Lookalike cities: Rio de Janeiro

Travellers flock to Rio for the beaches, the weather, Carnival, samba, caipirinhas and the energy of such an eclectic city.

If that’s what you’re into, these five destinations are highly rated for matching criteria to Rio, according to global travellers.

Cape Town, South Africa

Rio and Cape Town have a lot in common. For starters, they’re both backed by mountains of immense scale and beauty (Sugarloaf and Table Mountain respectively) and lapped by royal blue ocean. Then there’s the surf culture; just like Copacabana, Clifton in Cape Town has incredible surf lapping stretches of white sand and a lifestyle that revolves around the beach. You can savour sunset caipirinhas or cold beers, barbecues and volleyball games on the beach every day. Both cities also form melting pots of different cultures, with a creative energy and diversity that’s palpable in the music, language and the street art that adorns favelas and shanty towns. Check into Himmelblau Boutique B&B to make the most of the outdoor pool and views of Table Mountain.

San Sebastián, Spain

In terms of scenery, at least, the seaside Basque town of San Sebastián is like Rio in miniature. It’s bordered by dark green hills, with a statue of Jesus Christ that watches over the curved, horseshoe bay from atop a rocky peak at one end, just like Christ the Redeemer. The golden beach is fringed by a paved esplanade and Belle Époque buildings, or the Art Deco Café de la Concha for an evening glass of wine with sea views from the terrace. San Sebastián is renowned for both its Michelin-starred restaurants and its pintxos – a regional style of tapas – so be sure to try some of the ubiquitous local grilled squid, anchovy-cloaked olives or fried white asparagus. Stay in a historic San Sebastián building, 4-minutes’ walk from the beach at Pensión Balerdi.

Lagos, Portugal

Swap the caipirinhas for a pitcher of sangria in Lagos, a town on the Algarve that – just like Rio – is characterized by its beautiful coastline. Here, sand-coloured rock formations are pounded by turquoise waves just offshore, and you can go exploring with a kayak expedition to the local sea caves. The beach of Praia Da Balanca is a sandy cove between steep cliffs and graced with thousands of pieces of green and brown sea glass. Although the precipitous stairs to get there make it harder to access, it’s totally worth it, or you can always take a boat tour to see it from another angle. Just like Rio, Lagos is a haven for surfers and beach-lovers, while also having numerous beach bars for when the sun goes down. Enjoy sunny sea views from the terrace of The Salty Lodge.

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Though Puerto Rico’s capital, San Juan, is still recovering from the super-storms of 2017, the city is showing remarkable resilience and working hard to bring back tourism. In much the same way as Rio, it has an all-rounder appeal; built between emerald green jungle and Caribbean Sea, the tropical landscape is truly sublime. The Old Town is a maze of cobbled streets and brightly-coloured houses, with an elegant and historic cemetery of white gravestones sat right beside the ocean. Take a sun-drenched walk along the city’s tree-lined Paseo de la Princesa promenade to San Juan Bay, then spend the evening sipping Puerto Rico’s national drink, the piña colada, at a beachfront bar. Or, check into the Art Deco-style Condado Vanderbilt Hotel, also on the beach, and enjoy live Latin jazz performances and elaborate cocktails.

Búzios, Brazil

Widely-referred to as the Brazilian Saint Tropez, the coastal town of Búzios will impress anyone who’s also a fan of Rio. On a peninsula jutting out into the ocean, there are several beaches to choose from, many of which were graced by none other than Brigitte Bardot when she visited in the 1960s. It’s just as easy to have a decadent holiday of boutique shopping, passion fruit caipirinhas and partying here, as it is to be more low-key, with snorkeling, boating and acai bowls on the beach. From the infinity pool that sits above the treetops at Gringos B&B in Búzios, the ocean views are phenomenal.