They don't call Rio de Janeiro the "cidade maravilhosa" for nothing. It means the Marvelous City, and it definitely lives up to the name. Not only does the second largest city in Brazil have beautiful attractions, but there are many bucket list items you could check off your list in Rio de Janeiro.
The Nightlife 
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Rio de Janeiro has a nightlife that is vibrant, loud, and wild. There's live music, clubs, and parties in the streets. If you want to get hot and sweaty while samba dancing, this is your time. Lapa street used to be the red-light district, but now it is home to the amazing night life. The street parties are free, and according to these reviews they may be the best street parties in the world.
The Wildlife
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Rio de Janeiro has some of the most breathtaking natural landscapes in the country. Jardim Botanico is one of the main attractions in the city. This botanical garden is man made, and has 600 different species of orchids. The walkways in between rows of mature trees are a must see for tourists. Take a stroll through the Japanese garden, check out all of the fountains and monuments, and appreciate mother nature for all that she is.
If you take a road trip across the city you can visit some of the world famous beaches, like Copacabana and Ipanema. These beautiful sandy beaches are complete with white sand, waves, shops and cafes. I don't know about you, but I could spend every day beach side in Rio de Janeiro.
Sugarloaf Mountain
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Sugarloaf Mountain is one of the most popular attractions in Rio de Janeiro. This beautiful mountain made of quartz and granite sits at the mouth of Guanabara Bay. Tourists can take a ride in a cable car up to the peak of Sugarloaf Mountain. The spectacular view as you climb up the mountain makes the whole trip worth it. If you have a fear of heights like I do, don't fear, the control of the cable car system has 47 different safety checkpoints that have to clear before they run it.
Events
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Rio de Janeiro knows how to entertain its visitors. Aside from the tourist attractions and wild street parties, there are even bigger events that you are going to want to mark on your calendar. There are festivals literally year round, each one being different with unique rituals.
On December 31st every year, people of the Umbanda religion host the Festival of the Goddess of the Sea. The Rio Carnival is world famous, and is held the 4 days before Lent each year. Not only is there music and dancing in the streets, but there are costume gala balls at the hotels in the city.
2016 Summer Olympics
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This Summer the 2016 Olympics are going to be held in Rio de Janeiro. What better time to visit the beautiful city? The games are going to be held in 32 different venues in four different regions of the city. According to this infographic, this is going to be the first time the Games have ever been held in South America.
Cristo Redentor
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I have saved the best for last. This is almost enough of a reason on its own for me to visit Rio de Janeiro over and over. This beautiful statue is a landmark that brings in tourists from all ends of the world. This statue, whose name means Christ the Redeemer, stands 100 feet tall on the mountain Corcovado. You can take a 20 minute cog railway ride up the side of the mountain to visit the statue. Cristo Redentor can be seen from all over Rio de Janeiro, and some say it even appears to levitate above the mountain at night when the spotlights hit it just right.
The culture, nightlife, scenery and events should put Rio de Janeiro at the top of your travel bucket list this year. You can't find many other places with such diversity and energy. The perfect blend of historical architecture and modern structures makes it the best city to explore. The welcoming hospitality the cariocans show you will make you want to plant your stakes and stay a while.