The division of Rio de Janeiro into 33 boroughs or districts is divided into 4 zones: the Downtown and South Zone which are the most touristic and the North and West Zone. For Downtown we have the following neighborhoods: Bairro Imperial de São Cristóvão, Benfica, Caju, Catumbi, Centro, Cidade Nova, Estácio, Gamboa, Glória, Lapa, Mangueira, Paquetá, Rio Comprido, Santa Teresa, Santo Cristo, Saúde, Vasco da Gama whereas for the South Zone we have the following neighborhoods: Botafogo, Catete, Copacabana, Cosme Velho, Flamengo, Gávea, Glória, Humaitá, Ipanema, Jardim Botânico, Lagoa, Laranjeiras, Leblon, Leme, Rocinha, São Conrado, Urca, Vidigal.​

• The northern zone of Rio de Janeiro is home to the most modest populations. There are favelas: Sumaré, Central do Brasil, Mangueira, Complexo do Alemão, Penha and Portela. The area includes many industrial sites, the port area, and the bus station district.
• The "Centro" of Rio de Janeiro combines the business district, the administration district (consulates), and the main vestiges of Rio's historical past.
• The southern zone is Rio's tourist area, where hotels and entertainment venues are concentrated. Public transportation is numerous and efficient.
• The western zone of Rio de Janeiro is made up of two different parts: the Barra de Tijuca part, Récreio, located near the ocean, is the middle and upper class neighborhood. The southernmost part, formerly agricultural, is that of the much more underprivileged classes. It is in this neighbourhood that the main Olympic facilities were built.

Rio de Janeiro reputation is made by its diverse neighborhoods, in which you will find Rio beaches or cultural venues.

These include:

• Lagoa
• Copacabana
• Ipanema
• Botafogo
• Barra de Tijuca
• Flamengo
• Lapa
• Urca
• Santa Teresa
• Ostiense

Rio de Janeiro is a city of contrasted urbanism. Rio is divided into 4 large areas (North, South, Centre and West) and numerous neighbourhoods. Each neighborhood in Rio forms distinct population and cultural groupings with significant social inequalities.

Each of Rio's neighbourhoods was built at different times in the city's history. The Downtown, built during the Colonial era, is the oldest, while the West Zone is the most recent.

In Rio de Janeiro, you can go from very rich neighborhoods near the ocean (Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon) to very poor neighborhoods, sheltering the favelas that cling to the city's mountains.

The Downtown district is more diversified: shops, offices, skyscrapers but also colonial buildings.