Beija-Flor

Rio de Janeiro


Founded in 1948 this samba school has won more than a dozen parades over the years – most recently in 2018. It's located way out in Nilópolis (38km northwest of downtown Rio).


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Rio de Janeiro attractions

1. Basílica da Penha

9.44 MILES

Rio’s most dramatically set church, in a 17th-century double-steepled confection, offers dramatic 360-degree views from its clifftop perch. A renovated…

2. Parque Olímpico

11.5 MILES

This was the epicenter of the 2016 Summer Olympics and the Paralympic Games. Sadly, the facilities now sit largely abandoned and are not open to the…

3. CADEG

12.94 MILES

While CADEG doesn’t have quite the same ring to it as ‘Ipanema Beach,’ this voluminous market packs a treasure trove of fruits, vegetables, meats, fish,…

4. Bosque da Barra

12.99 MILES

Covering 50 hectares of salt-marsh vegetation, this park is a refuge and breeding area for many small birds and animals, and you might spy capybaras,…

5. Rio Zoo

13.58 MILES

Covering over 12 hectares, the zoo at Quinta da Boa Vista has a wide variety of reptiles, mammals and birds, mostly indigenous to Brazil. Special…

6. Maracanã Football Stadium

13.85 MILES

Rio’s Maracanã stadium is hallowed ground among football lovers. The massive arena has been the site of legendary victories and crushing defeats. Maracanã…

7. Feira Nordestina

13.95 MILES

This enormous fair (32,000 sq meters, with over 600 stalls) is not to be missed. It showcases the culture of the Northeast of Brazil, with barracas (food…

8. Quinta da Boa Vista

14.03 MILES

Quinta da Boa Vista was the estate of the Portuguese imperial family until the Republic was proclaimed. Today it’s a large and busy park with gardens and…