Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide: Rio de Janeiro Shopping

Visitors can find just about anything in Rio de Janeiro, from lovely vintage boutiques to bustling outdoor markets, and first-rate shopping malls.

Bargain is the key word when attempting to buy items from street vendors or at markets. Tourists can easily be overcharged by as much as 20% at very informal markets such as Saara (small shops located between the city center and Campo Santana) or on the gorgeous beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana. Naturally, vendors won’t bargain unless you ask and especially if you are clearly a tourist. Haggling in malls and in stores, however, is considered very rude.

Some recommended markets include: the Sunday Market on Rua da Gloria where you can find an array of cheap fruit, vegetables, and beautiful, freshly-cut flowers; the early-morning food market on Rua Min Viveiros de Castro in Ipanema which sells about the same variety of foods; and outside the Metro stop at Uruguaiana is a cheap market that sells just about anything you would want, especially electronic merchandise.

Situated on the South and West Zones of the city, shopping malls (referred to as shopping centers, just as in English) feature more expensive merchandise than you would find on street shops. However, if safety and comfort are what you’re looking for, then these malls are worth the price tag. A few recommendations include: Rio Sul, the largest mall in the city’s South Zone area just between Copacabana and Sugar Loaf Mountain; Sao Conrado’s Fashion Mall houses international designer labels such as Cartier and Louis Vuitton, as well as recognized Brazilian names like Lenny, the Brazilian Bikini brand; finally, travelers are sure to find a variety of stores and services at Barra Shopping mall, the biggest mall in the city.