From the Past to the Present: A Historical Walking Tour of Rio

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. This is where our experience will start. We will meet at Starbucks. Cinelandia is an area where some of the prettiest buildings in Rio are located. Theatro Municipal, Biblioteca Nacional, Museu Nacional de Artes and the old Supremo Tribunal Federal buildings.

   20 min

2. Here we'll visit the first public park in Latin America.

   30 min

3. Here we'll visit the world famous Selaron Steps. This amazing art work measures 125 meters long with over 2000 tiles.

   20 min

4. Here we'll see an engineering marvel from the the 1700's. This water aqueduct was used to supply water to the city and now is used by the Bondinho de Santa Teresa.

   Passes by

5. Here we'll visit a very unique and different Cathedral.

   20 min

6. One of the most beautiful churches in the city and the second-largest temple in the city.

   10 min

7. Here we'll see how the city changed since its beginning.

   Passes by

8. The Monastery of São Bento do Rio de Janeiro is a historic monastery located on Morro de São Bento, in the center of the city of Rio de Janeiro. It is one of the main monuments of colonial art in the city and in the country.

   15 min

9. We'll pass by Mauá Square on our way to the famous Kobra Graffiti.

   Passes by

10. Largo de São Francisco da Prainha is a charming historic square in Rio’s Little Africa district. Surrounded by colorful colonial buildings and the Church of São Francisco da Prainha, it reflects the city’s port history, Afro-Brazilian culture, and the traditions that helped shape samba and Rio’s identity.

    5 min

11. Pedra do Sal is one of Rio de Janeiro’s most important Afro-Brazilian cultural landmarks. Located in Little Africa, it became a gathering place for formerly enslaved people, musicians, and workers. Today, it is celebrated as one of the birthplaces of samba and a proud symbol of Black history in Rio.

    5 min

12. The Cais do Valongo (Valongo Wharf) is an archaeological site located in the port area of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It holds immense historical and spiritual significance as it was the main landing point and trading center for enslaved Africans brought to Brazil between 1811 and 1831.

    5 min

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

Ratings come from 118 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Know before you go

How it compares in Rio de Janeiro

• Its from-price is 27% below the median of the 1667 experiences we list in Rio de Janeiro.
• Its length is typical for the group.
• By number of reviews it ranks 115 of 1667.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro sweeps between mountains and ocean, a city of famous beaches, granite peaks, samba rhythms and a carnival known around the world.

Christ the Redeemer stands with open arms atop Corcovado, looking down on the city, and cable cars climb Sugarloaf Mountain for views across Guanabara Bay. Below, the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema are the stage for daily life, with volleyball, kiosks and the wave-patterned promenade, while Leblon and Arpoador extend the strip.

Top-ranked sights in Rio de Janeiro: Christ the Redeemer Statue (Cristo Redentor), Sugarloaf Mountain (Pao de Açúcar), Selarón Steps (Escadaria Selarón).

See all 1667 experiences in Rio de Janeiro