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5-Hour Rio's Essential Sights: Private Tour – Optional Airport & Port Pick-ups

Recommended by 100% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • 5 hours (approx.)
  • Pickup offered
  • Group discounts
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Overview

Visit Rio de Janeiro’s most famous landmarks comfortably and efficiently on a private tour. This sightseeing experience offers start times from early morning to late afternoon, making it perfect for shore excursions and long layovers. The Santa Teresa neighborhood, Christ the Redeemer, Selaron Steps, and Copacabana Beach are just a few of the itinerary highlights. From beginning to end, travel comfortably in air-conditioned transportation and enjoy engaging commentary from your guide.
  • Enjoy the personalized experience of a private tour
  • Get an overview of Rio de Janeiro’s top sights
  • Make the most of your limited time in the city
  • Learn about the city's history and culture

What's Included

  • Hotel, airport or port pick-up and drop-off. (Within Rio de Janeiro City)
  • VAT, all taxes, handling charges, parking fees during stops, airport / port Greet & Meet services.
  • Private driver for groups bigger than 4 people. Otherwise, the guide drives the vehicle themselves.
  • Professional licensed private tour guide.
  • Transport by fully-equipped vehicle.
  • Entrance fees.
  • Food and drinks.
  • Gratuities. (optional)

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

PICK-UP INFORMATION: • Wherever place you specify at the time of the booking. As it’s a private tour, you choose the best pick-up point that suits your needs as long as it's within the city of Rio de Janeiro limits. • We DO NOT do pick-ups in the countryside or too far from the city of Rio de Janeiro. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - DROP-OFF INSTRUCTIONS: • Wherever place you specify at the time of the booking. As it’s a private tour, you choose the best drop-off point that suits your needs as long as it's within the city of Rio de Janeiro limits. • We DO NOT do drop-offs in the countryside or too far from the city of Rio. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - AIRPORT / PORT ARRIVAL INSTRUCTIONS: • Once you have arrived at the airport or seaport there will be a member of our staff waiting for you at the arrivals area holding a clear sign with your name on it, they will then escort you to your waiting private vehicle. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - HOTEL PICK-UP INSTRUCTIONS: • As soon as the tour guide arrives at your hotel, they get the front desk to call you in the room in case you are not at the lobby.

Itinerary

Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon (Pass By)

1

Corcovado - Christ the Redeemer

40 minutesAdmission Ticket Not Included

2

Santa Teresa

20 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

3

Escadaria Selaron

20 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

Arcos da Lapa (Pass By)

4

Boulevard Olimpico

10 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

Museu do Amanhã (Pass By)

Painel Etnias (Pass By)

5

Sambodromo da Marques de Sapucai

10 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

6

Maracana Stadium

10 minutesAdmission Ticket Not Included

Ipanema Beach (Pass By)

Copacabana Beach (Pass By)

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Infant seats available
  • Most travelers can participate
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

5.0
based on 35 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Ask for Lenardo

robert_w, Mar 2026
Ask for Lenardo for your tour guide..he was Great...he was Great fetting us through Christ Redeemer quickly

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you, Robert! 😊 We're so glad to hear that Lenardo made your experience at Christ the Redeemer even better by getting you through quickly. We appreciate your kind words and will be sure to pass them along to him! 🌟

Best guide !!

Linda_B, Jan 2026
Tatiana was by far the best guide we have ever toured with. She was knowledgeable and very friendly. She worked hard to make our time together outstanding. Prior to our tour she was in touch with details and clear instructions as to where to meet and what we would do . She is obviously well known and respected by other guides in the area and managed to move us quickly and efficiently through long lines . If you are in Rio book a tour with Tatiana I assure you it would be an amazing experience.

Great guide

Malcolm_S, Jan 2026
This was an amazing way of seeing Rio in a short time. Our driver/guide, Pedro, was excellent. He arrived st our hotel on time despite the heavy traffic all around the city and asked us what we wanted to see. As both Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain were covered by very low cloud he suggested that we should start the trip in the National Park snd then see whether the weather improved during the afternoon. That was a really good suggestion and on our way to the NP he provided a lot of background information about the city, the region and the country of Brazil. Despite no improvement in the weather the rest of the tour ensured that we saw all the other main attractions of Rio. The beaches, the steps, the cathedral, the historic trams and the different types of architecture which had evolved over the years. Towards the end of the trip we stopped for coffee and chatted about our day and then he had one final surprise for us, an evening drive along the coast passing some favelas as the locals were arriving back home. Pedro started the tour as our guide and ended it as a friend! We thoroughly recommend him if you are in Rio!

A great tour!!

Robert_B, Dec 2025
This tour was WONDERFUL!! Our guide Sergio was extremely informative, and helpful to the point of installing us comfortably in an airport lounge when we got to the airport. hours before we could check in for our flight. We couldn’t have asked for more.

I would recommend this...

Igor_F, Apr 2025
I would recommend this tour to travelers who want to see all highlights of Rio de Janeiro on a short visit. Our driver Newton was a great guide and very accommodating to our needs and wishes.

Response from Host, Apr 2025

Thank you for the great recommendation! 😊 We're glad to hear that Newton made your visit to Rio even more special by being so accommodating. It's always a pleasure to help travelers make the most of their time! Hope to see you again soon! 🌟

Our guide, Fabio, was...

Carol_B, Jan 2025
Our guide, Fabio, was outstanding. He was knowledgeable, interesting and fun. He took excellent care of us, ensuring we saw everything we could in the time allocated. He was masterful in getting us through the crowds. He went above and beyond by coming into the airport with us and ensuring we were checked in for our flight. Our driver was exceptional as well. If we ever make it back to Rio, we will be requesting Fabio for another tour.

