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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Tijuca National Park hiking tour: Waterfalls and rainforestA guided hike through Tijuca National Park in Rio de Janeiro takes you to a 35-meter waterfall at the start or end depending on weather and group pace, plus at least two smaller waterfalls where you can swim and rest. The tour runs 4 to 5 hours with a certified guide in your choice of language, park entry included, and covers the forest's history—from old coffee plantations to its current role as an urban refuge. Moderate fitness is needed; the hike is not recommended for pregnant travelers or those with cardiovascular concerns.Is it for me?Reach three waterfalls and swim in a real rainforest within four to five hours, leaving your afternoon free to explore the city.
Rio de Janeiro: Sailing Tour with Open Bar & Sunset ViewsYou’ll board a sailboat in Rio de Janeiro for three hours of city views from the water—Sugarloaf and Corcovado included—with stops for swimming and plenty of laughs over fresh caipirinhas. Expect fruit snacks, local stories from your guide, and an open bar as sunset colors spill across Guanabara Bay.
Rio de Janeiro: Private City Tour with Custom Itinerary & PickupYou’ll feel Rio’s real rhythm on this private city tour—pausing where you want along Copacabana Beach, hearing local stories from your guide, skipping lines and crowds. With door-to-door pickup and flexible stops, you’ll experience both famous sights and everyday moments that stick with you long after you leave.
Rio de Janeiro: Museum of Tomorrow, AquaRio & Olympic Boulevard TourYou’ll ride through Rio de Janeiro’s transformed port zone with a local guide, meet sea creatures at AquaRio, snap photos by Kobra’s massive mural, and step inside the futuristic Museum of Tomorrow—all with hotel pickup included. Expect lively street scenes, surprising moments of calm beneath aquarium glass, and maybe even a new way of seeing Rio by day’s end.
Rio de Janeiro Airport Transfer: Private Bilingual Driver & Luxury CarYou’ll be greeted by a local driver right at your arrival gate in Rio de Janeiro for private transportation in a comfortable air-conditioned car. Enjoy easy conversation in English or Portuguese as you cross the city — no stress about directions or heavy bags. With flexible pickup times and door-to-door drop-off included, you’ll start your time in Rio feeling genuinely welcomed.
Rio: Sugarloaf Mountain Rock Climb & Hike with Cable CarYou hike the Costão route up Sugarloaf Mountain's east face, stopping for views of Guanabara Bay and the Atlantic, then complete a 15-meter guided rock climb midway up with all safety gear provided. At the summit you get the full Rio panorama — Christ the Redeemer, Copacabana, Niterói — before descending by cable car. The whole experience takes a few hours and includes a certified multilingual guide, all climbing equipment, and the cable car ride down.Is it for me?Book this if you want to climb Sugarloaf Mountain without needing prior experience or your own gear — the certified guide and included equipment mean you show up ready, and the cable car descent saves you from hiking back down tired.
Rio Walking Tour: Old Town, Olympic Legacy & Hidden GemsYou’ll walk through Rio’s real heart—old churches echoing with history, vibrant street art by Mauá Square, and hidden bakeries locals swear by. This tour isn’t just sightseeing; it’s stories and flavors you’d miss on your own.
Sugarloaf Mountain Hike: Costao Trail with Rock ClimbingHike the Costao trail to the summit of Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro, scrambling up steep terrain and climbing a vertical rock section with full safety equipment and a certified guide. The ascent takes two to three hours, with views over Guanabara Bay and the city's beaches; you descend by cable car to Morro da Urca, then walk an easy forest trail back to the start. No prior climbing or hiking experience is required.Is it for me?Choose this hike if you want to climb Sugarloaf itself rather than ride to the top—the vertical pitch and the scrambles are what make the views yours, and the guide's presence and safety gear are what make the climbing feel secure without prior experience.
Rio de Janeiro: Street Art Walking Tour & Selaron TributeYou’ll walk Rio’s lively Copacabana streets with a local guide, see murals by major artists, and pause at Selaron’s resting place for an intimate tribute. Expect real stories behind each piece, unexpected quiet moments, and time to wander through neighborhoods where art spills onto every surface.
Rio de Janeiro: Garganta do Céu Hike & Sorimã Waterfall SwimYou’ll hike a wild forest trail above Rio with a local guide, scramble up to Garganta do Céu for rare panoramic city views, then cool off with a swim in Sorimã Waterfall before heading back down through Tijuca’s greenery. Expect muddy shoes, honest stories, and moments you’ll replay long after you’re home.
Rio de Janeiro: Private 8-Hour Tour with Christ the Redeemer & SugarloafYou choose the landmarks—Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf, beaches, museums, or neighborhoods—and a certified local guide drives you between them in a private car with hotel pickup included. Eight hours means you can fit two or three major stops without rushing, and the guide adjusts the pace based on what holds your attention. Groups stay small, under fourteen people, so the van doesn't feel crowded and the driver can actually park where you need to be.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want Rio's highlights without a fixed itinerary or shared group—you pick the stops, the guide handles the driving and the stories. Plan for a full day out, which is what makes fitting multiple neighborhoods and landmarks into one trip possible.
