Top Rated Attractions in Rio de Janeiro

This lively samba club is housed in a beautiful old building that doubles as a storage warehouse for props and antiques used by the city's film industry. As a result, you will find yourself shaking a leg to a backdrop of mannequins, antique furniture and other relics from the past. Spread over three floors, revelers can chose to enjoy a meal from the restaurant, or just strut their stuff on the dance floor among bohemian locals and tourists alike. The club frequently hosts excellent live music, from samba to forro - check the website for listings. Always packed on weekends.

Big names in the football world including Pelé, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Roberto Carlos, and Zico have played at the Estadio do Maracana. This stadium hosted the dramatic 1950 World Cup final where Uruguay stole the world championship from hosts Brazil in one of the most incredible matches in football history. Popularly known as the Maracanã, this arena is one of the largest stadiums in the world. In addition to football, the stadium also holds music concerts and has hosted performances by Tina Turner and Paul McCartney, among others. Guided tours of the venue are available that offer glimpses of the changing rooms, views of the pitch from the stands, and a chance to witness the bronzed footprints of Pelé. It was one of the host stadiums for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and the venue for the final.

Finished in 1909, the Theatro Municipal was built along the lines of the Paris Opera. It is home to the city's orchestra, opera and ballet ensembles. It is built in the Neoclassical style, all in marble, granite and bronze, and is one of the most prestigious venues in the country for big performances. There is also a bar and restaurant, the famous and imposing Café do Teatro, decorated with Assyrian-style mosaics.

Teatro Odisséia has become an important landmark in the cultural scene of Rio de Janeiro. Its warehouse-industrial look gives it a casual and easy going atmosphere. It is more of a place for people to meet and exchange ideas, than a typical theater. If you want to dance, you can do that on the first floor of the building, where the bands perform. And the second floor has a small eatery where you can munch on oven fresh sandwiches. The floor above, is open for exhibitions and theatrical productions.

Designed by Carlos Porto with a capacity of up to 45,000 people the Estádio Olímpico Nilton Santos (formerly known as the Estadio Olimpico Joao Havelange), home to the Botafogo de Futbol e Regatas is a stadium with international appeal. It has hosted a number of football matches and other events in its spacious premises. This stadium is also well known for hosting the 2007 Pan American Games as well as a World Cup Qualifier between Brazil and Bolivia.

Teatro Das Artes was inaugurated in 1995 and is located at the Gavea Shopping Center. It has 421 seats and features other theaters and rooms like the Actors Theatre, blue room and red room at Das Artes. The place can be used to hold small to medium sized events. The acoustics of this theater are excellent and watching a play here make for a pleasurable experience. Like the Teatro Clara Nunes, the Teatro Das Artes largely hosts comedies too.