Welcome to Rio de Janeiro

Golden beaches and lush mountains, samba-fueled nightlife and spectacular football matches: welcome to the Cidade Maravilhosa (Marvelous City).

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Tropical Landscapes

Looking out from the 710m peak of Corcovado, you will see why Rio is called the Cidade Maravilhosa. Lushly forested mountains fringe the city, shimmering beaches trace the shoreline and a string of tiny islands lie scattered along the seafront. Far from being mere cinematic backdrop, this seaside beauty hosts outstanding outdoor adventures: hiking in the Tijuca rainforest, cycling alongside the lake and beaches, sailing across Baía de Guanabara (Guanabara Bay), and surfing, rock climbing and hang gliding amid one of the world's most stunning urban landscapes.

Captivating Beaches

Rio's beaches have long seduced visitors. Copacabana Beach became a symbol of Rio during the 1940s, when international starlets would jet in for the weekend. Hogging the spotlight these days is Ipanema Beach, its fame and beauty unabated since bossa nova stars Tom Jobim and Vinícius de Moraes introduced the world to its allure in the 1960s. For cariocas (residents of Rio), the beach is Rio's backyard – a playground that's free and open to all, offering endless enjoyment in the form of football, volleyball, surfing, snacking, drinking or simply relaxing amid the passing parade of people.

The Rhythms of Rio

Music is Rio's lifeblood, and the city's soundtrack comprises rock, old-school bossa nova, hip-hop, funk and Brazil's many regional styles. Above all there's samba, a rapid-fire style of music with African influences and an infectious beat that is synonymous with Rio. You can hear it all over town, but the soul of samba resides in Lapa, an edgy red-light district that's home to dozens of live-music halls and an enormous weekend street party that draws revelers from all walks of life. Samba is also the integral sound during Carnaval, and the danceable backing music to street parties and all-night parades.

Joie de Vivre

Speaking of Carnaval, Rio knows how to party. Whether you call it joie de vivre, Lebensfreude or lust for life, cariocas have it in spades. Carnaval, and the buildup to it, is the most obvious manifestation of this celebratory spirit. But Rio has many other occasions for revelry: celebrations after a big Flamengo (or Vasco, Fluminense or Botafogo) soccer match; weekend samba parties around town; baile funk parties in the favelas (slums, informal communities); and boat parties on the bay – not to mention major fests such as Réveillon (New Year's Eve) and the Festas Juninas.

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Top experiences in Rio de Janeiro

