That Rio de Janeiro is one of the most famous cities in the world, no one can deny that. And it’s no wonder that living in the wonderful city is the dream of many tourists – whether Brazilians or from other countries. 

The truth is that living in the capital of Rio de Janeiro is a unique and unparalleled opportunity, after all, its natural beauties, academic opportunities and different job options are just some of the reasons that call the attention of those who seek to live in the wonderful city. 

If you are one of the people looking for a house or apartment in Rio de Janeiro to live in, it’s important to choose the ideal place to live in peace and security. 

And we know how challenging it’s to decide on the best neighborhood to live in a large metropolis. Therefore, to help you on this journey of finding the ideal spot in the wonderful city, in this article you can learn a little more about the regions and main neighborhoods of the city. 

Let´s go? 

How is to live in Rio de Janeiro? 

With just over 6.5 million inhabitants, Rio de Janeiro is the second largest city in Brazil. It’s the perfect city for those who have always dreamed of living in a city that combines the best of the urban atmosphere of a big city with the easy going lifestyle of a coastal city! 

Furthermore, living in Rio de Janeiro is synonymous with living in a cosmopolitan city full of leisure activities. From the famous beaches, such as Copacabana, Ipanema or Leblon, to unique gastronomic experiences and a nightlife that would envy any major city in the world, Rio de Janeiro has wonderful surprises in store. No wonder its nickname is “wonderful city”! 

Incidentally, it’s because of its exuberant and unique nature in the world that the city won this title. How about living in a beautiful apartment at the foot of Corcovado, in one of the most prestigious neighborhoods in Rio de Janeiro? Or, then, living among the trees of the Atlantic Forest, just a few minutes from the beach? 

The neighborhoods of Rio de Janeiro offer those who live over there different experiences of living. And that just makes the city even more attractive for those looking for a multicultural and charming place to build new stories. 

The neighborhoods of Rio de Janeiro: how is the city divided? 

Rio de Janeiro has more than 160 neighborhoods and is divided into four zones: South, North, West and Central. From the beaches of Leblon to the cable car in Urca, each of these neighborhoods hides details that you need to know! 

While the West Zone and the North Zone are the two largest in the city, the Center and the South Zone are the most touristic places in the capital of Rio de Janeiro. Do you want to know more details about each of these zones and their neighborhoods? Check out below! 

South Zone of Rio de Janeiro 

The South Zone of Rio de Janeiro holds the main postcards of the wonderful city and some of the best neighborhoods to live in Rio de Janeiro. 

With an average Municipal Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.901, the region is better placed than São Caetano do Sul, which is the municipality with the best HDI in the country. In addition to being well above the indicator for the city of Rio de Janeiro: 0.799. 

In fact, the South Zone concentrates some of the noblest and most sought-after neighborhoods in Rio de Janeiro, such as Copacabana, Ipanema, Gávea and Leblon. By the way, Leblon is one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Brazil! 

For those looking for a neighborhood with complete infrastructure and easy access to other regions of Rio de Janeiro, you will find ideal neighborhoods in the South Zone. See all neighborhoods in this region: 

North Zone of Rio de Janeiro 

Some of the most traditional neighborhoods in Rio de Janeiro are in the North Zone. This, by the way, is the most populous area of the city, it has been there for almost 90 years and some have existed since the eighteenth century. 

In fact, many of these neighborhoods in Rio de Janeiro preserve a lifestyle that is quite different from the rest of the city, with customs of an older Rio de Janeiro and closer to the interior cities. 

In many neighborhoods there, low-plan houses and two-story houses dominate the landscape, neighbors know each other and the sense of community is very strong. This is excellent for anyone who wants to live in a very welcoming place with excellent value for money! 

Despite being a region further away from the famous Rio beaches, the Rio neighborhoods of the North Zone concentrate numerous tourist attractions and natural beauties. Undoubtedly, the most famous is the Maracanã Stadium, which is the stage for great football classics, World Cup matches and great concerts by national and international artists. 

The North Zone of Rio de Janeiro is still the birthplace of the main samba schools in the city, which parade every year in Marquês de Sapucaí – the Sambódromo of Rio de Janeiro. 

In addition, it’s the neighborhoods in the North Zone of Rio de Janeiro that preserve some of the city’s greatest natural treasures: the Tijuca Forest and the Quinta da Boa Vista Municipal Park, where the National Museum is located. 

With almost 90 neighborhoods, the North Zone of Rio offers different living experiences. Within the most popular neighborhoods are Tijuca, Méier and Maracanã. 

