Top Rio de Janeiro Cultural Tours

Get an in-depth local experience with this walking tour of one of Rio's "favelas," Rocinha. Follow your resident guide through the slum to get an insider's perspective on daily life and learn about the challenges these communities face. Upgrade your experience to a 2-day tour that includes a visit to Tijuca Forest.

Guided tour of the historic city center. On this tour you will be introduced to Rio de Janeiro within its historical context. Focusing on architecture and multicultural traditions, which define a unique way of being and living the "carioca". We will walk towards the knowledge and traditions of the City. We will visit squares, churches, and historic sites. There will be the possibility of stopping for lunch, which is not included in the price of the tour. You will spend a maximum of 10 USD per person. We will pass by souvenir shops where the purchase will be optional. We will wait for you for this adventure through the streets of Rio de Janeiro.

Explore the Rocinha with whom you live and know the territory. This tour offers a safe and authentic immersion in Brazil’s largest favela, guided by a local resident. The journey begins with a motorcycle-taxi ride and includes stops at strategic points that reveal the daily life of the community, away from stereotypes. The experience is educational, respectful and built on the basis of real experience, promoting conscious tourism and the dialogue about social transformation through education.

Get a glimpse into local life in Rio de Janeiro during a favela tour that reveals a different side of the Marvelous City. In an intimate group limited to 12 travelers, you’ll explore two of the largest favelas in Rio, and benefit from the local insight of a guide as you learn more about living conditions in the city.

Explore the Carnival Factory, for a peek behind the scenes of Rio's Carnival, on this cultural tour. Learn how the parade's famous floats and costumes are produced. Listen to commentary on the history of samba and carnival, then hit the dressing rooms to try on some costumes and take some photos. Wind up with a cocktail and a samba class for the whole carnival experience.

Visit some of the most avoided areas of Rio de Janeiro with a guide who knows the areas well and knows how to keep you safe during this Rio de Janeiro Rocinha Favela Walking Tour. You’ll visit a few favelas within just a few hours as your guide tells you about the communities and their culture. Follow paths locals walk every day to see the slums and take in hilltop views of the city.

Favela da Rocinha is the largest favela in Rio, located in the South Zone. With this tour, join a local family-run tour to experience the rich history, culture, and heritage of Rio as you learn about life in the favelas. Explore the alleys of the favela on a guided walking tour, peek inside the shops and restaurants, and learn about local cultural projects

Get an overview of Rio's most important sights during this comprehensive day tour. With your guide, tick off Christ the Redeemer statue, the Selarón Steps, Maracanã Stadium, and the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian. If you upgrade to the premium option, you can even take the cable car to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain, plus stop for lunch in one of the city's best steakhouses. Round-trip, air-conditioned transportation from Rio hotels is included.

Discover Rio de Janeiro from its history, architecture and cultural influences that have shaped the way you are Carioca. We will walk through squares, churches and historic sites, with the possibility of a break for a snack or coffee at the traditional Colombo Confectionery (not included in the tour price).

Save hours trying to navigate between Rio de Janeiro's top sights with an express tour that seamlessly transports you from spot to spot—a welcome break from the city's heat and humidity. In just a few hours, check off top attractions, such as Christ the Redeemer, the Selaron Steps, Arcos da Lapa, and the Maracana Stadium—all while a guide fills you in on the area's history and culture.

Time travel to the future during this flexible-length guided tour and transfer to Rio de Janeiro’s brand-new Museum of Tomorrow. Admire the eye-catching design of this ‘experimental museum’ (the building was designed by ‘starchitect’ Santiago Calatrava) discovering a range of exhibits covering topics including environmental sustainability, science, art, technology and culture. A range of on-site amenities including gardens, cycling paths and a reflection pool add to the atmosphere. A guide, entrance fee and round-trip hotel transport are covered.

Reach the iconic Christ the Redeemer Statue (Cristo Redentor) without having to break a sweat on a Rio de Janeiro sightseeing tour that transports you to the top of Corcovado Hill in air-conditioned comfort—so you don’t have to wait for the train. Enjoy free time at the gift shop and plenty of time to take photos at one of the New7Wonders of the World.

Trip to Petropolis with transfer included. Discover the Imperial City with the No. 1 agency in Rio, without intermediaries. Discover Petrópolis and discover how this small city became the Capital of the Empire of Brazil. A picturesque place, full of history and culture. With its pleasant climate and beautiful architecture, the city was for many years the home of Dom Pedro II, Emperor of Brazil, being present at the most important moments of our country. An exciting tour that will make you relive the history of Imperial Brazil.

