niterói sits in guanabara bay just across from rio de janeiro, with a distance of about 7 miles between the two.

the actual road distance is a bit further, even with the bridge connecting the cities, and travelling by car generally takes about 30-45 minutes with traffic.

though seen by some as perpetually in the shadow of its bigger and better-known neighbor, niterói is quite large in itself, with a unique heritage and attractions apart from those across the bay.

the construction of the rio - niterói bridge in the 1970s rapidly accelerated expansion and development of niterói and the surrounding beachside areas, which to this day continue to be the fastest growing.