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Rio de JaneiroBus & minivan tours

Our most recommended Rio de Janeiro Bus & minivan tours

Rio de Janeiro: Rocinha Favela Walking Tour with Local Guide

1. Rio de Janeiro: Rocinha Favela Walking Tour with Local Guide

Explore a favela of Rio de Janeiro on this guided walking tour. Immerse yourself in the daily lives of locals on this tour that is focused on education. Get a different perspective on life in Rio de Janeiro, and benefit from insider tips from a local guide. Start your favela tour with a pickup from one of the meeting points in Copacabana or Ipanema beach. Journey to the Rocinha Favela for the start of a walking tour at approximately in the afternoon. Follow your local guide through the favela and learn more about what it is like to live there. Rio's favelas are a big part of city life and the non-intrusive tour aims to educate you in a way that pays respect to the locals. Give back to the locals as part of the cost of your tour is contributed to the community to help them build a better future.

Santa Teresa & Lapa With Tram Ride And Selarón Steps

2. Santa Teresa & Lapa With Tram Ride And Selarón Steps

Begin your tour at Downtown (“Centro”), where you will get the tram (“bondinho”) to the bohemian neighborhood of Santa Teresa. You will drive over the Arcos da Lapa, the aqueduct used to connect water from Santa Teresa to Downtown and one of Rio’s most traditional postcards. At Santa Teresa, you will experience an interesting local atmosphere. Walk through the bohemian neighborhood of Santa Teresa, a bucolic area in Rio de Janeiro. Located on a hillside, Santa Teresa has become a district of cultural interest because of its architectural value and prime location, famous for its winding, narrow cobblestone streets and a favourite spot for artists and tourists. A flair similar to Montmartre, in Paris. You will visit the Ruins Park, a public park with an art gallery built around the ruins of a mansion. Take a minute to enjoy the city’s landscape, in particular the Downtown area and the Sugarloaf Mountain. Up next, you will walk down the colorful Selarón Steps, one of Rio’s landmarks, and arrive at the district of Lapa, the zone with the most traditional nightlife. Take a stroll in the Passeio Público, the oldest public park in South America, to reach Cinelândia, a lively spot in Rio thanks to its bars, restaurants, and cultural attractions. Among many remarkable constructions in the area, you will notice the Theatro Municipal, Rio de Janeiro’s most traditional theatre and opera house, as well as the Biblioteca Nacional, Brazil’s most important library. Your last stop will be at Confeitaria Colombo, a permanent member of all must-see cafés rankings around the world. Enjoy the opulent art nouveau decoration with huge stained glass, tiles, and mirrors imported from France, Portugal, and Belgium. You can finish your tour tasting one of the Brazilian traditional snacks – such as the coxinha de frango (‘little chicken thigh’) – or desserts – such as the brigadeiro (‘brigadier’) in what was one of Rio de Janeiro’s most prestigious places at the beginning of the 20th Century.

Rio de Janeiro: Botanical Garden Guided Tour & Parque Lage

3. Rio de Janeiro: Botanical Garden Guided Tour & Parque Lage

After pickup head straight to the Botanical Garden of Rio de Janeiro, the oldest such garden in Brazil. The gardens were founded in 1808, around the same time that the Portuguese Royal Family arrived in Brazil. Dom João VI, then a prince, wanted to see if Caribbean spices would adapt to Rio’s climate. Start with a visit to the Environment Museum before walking around the grounds and admiring the native vegetation. Enjoy the beauty of Frei Leandro Lake and victoria amazonica, a species of flowering plant and the largest of the Nymphaeaceae family of water lilies from the Amazon Rainforest. Admire the orchids and the bromeliads collections. Learn about 19th-century Brazilian history from your guide as you stroll amongst the buildings in the garden. Marvel at the beauty of Musas Fountain and explore Pedro Cachimbo rose garden. Take photos between palm trees and make a stop at the Japanese Garden, created in 1935 from the donation of 65 species of typical Japanese plants. As a bonus, enjoy complimentary access also to the Parque Lage. Explore the English-style gardens, forested trails, artificial caves, and the stunning mansion at the center of this beautiful park.

