Guide to Meeting Other Travellers in Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro is a city known for its beach culture, carnivals, samba and excitement. With so much to do and so much to explore it can be hard to meet up with fellow travellers who share the same enthusiasm. To help make it a bit easier, here’s a guide to the best spots in Rio de Janeiro to meet other travelers.

Tours

Tours are a great way to meet people since it’s likely that you’ll be on the same tours as other travelers. Viator has many interesting Rio de Janeiro tours, from an off-the-beaten-path half-day tour of the city to a complete aerial tour of the city. It’s also worth checking out Visit Rio, which offers online booking for some of the best tours of Rio de Janeiro. For example, they offer a one-day Walking Tour with Rio Tour Guide, which starts early in the morning at Copacabana beach and includes stops at some of the city’s most famous sites, such as Escadaria Selarón and Christ the Redeemer, while providing commentary and background information on these spots. My personal opinion is that this is an excellent way to get to know the city and meet other travellers as well.

Accommodation

Staying in a hostel or an Airbnb could also be a great way to meet other travellers. Most hostels offer great amenities, from private rooms with private bathrooms, to shared accommodation in dorms and usually provide interesting activities for people staying there to meet each other. Hostelworld lets you book some of Rio de Janeiro’s best hostels online at great prices, from the X Hostel Copacabana Beach in Copacabana Beach to the Life Hostel Ipanema in Ipanema. For Airbnb, Airbnb is definitely one of the most popular rental platforms and you can find everything from private rooms to entire apartments in neighborhoods like Copacabana and Ipanema. Personally, I think renting an apartment on Airbnb can be the most convenient option since you get your own space to relax and it’s likely that you won’t find a lot of other tourists staying there unless you book a shared room.

Events

Rio de Janeiro also hosts many interesting events throughout the year, making them excellent places to meet other travelers who share your interests. Guestlist is a great resource for finding upcoming events around Rio de Janeiro covering everything from music to art exhibitions, giving you a great opportunity to explore the local culture and meet some interesting people while doing it. Additionally, many local bars and pubs host unique events throughout the week, such as open mic nights, karaoke nights or live music performances, enabling locals and travelers alike to share stories and have a great time in a social atmosphere. Personally, I love going out and meeting new people at events since it’s just a fun way to spend your time. So if you have time during your stay in Rio de Janeiro make sure to check out what events are available!

Meetup

Another great way to meet fellow travellers is through Meetup, an online platform designed for people to connect around common interests and events. Meetup has a lot of groups around Rio de Janeiro covering everything from leisure activities to political discussions, giving you the opportunity to not only find people that share your interests but also get together and do something together in real life – like go to the beach or go out for drinks or explore the city together! The great thing about Meetup is that it’s free and you can find activities throughout the week (and sometimes even weekend getaways) that actually bring people with diverse backgrounds together, giving you a real chance to actually get to know someone new and make some real connections in Rio de Janeiro!

Facebook Groups

Facebook groups are also a great way to meet people who are either going to be visiting Rio de Janeiro or who live there so you can get tips from locals as well as from other travellers about great places to visit, eat and explore in Rio de Janeiro. Some popular Facebook groups include “Rio de Janerio – Travel & Adventure” which has almost 12k members discussing travel experiences in Rio de Janeiro, “Rio De Janeiro – Best Places To Eat” with 6.7k members comparing recommendations for local restaurants, cafes and bars (which is especially helpful if you’re on a budget) and “Rio De Janeiro – Local Events” with over 6K members discussing upcoming events in Rio that visitors shouldn’t miss! My personal opinion is that joining Facebook groups is an easy way to start getting involved in the local scene from the comfort of your own home before you actually arrive in Rio de Janeiro and could even help you meet someone before you even get there!

Grill & Chill

Grill & Chill is an annual picnic event happening on one of Rio de Janeiro’s iconic beaches, Ipanema beach. During this picnic event, you can buy BBQ items with free side dishes like bread & salads and then proceed on foot (or by bike) around Ipanema beach while meeting other travelers of all ages enjoying the beach and having fun conversations together. It’s also worth mentioning that some of the DJs invited by Grill & Chill play their music throughout the event which adds to the festive atmosphere that you can expect during Grill & Chill. Personally, I think Grill & Chill is an excellent way to meet other travellers while exploring Ipanema beach which has idyllic views of Christ The Redeemer at the top of Corcavado mountain!

Plataforma

Last but not least Plataforma is another great place for meeting other travellers! Plataforma is an online platform designed for travellers looking for shared experiences with likeminded travellers all over the world! The website provides travelers with up-to-date information about what’s happening in each city based on their interests, allowing them to find social events hosted by locals where they can meet new people and make interesting connections! From music festivals in Rio de Janeiro’s lush Outdoor Stadiums to dinner events hosted by locals or pub crawls all across the city, Plataforma provides an up-to-date list of events taking place throughout Rio de Janeiro! My personal opinion is that Plataforma is a great resource for anyone looking for a unique way to discover Rio de Janeiro while meeting some great people along the way!

So there you have it! This guide should give you everything you need for meeting other travellers in Rio de Janeiro! Whether it be through tours, accommodation, events or online tools, there are plenty of opportunities for travelers looking for people with similar interests in Rio de Janeiro! Happy travels!