Travel to Rio

Rio de Janeiro will host the Olymoic Games next summer. Start planning now for your trip to Rio and you might just make the opening ceremony.

Hotels in the city will book up fast as prices soar and the city fills up with visitors from across the globe - as well as athletes competing in the games.

Why choose Rio?

Apart from the five zones each featuring Olympic events, from the Barra Zone, home to the Olympic Aquatics Stadium and the Maracana Zone, where you'll find Joao Havelance Stadium, there's plenty for families and couples to enjoy in Rio.

Rio is around 400 years old and is renowned for its hospitality and vibrant culture and of course its breathtaking scenery. The old city is full of grand historic buildings, so it's easy to feel like you've stepped back in time.

Rio today is Brazil's cultural and tourist hub, attracting visitors from across the globe, who will travel to Rio and enjoy its warm, temperate climate, vibrant culture and now the Olympic Games.

Get insured for Rio

There's so much to see and do in Rio that it can be hard to know where to start. Visitors to Brazil, whether coming for the Olympic Games or on holiday, should always ensure that they have travel insurance in place to protect themselves, should the worst happen.

A basic single-trip travel insurance policy won't add much to the cost of your holiday (usually just a few pounds) but will protect you should you be injured or become ill, have your luggage stolen or go missing, or even find your travel plans are cancelled or curtailed.

Must-see attractions

So what are some of Rio's must-see attractions that you simply can't afford to miss? For a start, there's the Christ the Redeemer statue - this is probably the single most recognised emblem of Brazil across the globe and stands atop Corcovado Mountain.

Take a tour of Brazil's history and travel along the Corcovado Railroad, crossing the Parque Nacional da Tijuca, the world's largest urban forest and taking in some stunning sights along the way.

The views from the top of the mountain across Rio are simply breathtaking! Another of Rio's must-see attractions is the Santa Teresa Tram. Running through the artist's area of the city, the tram will take you from downtown Rio to the hill where you'll find the Santa Teresa neighbourhood - here you'll find plenty of boutiques, bars and cafes just waiting to be explored.

So set your sights on Rio for 2016 and come to soak up the fantastic culture and sights of Brazil whilst taking in a few of the Olympic events - you won't regret it.