Rio de Janeiro · RIO WALKING TOURS

The 15 Best Walking Tours in Rio de Janeiro

27 tours  ·  from $1

Downtown Rio is colonial churches wedged between office towers, and none of it explains itself. These 15 walks cover the old centre, Santa Teresa’s lanes and the hillside communities, priced by length with a note on the hills.

Rio de Janeiro: Rocinha Favela Walking Tour with Local Guide - Pickup from Copacabana or Ipanema
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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

Spend about two hours walking through Rocinha with a local guide such as Ray, Bruno, or Carlos. Pickup is available from Copacabana or Ipanema, with multilingual guides, air-conditioned transport, and a community contribution included in the $36 price.

“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 - Meeting at Copacabana Palace
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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 through Rocinha with local guides such as Wellington, Alberto, or Daniel, hearing about daily life, history, and local challenges. The three-hour route includes narrow alleys, steep stairs, a hilltop viewpoint, and often a capoeira visit. Small groups keep the experience personal and respectful.

“Wellington was a great tour guide. Very informative tour. Felt safe and residents were very friendly.”

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Sunrise and Sunrise Walk Two Brothers with Local Guide - Meeting at Vidigal and riding to the trail
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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 Vidigal, ride a community motor taxi or van to the trailhead, then hike 1.5 km through Atlantic Forest to the 533-meter summit of Morro Dois Irmãos. Expect an early start, lanterns, photo stops, and wide views of Ipanema, Leblon, Christ the Redeemer, and Rio’s southern coast.

“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 - Meeting 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

Meet your English-speaking guide at the Rio Art Museum for a 150-minute walk through Little Africa. Hear Rio’s colonial and Afro-Brazilian story, view Mauá Square from a rooftop, visit Pedra do Sal and Valongo, and learn from guides such as Luana, Nathalia, Larissa, and Eddie.

“You couldn’t ask for a better guide than Eddie for the little Africa tour, an enthusiast with so much information to share. Eddie was patient in answering our questions and had great recommendations for activities and food in Rio. A fantastic place with a rich embedded history.”

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Learn the History of Rio with an Unforgettable City Center Walking Tour - Meeting the guide at Theatro Municipal
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Learn the History of Rio with an Unforgettable City Center Walking Tour

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

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

Explore Rio’s historic center on a private three-hour walk with a guide such as Rafael or Danielle. See Cinelândia, Selarón Steps, Lapa’s arches, the Metropolitan Cathedral, Colombo Café, and Paço Imperial, with room to adjust the route to your interests.

“Amazing, friendly and very informative walk around the historical center of Rio! 5 / 5 stars! Thank you!”

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Rio's city walking tour: a glimpse of history and olympic legacy - São Bento Monastery: the tour’s strongest interior
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Rio’s city walking tour: a glimpse of history and olympic legacy

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

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

Spend about four hours exploring downtown Rio with a local guide, visiting São Bento Monastery, Candelária Church, Paço Imperial, Mauá Square, Colombo Bakery, and the Metropolitan Cathedral. Hotel pickup is included from most hotels in Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, and São Conrado.

“Another great tour. It was not a hard walk. Good pace and lots to see on this tour. Worth taking this one.”

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

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

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

Spend about 3½ hours riding Rio’s historic yellow tram and walking through Santa Teresa, Lapa, and Cinelândia. Guides such as Edmundo, Lorena, and Ivan bring local insight, art, history, and personal stories to the route. Expect a small group of up to 12 people, a 9 a.m. start, and plenty of uphill and downhill walking.

“Ivan was an excellent guide. Knowledgeable and considerate. His knowledge made the tour entertaining and intresting.”

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Guided Walk to Telegraph Stone - The 3.5-kilometer trail and its moderate climb
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Guided Walk to Telegraph Stone

8.Guided Walk to Telegraph Stone

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

Hike 3.5 km through forest to Rio’s famous Telegraph Stone with a bilingual guide, shared transport, and several viewpoints. The pointed rock creates its famous abyss photo through a clever camera angle. Allow extra time, bring water, and confirm pickup details the day before.

“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*”

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Bossa Nova Walking Tour - Praça General Osório and the Hippie Fair
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Bossa Nova Walking Tour

9.Bossa Nova Walking Tour

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

Join Rio Bossa Experience for a three-hour music walk through Ipanema and Copacabana. Guides such as Gui and Guilherme pair stories about Bossa Nova with live guitar, visiting statues, plazas, beaches, and the Girl from Ipanema landmark.

“It was great to learn about the history of bossa nova along with the Guilherme my guide playing the classics.”

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Rio de Janeiro: Bossa Nova Walking Tour with Guide - Starting at Praça Nossa Senhora da Paz
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Rio de Janeiro: Bossa Nova Walking Tour with Guide

10.Bossa Nova Walking Tour with Guide

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

Meet guide and musician Guilherme at Praça Nossa Senhora da Paz for a three-hour walk through Ipanema and Copacabana. Hear live Bossa Nova, visit places tied to Tom Jobim and Vinícius de Moraes, and finish at the Garota de Ipanema bar.

