Rio de Janeiro · RIO CITY TOURS

The 15 Best Rio City Tours for One Big Day

31 tours  ·  from $30 a head

One day, the big sights, someone else driving. These 15 city tours are compared on which landmarks they actually enter, lunch, and how long the day runs.

Rio de Janeiro: 6-Stop Highlights of Rio with Lunch - Christ the Redeemer above the Tijuca Forest
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Rio de Janeiro: 6-Stop Highlights of Rio with Lunch

1.6-Stop Highlights of Rio with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 5,157 reviews · 8 hours · from $130Our pick

Cover Rio’s headline sights in eight hours by minivan: Christ the Redeemer, Maracanã and the Sambadrome from outside, Selarón Steps, the Metropolitan Cathedral, and Sugarloaf by cable car. Hotel pickup, listed entry fees, lunch, and a multilingual guide are included. Guides such as Juan, Joao, Carlos, and Ursula have earned praise for clear explanations and adapting the day when weather shifts.

“Roger was an amazing tour guide! He was very knowledgeable about the history of each attraction, and ensured everyone in our group was enjoying the tour. He was a joy to spend the day with and the tour itself was an incredible value and use of our time in Rio!”

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Hop-ON Hop-OFF Sightseeing Bus in Rio de Janeiro - Rio Samba Bus - Sugarloaf views without a Sugarloaf ticket
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Hop-ON Hop-OFF Sightseeing Bus in Rio de Janeiro – Rio Samba Bus

2.Hop-ON Hop-OFF Sightseeing Bus in Rio de Janeiro – Rio Samba Bus

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 457 reviews · 1 day · from $30Best value

Spend a day on Rio Samba Bus, a hop-on hop-off city tour with 24 planned stops near more than 30 sights, from Copacabana to Lapa and the Corcovado train entrance. You can get on and off at your own pace, hear Portuguese, English, or Spanish commentary, and listen to MPB and samba. Attraction tickets, food, and drinks are extra.

“pratique si vous voulez avoir un aperçu de rio ..”

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Rio de Janeiro: Private Guided City Tour - Beaches first, if that is what you want
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Rio de Janeiro: Private Guided City Tour

3.Private Guided City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 207 reviews · 4 - 8 hours · from $56

Choose a 4, 6 or 8-hour private tour with a guide who speaks your language and a vehicle for getting around Rio. You can request beaches, city-center sights, Santa Teresa, Christ the Redeemer or Sugarloaf, then adjust plans as the day unfolds. Entry fees are extra, and busy-season traffic can stretch the schedule.

“Riccardo is an amazing guide. He made sure we had a great time and he showed us Rio de Janeiro through his eyes as he was born and lives there. We saw a lot and enjoyed every moment of it. Thank you so much Riccardo! We had a wonderful day”

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Rio de Janeiro Full-Day Sightseeing Tour - Sugarloaf by cable car
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Rio de Janeiro Full-Day Sightseeing Tour

4.Rio de Janeiro Full-Day Sightseeing Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 121 reviews · from $165

This 8.5-hour small-group tour pairs an early visit to Christ the Redeemer with Sugarloaf Mountain, lunch in Ipanema and a broad drive-and-walk tour of downtown Rio. Your guide speaks English, Spanish or Portuguese. Guides on past departures have included Carmen, Ana, Vincent, Vicente and Kikko. Tickets and lunch are included; drinks and desserts are extra.

“Although the weather was not the best, our tour guide evade the effort to find the way to enjoy as much as we can.”

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Rio de Janeiro: Half-Day Christ the Redeemer and City Tour - Tijuca Forest makes the ride part of the visit
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Rio de Janeiro: Half-Day Christ the Redeemer and City Tour

5.Half-Day Christ the Redeemer and City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 101 reviews · 5 hours · from $63

This five-hour Rio tour pairs Christ the Redeemer and sweeping Corcovado views with stops at the Selarón Steps, Maracanã, the Sambadrome, and the Metropolitan Cathedral. A multilingual guide and hotel transport are included. Liz has been noted for helping families and taking photos, though guide assignments vary.

“Nice guide and driver, and the statue is cool, but some things could be better. The pickup was about 15 minutes late with no communication, even though my hotel was the first stop. and the city tour was kind of meh, with a lot of time allocated. Lots of waiting around. Also, at least my group consisted of both English and Portuguese speaking, so the guide would say everything twice, and often when he got to the English part, we were already past whatever he was talking about.”

