RIO DE JANEIRO
The best of the marvellous city.
The 15 most popular walking tours in Rio de Janeiro, with prices, run times and who you book through. The ones worth building a day around, and what each actually gets you.
Walk Rocinha with a local guide, learn daily life up close, and get a safer, respectful Rio perspective from a small-group tour.
Most Popular“We learnt a lot from our tour guide Ray, she is from Rocinha and keen to share any details with you and answers questions in detail. She takes care of each guests individualy.”
Walk Rocinha with local guides in 3 hours: respectful, safety-focused insights, community contribution, and Rio city views for $35.
“The tour was absolutely fantastic, the favela was so different then expected. This is a must-do tour when you are in Rio if you ask me. I learned a lot today about the culture also. Our tour guide was absolutely fantastic! you can really feel he loves to do his work and explained everything very…”
Sunrise hike from Vidigal to Morro Dois Irmãos with a local guide: lantern-lit trail, moto ride, and wide Rio views. Around 3.5 hours.
“I booked this hike because of all the amazing reviews. And just like what everyone said, Rodrigo is very down to earth and easy to work with. I initially scheduled our hike on a day that is forecasted to be raining and so Rodrigo offered to move the date. Although I ended up changing the…”
Walk Rio’s Little Africa with rooftop views, samba origins at Pedra do Sal, and Valongo’s Cais do Valongo and Hanging Garden.
“I loved this tour! My guide, Nathalia, was lovely, extremely knowledgeable and charismatic. Most importantly, I got to learn about Brazil's African history, which other tours don't really mention. I would book again!”
Private 3-hour Centro walking tour linking Rio’s history from Theatro Municipal to Paço Imperial, with flexible stops and free admissions.
“Amazing, friendly and very informative walk around the historical center of Rio! 5 / 5 stars! Thank you!”
A 4-hour Old Rio walk with free-entry churches, São Bento art, Imperial Palace sights, Olympic Mauá Square, and hotel transfers included.
“A pretty relaxed meander round the downtown area of Rio which I probably would not have seen otherwise. Quirky guide who looked after us well.”
A small-group walk linking Santa Teresa and Lapa by yellow tram, viewpoints, street art, and Rio’s grand Cinelândia sites.
“What a great way to visit a special area of Rio. We were picked up at our hotel, took the Metro to the vintage tram upwards. The neighborhood is enchanting and having a personal guide, who seemed to know everyone, everywhere we went , helped me feel like I was welcome. Edmundo was our guide,…”
A guided hike to Rio’s Pedra do Telégrafo for that famous cliff-edge photo illusion, with viewpoints, a ticket included, and early-morning logistics.
“What an amazing day. Top class guide with breathtaking views. Would definitely recommend this trip. Make sure you take plenty of fluids and wear decent footwear. A*”
3-hour bossa nova walking tour in Rio with a live guitarist. Ipanema and Copacabana stops, small group, $48.
“It is the most unique tour of any kind I’ve had. Three hours walking the neighborhoods of Ipanema with a strolling professional guitarist playing and singing songs of all era’s in Brazil rich history of the boss nova and samba while also explaining the history of the development of the music along with the country.…”
3-hour Rio Bossa Nova walking tour in Ipanema and Copacabana with a musician guide, live guitar, and street history.
“Gui was an amazing guide, full of knowledge. Who would not fall in love with Bossa Nova !!!”
Walk Rio’s Centro, Lapa, and Santa Teresa with cathedral stops, Selarón steps, Lapa arches, a yellow tram ride, and drinks included.
“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”
Walk Rio’s Centro and Lapa with a small-group guide, museum tickets included, and major landmarks like Escadaria Selarón for $40.
“Excellent! Rafael was an awesome and really sympa guide. It was my second time in Rio, but this time I was with my parents, and we had no much budget. This tour was ideal, economical, historical, perfect to take pics and pay attention to cultural places and also a way to reconnect with Brazil.”
Walk Rio’s Centro with a multilingual guide. See Candelária, CCBB and Cinelândia, learn 500 years of history, snack included. 4h, $47.
“A Lavinha é uma guia perfeita, foi excelente o passeio, além do vasto conhecimento, ela foi muito paciente e explicou tudo sobre cada local, fizemos um tour enorme e foi ótima. Voltarei e recomendarei com ctz! Grato por tudo!”
A 150-minute guided walk through Dona Marta, with the funicular, murals, community stops, and the Michael Jackson viewpoint.
“Mauvaise expérience. Début initiale à 10h, notre guide n’est arrivé qu’à 10h45 et nous avions stipulé une visite en français hors le guide attribué ne parlais que quelques mots. Pas beaucoup d’explication sur la visite et juste une balade dans la Favela.. bref, très mauvaise expérience et très peu d’information sur l’histoire de ce lieu.”
Small-group Rocinha walking tour in Rio with a resident guide, metro tickets, a moto-taxi ride, craft stops, viewpoints, and Wark graffiti.
“My 73-year-old mother and I went on this tour today and was a day we will never forget!! Two women from the US completely out of our element, yet we were never concerned for our safety, The tour guide spoke very good English, and was extremely knowledgeable about the area because grew up there and…”
From Christ the Redeemer and the Sugarloaf cable car to the beaches, the rainforest and the Lapa nights, every way to spend a day in the Cidade Maravilhosa.
