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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Vidigal Favela Walking Tour Rio: Motorcycle Taxi & GuideA 2.5-hour guided walking tour of Rio de Janeiro's Vidigal favela that starts with a motorcycle taxi ride to the neighborhood's heights, then descends on foot through the alleys with a resident guide. The tour includes a break at a local's home with ocean views, an exploration of the Ecological Park built by residents, and a drink. The guide speaks English, Portuguese or French and has lived in Vidigal since 2020.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to move past the standard favela visit and spend time with someone who actually lives in the neighborhood—the guide's presence since 2020 and their stake in the place is what makes the difference between a tour and a real conversation about how Vidigal works.
Rio de Janeiro: Private Day Tour Christ, Sugarloaf & Selarón StepsYou’ll ride up Corcovado on an old train to stand beneath Christ the Redeemer, wander Santa Teresa’s winding streets with your local guide, climb the wild Selarón Steps in Lapa, and take in city views from Sugarloaf Mountain’s summit—all in one private day trip from your hotel in Rio de Janeiro. Expect laughter, colors everywhere, and moments that stick long after you’re back home.
Rio de Janeiro Afro-Brazilian Heritage Tour: Valongo WharfThis 3.5-hour Afro-Brazilian heritage tour in Rio de Janeiro visits Valongo Wharf (a UNESCO World Heritage site and the largest slave port in the Americas) and Pedra do Sal (the birthplace of Samba), guided by a specialist in decolonial narratives of Black history. The tour includes entry to the New Black Institute, operates in small groups, and is led by guides fluent in English, Spanish or Portuguese. Children are welcome from age 8.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to understand Rio's Black history through sites most visitors never reach and narratives most guides don't tell. The small-group format and specialist guide make the difference between walking past these places and standing in them with someone who knows why they matter.
Rio de Janeiro: 30-Minute Helicopter Tour Christ the RedeemerYou board a helicopter, spend 30 minutes airborne over Rio de Janeiro, and see Christ the Redeemer, Copacabana, Ipanema, Pedra da Gávea and the Botanical Garden from above. Water and coffee come with the flight, and you're back on the ground in under an hour total. Book at least 24 hours ahead so the flight time can be confirmed.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Rio's geography and landmarks from an angle ground tours can't match, and you have a clear morning or afternoon to spare — the 30-minute flight plus check-in fits into most schedules without eating your whole day.
Petrópolis: Imperial Museum, Bohemia Brewery Tour & LunchYou’ll stroll through royal halls at the Imperial Museum in Petrópolis, sample fresh local beers at Bohemia Brewery with a tasting included, and relax over a buffet lunch—all with an expert guide and roundtrip transfer from Rio. Expect small surprises: warm bread at Casa do Alemão, sunlight in the Crystal Palace, laughter over beer flights. It’s a day full of stories you can actually feel.
Flamengo match at Maracanã with local fan in Homefans sectionYou’ll join local Flamengo fans for a real Rio football night at Maracanã — singing on the metro, sharing a pre-match drink, then standing shoulder-to-shoulder as thousands cheer and chant around you. It’s loud, messy, and unforgettable in all the right ways.
Tijuca National Park jeep tour: Rainforest wildlife and waterfallA half-day jeep tour from Rio de Janeiro into Tijuca National Park, one of the world's largest urban forests, combines jeep transport with guided nature walks along rainforest trails. You'll move through Atlantic Forest habitat where monkeys, sloths, coatis and birds live without enclosure, and stop at Cachoeira dos Macacos, a 35-meter waterfall with a natural pool. The itinerary shifts with weather and seasonal closures (Vista Chinesa access runs Monday to Friday only). Round-trip jeep transport, professional guidance in English, Spanish or Portuguese, and passenger insurance are included.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to move through a working rainforest on foot rather than watch wildlife from a distance—the animals here are wild and free, so what you encounter depends on timing and luck, not on a schedule or a feeding area. The four-hour half-day format fits a morning or afternoon slot without consuming your whole day, and the jeep handles the transport logistics so you focus on the forest itself.
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: Private City Tour, Custom Itinerary & PickupYou’ll feel like you’re seeing Rio de Janeiro through local eyes—choosing your own sights from Christ the Redeemer to hidden corners in Santa Teresa. Expect real conversations with your guide, time for spontaneous stops (and snacks), plus hotel pickup and comfy transport throughout your private day trip.
Rio de Janeiro: Private Half-Day Tour with Last-Minute PickupYou’ll ride through Rio de Janeiro with a local guide, seeing Christ the Redeemer up close before wandering Santa Teresa’s backstreets and snapping photos on the Selarón Steps. Expect spontaneous stops, quick laughs, and real slices of city life—all with flexible timing and easy hotel pickup.
Rio de Janeiro: Family Cooking Class with 9 Brazilian DishesYou’ll step into a real Rio kitchen where your family gets hands-on with nine classic Brazilian recipes—chopping, mixing, tasting alongside a welcoming local host. Kids can make mocktails while adults try unlimited caipirinhas, and everyone shares stories around the table. It’s relaxed, funny, sometimes messy—and you’ll leave with new skills plus recipes to bring Brazil home.
Petrópolis Imperial City Tour & Museum with LunchYou’ll wander Petrópolis’ imperial streets with a local guide, explore royal treasures inside the Imperial Museum (tickets included), and pause for a hearty Brazilian buffet lunch near the palace grounds. Expect cool mountain air, quiet corners for photos at Crystal Palace, and small surprises along the way — it’s not just history; it’s stepping into another rhythm for a day.
Rio Surf Lesson: Barra da Tijuca Beach & Local CoastlineYou meet at Barra da Tijuca, get fitted with a board and wetsuit, and spend ninety minutes in the water learning to catch waves at a beach chosen for your skill level that day. The instructor drives you along the coast to find the best conditions, then takes you to a lesser-known viewpoint afterward. All equipment is included, and groups stay small so the teaching stays personal. The whole outing is four hours, and you leave knowing you've surfed where locals do, not where the crowds are.Is it for me?Right for anyone who wants to learn to surf in Rio without ending up at a packed tourist beach — the instructor's choice of where to go means you're in water that matches your ability, and you see the coastline the way locals do.
Rio de Janeiro: Morro Dois Irmãos Sunrise Hike & VidigalYou ride a motorbike to the top of Vidigal favela, hike for an hour along a local trail to Morro Dois Irmãos, and watch the sunrise over Rio de Janeiro from the summit. On the descent, your guide walks you through the community, sharing its history and the social projects your booking supports. The whole experience takes a few hours and includes the motorbike lift and trail access.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want to see Rio from a vantage point most tourists miss and are willing to start before dawn and hike uphill to get there — the early hour and the motorbike ride are what make the sunrise possible and the community walk real.
Rio: Christ the Redeemer & Sugarloaf Mountain with PickupYou get picked up from your hotel, driven through Tijuca Forest to Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado Mountain, then taken to Sugarloaf where two cable car rides bring you to the 1,295-foot summit. Your guide handles the commentary in your language, entry tickets are included, and you're back at your hotel after five hours. It's built for travelers with limited time who want both views without arranging transport or tickets themselves.Is it for me?Right for travelers with a few hours in Rio who want both landmarks without arranging transport or tickets. The five-hour window is what makes visiting two mountains possible in one morning or afternoon.
Petropolis Day Trip from Rio: Imperial Museum, Crystal Palace & Private AccessYou’ll step into palaces and museums filled with royal secrets, wander Petropolis’ European-style streets with your guide sharing local stories, and see the famous Crystal Palace glow in afternoon light. Includes hotel pickup from Rio plus entry tickets—expect small surprises and real moments along the way.
Tijuca Peak hiking tour Rio de Janeiro: Summit and waterfallA guided hike through Tijuca National Park to Tijuca Peak, Rio de Janeiro's highest summit, with hotel pickup, park entry and a waterfall swim included. The route passes Vista Chinesa or São Conrado Beach (depending on the day), Taunay Waterfall and Baronesa Waterfall, with a certified guide speaking English, Spanish or Portuguese. The trek takes five to six hours and requires moderate fitness; the itinerary may shift based on weather or park conditions.Is it for me?Pick the private option if you want the guide to adjust pace and stops to your interests; pick the shared tour if you prefer to hike with others and split costs.
Electric Bike Tour Rio: Historic Center to CopacabanaAn electric bike tour of Rio de Janeiro's historic center and beaches, guided in English, Spanish or Portuguese, covering the Selarón Steps, Lapa Arches, Cinelândia, Flamengo Park and Copacabana Beach. The tour lasts three to four hours and includes a helmet, professional photos and videos shot on Ray Ban Meta smart glasses, and a coconut water stop with views of Sugarloaf Mountain.Is it for me?Choose this if you want to cover Rio's historic center and beaches in one guided ride on an e-bike, leaving your afternoon free for lunch or a second activity.
Rio de Janeiro: Private Guide & Driver, 4-Passenger SedanYou get a private driver and English-speaking local guide for a full-day Rio tour hitting Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, the Selarón Steps, the Portuguese Reading Room, and historic downtown churches and monasteries. The itinerary is flexible — you choose the start time and duration — and the small-group format (up to four passengers) means no rushing or waiting for strangers. Complimentary water is provided, and the fixed private rate removes the negotiation at the end of the day.Is it for me?This works well if you want to see Rio's main sights and neighborhoods without arranging transport, entry logistics, or timing yourself — the private format and local knowledge mean you move at your own pace and learn the stories behind each stop, not just the photo angles.
Rio: Pedra do Telégrafo Hike & Grumari Beach Day TripYou hike 3.6 kilometers to Rio's famous Pedra do Telégrafo rock formation, take the photos that look impossible, then descend and swim at Grumari Beach. A bilingual guide handles the route and timing, hotel pickup is included, and the whole day takes 6 to 7 hours. Book on a weekday if you can to avoid crowds.Is it for me?Book this if you want the famous Pedra do Telégrafo photo and a beach swim in one morning without arranging your own transport or timing the crowds—the guide and fixed schedule handle both, leaving you to focus on the hike and the view.
