Latest posts from our Rio de Janeiro expert:
The best spot for bargain hunters
Rio is an expensive city, and first time visitors can get a bit of a nasty shock when they take in the prices that stores charge for products such as clothes and toiletries. How then, do Cariocas always manage to look so good? Very often, the mystery can be solved by taking a Metro to the Mercado Popular da Urugaiana. This vast market is home to countless stalls selling cut price clothes, make up, electrical goods, sunblock…you name it, they sell it here. Prices are usually less than half what you’d pay in stores, and this is also the best place to come if you want to pick up a Brazilian football (soccer) shirt – whichever team you want to pledge support for, you’ll find their colours here. A word to the wise – with prices this cheap (around R$35 for a football shirt, compared to around R$180 in stores), you should be aware that while the vendors will swear their shirts are ‘official’, they’re probably not. However, you’d need a pretty sharp eye to tell the difference between these and the real thing, the detail is perfect right down to the labels and tags. Not a fan of football? No problem – you’ll also find good shorts, t-shirts, dresses etc here, and there’s always an opportunity to pick up some bargain jewelry too. To get to the market, just hop on the Metro and get off at the stop Uruguiana – you’ll see the market as soon as you emerge from the subway.