Rio de Janeiro Full Tour: Christ, Sugarloaf, City Stops and Lunch

A day of skyline views, stadium and samba stops, and mosaic steps

You ride a cable car up Sugarloaf Mountain and reach the statue of Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado, then head to the Maracanã, the Sambadrome, the cathedral and the Selarón Steps. This is a guided day tour of Rio de Janeiro in an air-conditioned vehicle, with an all-you-can-eat buffet lunch along the way.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Rio's iconic landmarks

• Visit Christ the Redeemer statue
• Ride cable car up Sugarloaf Mountain
• Admire panoramic views from Sugarloaf
• See Maracanã Stadium exterior
• Walk around Sambadrome exterior
• Explore Rio's Metropolitan Cathedral
• View Lapa Aqueduct from panorama
• Climb colorful Selarón Steps
• Enjoy all-you-can-eat buffet lunch

Stops and time spent at each 4 stops

1. Maracana Stadium 15m
2. Sambadrome 15m
3. Rio de Janeiro Cathedral 15m
4. Selarón Steps 20m

What’s included

• Accredited guide who speaks several languages.
• Entry to Christ the Redeemer and the Sugarloaf cable car.
• All-you-can-eat buffet lunch.
• All fees and taxes.
• Air-conditioned vehicle.

Times

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• Every day 08:00

Information

You ride a cable car up Sugarloaf Mountain, visit Christ the Redeemer and climb the Selarón Steps, plus an all-you-can-eat buffet lunch.

Group Up to 19 2 similar private tours ›

Live guide English, Spanish and Portuguese Another language? ›

Meeting point and pickup You can choose: pickup at your hotel, or go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point. When you book, you choose your hotel from 204 pickup locations; if yours isn’t listed, you can type in your address. Pickup is about 60 minutes before departure. See the exact addressSee the pickup points

Ages Adult (22 to 59 years) · Senior (60 and older) · Youth (11 to 21 years) · Child (6 to 10 years) · Infant (3 to 5 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Stroller-friendly Public transport nearby Infants must sit on laps

More information The exact meeting point address, the operator’s instructions and every other detail are in the full listing. See the full listing

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The experience

The tour climbs Corcovado first, where the statue of Christ the Redeemer comes into view with its arms stretched wide over the city. From up there you look across Guanabara Bay toward the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, with the green Tijuca Forest rolling out below. Next comes Sugarloaf Mountain, reached by a cable car that lifts you above 300 meters. At the top, the panoramic views take your breath away, with the bay, the beaches and Christ off in the distance. Trails and viewpoints let you wander for a while and take in the landscape at your own pace.

Then comes the football and Carnival side of Rio. The Maracanã Stadium is an icon of world football, and the visit is mainly outside, so you feel the buzz of this legendary ground from its edge. The Sambadrome is where the samba school parades of Carnival unfold, and from outside you can picture the splendor and creativity of those parades along with the energy that fills the place. The Metropolitan Cathedral rises as a concrete landmark with a conical shape and colorful stained glass windows, a modern building that feels spiritual and striking at once.

From the cathedral the route moves on to the Selarón Steps, an open-air artwork by Chilean artist Jorge Selarón, built from over 2000 tiles that came from different parts of the world. You climb the steps and look closely at each tile, which is where the mosaic really opens up. Lapa Aqueduct is seen from a panoramic viewpoint along the way. The day also includes an all-you-can-eat buffet lunch with a variety of dishes to try.

Top questions

Can I be picked up at my hotel?

You can choose: pickup at your hotel, or go straight to the meeting point. When you book, you choose your hotel from 204 pickup locations; if yours isn’t listed, you can type in your address. Pickup is about 60 minutes before departure.

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 21 years); Child (6 to 10 years); Infant (3 to 5 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

Do I get to go up Corcovado to see Christ?

Yes, the tour takes you to the top of Corcovado, where the statue of Christ the Redeemer stands, and entry to Christ the Redeemer is included.

Does the Sugarloaf visit start with the cable car?

Yes, the Sugarloaf experience begins with a cable car ride that takes you to an altitude of over 300 meters, with panoramic views from the top.

Can I go inside the Maracanã stadium on this tour?

The visit to the Maracanã is mainly external, so you feel the atmosphere and excitement of the stadium from outside rather than walking through it.

Do I see the Sambadrome parades when I visit?

You visit the Sambadrome from outside, where you can picture the parades of Carnival and the energy of the samba schools that perform there.

Do I climb the Selarón Steps or just look at them?

You climb the steps yourself, exploring the details of each tile in the mosaic of over 2000 tiles from around the world.

Is the Lapa Aqueduct part of the route?

Yes, the tour includes the Lapa Aqueduct, which you see from a panoramic viewpoint.

Operated by Conozca Rio. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.

Prices and times updated today