while not a swimming destination, this beach is possibly the most photographed beach in rio de janeiro, since all visitors to the christ statue photograph the sugar loaf and vice versa - with botafogo beach set right in between the two. the beachfront is lined by a bike path that connects botafogo with the beaches at flamengo and copacabana.

shopers of all tastes can feel right at home in botafogo, as the district is home to, among others, the rio sul and rio praia malls -two of the best shopping centers in rio de janeiro.