Are you coming to Rio de Janeiro and would like to experience the Marvelous city as the locals do? So read on this article and find out how to enjoy Rio like a local.
The locals of Rio are called Cariocas. They might have been born and raised here (the Cariocas of yolk) or as many after visiting the city, adopted Rio as their home. And, there is no better way to visit this vibrant, multicultural and fascinating city than to be part of it and become a “Carioca of heart.”
So here are some of the local and cultural habits of the Cariocas, as well as some tips for you to do Rio like a real Carioca.
Learn some Portuguese words and Carioca slangs
In order to become a Carioca, the first thing you need to do is learn some words in Portuguese, especially the Carioca slangs.
The official language of Brazil is Brazilian Portuguese. However, we Cariocas have our own vocabulary, full of personality and slangs that are only known here.
Therefore, we have prepared below a short “Carioca Slang Guide” for you to talk like a local.
• E aí? tudo bem? – Wassup, are you ok?
• Mermão, brother – the same as friend or “amigo”
• Valeu! – a more informal version of thanks
• Tranquilo, de boa – Cool, no worries.
• Cerva – the abbreviated form of “cerveja” (beer).
• Fala sério! – No way!
• Irado – Something very cool, lit.
• Maneiro, show – An adjective meaning something interesting, nice, sweet.
• Night, noitada – A nightclub or to go and party with friends.
• Podrão – A cheap street food snack, usually a hot dog or hamburger sold in street stalls.
• 0800 (zero oitocentos) – Something that’s for free.
All these words and expressions will help you not only communicate with locals but sound like a local. I’m sure the Cariocas will open a smile and be very happy to see you using these words. Besides that, they are a great ice breaker and will allow you to make new friends while visiting Rio.
Enjoy a day at the beach
Now that you know some words in Portuguese and Carioca slangs, you need to experience our favorite thing to do: go to the beach or “pegar uma praiana”.
Cariocas say that the beach is their “backyard” or “the extension of their home.” After all, with hot weather all year round and surrounded by beautiful beaches, it’s no wonder Cariocas’ favorite program is going to the beach.
How to enjoy a day at the beach like a local
Thus, if you want to enjoy a day at the beach in Rio like a local, you should follow these tips:
1. The essential checklist of every Carioca to go to the beach are flip flops (Havaianas, of course) sunscreen and a towel or canga (a beach sarong). Some people carry their own beach chair and beach umbrella. But most prefer to rent it on the beach, so they don’t have to carry more than these basic items.
2. Choose your favorite beach here. Stretch your canga on the sand and order Cariocas’ favorite beach snack: Mate Leão and biscoito Globo. The duo, which is one of the most traditional foods in town, is a cold yerba mate tea which can be served pure or with lemon juice. To accompany, the favorite option of Cariocas is the biscoito Globo. It is a manioc starch biscuit, which has two flavors – sweet and salty.
3. It is also common to have tents in the sands offering drinks and other food, in addition to the beach chair and beach umbrella rentals. Make friends with one of the vendors in the stalls. If you come back the next day, he will treat you like an old friend!
4. Is the sea too rough or the water too cold? Use one of the showers available on the sand to cool off. We also have the habit of using it to remove excess sand before leaving.
5. And, of course, how to talk about the beach and not to mention beach sports? It is very common to see people playing sports in the sand, such as frescobol, altinha, and footvolley. By the way, these last two were invented in Rio de Janeiro, more precisely in the sands of Copacabana. Read more about it here.
Carioca Tip:
A perfect way to end your day at the beach is to watch the sunset from Arpoador rocks. Every day, in the late afternoon, Cariocas and tourists gather on the Arpex rocks that form a natural grandstand to admire the most beautiful sunset in town. And in the end, we applaud the spectacle of nature thanking for another beautiful day in the city.
Taste the local food and drinks at a boteco
After the beach, did hunger hit you? Go to a boteco to try one of our local foods and drinks, and enjoy the traditional after-beach activity of the Cariocas.
The botequim or boteco, as we like to call it, are small bars (often family-owned businesses) which sell drinks and appetizers. But more than that, they are social spaces with an informality that is also present in their menus, making it a genuine Carioca institution. So don’t worry about dress code – it’s completely natural to go to a botequim or bar wearing beachwear and flip flops.
If you want tips on what to try, check out our post 7 food suggestions for you to try in Rio de Janeiro.
And if you have enjoyed the day at Ipanema or Leblon beach, the most popular after-beach places are Jobi and Veloso bars.
In Copacabana, you can go to Pavão Azul bar, taste a galeto at Galeto Sat’s restaurant, or have a pork leg sandwich at Cervantes.
* Jobi: Av. Ataulfo de Paiva, 1166 – Leblon. Daily, from 11 am to 4 am.
* Veloso: Rua Aristides Espínola, 44 – Leblon. Daily, from 11:30 am to 02 am.
* Pavão Azul: Rua Hilário de Gouveia, 71. Copacabana. Daily from 12 noon until 12 midnight.
* Bar e Restaurante Cervantes: Rua Prado Júnior, 335. Bar: Barata Ribeiro Street, 7 – Store B. From Tuesday to Thursday: from 12 noon until 4 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays until 6 a.m. Sundays: from 12 noon until 2 a.m.
* Galeto Sat`s: Rua Barata Ribeiro, 7. Daily, from 12 noon until 05 a.m.
Attend a soccer match at Maracanã
And if you are a sports fan and want to get a closer look at Brazilians’ passion for football, you have to know what we call “Cariocas’ second home”: the Journalist Mario Filho Stadium, popularly known as Maracanã.
The Maraca (as we call it) was inaugurated in 1950 for the World Cup of that year. Since then, it has been the stage of great moments of Brazilian and world soccer. And, without a doubt, it’s the biggest stage of Rio de Janeiro soccer matches.
We recommend you to watch a Carioca classic match. The matches usually take place on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Look for games of the 4 biggest Carioca teams: Flamengo, Vasco, Fluminense, and Botafogo. Flamengo supporters are the noisiest (and the biggest in the country). This ensures that you feel all the excitement and cheering of the crowd. Impossible to not support together with them!
Maracanã also has guided tours and a Football Museum. Read more about the tour on this post.
Enjoy a samba circle show
However, if there is no game available in Maracanã or sport is not your thing, you can (and should) watch a live samba show.
Samba is to Rio as Jazz is to New Orleans, meaning it is a vibrant cultural and musical manifestation of the city. The musical genre was created in Rio de Janeiro in the early 20th century. For this reason, enjoying a samba circle in the city is one of the 10 must-see things to do in Rio.
The samba circles work like this: the musicians play instruments and sing around a table, usually in a circle (hence the name). Around them, a large number of people sing and dance.
To choose a samba circle that matches your style, access our guide Where to enjoy Samba in Rio from Monday to Sunday. If you’re in Rio during Carnival, discover how to enjoy the biggest party in the world here.
We hope these tips allow you to enjoy Rio de Janeiro as a true Carioca.
They are considered places, habits, and behaviors characteristic of the Carioca lifestyle, thus representing the best of Rio de Janeiro. So, when you visit our Marvelous City, don`t miss the opportunity to live these experiences and understand the true meaning of the Carioca way of life!
If you want to explore Rio like a local, access our page Carioca experiences and learn more about other true local activities, guided by locals.
If you want a complete custom-made itinerary including all the experiences above, access our page custom itinerary or get in contact with us.
