General Information
This charming street market takes place on the first Saturday of every month in Lapa. Lapa is one of Rio´s oldest and most traditional neighborhoods, and its unique architecture, along with many bars and antique shops make it a must-see place in Rio.
Even better on the first Saturday of every month, where you will be able to visit the Lavradio Street Market for free, and enjoy walking around more then 200 exhibitors, that set up their shops right on the street, and there's always something for every one. At this market you can buy small decoration items, home furniture, clothes and clothing accessories, local souvenirs and many other items that are not expensive and hard to find in regular stores.
Right on Lavradio Street, you will find many bars and restaurants, that you can visit for a quick break while you visit the Market, or where you can spend some time after walking around. On Saturdays, most bars and restaurants offer the very famous Brazilian Feijoada.
How to get there:
Lapa is in the heart of Rio´s most traditional neighborhoods, right next to Rio´s Downtown, and just a few blocks from Aterro do Flamengo. Riding a bike to Lapa is fairly easy and safe on Saturday mornings, coming from any of the neighborhoods near the beach bike paths. If you don't have a bike, you can rent one at Cyclin Rio´s kiosk inside the Barcellos Sports store in Ipanema (Rua Rainha Elizabeth 440, + 55 21 3490-0603), or even take one of the city bikes (make sure you check availability to return the bike near Lapa). Once you reach the beach bike path at any place, just follow it towards Downtown, as you will pass Botafogo Beach, then Aterro do Flamengo. You will need to cross the overpass just before you get to the Lapa main road. If you happen to miss this entrance and find yourself at the MAM (Museum of Modern Art), just take the overpass here and ride a couple of blocks back to Lapa.
Cyclin Rio Advice
- Get there early, around 9am is a great time, as it won't be crowed yet...and even in the summer, shouldn't be too hot.
- Most shops accept credit cards, but it's always important to have cash on hand. There are ATM machines in Lapa if you prefer to ride around with cash.
- Sun block in Rio is always a must, and wearing a hat will also come in handy on those hot summer days.
- If you have time, and legs, feel free to ride up to Santa Teresa, one of my favorite neighborhoods in Rio, where you can experience some of Rio´s coziest places and great gastronomy.
- Extend your ride and cycle on to the Santos Dumont Airport runway (really!!), then ride by Mauá Square and the brand new area around it, where you can see the Museum of Tomorrow.
- If you choose not to eat in Lapa, or if you decided to ride more after visiting the Market, you can cycle to the Praça XV/ Arco do Teles area, where you will think that you are in Europe for a few hours. Brasserie Rosario has great options, but feel free to chose a restaurant that cater to your gastronomy taste. In just about every restaurant you can site on tables that are on the street...just make sure you are there relatively early, as it can get crowed.
Written by: Mauricio Herzog | Follow on: 
