Find the Best Things to Do in Centro
By Lucy Bryson
Rio de Janeiro Local Expert
About Centro
Photo courtesy of Anizio Silva/Flickr
Rio's downtown may lack the allure of the beaches, but there's plenty here to merit a visit.
Rio's oldest streets can be found here, along with the best museums and galleries in the city.
Centro is best avoided on Sundays, when it is dangerously deserted.
See & Do
Rio's best museums and galleries are located in Centro, the most notable being Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil (CCBB), which hosts big name visiting exhibitions as well as regular free cinema screenings for kids, while the grand, golden-domed Teatro Municipal showcases ballet and opera.
Some of the city's oldest buildings are found here, too - look out for elegant neo-classical churches and handsome colonial homes among the office tower blocks that now dominate the skyline.
Eat
Centro's restaurants cater mainly to the local workers, making it a great place for an inexpensive lunch. The countless pay by weight buffet restaurants are considerably cheaper than those in the beach zones, and there are several vegetarian and vegan options here, too.
For a slice of history, head to the grand Confeitaria Colombo, where you can soak up the belle epoque opulance as you enjoy a lavish afternoon tea or breakfast spread.
Party
Centro is a great place to watch locals relaxing over post-work beers and snacks. Take a metro to Cinelandia for tables and chairs on the flagstones of one of downtown's main squares, with the grand Teatro Municipal as a backdrop. Post-work 'Happy Hour' extends from 5pm until late at night on weekdays - after that you can find the city's real hedonism just a quick stroll awat in the area around Lapa's arches.
Stay
Hotels in Rio's Centro cater largely to business visitors, and, while they lack star quality, they are handy for the domestic airport as well as to the nightlife of Lapa. Partiers can also bed down at a hostel - there are several here, and prices are much cheaper than those of Ipanema and Copacabana. For more charm, there are lovely boutique guesthouses nearby in the historic hillside neighbourhood of Santa Teresa.
Shop
Rio's downtown is a top spot for shopping - during the week at least. Most places close shortly after noon on Saturday and reopen only on Monday morning. There's much bargain-hunting fun to be had at the maze of shopping streets known as Saara (or Sahara, in honour of the middle eastern tradespeople who set up shop here), which is the place to come for everything from Havaianas to carnival costumes.