West Zone of Rio de Janeiro 

The West Zone of Rio de Janeiro is the region that occupies most of the city’s territory. In addition, it’s also the second largest in terms of population. Despite being physically further away from the center of Rio, the West Zone neighborhoods can be easily accessed through express lines, such as the Yellow Line and the Lagoa-Barra Road. 

With different housing profiles, the main neighborhood in this region is Barra da Tijuca, which has been growing a lot in the last 20 years. In addition, Barra da Tijuca is one of the richest regions of the city, with large high-end residential developments. 

But it is true that the West Zone is home to neighborhoods in Rio de Janeiro that offer different realities. While Barra da Tijuca is the richest and most developed, other neighborhoods like Campo Grande and Santa Cruz have more industrial and rural characteristics. 

Other neighborhoods in Rio located in the West Zone, such as Barra de Guaratiba and Vargem Grande, are quieter places, with an interior city atmosphere and exuberant nature, since they are surrounded by mountains and an almost virgin stretch of Atlantic Forest. 

Among the tourist attractions in these neighborhoods of Rio de Janeiro, we can’t fail to mention the famous Praia da Barra, Pontal and Joatinga. In addition, Pedra Branca State Park and Lagoa da Tijuca are excellent options for those looking to connect even more with nature. 

Get to know the neighborhoods of Rio de Janeiro that are located in the West Zone: 

Rio de Janeiro Downtown 

From the bars in Lapa to the impressive Museu do Amanhã, Downtown is home to some of the most iconic attractions and neighborhoods in Rio de Janeiro! The area, full of buildings that portray the history of the city and Brazil, is a true open-air museum. 

Old mansions, townhouses, historic churches and monuments marked in the memory of all Brazilians blend into the landscape with huge and modern buildings, which portray the financial and business center of Rio de Janeiro. 

Have you ever thought how amazing it would be to live in the birthplace of samba and in one of the most important regions in the history of Brazil? 

Find out which are the neighborhoods of downtown Rio de Janeiro below: 

What is the best neighborhood to live in Rio de Janeiro? 

Choosing a neighborhood to live in depends on many factors, including budget, lifestyle, proximity to work and school, among others. Some neighborhoods in Rio de Janeiro that are considered good places to live include: 

South Zone 

Ipanema: is one of the most famous neighborhoods in Rio de Janeiro, with a nice beach and excellent infrastructure. It’s an expensive neighborhood, but it offers a great quality of life. 

Leblon: is another neighborhood in the South Zone that is considered one of the most luxurious in the city. It’s a quiet and safe place, with a nice beach and excellent infrastructure. 

Flamengo: is a residential neighborhood in the South Zone, with good shops and services. It’s a quiet and safe place with good access to other parts of the city. 

West Zone 

Barra da Tijuca: is a large and populous neighborhood, with excellent infrastructure and a good supply of real estate. Barra beach is one of the most beautiful in Rio de Janeiro and the region has good shops and a variety of services. 

Recreio dos Bandeirantes: is a neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro ideal for those looking to live in a condominium house and still live close to the beach. It is a great region for those who like to practice outdoor sports, as it is very wooded. 

Vargem Grande: is one of the neighborhoods in Rio de Janeiro with the lowest rates of violence and one of the largest green areas in the capital of Rio de Janeiro. With a complete infrastructure of services and leisure, the neighborhood is an excellent place to live! 

Downtown 

Lapa: is a historic and charming neighborhood, with a good offer of real estate and a great location. The region is known for its arches and the cable car, which connects Lapa to the Santa Teresa neighborhood. 

Glória: it’s a very residential neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro with a great location and a good offer of real estate. The region is quiet and safe, with good trade and services. 

North Zone 

Tijuca: considered an upscale neighborhood in the North Zone, Tijuca offers great new properties. With a very diversified trade and a transport network that makes the daily life of those who live there much easier. 

São Cristovão: in addition to being a very well located neighborhood, São Cristovão is a true open-air museum, with incredible tourist attractions and new developments that transform the neighborhood into an excellent place to live in the North Zone of Rio. 

Méier: Méier is one of the most traditional neighborhoods in Rio de Janeiro. With excellent trade, it‘s distinguished by many closely residential regions, which can offer a lot of peace of mind for its residents. 

Live in the best neighborhoods in Rio de Janeiro! 

Now that you already know the main neighborhoods of Rio de Janeiro and how the wonderful city is divided, how about getting to know a little more about real estate market trends? 

Here at De Portas Abertas, you have access to exclusive content that will make your experience of looking for a new property in the neighborhoods of Rio de Janeiro even simpler. 

Click here and check out the latest news!