Rio de Janeiro · RIO WALKING TOURS

Rio de Janeiro on Foot: The 15 Best Walking Tours

34 tours  ·  from $1 a head

Downtown Rio, Santa Teresa and Little Africa are best seen on foot. These 15 walks are priced, timed and specific about the neighbourhood each one covers.

Rio de Janeiro: Rocinha Favela Walking Tour with Local Guide - Two hours on foot in a residential community
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Rio de Janeiro: Rocinha Favela Walking Tour with Local Guide

1.Rocinha Favela Walking Tour with Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 3,052 reviews · 2 - 3 hours · from $36Our pick

This two-hour walk through Rocinha is led by a local guide, with guides such as Ray, Bruno, and Carlos named on recent departures. You’ll hear about daily life, ask questions, and travel by air-conditioned minivan from selected Copacabana or Ipanema meeting points. The tour aims to be educational and respectful, with part of its cost going to the community.

“It was an amazing experience. And our guide Ray, was the best. Very good in English and she made you feel comfortable, which was nice, when it’s your first time in a favela.”

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Rio De Janeiro: Half-Day Rocinha Favela Walking Tour - Hearing the human story behind the headlines
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Rio De Janeiro: Half-Day Rocinha Favela Walking Tour

2.Half-Day Rocinha Favela Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 2,272 reviews · 3 hours · from $35

Walk Rocinha with local English-, Spanish-, or Portuguese-speaking guides, hear about daily life and local challenges, and take in views over Rio. Routes have included a rooftop stop and a capoeira visit. The three-hour tour meets outside the Copacabana Palace and involves steep stairs and narrow alleys.

“The tour was great and Daniel was the best guide we could have wished for. I recommend everyone doing this and ask for Daniel! He showed us al the good spots of the favela and showed us how the favelas really are and not the stereotype everyone believes”

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Sunrise and Sunrise Walk Two Brothers with Local Guide - A 1.5-kilometer trail in the dark
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Sunrise and Sunrise Walk Two Brothers with Local Guide

3.Sunrise and Sunrise Walk Two Brothers with Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 193 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $64Top rated

Meet your local guide at Praça do Vidigal, ride a community motor taxi or van to the trailhead, then hike 1.5 km through Atlantic Forest to the 533-meter summit. Lanterns, local transport, photos and videos are included. Guides such as Rodrigo and Milena have led past outings, but your guide may vary.

“The experience was absolutely incredible! The views from the top of Morro Dois Irmãos at sunrise are truly breathtaking, totally worth the early wake-up. Everything was perfectly organized, and our guide Rodrigo was the best! Super friendly, knowledgeable, and made us feel safe the whole way. One of the highlights of my trip to Rio. Highly recommended!”

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Rio de Janeiro: Little Africa Heritage Walking Tour - Starting at the Rio Art Museum
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Rio de Janeiro: Little Africa Heritage Walking Tour

4.Little Africa Heritage Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 177 reviews · 2h 30m · from $40

This 2.5-hour English-language walk starts at the Rio Art Museum and explores Little Africa, including Morro da Conceição, Largo da Prainha, Pedra do Sal, the Hanging Garden of Valongo, and Cais do Valongo. Expect an introduction to Brazil’s colonial past, a rooftop view of Guanabara Bay, and a guide-led look at Afro-Brazilian history and culture. Guides on recent tours have included Luana, Nathalia, Ryane, Marina, and Eddie.

“Nathalia is a smart young lady who is very knowledgeable about the historic events that involved the African community in Rio. She is also passionate about her roots and was able to answer some sensitive and dilemmatic questions that the tour group had in a very heartfelt and sensible manner. Nathalia also gave good recommendations for places to eat in and hang out (in Little Africa and other spots in Rio) after the tour and most of the tour participants, including myself, even ended up having lunch together at a wonderful restaurant serving delicious bobõ de camarão (shrimp stew) and mamata. I highly recommend this tour with Nathalia. She's fantastic.”

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Paraty: Historic Centre Walking Tour & Cachaça Tasting - Read Paraty’s history in its streets
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Paraty: Historic Centre Walking Tour & Cachaça Tasting

5.Historic Centre Walking Tour & Cachaça Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 96 reviews · 1h 30m · from $19Best value

Meet your local guide at Santa Rita’s Church for a 90-minute walk through Paraty’s historic centre. Hear about Indigenous peoples, colonization, Freemasonry and the town’s trade cycles, then finish with a tasting of Cachaça Gabriela, a sweet local blend of cachaça, honey, clove and cinnamon. Tours run in English, Portuguese and Spanish.