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Rio de Janeiro activities

$109.99 Tours & Sightseeing

Rio de Janeiro Full-Day Sightseeing Tour

ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this productPass By: Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de JaneiroAfter the pick-up we will start the tour from Copacabana Beach, one of the most famous beach in the world.Pass By: Guanabara Palace, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de JaneiroThe official residence of the State GovernorPass By: Tijuca National Park, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de JaneiroThe Tijuca Forest (Portuguese: Floresta da Tijuca) is a tropical rainforest in the city of Rio de Janeiro covering an area of roughly 32 km² (12.4 mi²). The tour will reach Tijuca Forest with a stop at Paineiras to board the official vehicles of the National Park Authority to be able to reach the top of the Corcovado Hill where The Christ The Redeemer Statue is located.Stop At: Corcovado Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de JaneiroFrom the top of Corcovado Hill you will be able to admire The Christ of the Redeemer statue, which has 38m in height and was made of reinforced concrete clad in a mosaic of thousands of triangular soapstone tiles, and also will have a chance to see some of the most beautiful views of the city.Duration: 45 minutesStop At: Mirante Dona Marta, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de JaneiroOnly in case of poor visibility on the summit of the Corcovado, we will make an alternative stop at Mirante Dona Marta which offers one of the most incredible views of the city, guaranteeing the title of one of the most visited tourist attractions in Rio de Janeiro. From there, you can see the Sugar Loaf Mountain, the Cristo Redentor, the Maracanã, the Guanabara Bay and the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon.Duration: 25 minutesPass By: Boticario Square, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de JaneiroThe Largo do Boticário (Apothecary's Square) is a square in the Cosme Velho neighbourhood of the city of Rio de Janeiro. The area is characterised by large, neo-colonial houses and Atlantic Forest vegetation.Stop At: Morro da Urca, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de JaneiroThis hill, 220 meters high, has at its peak the first stop of the cable car towards the Sugar Loaf.From the top of Morro da Urca you have spectacular views of various points of the city, such as the beaches of Leme, Copacabana, Ipanema, Flamengo, Leblon, Pedra da Gávea, Tijuca Massif, Corcovado with a statue of Cristo Redentor, Guanabara Bay, Enseada Botafogo, Downtown, Santos Dumont Airport, Governador Island, Niterói, Rio-Niterói Bridge and, in the background, the Serra do Mar and the Dedo de Deus peak.Duration: 25 minutesStop At: Sugarloaf Mountain, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de JaneiroWe will travel to the top in two steps by cable car. The first will take you to Urca Hill, at the height of 220 meters above sea level where you already will have great views from Baia de Guanabara. From there, after enjoying the views for a bit, will take the second cable car all the way to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain, 396 meters above sea level. From up there, you will have a chance to see the most breathtaking views of Rio de Janeiro and will definitely understand why everyone says that Rio is “The wonderful city”Duration: 25 minutesStop At: Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de JaneiroAfter lunch, the tour starts with a visit to the Maracanã Stadium (outside only) where we will have a quick stop outside for pictures at the Bellini’s statue, a famous captain who led Brazil’s soccer team to win the World Soccer Cup in 1958. Duration: 10 minutesStop At: Sambodromo da Marques de Sapucai, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de JaneiroAfter seeing Maracanã Stadium we will head to the Sambadrome, which is the stadium for the city's main Carnival parade. We will then stop to take some photos and to try on the famous Samba School costumes used during Carnival.Duration: 30 minutesStop At: The Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de JaneiroAs we continue through the city, we will see the Lapa Arches, Lavradio street and Avenida Chile. There we will visit the cone-shaped Metropolitan Cathedral, a major landmark in this Brazilian city and a masterpiece of modern art. With architecture inspired by the Mayan pyramids of Mexico, the conical shape is believed to give proximity to God. Four stained glass windows run from floor to ceiling forming a cross at the top. You will notice that acoustics are great in there!Duration: 20 minutesPass By: Carioca Aqueduct, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de JaneiroThe Carioca Aqueduct is located in the centre of the city, in the Lapa neighbourhood, and is frequently called Arcos da Lapa (Lapa Arches) by Brazilian people. Since the end of the 19th century the aqueduct serves as a bridge for a popular tram that connects the city centre with the Santa Teresa neighbourhood uphill, the Santa Teresa Tramway.Stop At: Escadaria Selaron, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de JaneiroNext we will visit the Escadaria Selarón (Selaron stairs), a colorful tiled stairway, work of a self-taught Chilean artist Jorge Selarón. Having traveled the world, Selarón moved to Rio in 1983, in a tiny house just in front of the desolate stairway connecting the areas of Lapa and Santa Teresa. 215 steps that he entirely covered with tiles collected in urban areas of Rio or donated by visitors from all around the world. Since 1990, Selarón has laid over 2000 tiles, mainly red-colored: unique pieces representing a “tribute to the Brazilian people”.Duration: 25 minutesStop At: Sao Bento Monastery, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de JaneiroFollowing we will then visit the São Bento Monastery. A place of monastic simplicity that is one of the most beautiful architectural complexes in Brazil where there is a surprising contrast between the austere, purposefully simple appearance of the exterior and the richness of the interior highlighting gilded Baroque engravings with plants motifs. See for yourself the exuberant Rococo style in the engraving on the high altar, followed by a view of the dome and the Chapel of the Santíssimo Sacramento.Duration: 25 minutesPass By: Ipanema Beach, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de JaneiroIpanema is a neighborhood located in the South Zone, between Leblon and Arpoador. The beach at Ipanema became known internationally with the popularity of the bossa nova jazz song, "The Girl from Ipanema" ("Garota de Ipanema"), written by Antônio Carlos Jobim and Vinícius de Moraes.Pass By: Leblon Beach, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de JaneiroSeparated from its more famous neighbour, Ipanema, by a narrow canal, Leblon is one of the most exclusive neighbourhoods in Rio, and accommodation here comes at a price.
$109 Tours & Sightseeing

Christ Redeemer, Sugar Loaf and Corcovado Mountain from Rio

The morning tour starts with a panoramic tour of downtown Rio where you'll pass by the infamous Sambadrome, the exhibition area for the renowned Samba schools in Rio. A brief stop is made at the Metropolitan Cathedral, made famous for its unusual pyramid shape. Admire its beauty and rareness from both the outside and the inside! Drive through downtown Rio and stop at the Metropolitan Cathedral. Then head towards the Urca neighborhood, where one of Rio's most iconic symbols is located, Sugar Loaf Mountain. Traveling up Sugar Loaf mountain on a cable car, you'll make a brief stop at a vantage point at approximately 700 feet (215 meters) above sea level. Capture unparalleled panoramic views of the city, Guanabara Bay, the Rio-Niteroi Bridge and Corcovado Mountain. You'll then ascend to the peak of Sugar Loaf for breathtaking views of Copacabana Beach, the Santa Cruz Fortress and the beaches of Niteroi. You'll then enjoy lunch (included in the price) at a local restaurant before starting the afternoon portion of the tour. After lunch, you can either go to the Cosme Velho train station passing through the Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas district (except on Sundays) or go by van cruising through the Tijuca rainforest up to the 125 foot (38 meter) iconic Christ Redeemer Statue. You'll spend approximately 45 minutes at the statue where you can capture once in a lifetime photo opportunities. After the train ride back down, you'll be dropped back off at your hotel.Alternatively, if you are taking the 6 hour option, start by going straight to Christ Redeemer by Van to catch the views from the top and then drive through Santa Teresa to make your way to Sugar Loaf and get back to the hotel just in time for  lunch.Please be mindful when selecting as we offer options with and without tickets.
$105.71 Day Trips & Excursions

