Three green spaces at the foot of Corcovado: the romantic 1840s garden and grottoes of Parque Lage, King John VI's 1808 Botanical Garden with its palm avenue, and the shore path of the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon.
Best time: Any day except Wednesday morning (the Botanical Garden's arboretum opens Thu-Tue 08:00-17:00 and Wed 11:00-17:00). Parque Lage's mansion, café and shop are closed for restoration until a planned reopening in April 2027; the gardens and trails stay open.
The route, stop by stop
- 1Parque Lage
Romantic landscape garden by John Tyndale (about 1840) with an artificial grotto and aquarium tanks, below Corcovado; the mansion (Escola de Artes Visuais) is closed for works until April 2027, but gardens and trails are open daily and free. 45 min
- 2Jardim Botânico
Founded in 1808 by King John VI; about 6,500 species on 54 hectares. Main ticketed gate at Rua Jardim Botânico 1008 (open daily); arboretum Thu-Tue 08:00-17:00, Wed 11:00-17:00. 120 min
- 3Parque dos Patins (Lagoa)
Lakeside park on the Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas; continue on foot or by Bike Itaú along the shore path. 30 min
More walks in Rio de Janeiro
- Praça XV to São Bento: the colonial and imperial centre
- Pequena África and the port: Valongo, Pedra do Sal and Morro da Conceição
- Cinelândia to Lapa: belle époque avenues, the aqueduct and the Selarón steps
- Santa Teresa by bonde and on foot
- Glória, Catete and the Aterro do Flamengo
- Urca: Praia Vermelha, the Cláudio Coutinho path and the Mureta at sunset
- Leme to Arpoador along Copacabana beach
- Ipanema to Leblon: bossa nova streets and the Mirante
- Tijuca Forest: Cascatinha and the Mayrink chapel
- Laranjeiras and Cosme Velho: Parque Guinle to the Corcovado train
- Niterói by ferry: Caminho Niemeyer to the MAC