Have a real experience of what the Favela was like and today! Russo Guia, has been working for 20 years within Vidigal, 17 years in a small local business, and for over 2 as a guide. With it you will have an experience that only a resident can provide, besides valuing the local culture, Qualification, took a local Guide training course by INADH, National Institute of Human Development .Currently taking another Protur Tourism Guide Course, knows and is well known within Vidigal Script: - Sitiê Ecological Park, former dump and today a place for environmental education and vegetable garden! - Vidigal Olympic Village and graffiti court from above! - Arvrão: place with the best panoramic view and the famous bars Bar da Laje, Mirante do Arvrão and Alto Vidigal - Pope's Chapel: place visited by Pope John Paul II in 1980! - Arts shortcut: graffiti wall (Graffiti by local artist @ tarm1 on instagran and other outside artists!)

Discover the best of Rio de Janeiro on this full-day guided tour with lunch. Take the Corcovado train up to the Christ the Redeemer statue, take a cable car ride up to the Sugarloaf Mountain, see the famed Maracana soccer stadium, capture beautiful photos in front of the colorful Selaron Steps, and much more. This tour is also inclusive of a delicious barbecue buffet lunch at a local steakhouse.

Stroll through the streets of Rio de Janeiro's historic city center and discover the fascinating history of the 'marvelous city' and Brazil on this private guided tour. Your guide will create your itinerary or customize it based on your preferences. Either way, you will see Rio's most-important landmarks and hear its history come to life.

Enjoy a flexible, fully customized way to experience Rio de Janeiro—and opt to visit the sights that interest you most—on this private, full-day sightseeing tour. Traveling aboard a private vehicle makes getting around seamless. Choose to stop at major landmarks including Christ the Redeemer, Sugar Loaf Mountain, and the Selaron Steps (admission tickets own expense). You can also explore the historic city center, visit Tijuca Forest, or discover bohemian Santa Teresa.

Explore Rio’s bohemian neighborhood of Santa Teresa, famous for being home to several artists, on this half-day tour. Take a guided tour through the streets where you can find local bars, craft shops, artists' workshops, and 20th-century mansions. You also visit Ruinas Park where you can enjoy stunning views of downtown Rio and visit the cultural center.

And an opportunity to learn to samba with a carnival queen of Rio de Janeiro. Besides having a lot of fun, you will learn to sambar ....

Whether you only have a one-day layover or cruise stop in Rio, or simply want to maximize your time, this classic tour itinerary covers all the highlights. Head up to the top of Corcovado Mountain to see the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue, stop at the Maracanã football stadium and the Sambódromo, pose for photos by the colorful Selarón Steps in Lapa, and ride the cable car to Sugar Loaf Mountain for a panoramic view over the city.

You'll experience Rio's historic centre and revitalised old port district by electric pedicab, a fun, safe and sustainable way to breathe in centuries of the city's stories and appreciate its beauty. We'll meet in front of the Municipal Theatre, and from there embark on a tour of some of the most popular sites of Lapa, the city centre and port. Along the way you'll be able to stop at the attractions, hear about the significance of the site, and take photos. Our itinerary is highly Instagramable! Our modern pedicabs visit many places that are inaccessible to cars, and cover three times more ground than is possible on a walking tour. They are also a joyful means of transport, and unlike a car they allow you to soak in the atmosphere of the city. As much as possible we are flexible with the itinerary, and will try to substitute sites if guests have already visited any. At the end we will be glad to drop you at any of the museums, cultural sites or restaurants we pass on the tour.

Brazil’s deep ties with the cultures of the African continent are visible everywhere you visit in the country, but in Little Africa, you can learn more about the darker history of Rio’s first non-indigenous residents. Brought here by slave traders, African men, women and children first set foot in Brazil right here. See where slave markets were held, and visit houses, stores and graveyards. An important insight into Brazilian history.

See Rio's most important sights, including Christ the Redeemer atop Corcovado Mountain, during this comprehensive 5-hour guided tour. Visit Sao Conrado beach, a popular landing spot for hang gliders taking off from Pedra Bonita, to watch the gravity-defying adventurers soar high above the beach. Travel through Tijuca National Park's rainforest to the Christ the Redeemer statue, enjoying spectacular views over the city. Descend into the Santa Teresa neighborhood to visit the Escadaria Selaron and have lunch (own expense). Choose to return to your hotel or be dropped off at Sugar Loaf Mountain to view the sunset.