Rio de Janeiro, Brazil · Capacity: 78,838
The world's most iconic football stadium. Once held 200,000 fans, now a 78,838-seat masterpiece that hosted two World Cup Finals (1950, 2014) and the 2016 Olympics. Home to Flamengo and Fluminense. When Flamengo plays a Libertadores knockout match here, there is no louder place on Earth.
The Maracanã is the spiritual home of Brazilian football — site of the 1950 World Cup final and the silence of the “Maracanazo,” of Pelé's 1,000th goal, and of the 2014 World Cup final. Shared today by Flamengo and Fluminense, it remains one of the most evocative names in the sport.
It sits in Rio de Janeiro, the city of Christ the Redeemer, Copacabana and Carnival.
Below are the Rio stays, restaurants and bars fans use around the Maracanã.
Hotels, bars, restaurants and things to do near Maracanã (Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho) in Rio de Janeiro — every pick web-researched and source-cited, closest to the stadium first.
Rio's most iconic hotel since 1923, the white Art Deco palace overlooking Copacabana Beach. The pool is the most photographed in South America. During Carnival, the hotel hosts legendary masked balls. Princess Diana, Mick Jagger, and every World Cup team have stayed here.
Philippe Starck-designed luxury hotel overlooking Ipanema Beach with a rooftop pool and Fasano Al Mare restaurant. Visiting fans and VIPs choose this as their stylish base for Carnival, concerts at Rock in Rio, and Maracana match days.
This sleek modern luxury hotel on Copacabana Beach features floor-to-ceiling ocean views and a rooftop infinity pool overlooking Sugarloaf Mountain. International football teams and concert headliners performing at Maracanã favor the discreet service and contemporary Brazilian design. The in-house restaurant Emile serves refined contemporary cuisine.
Set in a restored colonial estate in the bohemian Santa Teresa neighborhood, this hilltop boutique hotel offers pool views over Guanabara Bay and an escape from Copacabana's bustle. Musicians and creative types flock here for the artistic atmosphere and proximity to Rio's live music scene. The Térèze restaurant is a destination in itself.
Bar do Mineiro in Santa Teresa is one of Rio's most beloved fan gathering spots, packed with Fluminense and Flamengo memorabilia and a loyal local football following. The boteco atmosphere, cold draft Brahma, and petiscos make this a classic pre-match lunch spot on Maracanã days. The bar's weekend carioca churrasco is a ritual for visiting sports fans.
The bar where the bossa nova classic 'The Girl from Ipanema' was composed by Tom Jobim and Vinícius de Moraes doubles as one of Rio's great match-watching venues during World Cup and Copa Libertadores tournaments. The connection between Rio's musical and sporting soul is felt strongly here. Cold chopp and pasteis arrive alongside legendary music and football passion.
The definitive cachaça bar in Rio, with over 100 varieties and the city's best caipirinhas. Located in Leblon near the beach, it's where Flamengo fans celebrate after matches and samba musicians gather late at night. Brazilian football legends, surfers, and visiting artists are regulars.
This sleek Ipanema corner bar has been Rio's see-and-be-seen cocktail destination for decades, with sidewalk tables perfect for watching the beautiful game of Carioca street life. Footballers, models, and musicians mix effortlessly over expertly crafted caipirinhas after Maracanã matches. The late-night energy rivals any stadium atmosphere.
A beloved carioca institution on the Urca seawall with sweeping views of Guanabara Bay and Sugarloaf Mountain, Bar Urca draws locals and visiting sports fans who sit on the wall with cold chopp and watch boats pass. It's the archetypal Rio experience — effortlessly beautiful, cheap, and social. Athletes competing in Rio's regular international events treat this spot as an essential off-day ritual.