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Petrópolis: Imperial City Tour - Inside Emperor Pedro II’s summer home
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Petrópolis: Imperial City Tour

6.Imperial City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 95 reviews · 9 - 10 hours · from $68

Leave Rio by air-conditioned bus for a full day in Petrópolis, the former summer retreat of Brazil’s imperial family. Visit Quitandinha Palace, the Imperial Museum and its royal jewels, the family mausoleum, Crystal Palace, the Flower Clock, and Santos Dumont’s house. An optional brewery tour adds tastings. Guides on past departures have included Chi Chi, Tete, Tanya, and Osleide.

“I would recommend. Tete a great guide. interesting trip. time was spent in a very nice atmosphere. great organization.”

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Rio Samba Bus: hop-on hop-off city tour in Rio de Janeiro - Flamengo and the historic center
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Rio Samba Bus: hop-on hop-off city tour in Rio de Janeiro

7.Rio Samba Bus: hop-on hop-off city tour in Rio de Janeiro

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 94 reviews · 2 hours · from $31

Ride the Rio Samba Bus through Copacabana, Urca, Flamengo and central Rio, with live commentary in Portuguese, English and Spanish. A one-day pass lets you hop on and off, while onboard music adds samba and MPB to the ride. The route includes stops near Sugarloaf Mountain, Lapa and the Corcovado train.

“It was fun. Saw lots of things. Driver slowed down or stopped so that everyone could take photos.”

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City Tour Full Day in Rio: Christ the Redeemer and Sugar Loaf - Christ the Redeemer: the essential visit, on a short clock
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City Tour Full Day in Rio: Christ the Redeemer and Sugar Loaf

8.City Tour Full Day in Rio: Christ the Redeemer and Sugar Loaf

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 81 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $126

Spend about nine hours seeing Rio’s headline sights, from Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf to Selarón Steps, the cathedral, Sambadrome and Maracanã. Transport, admission to the two major viewpoints, an accredited guide and a Brazilian buffet lunch are included. The small-group tour is capped at 19 people, though seat comfort and views from the bus can vary.

“Long day but worth it. Our guide had lots of information to share. We were a group of 20. The only downside was that sitting in the very back of the bus we couldn’t really see any of the scenery and had a hard time hearing the guide.”

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Rio: Christ Redeemer by Train & City Highlights Morning Tour - A Panoramic Look at the Sambódromo
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Rio: Christ Redeemer by Train & City Highlights Morning Tour

9.Christ Redeemer by Train & City Highlights Morning Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 74 reviews · 5 hours · from $92

Take a five-hour guided tour from Rio’s South Zone, riding the Corcovado Train through tropical forest to Christ the Redeemer before visiting city landmarks by air-conditioned bus. You’ll see the Sambódromo and Maracanã from outside, enter the Metropolitan Cathedral, and stop at the Selarón Steps. Guides speak English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and Italian.

“de tour was erg leuk!! we hebben heel veel gezien van de stad.”

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Búzios Trolley Adventure City Tour - Reading the route: beaches and viewpoints
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Búzios Trolley Adventure City Tour

10.Búzios Trolley Adventure City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 70 reviews · 2 hours · from $30

Ride an open trolley for two hours through Búzios, passing 12 beaches and stopping at the Brava and João Fernandes belvederes for photos. A live guide speaks Spanish, English, and Portuguese. Meet in front of the Brigitte Bardot statue, or choose the optional hotel transfer.

“The guide and driver really made the tour. They were fun, informative and catered to all languages including English. It is a great way to orient self to the area and beaches and history. It is breezy and pleasant in the heat and fun to meet new friends. Highly recommend! Great for solo travellers.”

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Rio de Janeiro: Private Full-Day Highlights Tour - A short walk through Santa Teresa
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Rio de Janeiro: Private Full-Day Highlights Tour

11.Private Full-Day Highlights Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 70 reviews · 7 hours Top rated

Spend seven hours seeing Rio’s major sights with a private guide and air-conditioned car with a dedicated driver. Ride the train through Tijuca National Park to Christ the Redeemer, walk in Santa Teresa, see the Selarón Steps and Cathedral, then take the cable car up Sugarloaf. Guides have included Patricia, Thalyta and Leandro. Attraction tickets cost extra.

“It was a amazing tour. since I had already seen various activities, we were able to do a very customized tour. I've seen spots that certainly don't appear on every postcard. my guide was very helpful and I felt completely comfortable. I can only recommend this tour and guide.”

