Things to do in Rio de Janeiro
Sugarloaf Mountain53 optionsMuseums11 optionsMaracanã Stadium Tours23 optionsHelicopter Rio8 optionsCity Tour Petrópolis8 optionsCity Tour Rio de Janeiro12 optionsBoat Tour Rio de Janeiro8 optionsWalking Tour Rio de Janeiro67 optionsJeep Tour Rio12 optionsAquario Tours10 optionsSanta Teresa Tours29 optionsRio de Janeiro Airport Transfer14 options
The unmissables
Most booked
Rio de Janeiro: Christ Redeemer, Sugarloaf & Selarón Steps★ 4.95 (5,217) · 8h–9h
Top rated
Rio de Janeiro: Christ, Sugarloaf & Selarón Steps Day Tour★ 4.89 (2,976) · 6h–8h
Best value
Rio de Janeiro: Christ, Sugarloaf & Selarón Steps Full Day★ 4.74 (3,374) · 8h
Recommended (7)
Rio de Janeiro: Hang Gliding Flight & GoPro Video★ 4.98 (2,232) · 1h 30mUS$ 299View ›
Rio de Janeiro: Yup Star Ferris Wheel 88m with Unlimited Rides★ 4.84 (1,648) · 20mUS$ 11.94View ›
Rio de Janeiro: Christ Redeemer & Sugarloaf Hill Morning Tour★ 4.81 (1,594) · 5hUS$ 130View ›
Rio: Tijuca Rainforest Hike, Waterfalls & Bat Cave★ 4.89 (1,413) · 5hUS$ 74View ›
Rio de Janeiro: Christ the Redeemer & Sugarloaf Mountain Day Tour★ 4.73 (1,271) · 9hUS$ 125View ›
Rio: Tijuca Forest Hike, Waterfalls & Caves with Small Groups★ 4.88 (1,132) · 5hUS$ 78View ›
Rio Cooking Class: 9 Dishes & Caipirinhas in Ipanema★ 4.92 (1,120) · 3h 30mUS$ 95View ›Top rated (10)
Rio de Janeiro: Morro Dois Irmãos Hike & Vidigal Favela TourYou hike 50 minutes to the top of Morro Dois Irmãos, see Rio's largest favela and major landmarks from above, then walk through the Vidigal community with a local guide who explains its history and daily life. The motorcycle taxi ride in and the descent through neighborhood streets bookend the climb. You leave with an HD photo album and a sense of the place that doesn't come from a viewpoint platform.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Rio's famous landmarks from an angle most tourists miss and understand Vidigal as a living community, not a photo stop — the local guide and the walk through the neighborhood are what separate this from a standard viewpoint hike.
Rio Historical Walking Tour: Selarón Steps, Cathedral & LapaA four to five hour walking tour of Rio de Janeiro's historic center, led by a licensed English-speaking guide, covering colonial architecture, cultural landmarks and Afro-Brazilian heritage sites from Cinelândia to the port district. The tour includes access to the VLT train system for some stops and moves at a pace suited to mixed fitness levels; children from age 12 are welcome.Is it for me?Start from Cinelândia in the center without needing a car, and the VLT train handles the longer stretches between neighborhoods—this settles the logistics if you're staying downtown or arriving by public transport and want to see Rio's colonial core and Afro-Brazilian landmarks in one morning or afternoon.
Rio de Janeiro sunrise tour: Christ the Redeemer before the crowdsYou’ll watch Rio wake up from Dona Marta Lookout at sunrise, stand almost alone beneath Christ the Redeemer before crowds arrive, and wander through colorful chaos at Selarón Steps with a local guide. Hotel pickup, breakfast, and entry fees are included—just bring curiosity (and maybe an extra coffee).
Rio de Janeiro Airport Transfer: 4 Passengers to Copacabana & IpanemaYou get picked up at the airport with a sign, driven in an air-conditioned vehicle to your Copacabana, Ipanema, or Leblon hotel, and arrive with luggage handled and no hidden charges. The driver speaks your language and waits if your flight is late — you just confirm your booking online and show up at arrivals.Is it for me?A good fit if you land in Rio without a car and want to skip the taxi negotiation at the curb. The driver waits for flight delays at no extra cost, which is what makes the fixed price reliable — you know exactly what you'll pay before you arrive.