Bracarense in Leblon is one of Rio's most cherished botecos — a neighbourhood bar famous for its exceptional bolinhos de bacalhau (salt cod fritters) and ice-cold chopp where Flamengo fans watching Maracanã matches on the screen pack the sidewalk tables until late. The bar's no-frills excellence and genuine carioca soul have made it a beloved institution for both Rio residents and visiting sports fans who prefer authentic experience over tourist-facing venues. On Flamengo Copa Libertadores nights, the street outside becomes an outdoor stadium.
A treehouse restaurant perched in the hills of Santa Teresa with jaw-dropping panoramic views of Guanabara Bay and Sugarloaf Mountain. Modern Brazilian cuisine using ingredients from the restaurant's own garden. Beyoncé and Jay-Z dined here during Carnival. The most magical dining setting in Rio.
French-trained chef Claude Troisgros brings Parisian butchery techniques to Brazilian beef at this stylish Jardim Botânico steakhouse. The côte de boeuf and Brazilian-French fusion dishes attract footballers from Flamengo and visiting Maracanã performers. The open-fire grill and lively atmosphere make it the perfect post-match celebration spot.
Acclaimed restaurant from chef Claude Troisgros blending French technique with Brazilian ingredients in the leafy Jardim Botânico neighborhood. A celebratory dining destination for fans after witnessing a Flamengo triumph at the Maracanã.
The house of Brazil's national dish in Ipanema, serving all-you-can-eat feijoada completa with all the traditional sides seven days a week — not just Saturdays.
Chef Rafa Costa e Silva's intimate Botafogo restaurant is consistently ranked among Latin America's 50 Best, serving hyper-seasonal tasting menus sourced from his own farm. The converted house setting feels personal and special, drawing visiting football legends and international musicians performing in Rio. Reservations are scarce and coveted.
Visit the headquarters of Brazil's most-supported club in the upscale Gavea neighborhood, home to Flamengo's trophy room and historic training facilities. The Clube de Regatas do Flamengo complex sits between the Lagoa and the mountains, offering a unique glimpse into the culture of the Mengao.
Launch from the Pedra Bonita ramp in Tijuca National Forest for a tandem hang gliding flight over Rio's iconic coastline, landing on Sao Conrado beach. The 10-15 minute flight provides jaw-dropping aerial views of Sugarloaf Mountain, Christ the Redeemer, and the Maracana stadium from above.
Hit Rio's legendary Lapa district on a Friday or Saturday night for open-air samba, live music, and caipirinhas beneath the iconic Arcos da Lapa aqueduct. The neighborhood's bars and clubs host roda de samba circles and forro dance parties that keep going until dawn, making it the ultimate post-match celebration spot.
Walk the hallowed grounds of the Maracana, arguably the most famous football stadium on earth, which hosted two World Cup finals and the 2016 Olympic ceremonies. The tour includes the Hall of Fame with footprints of Pele, Garrincha, and other Brazilian legends cast in concrete.
The Engenhão in Engenho de Dentro is Botafogo's permanent home and one of Rio's modern stadium gems, built for the 2007 Pan American Games. The steep compact stands create a cauldron atmosphere for Botafogo matches in the Campeonato Brasileiro. The stadium's translucent roof floods the pitch with soft natural light, making afternoon matches visually spectacular.
The most supported club in Brazil, Flamengo's museum at their historic Gávea headquarters celebrates the club's extraordinary history from rowing to footballing superpower. The 2019 Copa Libertadores exhibit is the museum's emotional centerpiece. Red and black scarves fill every surface and the connection to Rio's identity is everywhere.
Maracanã (Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho) in Rio de Janeiro is tracked across 1 event and seats 78,838 fans. Here's how fans build a trip around it:
Structured facts on this page (capacity, opening year, architect, ownership) are compiled from public reference databases and verified against venue coordinates.
Lionel Messi have been spotted at Maracanã (Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho).
Maracanã (Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho) has a capacity of 78,838 people.
Maracanã (Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho) opened in 1950.
Flamengo, Fluminense play home games at Maracanã (Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho) in Rio de Janeiro.
Baltimore Ravens at Dallas Cowboys are among the events held at Maracanã (Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho).
