Visit Rio de Janeiro with Emirates

Every year Brazil welcomes millions of tourists and it is said that Rio de Janeiro is the most visited city in the southern hemisphere.

The 36 beaches in Rio de Janeiro are famous all over the world, and a thriving, multicultural entertainment scene can be found along each one

As Rio will be hosting the 2014 Fifa World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games, the city is already quickly transforming itself into a popular and exciting destination.

Rio is a fast-paced city and more so during the world-famous Carnivale, which starts on the Friday before Ash Wednesday.

Carnivale in Rio is not only the world’s biggest carnival, but also the most vibrant and artistic event on the globe.

Rio is also the home of the samba, and visitors never miss an opportunity to dance to the wonderful rhythms of Latin music.

It is a city people the world over long to visit and it attracts around 500,000 tourists every year alone.

All Emirates flights to Rio de Janeiro land at Antonio Carlos Jobim Airport (also known as Galeão Airport).

The airport is approximately 20 kilometres from the central business district, and is easily reached via taxis and buses.

Whether visiting Rio de Janeiro for business or leisure, you will find it difficult to resist the lures of world-famous landmarks such as the Museum of Contemporary Art, the iconic statue of Christ the Redeemer at the top of the Corcovado Mountain – recently named as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World – and Sugarloaf Mountain.

These landmarks, however, are just a taste of a vibrant city full of attractions to keep a visitor busy for any length of stay.

The 36 beaches in Rio de Janeiro are famous all over the world, and a thriving, multicultural entertainment scene can be found along each one.

Options for real Brazilian cuisine, music and entertainment are not hard to come by.

As a coastal city, it’s no surprise that the seafood dishes are excellent. Restaurants range from those hidden in the suburbs of Ipanema, such as ZaZa Bistrot, to fine-dining restaurants inside hotels such as Carême, the restaurant of the famous chef Flávia Quaresma.

Visitors love to try the Brazilian-style steakhouses called churrascarias, where waiters come to the table with swords of grilled meat.

Bars by the sea are always very popular and offer delicious snacks, drinks, and local specialties such as pao de queijo, traditional cheese bread, pastel de camarao (pastries filled with shrimp), bean soup and cocktails.

If you are looking for something more exciting, you can always enjoy international DJs at one of Rio’s many nightclubs, such as Nuth Barra, which is in Barra da Tijuca.

Or else take a samba lesson with the Rio Samba Dancers.

Getting there

Emirates operates daily flights to Rio de Janeiro on a Boeing 777 aircraft, departing from Dubai.

Maltese travellers can discover this astonishing destination via Dubai while experiencing the luxury of private suites in first class; lie-flat seats in business class, and more space and comfort in economy class.

Emirates’ award-winning entertainment system offers over 1,400 channels on demand to suit the mood of every passenger, while gourmet meals offer tastes of the destination.

Passengers from Malta travelling in business class or first class on Emirates flights can take advantage of a complimentary chauffeur-drive service to and from the airport in addition to a generous baggage allowance of an extra 10 kilograms.

Premium travellers and Skywards Gold members will have access to the Emirates lounge at Dubai International Airport as well as at select destinations across the globe.

Beyond Rio de Janiero – Buenos Aires

Travellers may opt to extend their journey from Rio de Janeiro to Argentina’s most popular destination, Buenos Aires, thanks to the Emirates’ newly added destination.

The Dubai-Rio de Janiero-Buenos Aires service is operated by a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

Emirates Holidays, the tour-operating arm of Emirates, offers travel packages to South America which can be tailor-made according to request. Customers are offered a range of luxury beach resorts and city centre hotels.

Emirates Airline flies daily between Malta and Dubai. Flight EK 108 leaves Malta at 2.45pm and arrives in Dubai at 12.55am the following day.

The Dubai-Rio de Janeiro-Buenos Aires service by Emirates operates on a daily schedule.

For more details contact the Emirates sales office on 2557 7255, visit your local travel agent or log on to www.emirates.com/mt.

Look out for the destination feature on Buenos Aires next week.