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Rio de Janeiro City Tour - Sugarloaf closes the view-filled route
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Rio de Janeiro City Tour

12.Rio de Janeiro City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 67 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $125

Visit Corcovado, Mirante Dona Marta, Santa Teresa, Escadaria Selarón, and Sugarloaf on a roughly five-hour tour in a van for up to 19 people. Admission fees are included. Guides such as Alex and Fernando have led tours in multiple languages, and the listed start is 9:30 am at Che Lagarto Hostel in Copacabana.

“This was a wonderful fantastic tour— punctual pick up— courteous tour operator— very informative- the best Thanks Viator”

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Rio Highlights: Christ, Sugarloaf, more in a Private Tour - Taking the cable car up Sugarloaf
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Rio Highlights: Christ, Sugarloaf, more in a Private Tour

13.Rio Highlights: Christ, Sugarloaf, more in a Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 55 reviews · 8 hours · from $220

Spend up to eight hours exploring Rio with a private driver and an English- or Spanish-speaking guide. Start early at Christ the Redeemer, ride the Sugarloaf cable car, then choose afternoon stops such as Selarón Steps, the cathedral, Cidade do Samba or Tijuca rainforest. Faby, Richard and other guides lead the tours.

“We had an amazing experience in Rio with Faby! She showed my wife and me the highlights of the city, including Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf, in a perfectly organized and relaxed way. A very special moment was visiting the workshop where the Carnival costumes and parade floats are created. Seeing the magic behind Rio’s Carnival up close was unforgettable. Faby is knowledgeable, warm, energetic and truly passionate about Rio. It felt like exploring the city with a friend who knows everything about it. Highly recommended – 5 stars without hesitation!”

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Full Tour in Rio: Christ, Sugarloaf Mountain, City Tour and Lunch - Sugarloaf’s cable car and summit views
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Full Tour in Rio: Christ, Sugarloaf Mountain, City Tour and Lunch

14.Full Tour in Rio: Christ, Sugarloaf Mountain, City Tour and Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 55 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $164

In about eight hours, an accredited polyglot guide takes you to Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, Maracanã, the Sambadrome, the Metropolitan Cathedral and Selarón Steps. Christ and cable car tickets, air-conditioned transport and a buffet lunch are included. Carolina is a guide name associated with the tour; guide assignments may vary.

“It was an awesome experience with Carolina! Timing at each site was just nice. She was knowledgeable and friendly. Well recommended!”

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Full Day City Tour in Rio de Janeiro - The cathedral is a short pause downtown
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Full Day City Tour in Rio de Janeiro

15.Full Day City Tour in Rio de Janeiro

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 53 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $165

Spend about eight hours crossing Rio de Janeiro in a shared, air-conditioned vehicle, with a multilingual guide, hotel pickup, Brazilian lunch, and included access to Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain. You’ll also stop at the cathedral, Maracanã, the Sambadrome, Lapa’s Arcos and Selarón Steps. Guide Mar has been noted for clear English and useful photo tips, though guide assignments can vary.

“I got the tour guide "Mar". She was very friendly, active, very good English speaking. She gave us sufficient time at each attraction and recommend best spot for the photo at each place.”

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New in Rio City Tours

★ 4.5City Tour by Trolley with 12 Beaches and PickupFrom $534 reviews
★ 5.0Rio de Janeiro City Tour for One DayFrom $17634 reviews
★ 4.9Skip-The-Line Private Sugarloaf & City Tour10 reviews
★ 3.3Skyline Night Tour Rio de Janeiro – Panoramic City Tour Rio Samba BusFrom $3014 reviews
★ 5.0City tour, food, night attractions and more!From $1503 reviews
★ 5.0City Sightseeing Full Day TourFrom $1274 reviews
★ 4.4One Day in Rio: Full-Day Rio de Janeiro City TourFrom $14628 reviews
★ 4.8Full-Day City Sightseeing Tour in Rio de JaneiroFrom $12012 reviews
★ 5.0Full-Day Guided Sightseeing TourFrom $1457 reviews
★ 4.1City Tour & Beach Hopping with LunchFrom $515 reviews

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Christ the Redeemer ToursSugarloaf Mountain ToursSelarón Steps ToursRio Sunrise ToursRio Helicopter ToursRio Private Tours
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Rio, by what you came for

Peaks, trails, the bay or the samba floor.

The peaks

Christ the RedeemerSugarloafHelicopter FlightsSunrise ToursMaracanã

Trails & forest

Guided HikesTijuca ForestWaterfallsPedra do TelégrafoJeep Tours

Sea & sand

Boat TripsSunset SailsBeach DaysSurf LessonsHang Gliding

Nights & neighbourhoods

SambaLapa NightsFavela WalksSanta TeresaFood Walks