7 Best Rio de Janeiro Tours

From 3 to 8 hours. Depending on how you want to organise your travel days, you will find the perfect time for these tours, which will allow you to discover everything Rio de Janeiro and its surroundings have to offer in a unique way.

With these tours, you will be able to make the most of your time. You can discover Sugarloaf Mountain and the imposing Christ the Redeemer statue, venture into the jungle in a jeep and feel like a real explorer, or stroll through the favelas and learn about life there. And Rio de Janeiro has so much more to offer. How could you miss it?

If you want to visit a favela neighbourhood and you're a fan of Michael Jackson, this is the tour for you. With a local guide (who lives in the area), you'll be able to delve into the history and life of the Santa Marta favela. The tour lasts around two and a half hours and will allow you to learn about its past and present.

Normally, you will climb up to Laje do Michael Jackson, where you can enjoy a spectacular panoramic view and take some photos next to the statue of Michael Jackson. And what is a sculpture of this artist doing here? The explanation is simple. Have you seen the music video "They Don't Care About Us"?

Michael chose the Santa Marta favela to shoot this video, so I recommend watching it beforehand so that you can recognise the places that appear during your visit. It's incredible to think that Michael Jackson was there!

You will also learn first-hand about the projects that seek to provide better living conditions in the favela, and you will visit the community nursery, the neighbourhood association and several craft shops where you can buy a special souvenir. Without a doubt, one of the best favela tours Rio de Janeiro has to offer.

Interesting facts to help you choose this tour

• Price: From £28.
• Duration: 2.5 hours.
• Means of transport: On foot.

For about three hours, you can get a close-up look at life in the Rocinha favela on a guided tour. If you're interested in seeing a side of Brazil beyond tourism and leisure, this tour will give you a real perspective on life in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro.

Your local guide is also a resident of the same favela and will tell you about daily life in the community, its challenges and its enormous talent.

You will love the murals in Rocinha; you can tell that the street artists put their heart and soul into bringing colour to the streets! You will see houses painted in bright colours all around you and stop at the Devil's Trampoline, also known as the Gávea Circuit. This place was the scene of car races between 1933 and 1954. Super interesting!

You may also be interested to know that the cost of this tour includes a financial contribution to the Rocinha community to support its development. In addition, the tour includes round-trip transportation from your hotel in Rio de Janeiro in a comfortable, air-conditioned van.

Interesting facts to help you choose this tour

• Price: From £34.
• Duration: 3 hours.
• Means of transport: On foot.

If you've thought about the Olympics when considering a trip to Rio de Janeiro, this tour is a must. Explore one of the symbols that identify the city: Olympic Boulevard!

In addition, this tour will give you the opportunity to visit the Museum of Tomorrow. It may not be very well known, but it's super interesting. This museum is the work of Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, and you'll recognise it immediately if you're familiar with his other buildings! It focuses heavily on sustainability, and all of its exhibitions are geared towards the future of science. You'll spend about an hour and a half at the museum, and I'm sure you'll be amazed.

When I say Olympic Cauldron, I'm referring to the famous Olympic torch from the 2016 Olympic Games (also called a cauldron). Well, you'll also get to see it on this tour!

During the tour of these points of interest, accompanied by your guide, you'll see other places such as:

• Porto Maravilha, Rio's port area, which has become one of the city's main tourist attractions.
• Praça Mauá, also closely linked to the history of the 2016 Olympic Games.
• The Church of Our Lady of Candelária, one of the most outstanding and beautiful churches in Brazil.

In addition, you will have free time to enjoy the Confeitaria Colombo, if you have not yet had the opportunity to do so during your time in Rio at this point in the trip. You can simply visit it or take the opportunity to have a drink and recharge your batteries.

Interesting facts about choosing this tour

• Price: From €46.
• Duration: 4 hours.
• Means of transport: On foot.

Visiting a favela and hiking in half a day is not a bad plan for getting to know a different side of Rio de Janeiro. With this tour, you can explore the majestic Dos Hermanos hill, offering you an experience full of contrasts and unforgettable moments.

You'll start the trip by entering the Vidigal favela, a neighbourhood that reveals the social contrasts of the city and where street art comes to life on every corner. You will learn about the daily life of this community of people with incredible stories as we walk to the top of Dos Hermanos.

As you climb the hill, you will encounter breathtaking views that are well worth the walk, I assure you! You will see Pedra da Gávea, a great place for hiking, the majestic Corcovado mountain, and the famous Rocinha favela. A beautiful viewpoint of the city that not everyone knows about.