“Everything. Thiago is amazing tour guide. He knows about Paraty almost everything 😁 Casacha was also very nice! all included”

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Learn the History of Rio with an Unforgettable City Center Walking Tour - The Metropolitan Cathedral and Largo da Carioca
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Learn the History of Rio with an Unforgettable City Center Walking Tour

6.Learn the History of Rio with an Unforgettable City Center Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 82 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $49

Walk Rio’s Centro with a private guide, starting at the Municipal Theatre and ending at Paço Imperial. The route takes in Cinelândia, the Selarón Steps, Lapa’s arches, the Metropolitan Cathedral, Largo da Carioca and Confeitaria Colombo. Rafael and Danielle are among the guides who have led the tour, though your guide may differ. The price is $49.05 per person.

“Amazing tour in Centro! Danielle was a super guide who took us through Rio’s exciting history and architechture over the past 200 years. Highly recommended!”

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Rio's city walking tour: a glimpse of history and olympic legacy - Mauá Square and the Olympic-era waterfront
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Rio’s city walking tour: a glimpse of history and olympic legacy

7.Rio’s city walking tour: a glimpse of history and olympic legacy

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 78 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $60

Explore downtown Rio on a guided half-day walk, from Candelária and São Bento Monastery to Mauá Square, Praça XV, Confeitaria Colombo, and the Metropolitan Cathedral. Hotel pickup is included in several beach districts. Guides such as JB, Melanie, and André have led the tour, but the guide on your date may differ.

“Melanie is extremely friendly and easy going, very smoothly transitioning from Spanish to English to take care of multiple customers. Great experience!”

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Walking tour of the bohemian neighborhoods of Santa Teresa and Lapa - What $72.09 gets you
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Walking tour of the bohemian neighborhoods of Santa Teresa and Lapa

8.Walking tour of the bohemian neighborhoods of Santa Teresa and Lapa

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 59 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $72

This 3.5-hour Rio tour pairs a ride on Santa Teresa’s famous yellow tram with guided walks through the neighborhood, Selarón Steps, Lapa, and Cinelândia. Guides have included Santa Teresa local Ivan and artists Edmundo and Lorena. Expect historic architecture, city views, and a small group capped at 12.

“We had the absolute best walking tour through Santa Teresa with Lorena and it proved to be one of the highlights of our Rio trip. The neighborhood is beautiful and has a fascinating story and history, and Lorena walked and talked us through it all with a wonderful sense of candor and humor. And even when there was a bump in terms of getting the streetcar up at the beginning of the tour due to a situation up in the neighborhood, she was quick to respond and adjust. And when we mentioned we’d already seen one of the attractions on another tour the day before, she was great about coming…”

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Private Walk through the Natural Pools in Búzios - Enseada das Poças: a swim break on the coast
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Private Walk through the Natural Pools in Búzios

9.Private Walk through the Natural Pools in Búzios

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 49 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $48

Walk 3.5 km through Costa do Sol State Park on a private, roughly three-and-a-half-hour outing to Pedra do Guardião, Enseada das Poças, and Praia dos Amores. Guides including Nicole, Loan, and Nay have led outings, but your guide may vary. Bring water, sturdy shoes, and bug spray; transport to and from the meeting point is not included.

“Loan is an excellent ! Absolutely the best. Knowledge about history local situation and culture . Strongly recommend”

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Private walk tour of Paraty's historical center - BY PARATY TOURS - Masonic marks, painted houses, and the stories between stops
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Private walk tour of Paraty’s historical center – BY PARATY TOURS

10.Private walk tour of Paraty’s historical center – BY PARATY TOURS

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 49 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

Explore Paraty’s historic center on a private, two-hour walk with a bilingual, CADASTUR-registered guide. You’ll visit seven stops, including the churches of Santa Rita and Our Lady of the Rosary, and look for Masonic symbols in the old streets. Guides have included Chris, Christiano, and Ramon, though your guide may vary. Price: $80 for up to 15 people.

“My tour was excellent. I learned so much and really enjoyed understanding the history and present of Paraty. Highly recommend.”

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Guided Walk to Telegraph Stone - The famous rock, the queue, and the camera angle
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Guided Walk to Telegraph Stone

11.Guided Walk to Telegraph Stone

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 49 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $75

Join a shared, guided hike to Pedra do Telégrafo in Rio de Janeiro. The 3.5 km trail passes several viewpoints before reaching the pointed rock famous for photos that make a safe pose look perilously close to an abyss. Transport and a multilingual guide are included. Expect an early pickup, a moderate-to-tough walk, and a trip that can run longer than five hours.

“The view is amazing. The company was fun, and our guide was great. It is definitely worth the difficult hike.”

