No games on the schedule here for the rest of the season. The guide below still holds for the next one.
Where to stay near Maracana Stadium
Where visiting fans stay
From a specialist guide
Alby Set, Google Maps
CopacabanaVisiting fans pick this
45 min. Metro Line 1 to Botafogo, then Line 2 to Rei Pele-Maracana. Most hotels, the beach, and NFL fan-week events in 2026 (the giant sand jersey went up on Copacabana Beach). Three metro stations: Cardeal Arcoverde, Siqueira Campos, Cantagalo.
Alby Set, Google Maps
IpanemaVisiting fans pick this
45 min. Metro Line 1 from General Osorio, change to Line 2. Quieter beach base near the Arpoador sunset rock. On game day in 2026 Line 2 ran straight through from General Osorio to Maracana.
Heloisa Prado, Google Maps
Botafogo
35 min. Metro Line 2 from Botafogo to Rei Pele-Maracana. Cheaper than the beachfront, with Line 2 starting at Botafogo station. Brewteco Botafogo showed the 2026 game.
Cassiano Neto, Google Maps
Leblon
55 min. Metro Line 4 from Antero de Quental, change to Line 2. Upscale end of the beach and home of Shopping Leblon, where the NFL ran its Super Bowl Gallery during the 2026 game week. Longest metro ride of the four.
Around the stadium
From a specialist guide
Maracana sits in Rio's North Zone, between Tijuca and Vila Isabel. The closest sports-bar option is Brewteco on Avenida Maracana, and Patota on Boulevard 28 de Setembro in Vila Isabel hosted the Cowboys tailgate party in 2026. Hotels cluster in the South Zone beach neighborhoods, so stay there and ride the metro in.
Map of the area
Tap a pin to see the place.
Getting to Maracana Stadium
From Rio de Janeiro Galeao
From a specialist guide
GIG (Rio de Janeiro Galeao) is about 15 miles from Copacabana. Uber or 99 takes 30 to 45 minutes. On transit, the BRT Transcarioca runs from both terminals to Vicente de Carvalho, where it connects to Metro Line 2 (R$9.70 for BRT plus metro). At GIG, regular taxis load at Terminal 2, floor 0, door A, and Uber has its own pickup point on the arrivals level (turn left as you exit). Santos Dumont (SDU) sits downtown, about 6 miles from Copacabana: 20 to 30 minutes by Uber, or the VLT light rail plus metro in 40 to 50 minutes.
On game day
From a specialist guide
Metro from Copacabana, about 45 min. Rei Pele-Maracana station (Line 2), gates A and B. Metro from Botafogo, about 35 min. Rei Pele-Maracana station (Line 2), gates A and B. Metro to Sao Cristovao, about 45 min. Sao Cristovao station (Line 2), gates D and E. Uber or 99, about 40 min. Skate park, Av. Bartolomeu de Gusmao 453.
Before kickoff at Maracana Stadium
Before kickoff
Checked at the source
There are no public parking lots at Maracana and non-ticketholders cannot enter the stadium grounds. Inside the stadium campus from 1:25 PM for ticketholders: football games, NFL Shop, photos with the Lombardi Trophy and all 60 Super Bowl rings, live entertainment, and free water after your ticket scan. In 2026 Patota Bar e Restaurante in Vila Isabel hosted an official Cowboys tailgate from 1:30 to 4:30 PM: US$150 with open bar, live samba, and Larry Brown. In 2026 the NFL ran events across the city September 20 to 27: a giant football on Botafogo Beach, a sand jersey on Copacabana Beach, a helmet balloon on the Lagoa, the NFL Rio Run 5K in Ipanema, and a Super Bowl Gallery at Shopping Leblon.
Game day at Maracana Stadium
Getting in
Checked at the source
Bag policy: Clear bags only, up to 12 x 6 x 12 inches.
Prohibited items: No umbrellas (ponchos are fine), rigid bottles of glass, metal or hard plastic (soft plastic water bottles are fine), selfie sticks, tripods, cameras with detachable lenses, laser pointers, flag poles, helmets or drones.
Touring the stadium
Checked at the source
Guided tour of the stadium, R$115 (half price R$57.50 for kids 3 to 11, seniors 60 and up, and students). Ticket office 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM at Gate A, or book at maracanatour.eleventickets.com. On match days the last tour ends five hours before gates open, and the tour closed September 21 to 30 for the 2026 NFL game. The Corcovado rack railway leaves Rua Cosme Velho 513 and climbs through Tijuca forest to the statue. Adult round trip with monument entry is R$134; book online or through the app. Two cable cars from Praia Vermelha (Av. Pasteur 520) to Morro da Urca and the Sugarloaf summit. Tickets from R$205, daily 8:30 AM to 9 PM, last boarding 7:30 PM.
