Road to the Summer Olympics 2016 in Rio de Janeiro

After the FIFA World Cup in summer 2014 Brazil is expecting the greatest sporting show on the planet for the summer 2016.

Around 380 000 visitors are estimated to arrive to the 'cidade maravilhosa' of Rio de Janeiro for the Olympic Games taking place from 5th to 21st August. Besides the hot carnival season in February, Rio will be booming again with visitors from around the globe in the spirit of several sports, including athletics, ball and water games, wrestling and gymnastics all the way to riding and diving. Furthermore, paralympics are also considered as an important part of the Olympics.

THE VENUE

There are generally four zones where the games will be held, depending on the sport: the most famous neighbourhood of Copacabana with its 4-kilometre long, amazing sandy beach, Maracanã Stadium in the northern zone of Rio, Barra Olympic Park in the Barra da Tijuca neighbourhood, and Deodoro Olympic Park as the second largest concentration of competition venues the the western area of Rio.

Photo: Flickr Creative Commons/ Shella Tostes

GETTING TICKETS

Tickets for this spectacular sport event are sold by authorised resellers around the world. The prices vary according to the event, but just to give you an idea of the price scale: half of the 7.5 million tickets are priced 70 reais (approx. 22 euros) and below, with the cheapest options being 40 reais (around 13 euros). The idea behind this type of pricing is to make the event open for all people interested in sports and the global athletic vibe overtaking Rio.

Photo: Flickr Creative Commons/ Rodrigo Soldo

ARRIVING TO RIO DE JANEIRO

If you're arriving to Rio for the first time, the most affordable way to get from the Galeão Airport to the areas of Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon is to take and airconditioned and rather modern REAL shuttle bus number 2018 (about 4 euros). However if you prefer taking a taxi, make sure to get one of the legal ones and cheaper option is to head for the yellow local taxis using the taximeter outside the terminal. Price will around 30-40 reais (10-15 euros) depending on your destination.

WHERE TO STAY

For the Olympic Games high season period we highly recommend to book your acommodation well beforehand! Many of the coolest and cheapest hostels and budget hostels are already getting fully booked and are bound to set higher prices for the Olympics, so make sure to be on time with your reservation.

You can try for example one of these laid-back hostels where our own passionate travel team has personally stayed in Rio:

Alto Vidigal provides a unique and laid-back carioca experience situated on the top of a hill of the colourful Vidigal neighbourhood. Prices starting from 10.00 €.

Copa Hostel is a modern hostel with the coolest Cyber Cafe in town! Enjoy the magical moments in the lively and the most famous neighourhood of Copacabana. Prices starting from 49.70 €.

Rio Nature Adventure Hostel is a nice hostel in Botafogo, from where you can reach Corcovado Mountain, Christ Statue, Sugar Loaf, Copacabana beach and the Botanical Garden. Prices starting from 7.70 €.

Botanic Hostel Rio is a property in the discrict of the Jardim Botanico, it is a cheap way to live a vacation in Brazil. Prices from 11.96 €.

Read also our article about staying in Alto Vidigal Hostel in a pacified favela of Vidigal in Rio!