Private Rio de Janeiro Hidden Gems Tour: Beyond Typical SightsA private custom tour of Rio de Janeiro with a live guide in multiple languages, visiting Lage Palace and Leblon Viewpoint as fixed stops, then branching into nature, history or art attractions based on what you choose. Pickup from any Rio hotel, airport or port is included; no entrance fees apply. The tour runs 8 to 9 hours plus an optional lunch break, and you can request Santa Teresa as a substitute focus.Is it for me?Book this if you're on your second day in Rio and want to see what locals know instead of what guidebooks repeat—the fixed stops anchor the day while your choice of focus (nature, history or art) shapes what you discover. The private vehicle and guide mean the pace stays yours, and pickup from your hotel or airport removes the logistics of getting to the starting point.
Rio: Pedra da Gavea Hike & Climb with Pickup & GearYou’ll push yourself hiking Pedra da Gavea from Rio—climbing roots, scrambling rocks, then abseiling down with a local guide handling safety gear. Expect rainforest scents, wild city views from 844 meters up, and real moments of silence at the summit before heading back tired and proud.
Rio de Janeiro: Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf & Private PickupYou’ll ride a mountain train through rainforest to Christ the Redeemer, wander Lapa’s tiled steps with your guide’s stories echoing around you, and glide by cable car above Rio’s rooftops on Sugarloaf Mountain. Expect laughter over language mix-ups and moments of real silence when the city opens up beneath you—it sticks with you long after you leave.
Rio Downtown: Olympic Boulevard & Museum of Tomorrow Walking TourYou get picked up from your South Zone hotel and spend a half-day walking through Rio's downtown with a professional guide who speaks your language. You see the Olympic Cauldron, walk through colonial alleys, visit the São Bento Monastery and Museum of Tomorrow from the inside, and pass the major landmarks — Candelaria Church, Paço Imperial, Teles Arch — without arranging transport or figuring out which street to turn down. The guide handles the timing and the stories; you handle the walking shoes.Is it for me?Book this if you want the main downtown Rio landmarks and post-Olympic sites in one morning without arranging your own transport or figuring out which streets matter — the guide and the fixed pickup handle both, and the half-day format leaves your afternoon free.
Rio Airport Transfer: Private Car & English-Speaking DriverYou book the transfer, send your flight details, receive your driver's photo and phone number, and walk straight from baggage claim to a waiting car with your name on it. The driver handles the route, parking, and timing while you settle in with water and air conditioning. No negotiation, no uncertainty, no separate payment at the curb.Is it for me?Choose this if you land in Rio with luggage and want the friction of airport transport removed — no queue, no fare negotiation, no uncertainty about who's picking you up or where the car is going. The fixed price and advance driver information are what make that possible.
Walking tour Santa Teresa & Lapa: Yellow tram, Selarón StepsA walking tour of Santa Teresa and Lapa neighborhoods in Rio de Janeiro, led by a certified guide in English or Portuguese, that starts with the famous yellow tram ride up to the district, then moves through colonial streets and the Selarón Steps before ending at Cinelândia square. The tour runs three and a half hours and includes a drink—caipirinha, beer, soda, juice or water. Pickup is included; the walk suits all fitness levels but is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, cardiovascular concerns or pregnancy.Is it for me?Pick this if you're staying outside Santa Teresa and want to move through two neighborhoods on foot—the tram gets you there, and the walk connects you directly to Lapa without backtracking.
Rio de Janeiro: Christ the Redeemer & Selarón Steps TourYou visit Christ the Redeemer with entry included and a bilingual guide, walk the Selarón Steps, see Copacabana Beach and the Sambadrome, and pass through the Maracanã Stadium and Tijuca Forest in an air-conditioned vehicle with hotel pickup. The tour covers Rio's main sights in one day without arranging separate tickets or transport.Is it for me?Book this if you've just arrived in Rio and want the main sights in one organized day without buying separate tickets or figuring out transport — the guide and vehicle handle both, which is what makes hitting five landmarks possible without a car rental or multiple trips.
Rio de Janeiro Airport Transfer: Private Roundtrip to HotelYou arrive at the airport, present your voucher to the waiting driver, and ride directly to your Rio hotel without arranging transport, negotiating a fare, or navigating unfamiliar roads. The same driver collects you at your hotel at a time you choose and takes you back to the airport for departure. English-speaking staff, 24/7 availability, and a price locked in before you travel.Is it for me?Book this if you land with luggage and want to reach your hotel without negotiating a fare at the curb or renting a car—the driver waits at arrivals and the price is set before you arrive, which is what turns a transfer into one less thing to think about.
Rio Airport Transfer: Copacabana, Ipanema & Leblon with Flight TrackingYou skip the taxi queue and arrive at your Rio hotel without arranging transport or worrying about delays. A driver meets you at arrivals with your name, tracks your flight, and takes you directly to Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon or nearby—up to four passengers, luggage included, in a private air-conditioned car. The fixed price covers everything, even if your flight is late.Is it for me?Book this if you land in Rio and want to skip the taxi line and arrive at your hotel without arranging transport or worrying about delays—the flight tracking is what makes the driver always ready, even if you're late.