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Bossa Nova Walking Tour - Praça General Osório links music with the fair
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Bossa Nova Walking Tour

12.Bossa Nova Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 48 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $48

Walk from Praça Nossa Senhora da Paz through Ipanema and Copacabana with guide Gui, who links Brazilian music to the places where it grew and plays live guitar along the way. The three-hour tour ends near the Garota de Ipanema bar, with a maximum of eight people. Transport, food, drinks and water are not included.

“Our guide Gui was delightful. As he taught us the history of Bossa Nova, he accompanied his songs with his fabulous guitar made in Grenada, Spain.”

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Rio de Janeiro: Bossa Nova Walking Tour with Guide - From quiet streets to Cantagalo
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Rio de Janeiro: Bossa Nova Walking Tour with Guide

13.Bossa Nova Walking Tour with Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 46 reviews · 3 hours · from $49

Follow Bossa Nova’s trail through Ipanema and Copacabana on a three-hour walk with a guide who also sings and plays guitar. You’ll hear about Tom Jobim, Vinícius de Moraes, João Gilberto, and the music’s golden years, with live songs at stops along the way. The route includes Praça Nossa Senhora da Paz, Arpoador, and the Garota de Ipanema bar.

“Learned more about the history of bossa nova from our knowledgeable guide Guilherme. Very personable guy to be with! Enjoyed it!”

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Centro Historico and Lapa - Santa Teresa Walking, Historical and Bohemian Tour - Praça Quinze and the Waterfront’s Civic Landmarks
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Centro Historico and Lapa – Santa Teresa Walking, Historical and Bohemian Tour

14.Centro Historico and Lapa – Santa Teresa Walking, Historical and Bohemian Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 44 reviews · 7 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $137

Spend 7 to 8 hours walking Rio’s historic center, visiting landmark churches and squares, riding the yellow tram to Santa Teresa, and seeing the Selarón Steps and Lapa arches. A guide leads the tour, which starts and ends at Copacabana Palace and includes a drink. Lunch is not included, and the group is capped at 12.

“Superbe découverte du centre ville. Yvan nous a fait découvrir l’histoire de Rio pendant une journée. Merci encore à lui pour toutes ces explications. Je recommande vivement”

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Historical Downtown and Lapa - Walking Tour - Avenida Rio Branco: a walk through the center
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Historical Downtown and Lapa – Walking Tour

15.Historical Downtown and Lapa – Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 44 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $40

Spend about three hours walking Rio’s historic center and Lapa, from Praça Floriano to Praça XV. Expect commentary on Brazilian political history, time for questions, and photo stops at landmarks including the National Library and Selarón Steps. Guides such as Rafael and Juliana have led tours, though your guide may differ. The listed price is $40 per person, so confirm the tour’s payment format before booking.

“Disappointed that our tours booked in English were cancelled due to a minimum of 3 people needed in order to conduct the tours. The fine print does state that a minimum of 3 are needed but we would have been happy to tip more to meet the minimum. Both tours were cancelled a few hours before the scheduled start time. Our time in Rio was limited and thus it was impossible to find an alternative at the last minute. Wish we had had some warning a few days in advance and we could have prepared a backup plan.”

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New in Rio Walking Tours

★ 4.1Paraty Historical City Walking TourFrom $728 reviews
★ 4.7Favela Walking Tour of Rocinha with a Resident GuideFrom $1063 reviews
★ 4.7Historical Walking TourFrom $7932 reviews
★ 5.0Must-See Sites Walking Tour With A GuideFrom $503 reviews
★ 4.2Barra da Tijuca Walk & Food Tour with DrinksFrom $019 reviews
★ 4.9Afrobrazilian Heritage & Black History WalkFrom $649 reviews
★ 5.0African Culture Walking TourFrom $1005 reviews
★ 5.0Pedra do Telégrafo: Nature Excursion and Scenic WalkFrom $555 reviews
★ 3.7Paraty Historic District: Walking Tour with Cachaca TastingFrom $1512 reviews
★ 4.6Little Africa – Walking tour from the passed to the futureFrom $328 reviews
★ 4.8Private Historic Walking Tour with Natural PoolFrom $1569 reviews
★ 5.0Explore Santa Teresa: Walking TourFrom $1066 reviews
★ 5.0A Walk in the Rocinha Favela: Women Leading the WayFrom $4218 reviews

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Rio, by what you came for

Peaks, trails, the bay or the samba floor.

The peaks

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Trails & forest

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Sea & sand

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Nights & neighbourhoods

SambaLapa NightsFavela WalksSanta TeresaFood Walks