The Rio Times

São Paulo’s Brightest Christmas Ever São Paulo’s 2025 “Natal Iluminado” turns the city into its most illuminated Christmas yet, with more than 50 free attractions: historic buildings lit up, giant trees, nativity scenes, mapped projections, Christmas villages and even an ice rink across the central landmarks like Praça da Sé, Pateo do Collegio, Mosteiro de São Bento, Theatro Municipal and Viaduto Santa Ifigênia.​ On Avenida Paulista, light arches over the bike lane, a huge Christmas gateway, special lighting in Parque Trianon and performances at MASP anchor the celebrations, while about 200 decorated “ônibus iluminados” and a special Christmas bus line take families through this open-air show at no extra cost.

Flying Over the Rio–Niterói Bridge Flying over the Rio–Niterói Bridge means tracing one of Brazil’s great engineering landmarks from the air, watching its 13‑kilometer span cut across Guanabara Bay between Rio de Janeiro and Niterói. From this height, the bridge becomes a line linking city skylines, ships and the curve of the bay, offering an unforgettable angle on Rio that blends concrete, water and mountains in a single sweeping view.