Rio de Janeiro Historical Center Walking Tour
Badge of Excellence
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- 3 to 4 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Explore our promoted experiences
What's Included
- Licensed tour guide
- Optional. Sacred Museum of San Francisco Penitencia Entrance fee: R$ 20,00.
- Private transportation
- Lunch: 10 USD per person maximum
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Av. Treze de Maio, 155 - Centro, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 20031-007, Brazil
In front of the Municipal Theatre, next to the police trailer. 9:00 a.m. 2:30 p.m.
End point
- Largo do Paço - Centro, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, Brazil
Itinerary
1
Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Biblioteca Nacional (Pass By)
2
Escadaria Selaron
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Arcos da Lapa (Pass By)
3
The Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Largo da Carioca
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
Praca Quinze de Novembro
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.5
based on 342 reviews
Michael_T, Mar 2026
Very comprehensive tour with lots of local information provided by the guide.
There could have been more information on the history of the city though
Ornella_G, Mar 2026
Carlos was a great guide. He was patient and very helpful. The tour was very informative. Great value for money!!
Kent_S, Mar 2026
The walking tour was done at a nice pace. I felt like I got to see a lot and the tour guide shared great information
olgafirman, Feb 2026
Great well organised, informative tour. Our guide was full of energy and interesting insights and suggestions. He was punctual and catered well to our needs.
Thomas_F, Feb 2026
Booked this online via Viator because of their good reputation. The meeting point was in the center of town on closed off street with a huge number of people getting ready for a bloco party (yes this was on 14 Feb during carnaval). Strange place to meet if legit and a local guide would no doubt be aware of the bloco. My recommendation: avoid this one because I paid for nothing and lost half a day.
cynthia_m, Feb 2026
My tour guide was excellent he was very through and knowledgeable of Brazilian history he went out of his way to show highlights of your beautiful country - this tour will be engraved in my memory forever.
GEORGIA_B, Feb 2026
It takes you to some amazing spots, however the last hour of the tour is not that exciting and felt like time was being filled. Our guides did not give much information on the places we visited. The first hour took us to the highlights and the rest was not as exciting.
KANISHK_K, Jan 2026
The city tour was an amazing experience. The itinerary was well planned, and we were able to visit all the major landmarks without feeling rushed. The tour guide was professional, informative, and very helpful throughout the journey. Transportation was comfortable and the overall experience was smooth and enjoyable. I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone visiting the city for the first time.
envirodoch, Jan 2026
Don't do it on a very hot day, if hot reduce the length of the walk. Otherwise the tour was good, informative and interesting.
Jordan_A, Dec 2025
Great tour with great guides and a variety of things to see that we might not have discovered otherwise.
Olena_S, Dec 2025
Very friendly and skilled guides. I booked a Sunday afternoon tour and was the only participant, but they didn’t cancel and instead gave me a private tour. I really enjoyed the experience — the guides know the city inside out and shared great insights.
Luciana_F, Dec 2025
A great tour of Rio’s downtown historic buildings, it was informative and very interesting ! A must to do with a guide as the area can feel less safe than the Zona sul. Carlos and his team were great!
Orchid_B, Dec 2025
Highly recommend this walking tour of Rio’s historical downtown district, Centro. Lucemir partnered with Carlos to give a thorough 3-hour tour of Rio’s most interesting downtown city sights. They know all the best spots to take pictures at including the hidden cross behind the Metropolitan Cathedral and the colorful Selaron steps. We also had the option to take a taxi with them to the Monument that has a view of Sugarloaf mountain in the background. A great tour for those who are looking for something outside of the other typical Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf tours (which can be done yourselves).
Mariya_L, Nov 2025
It was interesting , pleasant and memorable experience. You'll see beautiful parts of the city. The guide, Carlos, was very knowledgeable and easy to talk to. He really wanted to make the tour pleasant and interesting.
Mike_C, Nov 2025
Great walking tour of the best bits of the city of Rio. Very informative guide who took the time to run through the various sites and also knew the best places/angles to take pictures. I never realised there was so much to see
Jyothi_H, Oct 2025
One of the best experiences we had on our trip to Rio de Janeiro! Both of our guides were excellent — knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive. It was a small group, which made the tour feel very personal. We had plenty of time for photos, questions, and truly understanding the history and significance of each destination and point of interest.
If you enjoy walking and have a morning and a few hours to spare, I highly recommend this experience. Carlos and his partner were fantastic!
Tania_W, Oct 2025
this was a very interesting walking tour of historical center of Rio. Very nice, very personable guides. They were amazing at taking photos of us, they knew all the best spots and angles. This was much appreciated! overall, we felt that we learned a lot and got to see all the spots we wanted to visit on this walking tour..
Sid_v, Sep 2025
Excellent introduction to Rio, a well curated tour. The guides were passionate and really looked after me. A must if you’re visiting Rio
Maria_s, Aug 2025
The address provided does not exist. I took an Uber there and found no city tour—just a random spot in a neighborhood that didn’t feel particularly safe or tourist-friendly. It was a very confusing and frustrating experience, especially for someone unfamiliar with the area.
In the end, I had to make my own mini tour using the internet, asking a police officer for directions to the Selarón Steps, and figuring things out on my own. I eventually took the subway back to my hotel.
This was definitely not the experience I was expecting, and I would not recommend it.
Dmytro_B, Jun 2025
The guide did not show up. Did not answer messages. Did not answer phone calls. Wasted my day. Probably as I was the only person for that particular day/time. Booked well in advance.
Marina_G, May 2025
Be prepared to walk ALOT and quite quickly. Wear good shoes. This 70yr old is FIT. He brought me around to a lot of spots in the Centro, because I pushed to keep up with him. I didn't mind since he had a lot of historical information to share about everywhere we went.
