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Shopping
Shopping
People do not generally visit Rio specifically for its shopping prowess. Typical Brazilian wares are thin on the ground, with shops orientated towards tourists, selling the usual T-shirts and resort-type souvenirs. Nevertheless, Rio is the place to invest in good-quality beach- and swimwear. Fashion clothes shops are increasingly common and Rio is also recommended for antiques and jewellery. Brazilian soccer shirts make great gifts. Official shirts are available from sports shops and are of a higher quality and more expensive than the cotton replicas found in clothes shops or for sale on the street.
The main shopping streets are Avenida Nossa Senhora de Copacabana and Rua Barata Ribeiro in Copacabana, Rua Visconde de Piraj in Ipanema and in Avenida Ataulfo de Paiva in Leblon. Rio has over 30 shopping centres located throughout the city, most of which contain supermarkets, department stores, fashion boutiques and music outlets, as well as places for one to grab something to eat. The most central is Rio Sul, Rua Lauro Muller 116, in Botafogo. Other options include the So Conrado Fashion Mall, Estrada da Gvea 899, So Conrado, and Shopping Center de Copacabana, Rua Siqueira Campos 143, Copacabana.
Rio also has plenty of good bookstores, many with pleasant cafs located inside. One of the best is Livraria da Travessa, with branches at Travessa do Ouvidor 11A, Centro, Avenida Rio Branco 44, Centro, and Rua Visconde de Piraj 462A, Ipanema.
Good-quality arts and crafts are available at regular outdoor markets, which are colourful and entertaining places for tourists to visit. The Babilnia Hype Fair, at Tribune C of the Brazilian Jockey Club Racetrack (tel: (21) 2263 8629; website: www.babiloniahype.com.br), is open over most weekends and gathers together over 150 fashion, art and decoration-themed stalls, also featuring music and dance performances. The Hippie Fair takes place every Sunday (0900–1800) around the 18th-century Saracuras Fountain in Ipanema. Stalls feature handicrafts and artwork. The fair is a major attraction for both visitors and locals alike. Antique fairs occur in various parts of the city, every weekend. However, the Rio Antiques Fair (tel: (21) 3852 5516), located on the Rua do Lavradio, Centro, is held for two weeks every month. The market provides an excellent opportunity for treasure hunting on this neo-classical street, which was the home and meeting place for the artists, poets, politicians, typographers and writers who have shaped Rio’s history.
Jewellery shops H Stern, Rua Visconde de Piraj 490, Ipanema (tel: (21) 2259 7442), and Amsterdam Sauer, Rua Garcia D’vila, Ipanema (tel: (21) 2512 1132), have branches throughout the city, as well as outlets in most of the upmarket hotels, selling intricate and elegant silver, pearl and gemstone designs.
Shops are usually open Monday to Friday 0900–1900 and Saturday 0900–1300, although hours vary according to the location and type of business. Shopping centres are generally open daily 1000–2200, although some have more limited opening hours on Sundays. ICMS (sales tax) in shops is 18%. There is no tax refund scheme in Brazil.
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Shopping