Early Access to Christ the Redeemer with Sugar Loaf Upgrade

ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this productStop At: Corcovado Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de JaneiroEnjoy the spectacular view from Corcovado to take stunning pictures from the mountain. Then continue the journey to the Sugar Loaf where we will close the day with stunning panoramic views across Rio de Janeiro.Christ the Redeemer is an Art Deco statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The statue is 30 metres tall, not including its 8-metre pedestal, and its arms stretch 28 metres. The statue is located at the peak of the Corcovado mountain in the Tijuca Forest National Park overlooking the city of Rio. The statue has become a cultural icon of both Rio de Janeiro and Brazil, and is listed as one of the New Seven Wonders of the WorldDuration: 1 hourStop At: Sugarloaf Mountain, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de JaneiroSugarloaf Mountain (Portuguese: Pão de Açúcar) is a peak situated in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at the mouth of Guanabara Bay on a peninsula that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean. Its name is said to refer to its resemblance to the traditional shape of concentrated refined loaf sugar. It is known worldwide for its cableway and panoramic views of the city.The mountain is one of several monolithic granite and quartz mountains that rise straight from the water’s edge around Rio de Janeiro. The mountain is protect- ed by the Sugarloaf Mountain and Urca Hill Natural Monument, created in 2006. This became part of a World Heritage Site declared by UNESCO in 2012.Duration: 1 hourStop At: Rio de Janeiro History and Arts Museum, Niteroi, State of Rio de JaneiroIf the option is selected we’ll take you on a panoramic tour of the main spots of the city, such as the outsides of Maracana Stadium, the Sambódromo, the Municipal Cathedral and Selaron stairs.Duration: 1 hour
$36 Kid Friendly

Sugar Loaf Mountain Half-Day Tour

ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this productPass By: Leblon Beach, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de JaneiroSee Leblon BeachPass By: Ipanema Beach, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de JaneiroSee Ipanema BeachPass By: Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de JaneiroSee Copacabana BeachPass By: Guanabara Palace, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de JaneiroSee Guanabara PalacePass By: Sambodromo da Marques de Sapucai, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de JaneiroSee the Sambadrome, where the Samba School Parade happens every year.Stop At: The Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de JaneiroSee from outside and get inside the iconic CathedralDuration: 15 minutesPass By: Aterro Do Flamengo, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de JaneiroSee the beautiful Aterro do FlamengoPass By: Botafogo Bay, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de JaneiroSee Botafogo's shoreStop At: Morro da Urca, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de JaneiroThe first cable car takes you to Urca Hill, a vantage point 215 meters high for which already grants beautiful views of Guanabara Bay and its islands, Flamengo and Botafogo beaches, Santos Dummont Airport, the Rio-Niterói Bridge, Urca’s neighborhood and Corcovado Mountain.Duration: 10 minutesStop At: Sugarloaf Mountain, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de JaneiroA second cable car takes you up to the top. When you get there, you will understand why Rio is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world. At 395 meters you’ll enjoy breathtaking views from Copacabana beach, Niterói and the Santa Cruz fortress. From up there, you will have no trouble understanding why Rio is nicknamed “Wonderful City”.Duration: 40 minutes
$36 Tours & Sightseeing

Corcovado Mountain and Christ Redeemer Statue Half-Day Tour

Your half-day tour to Corcovado takes you to the Cosme Velho station to catch the cog train. The steep train journey takes you through the dense Atlantic rain forest of Tijuca to the Art Deco statue of Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado mountain. You'll spend up to an hour here with your tour guide, who will show you the sights of Rio from this incredible mountain-top vantage point. Take your time to check splendid views from the top of Corcovado Mountain and take the best pictures ever. o don't forget your camera! After a wonderful experience, you will be taken back to your hotel in Rio de Janeiro.Please be mindful when selecting as we offer options with and without tickets.
$59 Cultural & Theme Tours

Small-Group Santa Teresa Discovery Tour from Rio de Janeiro

Enjoy discovering the neighborhood of Santa Teresa on this discovery tour from Rio de Janeiro! Get a feel for how locals get around the huge city of Rio as you take the subway downtown with your local guide. Wander through the financial district and visit Carioca Square, once the main source of drinking water in Rio. Then, hop on a tram (the only one in Rio) and head to the neighborhood of Santa Teresa on a 20-minute ride to the top of the hill (Note: The tram is under construction so you will take a bus up to Santa Teresa until the tram is complete).Discover the charm and beauty of Santa Teresa as you wander by foot through the winding, narrow cobblestone streets. Once home to upper-class residents, Santa Teresa is now an artistic hotspot. Admire beautiful architecture learn about the history of the area as you make your way around the neighborhood with your guide. Located on a high hill overlooking Rio, you'll have a perfect view of the city and bay below.As you make your way back down the hill, drop by Carmelitas’ Convent and walk down the famous Selarón Staircase, created by Chilean-born artist Jorge Selarón.
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