Yara_Y, Apr 2025
We were a large group of family and friends — 17 people in total. Two guides accompanied us: Lucemir, the lead guide (fluent in English and French), and Lucas, the assistant guide (English-speaking). We had specifically requested a guide who could speak both French and English to accommodate everyone in our group.
Unfortunately, the tour guides did not bring any audio devices to help us hear clearly. As a result, only those at the front could hear the explanations, while those at the back — including my parents, who walk at a slower pace — missed out on most of the commentary.
The guides were clearly passionate about their work, which we appreciated. However, Lucemir spoke very slowly in French, so we eventually asked him to continue in English, and we translated for the French speakers among us.
Overall, despite the guides’ passion, I would not recommend this tour. The experience felt disorganized and the guidance underwhelming. Additionally, it was stated that the tour included entrance to the Teatro Municipal, but we never visited it. When we brought this up with Lucemir, he told us there wasn’t enough time, which was disappointing.
Response from Host, May 2025
I will not refund you: Because you did not let me do an excelente tour that I am able to do! This tour hás a diretress givien by me, and 99% of the turists say it is recomended, It is perfectly good. I am able tô response every injustice you made tô me. For exemple, the second guide you did not pay for him. It was told that I don't use áudio devices, In any Moment I had told that I would use. I did not received a complaine about your parents,
I can tell a response for any of your complaine . .but i was not told the you where going tô be the guide of this group. And in the Colombus...You could tell I don't want to enter. But not to enter and stayed more than 15 munutes making photos Making an while the waiters made an arrament for all your group, 17 persons on just one Table and after everything , you only said we want to go away without having one Coffee, now tell me that Cofeitaria Colombo one of the most iconic touritics atration in Rio de Janeiro, Is not recommended either!
or might be, you the one no not recommended ? Now can you imegine that I had to give an explanation about you beatifull roll. Thank you for that too! Go there alone and have the atention you had going with me! You don't have an idea what is being a guide. And don't forget this is my work, my business... no a joke.
Robin_R, Mar 2025
We enjoyed the walking tour with Lucemere and Lucas. The highlight was hanging out with these wonderful gents and exploring Brazilian history, culture, and landmarks from the local perspective.
Jillian_S, Mar 2025
Where do I start? Our guide who I think was named Luciano (older fella), can’t remember his name exactly, just like I can’t remember too many good things about his tour, was quite aggressive in his approach. From lecturing us about walking too slow to taking a giant zigzag through the city and then lecturing us about how his listing says 3-4 hrs when the whole thing could of been better organized and more efficient paths could be taken in half that time. He saved the escadaria selaron for the last step stringing all of the participants along as no one would have stayed the rest of the tour if the stairs were earlier. One lady ditched the tour about half way using some cheap excuse and I wish our group did the same. He is super particular about his guiding and doesn’t take any hints from the group. In addition, he is quite blunt about his life philosophy from making inappropriate jokes about women to gay bashing. It felt like I was talking a tour with a religious grandpa (which he also included in one of his lectures how this wasn’t a religious tour and the miracle of falling statue was true, but he doesn’t believe in gay people). Overall, the city is great with lots of amazing spots so I would recommend seeing those, just not with this guide. I think it’s time for him to retire or catch up with times. He did recommend a good restaurant for lunch so I guess that was his plus.
Response from Host, Apr 2025
I will not loose my time with a hater like that. These intentions are clear he or she I don't have an Ideia what it is. Just wish to create for me a bed situation . The amount of people who are in agree with me, shows that I may still go on, with my incridible work doing exetly what I'm doing
Inulah_I, Mar 2025
Dont take this tour with Lucemir!
One of the most unprofessional guides ive ever experienced. Was complaining about past people he had given a tour to (very unprofessional).
Continued to talk alot about his personal life ( again nobody asked for his lifestory). Gave his view on many topics you shouldnt talk about as a guide ( religion, my personal id!!).
For someone who's 70 very immature, tried to mansplain me many times but when I asked for simple questions about a building, he didn't know the answer.
I think this person is very mentally unstable and should stop giving tours, just go enjoy your pension already. When I got back home I had to take a long nap because I felt so drained after this tour. Youve been warned.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
You should find help! You are complely out of sense my resolts show Who I am, your opinion about me, is consequeces of the bed. Life you Live......
MARK_F, Jan 2025
Great tour - Lucemir went the extra mile to ensure we saw and learnt as much as possible, even hailing and paying for taxi to get us to our final destination on time. We experienced a huge amount and doubled our daily step target!
Katherine_S, Dec 2024
Lucien is the best!! He was very protective of our group and even helped corral other tourists at the Selaron steps so we could get a picture. Super knowledgeable guy with lots of ins and outs. Be prepared to walk a TON- I think we did 6 miles.
Joost_v, Dec 2024
Great day out with Lucemir that you won’t forget. Get ready for a day full of passion, stories and history!
PHI_H, Dec 2024
This excursion was fantastic and the group very nice. Our guide was very educational without counting his minutes. 5 hours in total! I recommend. Arturo is a very human person who helped me personally with problems encountered at the airport. I am grateful to him for everything.
Eugenia, Dec 2024
We were the only 2 people who showed up for this tour. And yet, our trou guide spent 4+ hours taking us to various places, giving lots of interesting information about history, education, health care, economy, politics and life in general. He spoke excellent Englsih. Knowledgeable, passionate, energetic. Took photos of us. Also took lots of photos with his professional camera and later sent us the photos he took. We enjoyed the tour and learned a lot.
From $29.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Rio de Janeiro Historical Center Walking Tour
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