5 Best Shopping in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Vendors at this outdoor fair sell antiques, rare books, records, and all types of objets d'art on the first Saturday afternoon of the month. New and vintage fashion is also a strong suit, although cheaper fashion has sadly begun to take over. Live samba music and capoeira performances create a festival-like atmosphere, and the pavement bars and restaurants buzz with locals and visitors.

The crowded, lively Feira de São Cristóvão, better known as the Feira Nordestina, is a social hub for Brazilians from the country's Northeast who live in Rio. They gather to hear their own distinctive music, eat regional foods, and buy arts, crafts, home furnishings, and clothing. With two stages for live music, the fair takes on a nightclub vibe after dark, and there are some seriously impressive displays of forro dancing. This fair is at its busiest and most exciting on the weekends. It's best to take a taxi here.

The colorful handicrafts street fair takes place on Sunday between 9 am and 7 pm. Shop for high-quality jewelry, hand-painted dresses, paintings, wood carvings, leather bags and sandals, rag dolls, knickknacks, furniture, and samba percussion instruments, among many other items. It's fun to browse here even if you're not looking to buy anything.

There are some 600 stores here, ranging from high-street names such as C&A to small and seriously chic boutique fashion, jewelry, and lingerie stores. A branch of the legendary bikini store Bumbum Ipanema is here, and there's a wealth of good dining options and one of the city's most luxurious cinemas.