Top Rio de Janeiro Architecture Tours

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. Then, walk along the bohemian neighborhood of Santa Teresa, a bucolic area in Rio de Janeiro. You will visit the Ruins Park (closed on Mondays), a public park with an art gallery built around the ruins of a mansion. 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 most traditional nightlife. Take a stroll in the Passeio Público, the oldest public park in the South America, to reach Cinelândia, a lively spot in Rio thanks to its bars, restaurants and cultural attractions. Your last stop will be at Confeitaria Colombo (closed on Sundays), a permanent member of all “must-see cafés” rankings around the world.

Visit the Roberto Burle Marx home and gardens during a private 4-hour tour from Rio. In the company of a local guide, explore the home of this artists and designer, surrounded by lush property filled with native plants. The Sitio Roberto Burle Marx is built in a distinctly Brazilian style, including elements of cubism and abstractionism. Walk through the peaceful gardens and admire the home's collection of folk art while learning about his life, work and esthetic from your knowledgeable guide. Round-trip transportation from Rio is included.

Immerse yourself in local life during this half-day educational tour of Rocinha Favela, one of South America's largest urban slums. Through your guide's thoughtful commentary, learn about the social, economic, and political features of this unique neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro.

Discover Petrópolis, an historic mountain retreat for Brazil's royalty, on this full-day trip from Rio including transportation. Don't worry about renting a car or knowing your way around; your guide will lead you on tours of the burial place of Dom Pedro II, the Imperial Museum, and the Crystal Palace. Rio hotel pickup and drop-off included.

This short but sight-filled tour of downtown Rio de Janeiro is for travelers who want to see major cultural attractions in the city in one tour. In just a few hours see the baroque Cathedral of Saint Sebastian, visit the Modern Art Museum, climb the tiled Selaron staircase, see the Sambadrome where Rio's Carnival celebrations take place, visit the Maracanã soccer stadium, and experience much, much more.

This is an observation experience of the architectural evolution of Rio for over 100 years. Our 1st stop is a viewpoint on the rooftop of the "Museu de Arte do Rio" where we will talk about the history of Brazil. Then we'll start our walking by the Mauá Square. This Square is one of the regions with the greatest architectural variety in the city. After this, we will walk towards Cinelândia, a walk of approximately 2km, visiting buildings and discovering old 18th century churches hidden behind huge modern buildings! Cinelândia is another square full of historical examples of Brazilian architecture. It holds 5 of the 10 original buildings that remain from the opening of Rio Branco's Avenue in 1905. We'll explore their facades, their details and our last stop will be the Federal Justice Cultural Center. This building preserves an original court room from the beggining of the 20th century.

Discover the best of Rio de Janeiro with a knowledgeable Private Local Guide! Welcome to the Wonderful City. During this amazing Tour Experience, you will see the most popular sights and the best parts of the city with a local and professional tour guide like Christ the Redeemer, Sugar Loaf Mountain, Santa Teresa, and Selaron Steps. This tour is ideal for people who are visiting Rio for the first time and have just one day to enjoy it all! A unique experience to know the city in one day, with lots of colors, history, culture, art, and happiness! And. . . if you want I can create a customized tour for you in case you have special requests or if you are more than 3 people and require larger transportation. Round-trip transportation from Port Area/Hotel or Apartament is included.

If you prefer to explore independently but like to hear the information provided by a guided tour, this self-guided audio tour is a great choice. Narrated by actors, the audio tour will make Imperial Rio come to life as you walk around the streets of downtown, past such landmarks as the Teatro Municipal Carlos Gomes and Igreja Nossa Senhora do Carmo da Antiga Se.

Welcome to the Wonderful City. During this amazing Santa Teresa Tour Experience, you will see the most charming parts of the city with a local and professional tour guide. This tour is ideal for people who are visiting Rio for the first time and have just one day to enjoy it all! A unique experience to know the historical and artistic side of Rio, with lots of colors, history, culture, art, and happiness! And. . . if you want I can create a customized tour for you in case you have special requests or if you are more than 3 people and require larger transportation. Round-trip transportation from Port Area / Hotel or Apartament is included.

