Best Shopping in Rio de Janeiro

As one of the world's top destinations for popular culture and fun activities, it's no surprise that shopping in Rio de Janeiro is an excellent experience. For the fashion minded and budget conscious alike, there are plenty of options to fit your needs. You can sift through selections of the top trends in clothing and décor while rubbing elbows with supermodels, or join the locals in the street markets, haggling and bartering for a seemingly endless variety of goods. Whatever your preference, here's a compiled selection of locations that offer the best shopping in Rio de Janeiro.

Markets

If you're looking for gifts for your loved ones, shopping in Rio de Janeiro's markets are probably the best places to look. The Hippie Fair, open only on Sundays, offers crafts, jewelry, and shirts at reasonable prices. However, this is not a flea market, so don't expect to find too many unique or peculiar items. In the northeastern part of the city, you'll find Feira Nordestina São Cristóvão, which is Rio's largest market. There are all kinds of vendors selling clothing, jewelry, food, and art at reasonable prices, and the local accordion music played here is a hit with both tourists and locals.

Unlike other cities filled with street markets, vendors in Rio rarely take advantage of tourists. Prices are fair, and sellers are generally eager to work out a deal. If you travel with a large group, it's more important to be wary of potentially bad deals, but break off from the pack and this shouldn't be a problem.

Traveler tip: if you pay in cash, many stores will offer you a discount of up to 10%.

Swimwear

Naturally, bikini shopping in Rio de Janeiro is fantastic, as the bikini could easily be Brazil's national emblem. Practically every store has a great selection, so your personal tastes will dictate where you shop. For higher end bathing suits, the shopping center Rio Sul and other stores in Leblon and Ipanema are best. For younger, more surf-inspired options, there's a great skate and surf mall in Arpoador. This mall, named Galeria River, also has a large selection of surf clothing and gear.

Sandals

Sandals, unsurprisingly, are a top souvenir for Rio's visitors. Havaianas are world famous, and the city's status as a beach destination has made them available pretty much all over the city. MG Bazar offers the best selection of Havaianas in the city. You may also be interested in the Ipanema sandal, which became popular due to their preference amongst Brazilian-born supermodels. If you're shopping in Rio de Janeiro for sandals, you won't leave empty handed.

Designer Clothing

Finally, if you want a taste of the haute couture opportunities that shopping in Rio de Janeiro has to offer, check out Rio Fashion Mall and Shopping Leblon. These two malls carry top international and Brazilian designers, and fashionable shoppers from all over the world come for their wares. Don't be surprised to see a model or celebrity in their midst.

Whether you're looking for a quaint trinket or a designer dress, shopping in Rio de Janeiro is top notch. Be sure to explore the variety of shopping opportunities this great city has to offer—you're bound to find something you love!

Find more information on Rio de Janeiro shopping.