Neighbourhood in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Vila Isabel
Vila Isabel is a middle-class neighbourhood in the North Zone of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Known for being one of the cradles of samba in Brazil, it is located in the subprefecture of Grande Tijuca. Its music-themed Boulevard 28 de Setembro celebrates the neighbourhood's long musical heritage. The neighbourhood was named in honour of Brazilian Princess Isabel, renowned for abolishing slavery in Brazil. It is home to Unidos de Vila Isabel, one of the most traditional samba schools in Rio de Janeiro.
How locals move
Getting around Vila Isabel the local way
- Get aroundTwo lines operating TransOeste and TransCarioca, Planned: TransOlimpica Teleférico A is a cable car service.
From Wikivoyage: Rio de Janeiro/Zona Norte, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Harpagornis (see Commons), Wikimedia Commons.