Rio de Janeiro: Museum of Tomorrow and Olympic Boulevard

4. Rio de Janeiro: Museum of Tomorrow and Olympic Boulevard

After pickup from your accommodation begin your tour at the Museum of Tomorrow, one of the most highly rated attractions in Brazil. Admire the architecture of the museum from the exterior as you explore the reflective pool and gardens. Enter the building and see the main exhibit, created by physicist and cosmologist Luiz Alberto Oliveira.  The museum studies the future of the world and its possibility for transformation. Explore the five major areas: Cosmos, Earth, Anthropocene, Tomorrow, and Now. Marvel at the experiments and experiences that encourage you to consider the fundamental questions of existence. After exiting the museum, continue to the Olympic Boulevard. The walls measure an area of almost 3,000 square meters in total and were painted for the Rio Olympics in 2016. Get up close to the Ethnicities Mural by Eduardo Kobra, one of the world’s largest piece of graffiti art.

Rio: Christ the Redeemer & Sugarloaf Express Tour

5. Rio: Christ the Redeemer & Sugarloaf Express Tour

Participate in a quick tour in Rio de Janeiro visiting the 2 most famous landmarks: the Christ the Redeemer Statue and Sugarloaf Mountain. Get picked up from your hotel and drive up to the Christ the Redeemer Statue - one of the New Seven Wonders of the World - on top of Corcovado Mountain. The drive is short and beautiful, traveling through the Tijuca Forest before opening up to incredible views of the entire city. Then go to Sugarloaf Mountain, located in the neighborhood of Urca. Ride a series of 2 cable cars en route to the summit, first arriving at Urca Hill, and then continuing to the top of Sugarloaf, reaching a height of 1,295 feet (395m). Conclude the tour with an exquisitely beautiful panorama of Rio de Janeiro.

Rio de Janeiro: Historic Rio and Santa Teresa Half-Day Tour

6. Rio de Janeiro: Historic Rio and Santa Teresa Half-Day Tour

Following pickup from your accommodation, head to the historic center of Rio de Janeiro. Consisting of centuries-old buildings and roads, the historic center of Rio best illustrates the most important chapters of Brazil’s history.  See the contrast of new and old architecture at XV de Novembro Square. Continue to Cinelândia Square until you reach the famous Carioca Aqueduct (Arcos de Lapa) in Lapa. Admire the historic beauty as you continue to Santa Teresa by car. Enjoy the winding narrow streets and colorful buildings of bohemian Santa Teresa, famous for its bars, galleries, ateliers, and the 19th-century Santa Teresa tram. From the top of Santa Teresa Hill, enjoy some of Rio’s finest views and look across Guanabara Bay.  Take in the panoramic views of the city from the Parque das Ruínas, located in the ruins of an old mansion belonging to Laurinda Santos. The mansion has been partially restored and is now used as a cultural center hosting various exhibitions and events.

Maracana Stadium Special Tour

7. Maracana Stadium Special Tour

Discover the excitement of football at its finest with our incredible tour. Our adventure begins by departing from our passengers' hotels towards the northern area of the city, where we will head to the legendary Estadio del Periodista Mario Filho, better known as the Maracanã. Get ready to immerse yourself in the history and passion of one of the world's most famous football stadiums! Built for the 1950 World Cup and renovated for the 2014 World Cup, the Maracanã has witnessed unforgettable moments and is home to the glories of Rio de Janeiro's teams. During our tour, we will explore the exterior of the stadium, where you'll find the iconic statue of Mauro Bellini, the historic captain of the Brazilian national team. As we enter the Maracanã, we will uncover the fascinating history and curiosities of Brazilian football through valuable pieces and historical objects donated by renowned players, including balls, jerseys, and legendary boots, including those of the king Pelé and the stars Zico and Garrincha. But that's not all. We will live the unique experience of venturing into the heart of the stadium! We will tour the dressing room and the warm-up room, but the best is reserved for the end. We will enter the tunnel leading to the field, feeling the excitement that fills the players on match days, and finally, we will take a step onto the sacred turf of the Maracanã. It will be an unforgettable moment that fulfills the dreams of millions of Brazilians. To complete this unparalleled experience, we will sit in the stands and climb the seats in the Maracanã Mais section, firsthand experiencing what passionate fans feel on match days. We will conclude our tour in the press conference room, where you can imagine the thrill of the great encounters. Don't miss this unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the heart of football! Once the tour is finished, we will take care of bringing our passengers back to their hotels, leaving indelible memories of this incredible experience in their hearts.

