies across Rio, but the best place to buy is the flagship store on Rua do Lavradio, right at the heart of the city's historic center. Gift set packages start at around R$90.

    Photo courtesy of Lucy Bryson

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    Havaianas Flip Flops

    Chic and funky Havaianas flip flops are one of Brazil's most famous exports, and in Rio de Janeiro, these colorful rubber sandals are available in a staggering array of styles of colors. They can be found practically on every street corner. They're more than affordable, too – prices for the latest lines start at around R$20 – so it's well worth picking up a few pairs for the fashion fans in your life.

    Photo courtesy of Lucy Bryson

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    Local Handicrafts

    Rio de Janeiro has a hugely active artisan community, which pours their efforts into crafting everything from hand-made clothes and jewelry to furniture. The city's many street fairs are good places to browse for locally produced gifts, and you'll usually be buying direct from the artist themselves. Try Ipanema's Hippie Fair or the more low-key Saturday street market in Laranjeiras. 

    Photo courtesy of Lucy Bryson

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    Soccer Shirt

    Brazil is synonymous with soccer, and the hugely successful 2014 World Cup (although not a success for the national side) brought Rio into the international sporting spotlight. Brazilian soccer shirts make great gifts for sporty types, and they come in men's, women's and kids' sizes. They're available at sports stores and souvenir shops across the city, with prices for official shirts starting at R$100.

    Photo courtesy of Lucy Bryson

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    Tiny Bikini, or Not

    Brazilian bikinis are famously tiny, but there are options for more modest beachgoers, too. Brands such as BumBum Ipanema and Lenny are seriously chic, and they also offer a little more coverage than your standard Brazilian bikini. For stylish sunseekers, these make wonderful gifts. Prices for high-end brands start at around R$150. 

    Photo courtesy of Lenny Niemeyer

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    Sweet Pacoca

    A great gift for kids and sweet-toothed adults alike, Pacoca is a delicious little confection of peanut butter and sugar, packed into solid bite-sized squares. The treat goes surprisingly well with a strong espresso coffee. Inexpensive and lightweight, tubs of Pacoquita – the biggest brand of pacoca – can be found at any supermarket or food store. They cost around R$12. 

    Photo courtesy of Lucy Bryson

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    Art by Locals

    Carioca artists are able to capture the colorful nature of life in Rio better than anyone else, and arty types are sure to love a locally produced painting. Browse street fairs and even sidewalk stalls for works to suit the recipient's tastes and budget. 

    Photo courtesy of Lucy Bryson

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    A Colorful Sarong

    Brazilians never, ever take towels to the beach. Instead, it's all about the sarong, worn as a skirt or dress and then casually tossed onto the sand. (Men stay on their feet on the beach, playing sport or just surveying the scene.) Small wonder, then, that kangas (sarongs) can be found in more styles, colors and sizes than you could imagine. They're colorful, fun affairs that make great gifts. 

    Photo courtesy of Lucy Bryson

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    Brazilian Coffee

    Brazilian coffee is famous the world over, and any coffee-lover is sure to appreciate a packet of the good stuff. Don't go for the cheapest brands, which are fair but not excellent. Instead, step it up a notch to get a really great brew. Specialist delis and coffee shops such as Cafeina are good places to grab a bag.  

    Photo courtesy of Lucy Bryson

Rio de Janeiro is one of the world's most celebrated cities, and the best gifts to take home from the Cidade Maravilhosa ("Marvellous City") are those that capture its chic, colorful and playful nature.

Curve-hugging bikinis, colorful plastic flipflops and brightly colored local artworks all make great gifts to take home, and while souvenir shops abound across the city, there's a lot to be said for shopping as you sunbathe.

Should you be stuck for time, just relax in your bikini on Copacabana Beach and wait for vendors to come around, selling everything from bikinis and sarongs to caipirinha-making kits. 

A miniature Christ statue tops Rio's gift listA miniature Christ statue tops Rio's gift list — Photo courtesy of Lucy Bryson

Top of the list for anybody shopping for holiday gifts in Rio de Janeiro should be a replica Christ statue. This figure of Christ the Redeemer, arms outstretched to embrace the city and all its sins, is after all the most famous image of the city and officially one of the Seven Modern Wonders of the World.  

Replicas range from kitsch (or downright tacky, depending on your point of view) plastic affairs complete with flashing lights to some tastefully small models in porcelain or glass. The statues can be found at souvenir stores across the city – those at the foot of the statue itself being predictably expensive – and range in price from R$10 to upwards of R$500 for hand-hewn marble models. 

Brazilian bikinis are famous the world over and, while you might not want to risk presenting a loved one with one of the legendary "dental floss" versions, there are some seriously chic and stylish swimwear options to be found here. Top-end brands include BumBum Ipanema and Lenny. 

Also synonymous with Brazilian fashion are colorful Havaianas flip flops, the cradle-to-grave beach footwear of every Carioca (Rio native). Here they are sold with the tagline Todo mundo usa ("Everybody wears them"), and that's no exaggeration. To keep in step with trends, new lines are launched every few weeks, and they come in more colors and styles than one could dream of.

Hugely popular with fashionistas across the globe, they are the ideal gift. Plus, they're so lightweight and inexpensive to buy here (Prices start at around R$10 for basic models and around R$20 for the latest lines.) that you'll want to grab a few pairs for yourself, too.

There are several dedicated Havaianas stores in Rio, but they can be found at every corner of the city. 

Arts and crafts in Rio tend to be colorful affairs and the price to quality ratio is usually good. Browse the artsy stores of Santa Teresa or the city's many street fairs for unique gifts. 

Lucy Bryson

About Lucy Bryson

Lucy Bryson is a British travel writer living in Rio de Janeiro, and a huge fan of Rio's street markets. 

Read more about Lucy Bryson here.

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