Rio by Day - Main Sights Tour

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. Catch up nice views from the Leblon beach, where you can get a great perscpective of the Morro Dois Irmãos (Two Brothers Hill)

   Passes by

2. Located between Arpoador and Jardim de Alah, it is one of the most famous beaches in the country (Have you ever heard "Girl from Ipanema"?) and one of the busiest in the city. About 2 km long, some areas of the beach have strong waves and currents, and can be used for sports.

   Passes by

3. Copacabana Beach is the most famous beach in the city (maybe even in the country, or in the world) and is about 4 km long. Among the trademarks is its boardwalk with waves drawn in Portuguese stone, designed by famous brazilian landscaper Burle Max. In Copacabana you will testify why cariocas have such a beautiful tan. While you travel through these neighborhoods, you will hear a few tips on what to do around them and the interesting stories that took place in these streets.

   Passes by

4. Head Downtown through the charming Botafogo shore where you will have the first glimpse of Sugar Loaf. You can also get nice perspectives of the Guanabara Bay. This beach is great for those who wants to practice some sand sport: volleyball, soccer, footvolley, etc. Cycling, jogging and hiking are usual there, after all, there is a bike path and boardwalk that goes to Flamengo Beach.

   Passes by

5. You will pass through the historic Laranjeiras neighborhood, which hosts the Guanabara Palace, the ancient home of Princess Isabel who signed the Golden Law to free all slaves. Nowadays, the Palace is the official headquarters of the government of Rio de Janeiro.

   Passes by

6. Before reaching downtown you will pass next to the Sambodrome, where the Samba School Parade happens every year.

   Passes by

7. See from outside and get inside the iconic Metropolitan Cathedral which was built in a pyramidal form with an internal diameter of 96 meters and a height of 80 meters.

   15 min

8. A comprehensive city tour of downtown area. Take a panoramic tour through historical streets and buildings and get to know stories and curiosities of this prominent area. Get nice perspectives of the traditional Cinelândia Square with its historical buildings, and take a look at the Municipal Theater with its Art Nouveau Architecture.

   Passes by

9. You will make your way to Urca through Aterro do Flamengo and its parks, designed by Burle Marx and hear all about Brazil’s participation in World War II as well as the founding of the city back in the late 1500s, just before arriving to Sugar Loaf.

   Passes by

10. The first cable car takes you to Urca Hill, a vantage point 215 meters high for which already grants beautiful views of Guanabara Bay and its islands, Flamengo and Botafogo beaches, Santos Dummont Airport, the Rio-Niterói Bridge, Urca’s neighborhood and Corcovado Mountain.

    15 min

11. A second cable car takes you up to the top. When you get there, you will understand why Rio is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world. At 395 meters you’ll enjoy breathtaking views from Copacabana beach, Niterói and the Santa Cruz fortress. From up there, you will have no trouble understanding why Rio is nicknamed “Wonderful City”.

    40 min

12. After visiting Sugar Loaf Mountain, you will head down to an all-you-can-eat-style barbecue house. Brazilian Churrascarias (Barbecue places) offer a wide variety of sides and alternative options, in case you decide to stick with a vegetarian option, you will still leave delighted. Lunch is included only if option selected. If selecting an option without lunch, our guide will offer a variety of nearby suggestions that can fit any budget or taste!

    1.3 h

Cancellation

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

Reviews

Ratings come from 31 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 15% above the median of the 279 city tours we list in Rio de Janeiro.
• It is longer than most of them.
• By number of reviews it ranks 78 of 279.
• 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