Rio de Janeiro Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Rio de Janeiro tours, the iconic Christ the Redeemer atop Corcovado, the cable car up Sugarloaf Mountain, the colourful Selarón Steps and city highlights, jeep tours through the Tijuca rainforest, the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, favela tours and samba nights, and helicopter flights. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect Rio itinerary.
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Explore Rio de Janeiro by interest
Whatever brings you to Rio de Janeiro — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Christ the Redeemer
The iconic statue.
ExploreSugarloaf Mountain
The cable car peak.
ExploreCity highlights
Selarón Steps and more.
ExploreTijuca rainforest
Jeep tours and jungle.
ExploreFavela tours
Community insights.
ExploreBeaches & samba
Copacabana and nights.
ExploreHelicopter tours
Aerial Christ flights.
ExploreDay trips
Arraial, Paraty and more.
ExploreTop attractions in Rio de Janeiro
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Christ the Redeemer
The iconic statue.
Sugarloaf Mountain
The cable car peak.
Selarón Steps
The colourful staircase.
Copacabana & Ipanema
The famous beaches.
Tijuca Rainforest
Jeep tours and jungle.
Favelas
Community tours.
Maracanã
The legendary stadium.
Samba Nights
Music and dance.
Rio de Janeiro in 1 day
- 1Christ the Redeemer
- 2Selarón Steps
- 3Sugarloaf sunset
- 4Copacabana
Rio de Janeiro in 2 days
- 1Day 1: Christ & Sugarloaf
- 2Day 2: Tijuca & beaches
- 3Selarón & Lapa
- 4Samba night
Rio de Janeiro in 3 days
- 1Day 1: Christ & Sugarloaf
- 2Day 2: Tijuca & beaches
- 3Day 3: Favela or day trip
- 4Icons, nature & culture
Rio de Janeiro with kids
- 1Sugarloaf cable car
- 2Christ the Redeemer
- 3Beaches
- 4Tijuca jeep
Rio icons: Christ & Sugarloaf
- 1Corcovado train to Christ the Redeemer
- 2Sugarloaf cable car, two-stage ride
- 3Selarón Steps & historic centre
- 4Sunset over Guanabara Bay
Beaches, favela & samba nights
- 1Community-based favela walking tour
- 2Copacabana & Ipanema beach life
- 3Stand-up paddle or hang-glide add-on
- 4Samba and street food in Lapa
Corcovado awayChrist the Redeemer
The iconic statue.
In the city awaySugarloaf Mountain
The cable car peak.
30 min awayTijuca Rainforest
Jeep tours and jungle.
2.5 hrs awayArraial do Cabo
Brazil’s “Caribbean”.
In the city awayRocinha Favela
Community tours.
In the city awaySelarón Steps
The colourful staircase.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Rio de Janeiro visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
Autumn and spring (April–May and September–October) bring warm, drier and less crowded weather ideal for sightseeing and beaches — great times to visit Rio.
Summer (Dec–Mar)
Hot, humid and lively, with packed beaches, New Year and Carnival; it’s the busiest, priciest, and most festive season.
Autumn (Apr–May)
Warm, drier and quieter, with comfortable temperatures — an excellent time for the icons and beaches.
Winter (Jun–Aug)
Mild and drier with cooler evenings and clearer mountain views; pleasant and good value.
Carnival
In February or early March, Rio’s world-famous Carnival fills the city; spectacular but very busy and expensive — book far ahead.
Watch the clouds
Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf are best on clear days; keep plans flexible and go up when the weather is good.
One day
Enough for Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf.
Two days
Add the Tijuca rainforest and the beaches.
Three days
The sweet spot: icons, nature, and a favela tour or day trip.
Four to five days
Add Arraial do Cabo, Paraty and more beaches.
A week or more
Explore Rio and the surrounding coast at leisure.
Travelling with kids
Mix cable cars, beaches and jungle gently.
Ride apps
Uber and 99 are affordable, safe and the easiest way to get around Rio, especially at night.
The metro
Rio’s clean, safe metro links Copacabana, Ipanema and the centre quickly and cheaply.
Tour transfers
Most Christ, Sugarloaf and day tours include hotel pickup.
On foot
The beach promenades of Copacabana and Ipanema are lovely to walk, by day and evening.
Cog train & cable cars
The Corcovado cog train climbs to Christ the Redeemer, and cable cars ascend Sugarloaf.
From the airport
Rio’s international airport (GIG) is about 30–45 minutes from the beaches by transfer or ride app.
Go up on a clear day
Visit Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf on a clear day, ideally early or at sunset, and book tickets ahead.
Brazilian real
Brazil uses the real; cards are widely accepted, but carry some cash for beach vendors, taxis and small purchases.
Stay street-smart
Rio is welcoming but take normal precautions — leave valuables in the hotel, use ride apps at night, and stay aware on the beach.
Beach essentials
Bring sun protection and rent a chair; buy drinks and snacks from the beach kiosks and vendors.
Choose ethical favela tours
Pick responsible, community-led favela tours with experienced local guides.
Experience the nightlife
Spend an evening in Lapa for live samba, or enjoy a samba dinner show.
Christ the Redeemer
Timed train and entry tickets sell out — book ahead.
Sugarloaf cable car
Skip-the-line tickets save time — reserve early.
Helicopter tours
Flights have limited seats — pre-book.
Samba shows
Dinner samba shows fill up — book ahead.
Favela tours
Reputable community tours are popular — reserve early.
Carnival & New Year
These are extremely busy — plan and book months ahead.
Christ the Redeemer
Around €30–60 for a guided tour with train and entry.
Sugarloaf cable car
About €25–45 for a skip-the-line cable car ticket.
City highlights tour
Roughly €60–110 for a full-day tour with both icons and lunch.
Tijuca jeep tour
Around €35–60 for a rainforest open-jeep tour.
Helicopter tours
About €150–250 for a scenic flight over the city.
How to save
Use the metro and ride apps, enjoy the free beaches and Selarón Steps, and combine the icons in one tour.
Rio de Janeiro through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Beaches and Carnival.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Hot and busy; book ahead.
- Best for
- Warm, drier sightseeing.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Great weather, fewer crowds.
- Best for
- Clear mountain views.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Mild, drier; good value.
- Best for
- Warm days and beaches.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Pleasant; building to summer.