Favela Tour Rocinha & Vila Canoas

8. Favela Tour Rocinha & Vila Canoas

Favela Tour is an immersive and interactive experience for the traveller looking for a new perspective of Brazilian socioeconomic structure. The tour integrates visitors and locals revealing a whole new vision of favelas, changing their reputation of exclusion and danger. The tour is not only to explain about favelas but to offer a whole new understanding of different aspects of Brazilian society. There are close to 1000 favelas in Rio. Mostly placed on former public areas on the hillsides, they are now home to 20% of Rio's population, however they remain a mystery for most people who don't live there. You will go to Rocinha, the largest favela in Brazil, and Vila Canoas. Picturesque from a distance, once closer they reveal their complex architecture, vibrant commerce and friendly people. Walk through the alleyways visiting both residential and commercial area, a handcraft center, the community school (financed by Favela Tour), and other local projects. Favelas are safer than most people believe, however, no matter how adventurer you are, go to a favela with an organized tour. Don't be shy, you are welcome there, local people enjoy and support your visit. If you really want to understand Brazil, don't leave Rio without having done the Favela Tour.

Maracana Stadium 3-Hour Behind-the-Scenes Tour

9. Maracana Stadium 3-Hour Behind-the-Scenes Tour

Feel like a soccer star entering the field on this 3-hour tour of the legendary Maracana Stadium.  See a collection of mementos of the stars who made history in this temple of world football. Get ready for an exciting journey, exploring its history with video, sound and a variety of different experiences. It is not every stadium that has seen 2 World Cup Finals! There is a lot of history here and excitement in the air. You don't have to imagine how the world's biggest football stars such as former players Zico, Pelé and Garrincha feel here, you can feel it too.

From Rio de Janeiro: Niterói Day Trip

10. From Rio de Janeiro: Niterói Day Trip

After pickup, sit back and relax during the 1-hour drive from Rio to Niterói. Take the opportunity to snap some photos as you cross Guanabara Bay. Learn about the old capital of Rio state and how the name comes from the indigenous Tupi language. Make your first stop in downtown Niterói and visit the Niemeyer Way, a series of works by the renowned architect Oscar Niemeyer. Sites such as the Oscar Niemeyer Popular Theatre, Oscar Niemeyer Foundation, and Roberto Silveira Memorial extend for 11km in the coastal neighborhoods of the city. Continue on to Juscelino Kubitschek Square. Head to Niterói Contemporary Art Museum, known locally as ‘the MAC’ and the highlight of this day trip. Revel at the interesting and inventive shape of what is considered one of the greatest works by Niemeyer. See contemporary art inside the museum. Make a quick stop at São Pedro Fish Market to finish off the tour. See where most restaurants buy their fresh fish and seafood. Finally, be dropped off back at your accommodation in Rio.

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What people are saying about Rio de Janeiro

Overall rating

4.4 / 5

based on 1,670 reviews

We had a great experience with our guide Meilin who explained the concepts of the museum and so we enjoyed the imaginative way the universe was presented to us and took away from the museum some memories of the amazing photographs. The art graffiti commissioned on the Olympic Boulevard was superb to see and well worth the visit. A different twist on Rio and a pleasure to experience.

An excellent half day tour with Meilin who customised the tour to our interests and my walking ability. Lovely architecture in the historic centre, we saw the first library in Brazil which was stunning and had a coffee at the Cafe Colombo which is a local institution. Meilin is full of interesting facts and tells the history of Rio like a story. A must to do.

Very good!! Carlos provided great information, what to expect of the tour, history behind favela’s and really appreciated his enthusiasm…and Bruno was very helpful too…. Really good to walk around the place and understand their community. Highly recommend this tour!

Great day. G the tour guide was so informative. Took us to off the beaten tracks to areas with no tourists which was wonderful. Explained the diffferent architecture and hidtory of the area. Loved the whole day.

An amazing experience to get to see the daily life of the Favelas.