Since you're going on a hike, you'll have transport back to the hotel afterwards, so don't worry about the return journey. All in all, a great plan if you're only going to be in Rio de Janeiro for three days.

Interesting facts to consider when choosing this tour

• Price: From €51.
• Duration: 4 hours.
• Means of transport: On foot.

You'll only need half a day to explore the most iconic areas of the city of Rio. You'll be accompanied by a local guide, who will tell you the most interesting and curious facts about every corner of these neighbourhoods.

You'll start with the bohemian atmosphere of the Santa Teresa neighbourhood, including a ride on its famous tram through the beautiful cobbled streets. During this tour, you will see the Arcos da Lapa, an impressive architectural structure that has become an emblem of the city.

Afterwards, you will have the opportunity to visit the Parque das Ruínas, an old building converted into an incredible cultural space, and the famous Selarón Staircase, whose colourful tiles will make it impossible for you not to take photos there. But there's more!

You still have to see the imposing Cinelândia, one of the largest public squares in Rio de Janeiro. Take a look at its impressive architecture! And to finish off, enjoy a moment of relaxation in the Passeio Público, and don't forget to visit the iconic Confeitaria Colombo café, a place that has witnessed the history of the city.

Interesting facts to help you choose this tour

• Price: From £37.
• Duration: 4 hours.
• Means of transport: Tram.

Rio is much more than just going to a football match or walking around its streets. Not far away, nature takes over and offers spectacular places to visit.

If you choose this tour, you can look forward to four hours of adventure in the heart of the jungle. The Tijuca rainforest is considered the largest urban forest in the world, and you can explore it by jeep.

A guide will accompany you at all times and show you all the details of this unique ecosystem, home to an amazing variety of wildlife, including monkeys, sloths, colourful birds and butterflies of incredible colours.

But the experience doesn't end there, as the most interesting part of this tour is undoubtedly the spectacular Vista Chinesa, from where you can admire panoramic views of the famous beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana. The majesty of the rainforest will unfold before your eyes as you venture into the unspoilt nature of Tijuca National Park and walk to the beautiful Cachoeira dos Macacos, a waterfall that adds a touch of serenity to this adventure.

Interesting facts to consider when choosing this tour

• Price: From €63.
• Duration: 4 hours.
• Means of transport: Jeep.

How about spending 8 hours discovering the most iconic monuments of Rio de Janeiro? An exciting day awaits you, visiting the iconic Christ the Redeemer, the impressive Sugarloaf Mountain and the colourful Selarón mosaic. It all starts with a pick-up service from your hotel so that all you have to worry about is enjoying every second.

The day usually begins with a visit to the Paineiras Visitor Centre, where you will learn about the historical richness and cultural importance of the city of Rio. From there, you will usually go to the famous Christ the Redeemer statue, inaugurated in 1931 and one of the seven wonders of the modern world. If you want to spend more time there, you can always book a visit just to see the statue.

The next stop is usually Sugarloaf Mountain, another unmistakable landmark of Rio de Janeiro. You will take the cable car up to Cerro Urca and arrive at Sugarloaf Mountain, where you can enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the city.

After these two great icons, there is still more to discover: the bohemian neighbourhood of Selarón, where each step is a work of art in itself, composed of the famous coloured tiles. Next, you can (if you want) shake your hips at the Sambódromo da Marqués de Sapucaí, the heart of Rio's carnival. Feel the energy of the world's most famous carnival!

Interesting facts to consider when choosing this tour

• Price: From £56.
• Duration: 8 hours.
• Transport: Bus and cable car.

Firstly, it is important to note that guides have a deep knowledge of the city's history, culture and points of interest, so they will help to enrich your experience. In addition, tours include stops at iconic locations and specific activities, allowing you to make the most of your time during the trip and avoid having to plan every detail or risk getting lost looking for a point of interest.

Another advantage is the comfort and safety that a guided tour provides. Guides know the best routes and will avoid less safe areas, which is especially important in a city as large as Rio de Janeiro. Tours also give you the opportunity to meet other travellers, and who knows, you might even make a new friend!

Based on the examples I have recommended, you will see that the price range is between approximately £30 (such as the tour of the Santa Marta favela) and £60 (such as the tour of the Tijuca forest). Considering that all of them include transport from your hotel and a guide, the prices are quite reasonable for the experiences they offer.

What's more, it's a great way to make the most of your time on your trip, so tours save you from any unexpected surprises that may arise if you choose to do activities on your own in an unfamiliar city, as is the case with Rio de Janeiro.

If you need to adjust your budget or time, choose the number of tours that best suit your trip, so you can enjoy the experience to the fullest.