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South AmericaBrazilRio de Janeiro

Barra da Tijuca

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil · South America

About Barra da Tijuca

Barra da Tijuca works well as a base: 20 minutes from São Conrado, 12km from Vista Chinesa.

Barra da Tijuca is a town located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. With a population of 39,403, it is an important destination in South America.

On a road trip, Barra da Tijuca sits in Brazil, where you drive on the right. It's in the America/Sao Paulo time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Barra da Tijuca to your route.

About Barra da Tijuca

Barra da Tijuca (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈbaʁɐ dɐ tʃiˈʒukɐ]) (usually known as Barra) is an upper-middle class neighborhood or bairro in the Southwest Zone of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, located in the western portion of the city on the Atlantic Ocean. Barra is well known for its beaches, its many lakes and rivers, and

Read more its lifestyle. This neighbourhood represents 4.7% of the city population and 13% of the total area of Rio de Janeiro. Barra da Tijuca is classified as one of the most developed places in Brazil, with one of the highest Human Development Indexes (HDI) in the country, as measured in the 2000 Brazil Census. Unlike the South Zone and Rio's Downtown, Barra da Tijuca, built only 30 years ago, follows the Modernist standards, with large boulevards creating the major transit axis. The area's masterplan was designed by Lúcio Costa, known for his work on Brasília, and creates a region filled with many gardens, shopping malls, apartment buildings, and large mansions. In recent years, due to the rapid development of the Brazilian economy, Barra's population has increased by over 100,000, as a large number of residents and companies search for cheaper real estate as an alternative to the densely populated South Zone of Rio. Demographic data indicates that the region is the fastest-growing neighborhood in Rio: 98,851 in 1991, 174,353 in 2000, and 300,823 in 2010. Barra natives and residents are known as Barristas, or more popularly, Barrenses. The neighborhood is a cultural, economic, and administrative hub of the city, and is believed to be the safest of Rio's upper-class neighbourhoods because of its lack of favelas and plentiful private and public security. It is the home of several celebrities and football players, such as the singer Anitta. In August 2016, Barra hosted most of the venues of the 2016 Summer Olympics, the first held in South America.

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in Barra da Tijuca

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Barra da Tijuca?

Barra da Tijuca offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.

How do I plan a road trip to Barra da Tijuca?

Plan your road trip to Barra da Tijuca with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Barra da Tijuca as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Where is Barra da Tijuca located?

Barra da Tijuca is located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, South America. The coordinates are -22.9983 latitude, -43.3655 longitude.

What is the population of Barra da Tijuca?

Barra da Tijuca has a population of approximately 39,403 people, making it a town in Brazil.

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Quick Information

Population
39,403
Continent
South America
Country
Brazil
Region
Rio de Janeiro
Timezone
America/Sao_Paulo
Coordinates
-22.9983, -43.3655

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in Brazil

Police
190
Ambulance
192
Fire
193
Driving side
right
Full driving guide for Brazil

Tags

South AmericaBrazilRio de JaneiroTown

Worth the detour from Barra da Tijuca

8 notable places within an hour's drive.

racetrack

Autódromo Internacional Nelson Piquet

The Jacarepaguá circuit in Rio that hosted ten Brazilian Grands Prix and where Ayrton Senna raced. Largely demolished for the 2016 Olympic Park, but its motorsport significance and location remain a landmark.

4 km · about 5 min drive

scenic viewpoint

Vista Chinesa

A pagoda-style belvedere built in 1903 in the Tijuca forest, giving a framed view over the Lagoa, Corcovado, Ipanema and Sugarloaf. Reachable by car on the Estrada da Vista Chinesa.

12 km · about 25 min drive

beach

Ipanema Beach

A stylish Rio de Janeiro beach immortalised in bossa nova, known for stunning sunsets behind the Two Brothers peaks.

16 km · about 20 min drive

tunnel

Rebouças Tunnel

Twin-bore road tunnel under the Tijuca massif linking Rio's South Zone to the North Zone, about 2.8 kilometres long.

16 km · about 20 min drive

landmark

Christ the Redeemer

Towering 30-metre Art Deco statue of Jesus Christ atop Corcovado mountain overlooking Rio de Janeiro.

17 km · about 20 min drive

beach

Copacabana Beach

Rio de Janeiro's legendary four-kilometre stretch of sand framed by dramatic mountains and buzzing with energy.

19 km · about 20 min drive

photogenic

Escadaria Selaron

A staircase between Lapa and Santa Teresa covered by Chilean artist Jorge Selaron in over 2,000 tiles sent from 60 countries, worked on daily from 1990 until his death in 2013.

21 km · about 25 min drive

scenic viewpoint

Sugarloaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar)

A granite peak rising 396 meters from Guanabara Bay, reached by cable car with sweeping views of Rio's beaches, mountains, and cityscape.

22 km · about 25 min drive

Driving roads near Barra da Tijuca

  • Right hereVista ChinesaA pagoda-style belvedere built in 1903 in the Tijuca forest, giving a framed view over the Lagoa, Corcovado, Ipanema and Sugarloaf. Reachable by car on the Estrada da Vista Chinesa.
  • 16 kmRebouças TunnelTwin-bore road tunnel under the Tijuca massif linking Rio's South Zone to the North Zone, about 2.8 kilometres long.
  • 22 kmSugarloaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar)A granite peak rising 396 meters from Guanabara Bay, reached by cable car with sweeping views of Rio's beaches, mountains, and cityscape.
  • 25 kmRio-Niterói Bridge13 km box-girder giant striding across Guanabara Bay: the longest bridge in the Southern Hemisphere at its opening in 1974, with sweeping views of Rio's skyline.

When to drive here

Year-round

Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Barra da Tijuca.

São Conrado

🇧🇷 Brazil

10 km awayPop. 9,739

Rocinha

🇧🇷 Brazil

12 km awayPop. 24,543

Vidigal

🇧🇷 Brazil

13 km awayPop. 15,112

Leblon

🇧🇷 Brazil

15 km awayPop. 37,709

Ipanema

🇧🇷 Brazil

17 km awayPop. 37,392

Estácio

🇧🇷 Brazil

19 km awayPop. 23,260

Cidade Nova

🇧🇷 Brazil

19 km awayPop. 4,745

Santo Cristo

🇧🇷 Brazil

20 km awayPop. 9,936

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Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence