Visiting Flamengo Park
Spanning 120 hectares, Flamengo Park is the largest park in Rio de Janeiro. It sits on a massive stretch of land reclaimed from the sea, known as Aterro in Portuguese, and was designed in the 1960s by landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx. The grounds stretch from the Santos Dumont airport to Guanabara Bay. It is a prime spot to recharge within the Cidade Maravilhosa (Marvelous City) and take in the best views across the bay.
The largest park in Rio de Janeiro
Flamengo Park is a massive urban green space near downtown Rio de Janeiro that marks the gateway to the city's upscale southern districts. It is so expansive that the northern section is officially named Brigadeiro Eduardo Gomes park, while the southern end is called Carlos Lacerda. The park is bisected by a wide avenue that closes to vehicle traffic on Sundays, creating a perfect environment for a peaceful stroll or bike ride.
The area functions as both a recreational and athletic hub, equipped with bike paths, soccer fields, and courts for basketball, tennis, and volleyball. For those interested in culture, the park also houses the Museum of Modern Art of Rio and the Monument to the Brazilian Dead of World War II.
Views of Sugarloaf Mountain and the Rio bay
Like many landmarks in the area, Flamengo Park is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site under the category of Rio de Janeiro, Carioca Landscapes between the Mountain and the Sea. The park runs alongside Flamengo beach, the first beach to open into Guanabara Bay. It provides iconic vantage points looking toward Sugarloaf Mountain and the Rio waterfront.
Sunday is the best day to visit this park. All the families go for a walk, enjoy the beach, and snack on sweets or meat skewers (churrascos). Plus, the main avenue is closed to cars, so it turns into a real dance floor for rollerbladers, scooters, joggers, strollers... So the many cyclists have a bit of a hard time finding their space!