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
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Rio de Janeiro: 35-Min Helicopter Tour Christ the RedeemerYou board a helicopter and spend 35 minutes circling Rio's landmarks — Christ the Redeemer, Pão de Açúcar, Ipanema, Leblon, Copacabana, and the lagoon — from directly above. Water and coffee are included. If weather blocks the main route, the pilot takes you along the coast instead. The flight is shared if you're booking for one or two passengers, and can be rescheduled if conditions turn bad.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Rio's landmarks from the air without arranging ground transport or spending hours moving between viewpoints — the 35 minutes gets you the overview in one flight, and rescheduling is built in if weather gets in the way.
Tijuca Rainforest Jeep Tour & Hike: Rio de Janeiro WildlifeA 4-hour guided jeep tour and eco-hike through Tijuca National Park in Rio de Janeiro combines open-vehicle exploration with an easy walk to Cascatinha Taunay waterfall, Vista Chinesa viewpoint and a historic chapel. Hotel pickup from the South Zone or Barra da Tijuca is included, and your guide speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French or German. The tour operates weekday mornings and afternoons (Vista Chinesa closes weekends and holidays), and wildlife sightings — monkeys, birds, butterflies, sometimes sloths — are possible throughout the forest.Is it for me?Choose the shared tour to join other visitors and pay less, or book private if your group wants to set your own pace through the forest without syncing to a fixed schedule.
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 de Janeiro: Sugarloaf Mountain Cable Car Skip-the-LineYou skip the entry queue and ride both cable cars straight to Sugarloaf's summit, where you spend as much time as you want taking in views of Copacabana, Ipanema, and Guanabara Bay. Your ticket is valid all day, so you choose when to go up and when to come back down. Bring your passport at check-in.Is it for me?Right for anyone visiting Rio who wants to skip the entry line and spend the afternoon taking in the view without time pressure. The cable cars run all day, so you fit it into your schedule rather than the other way around.
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.
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: Sunset Sailing Tour & Drinks from MarinaYou’ll sail from Marina da Glória as Rio shifts into evening light, passing Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain while sipping caipirinhas with new friends. Listen to your captain’s stories as you drift past fortresses and beaches — then watch sunset paint Guanabara Bay gold before heading back under city lights.
Pedra do Telégrafo hike Rio de Janeiro sunrise or sunsetA guided hike to Pedra do Telégrafo, the cliffside rock formation in Barra de Guaratiba known for optical illusion photos and panoramic views of Rio's coast and rainforest. The trek takes 30 to 45 minutes to the summit; hotel pickup, a fluent English-speaking guide, and round-trip transport are included. You choose sunrise, morning or sunset timing, and a photographer captures professional-quality shots on the way.Is it for me?Arrive in Rio without a car and climb straight to Pedra do Telégrafo at sunrise or sunset—your guide times it perfectly to dodge crowds and nail those cliffside optical illusion shots.
Rio de Janeiro: Cristo Redentor & Sugarloaf Full Day TourYou visit seven major Rio landmarks—Cristo Redentor, Sugarloaf, Selarón Steps, Maracanã, Sambadrome, Lapa's colonial arches, and the Metropolitan Cathedral—in a single day with a bilingual guide. Lunch buffet and all entry fees are included, and you travel by air-conditioned vehicle between stops. The pace is steady and the schedule is fixed, so you know when you'll be done.Is it for me?Best for travelers visiting Rio for the first time or with limited days who want to see all the main landmarks without arranging transport and tickets separately—the fixed itinerary and included guide handle the logistics so you can focus on the sights.
Rio: Hang Gliding & Paragliding at Pedra Bonita with PhotosYou’ll launch from Pedra Bonita above Rio with an expert pilot guiding you through every step — from paperwork at São Conrado Beach to that wild first leap. Feel ocean wind on your face as you glide over rainforest and city, then touch down right by the sea with instant GoPro footage to prove it really happened.
Snorkeling in Arraial do Cabo from Rio de JaneiroA full-day boat tour from Rio de Janeiro to Arraial do Cabo includes schooner transport, stops at Praia do Farol, Prainhas do Pontal do Atalaia, Gruta Azul and Praia do Forno for swimming and snorkeling, a professional guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese, roundtrip hotel pickup from Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon, and lunch at a local restaurant (included in the full option or available separately). The tour runs 14 hours and operates year-round, with timing and stops adjusted for sea conditions.Is it for me?Book this if you're willing to commit a full day and start early from Rio to reach four separate beaches and open water on a shared schooner with set stops and timing.
Rio de Janeiro: Christ & Sugarloaf with Cathedral & LunchYou visit Rio's two most famous viewpoints — Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain — with cable car and entry tickets included, plus a bilingual guide who walks each stop with you. The day also covers the Cathedral, Selarón Steps, and a panoramic pass along Copacabana, with lunch buffet built in. Transport is air-conditioned and pickup is from your hotel, so you're not arranging anything yourself.Is it for me?Book this if you want Rio's main sights — Christ, Sugarloaf, the Cathedral — covered in one day without buying tickets separately or arranging your own transport between them; the fixed itinerary and included guide are what make it possible to see this much without spending the afternoon on logistics.
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.
Rio de Janeiro: Roxy Dinner Show & Brazilian CuisineYou arrive for a three-course dinner built around Brazilian regional cooking, choose from four mains and three desserts, then watch the live show "Aquele Abraço" unfold on stage. The whole evening is designed so you don't arrange transport, book a restaurant separately, or wonder what to eat — it's all decided, all included, all in one room in Rio.Is it for me?Right for anyone who wants a full evening — dinner and live performance — without piecing together a restaurant reservation and a separate show, and who's curious about how Brazil's regional cooking actually tastes rather than how it photographs.
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: Christ, Sugarloaf & Beaches Private TourYou get hotel pickup, a private guide, and an air-conditioned vehicle for the full day. You'll visit Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, the Sambadrome, Rio's cathedral, and the Selarón Steps — with time to choose your own lunch spot and move at your own pace between stops. Entry tickets to the mountain and statue are separate, but the guide handles the logistics once you book.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Rio's main landmarks without coordinating transport, tickets, and timing yourself, and if you prefer moving at your own pace rather than keeping up with a group schedule. The private vehicle and guide handle the logistics while you decide where to linger.
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 Beaches & Pedra do Telégrafo: Jeep Tour, 18 Stops & Sunset PhotosYou’ll ride in a comfy jeep past 18 different Rio beaches (some only locals know), hike through lush forest to reach Pedra do Telégrafo for those wild sunset views, and get pro photos along the way. Expect laughter, sandy feet, and moments that stick with you long after you’ve left Rio behind.
Rio de Janeiro: Christ the Redeemer & Sugarloaf Private TourYou’ll ride through Rio’s rainforest to reach Christ the Redeemer before crowds arrive, wander Santa Teresa’s artsy lanes with your local guide, climb Selarón’s colorful steps, and end your day gazing out from Sugarloaf Mountain as evening falls. Expect real conversations, flexible stops, and small moments that stick with you long after.
Rio: Christ the Redeemer & Sugarloaf Mountain Half-DayYou ride the cable car up Sugarloaf Mountain in two stages, take in the panoramic views, then drive through Tijuca Forest to Christ the Redeemer at 710 meters high. Entry fees to both sites, a guide, air-conditioned transport and hotel pickup are included; the tour runs about four to five hours and keeps groups small so you're not moving as a crowd.Is it for me?Book this if you want Rio's two most famous views in one morning without arranging separate transport, tickets, or timing yourself — the fixed schedule and included pickup mean you're not spending half the day figuring out how to get there.