Sugarloaf Mountain Rock Climbing Adventure: Rio de JaneiroClimb Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro with a live guide, ascending the backside of the peak on a well-traveled trail with sections of scrambling and a 15-meter technical pitch that uses rope and harness. The guide handles all safety equipment and talks you through the exposed sections; the descent is by cable car from the summit to Morro da Urca, then a short trail down. Children from age 10 are welcome, and the whole experience takes about three hours.Is it for me?Start at the foot of Sugarloaf without needing a car or transport arranged—the meeting point is accessible by public transit nearby. The guide handles the technical setup and safety decisions, so you focus on the climbing itself rather than managing gear or route-finding.
Rio de Janeiro: Christ & Sugarloaf with Photos & Small GroupsYou visit four of Rio's most-photographed spots—Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, Selarón Steps, and Dona Marta Lookout—in a single day with entry tickets and cable car included. A professional photographer travels with the group to capture you at each stop, and the small size (max 7 people) means shorter waits and actual time to absorb each view instead of rushing to the next one. Hotel pickup is not mentioned, so confirm your meeting point when you book.Is it for me?Book this if you want Rio's four main landmarks in a single day without arranging separate tickets, transport, or timing—the small group size and included photography mean you actually have time to absorb each view instead of just collecting photos and moving on.
Rio: Copacabana Food Tour with 7 Tastings & Beach StopsYou walk Copacabana with a local guide, stopping at seven food spots for tastings that range from street classics to traditional dishes — coconut water, pernil sandwich, shrimp stew, sugarcane juice, and others. You'll see the Copacabana Palace, the birthplace of bossa nova, and end at the quieter Leme Beach. The guide handles the route and the stories; you just show up hungry and comfortable shoes.Is it for me?Book this if you want to eat the way locals do in Copacabana without spending the morning figuring out which vendors are worth your time — the guide knows the spots and the stories, which is what turns a food walk into something you actually remember.
Rio de Janeiro: Christ & Sugar Loaf with Selarón & LunchYou get picked up, taken through Rio's seven main attractions with entry tickets and transport handled, fed a proper lunch, and dropped back by evening. Christ the Redeemer and Sugar Loaf are the anchors; Selarón, Maracanã, Sambadrome, the Cathedral and the city views fill the rest. Eight hours total, daily departures.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want Rio's main sights in a single day without arranging tickets, transport or timing themselves—the fixed eight-hour schedule and included meals mean you move through the city instead of planning how to move through it.
Rio: Pedra da Gávea Hike with Safety Gear & Local GuideYou’ll climb through Rio’s lush Tijuca Forest with a local guide who keeps things safe (and fun), take on Carrasqueira with real support, and reach Pedra da Gávea’s summit for wild 360° views across beaches and city. Expect laughter, group spirit, photos taken by your guide—and maybe a moment of awe that sticks with you long after.
Rio de Janeiro: Vidigal Favela Walking Tour with RussoYou’ll join Russo—a real Vidigal resident—and walk through lively streets full of music, street art, and everyday life. Taste fresh air in Sitiê Park, watch kids play near graffiti courts, and sip a drink overlooking Rio from Arvrão. Expect warmth from locals and stories you won’t find in any guidebook.
Lowest price (10)
Rocinha Favela Walking Tour Rio de Janeiro with Local GuideYou ride a moto-taxi to the top of Rocinha, then walk the streets with a local guide who shows you supermarkets, social projects, and the daily routes residents use. You get views of Rio from the hilltop and hear the actual history of Latin America's largest favela, not the stereotype. Bring cash for the taxi, donations, and souvenirs.Is it for me?This tour works if you want to see Rio's largest favela as a real neighborhood, not a cautionary tale — the local guide and the walking pace are what make that possible, and the moto-taxi ride is what gets you to the vantage point where the city makes sense.
Rio de Janeiro Historical Center: Walking Tour & ArchitectureYou walk six hours through Rio's colonial core with a licensed guide, hitting the Municipal Theater, Cathedral, Selarón Steps, and Lapa. Lunch and the museum are optional add-ons you pay separately. The pace is steady and the guide handles the history; you just show up and follow.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want to understand Rio's colonial past and architecture without rushing, and who don't mind a steady walk. Plan for six hours on your feet—that's what lets the guide actually explain the history instead of just pointing and moving on.
