ON FOOT, STRAIGHT OUT THE DOOR
Botafogo Beach 14 minutes. It's not a swimming beach; it's a running, cycling, look-at-Sugarloaf-across-the-cove beach. Go late in the afternoon.
Botafogo Cove kayaking and canoeing, with Sugarloaf right in front of you. Rentals on site.
Rua Nelson Mandela and around bars, botecos and neighbourhood restaurants. Botafogo is one of the best places to eat in Rio right now, and almost no visitor knows it.

NEARBY (3 TO 10 MINUTES BY CAR)
Sugarloaf Mountain 3.5 km. Go up on the cable car late in the day and come down after dark, with the city lit up. Buy tickets online.
Museum of Modern Art (MAM) art, with the Flamengo Park all around it.
Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon a 7.5 km loop on foot, by bike, or by pedal boat.
Praia Vermelha and the Cláudio Coutinho trail a short, flat, shaded walk with monkeys and ocean views.

WORTH THE TRIP
Christ the Redeemer, the Botanical Garden, the historic Centre, and the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema all reachable by metro or Uber from Botafogo, which is exactly the point of staying here.

A LOCAL'S TIP
The balcony's best hour is between 5:00 and 6:30 pm. Don't schedule anything then on your first day.