Response from Host, Feb 2025

Thank you so much for your wonderful review! 😊 We’re so happy to hear that Fabio provided such an outstanding experience, ensuring you saw everything possible and even assisting at the airport. ✈️🌆 His knowledge, energy, and ability to navigate the crowds truly make a difference! We’re also glad you had a great experience with our driver. We’d love to welcome you back to Rio—Fabio will be ready for your next adventure! 🚗✨

High recommendation!

Isabell_Z, Sep 2025
Great experience! We had a longer stay in Rio until our connecting flight and wanted to make good use of this time. Our tour guide Monika and driver have already been waiting for us at the airport. During the tour she was able to impart a lot of knowledge, she really knows great, speaks great German and has always responded to our wishes. We had a great time!
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Response from Host, Sep 2025

Vielen Dank für Ihre tolle Rückmeldung! 🌟 Es freut uns sehr zu hören, dass Sie Ihre Zeit in Rio mit Monika und unserem Fahrer so genießen konnten. Schön, dass die Erklärungen und die persönliche Betreuung Ihre Erwartungen erfüllt haben. Wir hoffen, Sie bald wieder bei uns begrüßen zu dürfen! 🙌

Rio de Janeiro essentiële bezienswaardigheden 5 uur prive tour (geboekt bij Viator).

R_W, Dec 2024
Rio de Janeiro essentiële bezienswaardigheden 5 uur prive tour (geboekt bij Viator). De dag vóór de tour ontvingen we op onze mobiele telefoon nogmaals een bericht van Gregtur Tourism Rio en van onze gids Ulysses Brum met daarbij een foto van het oppikpunt nabij de uitgang van de cruiseport. De Big graffity op de foto tegenover de uitgang was onmiskenbaar te herkennen. Omdat Rio het eindpunt van onze cruise was, hadden we twee koffers en een trolley bij ons, deze konden probleemloos met de tour mee in de kofferbak van de ruime auto. We hadden hier van te voren wel melding van gemaakt bij Grgtur Tourism en het bleek geen probleem. De gids sprak perfect Engels en vertelde veel interessante informatie over het land en de plaats Rio en nam de route door Rio met ons door. De rit door de stad ging o.a. langs Boulevard Olimpico richting Corcovado - Christ the Redeemer het beeld Christus de Verlosser. We werden langs de rijen met wachtende toeristen geloodst om enkele minuten later met een tandradbaan de berg op gaan. Het laatste stukje met een lift en een roltrap, erg ontspannend, we kwamen relaxt aan bij de voet van dit enorme Christus beeld. Daar maakte de gids nog een paar foto’s van ons met het beeld op de achtergrond en spraken we een tijd en punt waar we elkaar weer zouden ontmoeten. We hadden geluk me het weer, geen mist en droog weer. Het verre uitzicht was fenomenaal. Ook brachten we onder meer een bezoek aan de Escadaria Selarón, de gekleurde tegeltjes trap, en hadden we een stop bij de Copacabana Beach. Na de prachtig tour door Rio waar we veel interessante locaties hebben bezocht gingen we ter afsluiting, nog een extra stop maken bij de bijzondere Sint-Sebastiaankathedraal. Voor ons was het een hele geslaagde dag. we hebben we gezien wat we graag wilden zien. We werden bij de luchthaven afgezet met een voldaan gevoel dankzij onze gids Ulysses Brum en Gregtur Tourism Rio. R & A

Response from Host, Dec 2024

Bedankt voor deze prachtige en uitgebreide recensie! 😊 We zijn blij te horen dat Ulysses Brum en ons team je dag in Rio zo soepel en onvergetelijk hebben gemaakt. Het is geweldig om te weten dat alles, van het ophalen tot de zorg voor de bagage, vlekkeloos verliep. 🚐✨ Ulysses’ kennis en enthousiasme brengen de schoonheid van Rio echt tot leven, en we zijn blij dat je genoten hebt van de iconische bezienswaardigheden zoals Christus de Verlosser, de Escadaria Selarón en de Suikerbroodberg. Dat ontspannen moment op de top met dat geweldige uitzicht klinkt als magie! 🏞️💫 We hopen je in de toekomst weer te mogen verwelkomen voor meer unieke avonturen. Bedankt dat je voor Gregtur hebt gekozen! 🌟💛

Sehr get organisierte, informative Reise. Individuell angepasst und sehr nette, hilfsbereite Begleitung.

rogalski_j, Apr 2024
Wir wurden am Flughafen gleich geholt und danach fünf Stunden mit einem Auto, nur für uns zwei, und einem Reiseleiter über die Stadt gefahren. Dabei wurde es stets auf unsere Wünsche eingegangen, wichtige Tips gegeben. Sehr nette, informative und hilfsbereite Reiseführerin Monika. Die uns auch nach der Führung im Flughafen Tips für weiter Reise gemacht hat. Ist absolut empfehlenswert und wir bedanken uns herzlich.

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Vielen Dank für die tolle Bewertung! Es freut uns sehr, dass Sie Ihre Zeit in Rio mit Monika so genossen haben. 😊 Wir sind froh, dass der private Tour-Service auf Ihre Wünsche abgestimmt wurde und dass Sie mit den Tipps zur Stadt und dem Flughafen zufrieden waren. Ihre Empfehlung bedeutet uns viel, und wir hoffen, Sie bald wieder in Rio begrüßen zu dürfen!

From $184.00

per person

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

Book ahead!
On average, this is booked 61 days in advance.

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