Explore Niteroi and learn about its most famous architect, Oscar Niemeyer, on this tour from Rio. With a guide in the lead, you'll follow a carefully-curated itinerary designed to show you the best of his work. Listen to in-depth commentary and enjoy personalized attention on this small-group tour, limited to just 14 people or fewer.

The work of Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer demonstrates his appreciation for free-flowing design. Examples include the Contemporary Art Museum in Niterói. We will drive across the bay over the Costa e Silva 14km bridge to Niteroi to see 7 of Niemeyer's projects. Visit of the popular theatre and MAC Museum. Lunch at Olimpos restaurant and vist of City Park. The only buildings that can be visited are the MAC and the Charitas Ferry Station where the restaurant is located.

Combine visits to the National Library (Biblioteca Nacional) and the National Theater (Teatro Nacional) on this 3-hour tour in Rio de Janeiro. Learn about the history of each building and the role they have played in Rio's vibrant cultural heritage. Entrance fees and round-trip transportation from local hotels included.

Tour where it combines history and architecture, a walk through the imperial city where we will know the history since the arrival of the kings of Portugal, many constructions of the time that are still intact and to finish the tour an internal walk through one of the breweries most famous in Brazil

Enjoy a half-day tour through the architectural landmarks in Rio. Rio de Janeiro was recently named the first World Capital of Architecture by UNESCO. The city has constructions of the colonial period, buildings in the art-deco style and modernist buildings. Our walking tour starts from the Carioca’s Square in the Downtown area, where we see a group of constructions of the XVII century: the Church and the Convent of St. Anthony. Then we proceed towards the Rio Branco Avenue, the first avenue to be opened in our city. Then, we go to the Cinelandia Square to see its Art Deco Constructions before we make another time jump towards the modernist architecture. The tour ends at the Museum of Modern Art.

Marvel at the beautiful dozens of hectares of nature with one of the most extensive flora species and one of the 10 most important botanical gardens in the world.

Niterói do have the most stunning view of Rio de Janeiro city's outline since from there it is possible to see the well-known combination of sea and mountains that enchants the tourists and the locals. Yet the view is not the only reason to visit the former capital of Rio de Janeiro. From Nature to architecture and history, Niterói's attractions are mandatory for those who want to go beyond the beaten tracks of Rio de Janeiro tourism circuit and have a delightful experience. Pay a visit to the space-age Museum of Contemporany Art, designed by the renowned Oscar Niemeyer, then cross the coast to visit the fantastic Santa Cruz da Barra fortress and at last but not least, visit the City Park and get spectacular views of Rio's post cards.

For anyone curious about Rio’s modern architecture, this private tour offers an introduction to structures designed by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer. An accredited guide shares insight about multiple buildings as you travel around Rio de Janeiro and cross the bridge into Niteroi. The full-day itinerary is adapted according to your preferences and timing, making it a flexible way to learn about the internationally acclaimed designer.

Visit the historical center of Petrópolis on a guided tour and learn about Brazil’s former emperor, Dom Pedro II, who established the royal city. This day trip from Rio makes it easy to soak it all in, from the palaces and cathedrals to the Imperial Museum. Hotel pickup and drop-off ensure a hassle-free departure.

Acclaimed all over the world for the richness of its features and for its many influences of different time periods, the architecture of Rio de Janeiro combines elements characteristic of the colonial style, of the modernist vanguards and of a impressive contemporary aesthetic - a mixture that can be seen throughout the city. We will combine a car and walking tour as to reach the hidden corners of this facinating city. We may well take the new VLT system (Modern Tram) to cover as much as possible in our tour.

Embark on a tour to see the top modern architectural symbols of Rio. Starting with hotel pickup, we take you on an unforgettable cultural and historic tour. The South Zone of Rio is famous for the long shore and sunny beaches. It is also a place full of landmarks of modern architecture. We can see them by strolling through the Ipanema and the Copacabana Beach. Listen to the tour guide instructions to identify the iconic buildings. We continue the tour to the Parque Guinle to see a different example of modern architecture. Then, we go to the Feira de São Cristóvão. We stop for lunch (not included) to recharge our batteries. Take your time relaxing and taking pictures. After lunch, we head to the Pedregulho, a former housing project in Rio. Then, we finish in Downtown to compare the diverse styles of modern architecture. At the end, we return to the hotel.