Rio de Janeiro: Two Brothers Mountain Hike & Favela CultureYou hike with a local guide up one of Rio's highest comunidades to the Two Brothers peak, choosing sunrise, midday, or sunset. The trail is steep and takes two to three hours; you'll see how the neighborhood sits on the mountainside, stop for local food, and get a view that stretches across the whole city. The guide is someone who knows the place, not just the script.Is it for me?This is for travelers who want to understand Rio beyond the postcard landmarks and don't mind a steep climb to get there. The small groups and local guide are what make it feel like an actual neighborhood, not a performance for tourists.
Rio de Janeiro: Favela Santa Marta Walking Tour & Local GuideYou walk Santa Marta favela with a local guide who's lived here for years, see the Michael Jackson statue and Guanabara Bay views, visit the residents' association and craft stores, and end at the guide's home for a free drink and a real conversation. Transport and accident insurance are included, and the small-group format means you're not lost in a crowd. Plan for stairs and uneven ground—that's what the neighborhood is—but it's manageable for most fitness levels.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want to understand a Rio neighborhood from someone who actually lives there, not from a script. The stairs and uneven ground are part of the real favela, so plan for a steady pace and good walking shoes—that's what makes the experience genuine instead of staged.
Rio de Janeiro: Rocinha Favela Tour & Community ProjectsYou’ll walk Rocinha’s winding lanes with a local guide who knows every shortcut, meet residents crafting jewelry or teaching kids, step onto terraces with sweeping views of Rio de Janeiro, and see firsthand how community projects shape daily life here. Expect honest stories and maybe even leave with a bracelet tied on your wrist—a small reminder of being welcomed in.
Rocinha Favela Walking Tour Rio de Janeiro: Local GuideA 4-hour walking tour of Rocinha favela in Rio de Janeiro led by a resident guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese. You walk the streets, meet locals, and see daily life away from stereotypes. Transport is included; the tour meets at Belmond Copacabana Palace at 1:25 p.m.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to move through Rocinha as a guest of someone who lives there, rather than as an observer from the outside—the guide's presence and knowledge are what turn a walk through the favela into an actual conversation about the place.
AquaRio Rio de Janeiro: South America's Largest Aquarium TicketsYou get entry to South America's largest marine aquarium with 2,000 animals across 350 species in 4.5 million liters of water. The self-paced visit lets you spend as much time as you want in each zone, from reef tanks to open-water displays. You're on Olympic Boulevard, a walkable waterfront area near the Museum of Tomorrow and Giant Wheel, with views of Guanabara Bay. No guide, no schedule — just you and the tanks.Is it for me?Right for anyone who wants to spend a few hours with marine life without a guide or schedule — you move at your own pace through the tanks, and the waterfront location means you can add the Museum of Tomorrow or Giant Wheel to the same afternoon if you want.
Rio Pub Crawl in Lapa: Samba, Cachaça & Live MusicA guided pub crawl through Rio de Janeiro's Lapa district where you dance in live samba circles, taste cachaça at each bar, and learn samba moves from a local guide who speaks English, Spanish or Portuguese. Free entry to selected bars, a welcome shot, and additional cachaça between stops are included; the night runs four hours and requires a minimum age of 18 with valid photo ID.Is it for me?Book this if you want to dance, not observe—the samba circles are participatory and the guide teaches you the steps as the night unfolds. Skip it if you prefer a quieter evening or have mobility constraints; the night involves sustained dancing and moving between multiple stops over four hours.
Rio de Janeiro Airport Transfer: Private Car & City InsightsYou get picked up at arrivals with your name on a sign, driven safely to any hotel or flat in Rio's metropolitan area in a private, air-conditioned car, and given practical advice on safety, food, shopping and what to do on your own — all in your language. The driver waits for you at the terminal, so you don't negotiate a fare at the curb or figure out the public transport system after a flight.Is it for me?Book this if you're landing in Rio and want to reach your hotel without arranging transport, negotiating a fare at the curb, or figuring out the public system after a flight — the driver handles the route and the timing, and you arrive knowing a bit about the city already.
Petropolis: Imperial Museum & Crystal Palace with Brewery OptionYou visit the Imperial Museum's furniture, jewelry and clothing collections, walk through the Crystal Palace and Santos Dumont House, and optionally tour the Bohemia Brewery with a sample. Transport from your Rio hotel is included in an air-conditioned vehicle, and you return by evening without arranging any logistics yourself.Is it for me?Book this if you want Rio's most important historical sites in one day without renting a car or buying tickets at each stop — the fixed itinerary and included transport are what make a full inland trip possible without spending the morning on logistics.
