at a glance

rio de janeiro comprises an impressive 161 official neighborhoods and about 30 unofficial neighborhoods, divided into 7 sub-prefectures, and 33 administrative regions, which are contained within four regions - the zona norte (northern zone), zona oeste (west zone), zona central (center zone), and the zona sul (southern zone).

typically, zona norte is frequented by those who wish to explore the tijuca forest, as opposed to the zona sul, which is know for its' beaches and the world famous sugar loaf mountain.

zona central is home to the historical buildings of the city, while the zona oeste is were many go to enjoy lesser known beaches and other natural sites.