“Gui was an amazing guide, full of knowledge. Who would not fall in love with Bossa Nova !!!”

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Centro Historico and Lapa - Santa Teresa Walking, Historical and Bohemian Tour - The Metropolitan Cathedral and Rio’s striking modern side
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Centro Historico and Lapa – Santa Teresa Walking, Historical and Bohemian Tour

11.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 with a guide such as Ivan exploring Rio’s Centro, Santa Teresa, and Lapa. See churches, colonial squares, Kobra’s giant mural, Parque das Ruinas, Selarón Steps, and the Lapa aqueduct, with a scenic tram ride and one included drink.

“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 - Biblioteca Nacional and Rio’s grand public face
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Historical Downtown and Lapa – Walking Tour

12.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 with guides such as Rafael or Juliana. Expect detailed political history, photo stops at the Selarón Steps, grand civic buildings, and time for questions. The group is capped at 20, with no food or drinks included.

“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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Favela Santa Marta: Walking Tour with local guide - Riding up to the highest part of the favela
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Favela Santa Marta: Walking Tour with local guide

13.Favela Santa Marta: Walking Tour with local guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 41 reviews · 2h 30m · from $34Best value

Ride to the top of Santa Marta, then walk with a local resident guide through colorful streets, community projects, art spaces, shops, and the Michael Jackson viewpoint. Tours run in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese, with private and small-group options available.

“pas de visite d école de musique, pourtant on entendaient des percussions, on nous a dit que c étais l après midi, après l école”

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Rio de Janeiro: Downtown Walking Tour - Starting at XV de Novembro Square
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Rio de Janeiro: Downtown Walking Tour

14.Downtown Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 41 reviews · 4 hours · from $47

Walk through central Rio with a multilingual guide, tracing Brazil’s story from monarchy to republic. Visit XV de Novembro Square, Candelária Church, CCBB, Cinelândia, and Colombo Bakery. Guides such as Angelica, Antonio, Lavinha, and Renato have led this route in several languages.

“Tuve la oportunidad de participar en una excursión guiada por el centro histórico con Antonio, y fue una experiencia excepcional de principio a fin. Desde el primer momento, Antonio demostró un profundo conocimiento del patrimonio cultural e histórico de la ciudad. Lo que más me impresionó fue su capacidad para transmitir pasión por la historia y su habilidad para conectar. Mantuvo un ambiente cercano y acogedor, respondiendo cada pregunta con paciencia y entusiasmo. Además, cuidó cada detalle del recorrido, asegurándose de que estuviera cómodo y disfrutando del paseo. Visitamos lugares emblemáticos y también rincones menos conocidos que, gracias a sus explicaciones, cobraron un nuevo signif...”

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Rocinha Walking Tour: Get a Feel for the Brazil's Largest Favela (Shared Group) - Meeting in Copacabana and heading toward Rocinha
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Rocinha Walking Tour: Get a Feel for the Brazil’s Largest Favela (Shared Group)

15.Rocinha Walking Tour: Get a Feel for the Brazil’s Largest Favela (Shared Group)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 37 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $100

Spend about three hours exploring Rocinha with a bilingual local guide. Walk its narrow lanes, ride a moto-taxi uphill, visit craft sellers and graffiti artist Wark, and see Rio from Laboriaux and Mrs. Maria’s home. The group is limited to 10, with metro tickets included.

“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 still lives there. He treated us like family introducing us to his sister and many friends as we passed by. I have no words to describe how grateful we are to be able to go all the way to the top, be welcomed into actual homes, and learn so much along the way. Absolutely amazing…”

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New in Rio Walking Tours

★ 4.7Favela Walking Tour of Rocinha with a Resident GuideFrom $1063 reviews
★ 5.0Must-See Sites Walking Tour With A GuideFrom $503 reviews
★ 5.0African Culture Walking TourFrom $1005 reviews
★ 5.0Pedra do Telégrafo: Nature Excursion and Scenic WalkFrom $555 reviews
★ 4.6Little Africa – Walking tour from the passed to the futureFrom $328 reviews
★ 5.0Explore Santa Teresa: Walking TourFrom $1066 reviews

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Rio Favela Tours36Santa Teresa Tours9Historical Tours20
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Where to go in Rio

Pick a summit, a hillside, a beach or a bar.

The summits

Christ the RedeemerSugarloafCorcovado TrainHelicopter FlightsSunrise Trips

On foot

Favela WalksHikesWalking ToursSanta TeresaSelarón Steps

On the water

Boat TripsGuanabara BayBeach DaysSurf LessonsSunset Trips

After dark

Samba NightsBar CrawlsFood and DrinkMaracanãEvening Tours