After the final whistle
From a specialist guide
Take the metro. In 2026 MetroRio ran extra trains every 4 minutes from 8 PM to 9:30 PM, with crowd-control lines at the stations next to the stadium. Maracana station closed at 10 PM and the system at 11 PM. TrensRJ (formerly SuperVia) ran 22 extra suburban trains after the game. Allow about an hour back to the beach neighborhoods with the queue.
One thing to avoid
From a specialist guide
Don't drive: the stadium has no public parking and the streets around it close on game day. Don't linger past 10 PM, when Maracana metro station closes; in 2026 the whole system shut at 11 PM.
Food and drink at Maracana Stadium
Bars near the stadium
From a specialist guide
Brewteco Tijuca, Google Maps
Brewteco Tijuca
Av. Maracanã, 782, Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 20511-001
Craft beer bar from a local chain that put the 2026 Ravens-Cowboys game on its screens. It is the closest of the sports-showing bars to Maracana.
Away fans: neighborhood crowd plus fans heading to the stadium
Patota Bar & Restaurante, Google Maps
Patota Bar e Restaurante
Boulevard 28 de Setembro, 20, Vila Isabel, Rio de Janeiro, RJ
Hosted the official Cowboys tailgate in 2026 with open bar, a samba group, and Larry Brown. Opened to the public at 5 PM for the broadcast.
Away fans: cowboys fans for the official tailgate, then a general crowd
Brewteco Botafogo, Google Maps
Brewteco Botafogo
Praia de Botafogo, 400, Botafogo Praia Shopping (terrace), Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro, RJ
Rooftop location of the same chain, with several screens and a view over Botafogo Bay. Showed the 2026 game.
Away fans: south Zone locals and visiting fans staying in Botafogo
Bar do Xexéu
Rua Aires Saldanha, 21, Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, RJ
Copacabana bar that carried the 2026 game for South Zone fans who stayed near the beach.
Away fans: copacabana neighborhood regulars
Things to do around Maracana Stadium
Listed in the order they happen on game day. Each one earns points.
Tour75 points
Maracana stadium tour
The guided tour of the 1950 World Cup stadium starts at Gate A on Av. Rei Pele.
$. The day before
Landmark90 points
Sugarloaf cable car
Two cable cars run from Praia Vermelha to Morro da Urca and the Sugarloaf summit, daily until 9 PM.
$$. The day before
Drink65 points
Beer on the Mureta da Urca
Bar Urca has served beer since 1939, and fans drink it on the seawall across the street facing Guanabara Bay.
$. The day before
Landmark100 points
Christ the Redeemer
Brazil's oldest tourist railway climbs through Tijuca forest from Cosme Velho up to the statue on Corcovado.
$$. The day before
Eat50 points
Lunch at Confeitaria Colombo
Rio's art nouveau pastry house has served downtown since 1894, under Antwerp mirrors and French stained glass.
$$. The day before
Photo50 points
Selaron Steps
Chilean artist Jorge Selaron began tiling this Lapa staircase in 1990 with tiles from Brazil and around the world.
Free. The day before
Photo65 points
Sunset on Arpoador rock
The Arpoador rocks sit between Copacabana Fort and Ipanema Beach, and it's Rio's classic spot to watch the sun go down over the sea.
Free. The day before
Eat75 points
Rodizio at Churrascaria Palace
This churrascaria has carved meat tableside in Copacabana since 1962, and it's Rio's most traditional one, now a city cultural heritage site.
$$$. The day before
Outing40 points
Walk the Copacabana wave promenade
Roberto Burle Marx redesigned the black and white wave pavement along this 2.5-mile beach in 1970, and you can walk the whole stretch.
Free. 8 hours 25 minutes before kickoff
Drink50 points
Chopp at Bracarense
This botequim in Leblon has poured draft beer since 1961, and the crowd spills right onto the sidewalk.
$. 5 hours before kickoff
Ritual40 points
Ride Line 2 to Rei Pele-Maracana
MetroRio dressed Rei Pele-Maracana station in yard lines, helmets and footballs for the 2026 game, and announcements in English point fans to their gates.
$. 3 hours 30 minutes before kickoff
Outing75 points
Monday samba at Pedra do Sal
Pedra do Sal, a landmark in the story of Rio samba in Little Africa, hosts a free samba circle Monday and Friday nights starting at 8 PM.
Free. The day before
Seats and views at Maracana Stadium
Where each part of the stadium sits, and what you see from it.
Lower bowlLower East, Lower West, North, SouthUpper EastUpper East; Maracana MaisTap any part of the stadium to see its view.
