THE BEST LOCATION IN RIO DE JANEIRO – SOUTH ZONE
If you are planning to travel to Rio de Janeiro be sure to read this text. Here we explain the South Zone of the city, the best location for tourists! In this part are the most famous beaches, famous tourist spots and have the best accommodation options in the city.
SOUTH ZONE OF RIO DE JANEIRO
The famous South Zone of Rio de Janeiro is the region located in the south of the Tijuca Massif. In this area are located some of the most famous neighborhoods in the state.
Are they: São Conrado, Leblon, Jardim Botânico, Lagoa, Gávea, Ipanema, Copacabana, Leme, Botafogo, Humaitá, Urca, Flamengo, Catete, Laranjeiras, Cosme Velho e Glória. The South Zone is a well-urbanized region. It still has natural areas like the Tijuca National Park.
DETAIL
It’s in the South Zone that are the most famous neighborhoods in Rio de Janeiro: Copacabana and Ipanema.
CURIOSITY
Did you know that in the south zone are the most expensive square meter neighborhoods in the country? Yes, these are the neighborhoods of Ipanema and Leblon.
TOURISM IN THE SOUTH ZONE
The South Zone of Rio de Janeiro is the best area for tourism. Here are located the best accommodation options, restaurants, shopping centers, in addition to the proximity to the sights and beaches. This’s considered a safe region.
Don’t know where to stay?
Read more about Neighborhoods in Rio de Janeiro and choose the best option for you.
SOME OF THE TOURIST POINTS
In this part of the city are located the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, Tijuca Forest and Tijuca National Park, Copacabana and Ipanema Beaches, Botanical Garden, Parque Lage, Sugarloaf Mountain, Flamengo Park, Botafogo, Marina da Glória and Christ the Redeemer.
HOW TO ENJOY NIGHTS IN THE SOUTH AREA?
See here the best options of bars in the neighborhoods of the South Zone:
HOW DOES TRANSPORT WORKS IN THE SOUTH ZONE?
In this area of the city, users have many public transport options. Altogether there are fourteen subway stations that connect the entire south area of the city. Two subway lines serve all neighborhoods:
LINE 1
Glória, Catete, Largo do Machado, Flamengo, Botafogo, Cardeal Arcoverde, Siqueira Campos, Cantagalo e General Osório;
LINE 4
Nossa Senhora da Paz, Jardim de Alah, Antero de Quental e São Conrado;
In addition to the subway, there are many bus options that serve the entire southern area of the city. Find out how Public Transportation in Rio de Janeiro work.
WITH PRIVATE CAR
If you are traveling in the city with a private car, some avenues are main in the area. Avenida Atlântica runs along the entire Copacabana Beach. Avenida Vieira Souto is in the Ipanema neighborhood. In the Leblon neighborhood is Avenida Delfim Moreira and the Lagoa-Barra Highway connects the South Zone to the West Zone of Rio.
This is a very important part of the city. Be sure to visit the South Zone and enjoy it as much as possible.
TIP
Do you want to take a really cool walk through the most famous neighborhoods in the city? Join our Walking Tour Copacabana and Ipanema and have fun learning more about the details of this area.
OCCUPATION OF THE SOUTH ZONE
Regarding the occupation of the south zone of Rio de Janeiro, it happened very late. The first neighborhoods to be occupied by the population were areas in the city center, such as Glória, Lapa and Catete.
In a more rural way, the neighborhoods of Laranjeiras and Botafogo started to be occupied by families with large farms. Urban occupations in the region appeared in the middle of the 19th century, with subdivisions and urban agglomerations.
STILL IN COLONIZATION
The neighborhoods of Jardim Botânico and Lagoa were occupied by sugar cane mills, in the period of early colonization in this part of the country. These businesses belonged to the first governors of Rio de Janeiro. Urban occupation in these neighborhoods occurred in the 20th century.
IMPORTANT CONSTRUCTION
Two tunnels were built to connected the neighborhood of Botafogo (Avenida Lauro Sodré) to Copacabana (Avenida Princesa Isabel). The galleries were made in different periods.
FIRST PART
The Engenheiro Coelho Cintra tunnel was started in 1904. It received this name in 1937, as a tribute to the person responsible for opening the tunnel. Being a work of engineer Viana da Silva and managed by Mayor Francisco de Pereira Passos. The tunnel was finished in March 1906 as the Carioca Tunnel. It’s popularly known as Leme Tunnel. This tunnel was extended in 1941.
SECOND PART
The Engenheiro Marques Porto tunnel, on the other hand, is the second part of the Engenheiro Coelho Cintra tunnel gallery, started in 1946 and finished in 1949. It received this name in 1951 and it’s a reference to the engineer João Gualberto Marques Porto who designed it.
As duas galerias possuem 250 metros de comprimento e 16 metros de largura.
DETAIL
This part of the South Zone was not so frequented by the population of Rio. After the construction of the tunnels, access to the Copacabana neighborhood was facilitated and with that, there was a large flow of people in this region. Many buildings began to fill the landscape of Copacabana.
Learn more about the history of the neighborhood and Copacabana Beach.
ADMINISTRATIVE REGIONS
Administrative regions of the South Zone are the neighborhood of Botafogo, Copacabana, Lagoa and Rocinha. The administration of the area is under the command of one of the seven sub-municipalities that sub-administer the municipality of Rio de Janeiro. According to the 2010 sense, the South Zone of Rio has a population of more than 630.000 people.