Rio de Janeiro History Walking Tour
Description
The tour offers a guided walk through the main historical and cultural landmarks of downtown Rio de Janeiro, combining history, and gastronomy. The tour begins in Cinelândia, famous for its cinemas, and buildings such as the Municipal Theater, the National Library, and others. Next, the tour continues to the Church of São Francisco da Penitência, notable for the splendor of Brazilian Baroque architecture. Visitors then visit the Real Gabinete Português de Leitura, one of the most beautiful libraries in the world. The gastronomic stop takes place at the traditional Confeitaria Colombo, where you can taste typical Brazilian delicacies. The tour continues to Praça XV, passing by historical sites such as the Church of Nossa Senhora do Carmo, and the Chafariz do Mestre Valentim fountain. The walk continues through Arco do Teles, a hub of bars and samba, and Casa Tucum, a cultural center with works by indigenous peoples. At the end, visitors can try a typical Brazilian lunch (if chosen).
Tour Options
Itinerary
Start your tour here. This famous square was once a hub of art and culture due to the many theaters and cinemas that were concentrated there
Discover this imposing building from the era of the Portuguese Empire.
With over 200 years of history, the National Library is the oldest Brazilian institution, predating even the constitution of Brazil as an independent nation.
one of the largest museums in the country, owner of the largest collection of 19th-century Brazilian art.
Visit the Church of São Francisco da Penitência.
One of the most beautiful libraries in the world! Perfect for beautiful pictures.
A permanent member of all the “must-visit cafes” rankings around the world
Main port of entry for Colonial and Imperial Brazil. Home to the Imperial Palace and the Mestre Valentim Fountain.
A hotspot for lively bars with lots of samba.
A cultural center with exhibitions and handicrafts created by different indigenous peoples of Brazil.
Enjoy a delicious lunch at a restaurant with 15 years of tradition located on the most famous, elegant, and charming street at the time when Rio de Janeiro was the capital of the Empire.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The lunch includes admission, main course, and dessert per person. Drinks are paid separately.
- Entrance: Chevre salad (mixed greens, nuts, balsamic vinegar, and goat cheese with herbs), Italian eggplant – served with house bread, Café Paris salad (iceberg lettuce, roasted tomatoes, pastrami, ricotta, and sauce), Campagne pâté (French pork and chicken terrine) served with mini green salad and house bread, and ricotta paste with green olives – served with house bread.
- Main course: Fish and shrimp moqueca with white rice and dendê farofa; picadinho carioca with rice, beans, farofa, and poached egg; cassava escondidinho with dried meat; pork ribs with tropeiro beans; red feijoada (made with our meats smoked in-house over apple wood – pork loin, ribs, dried beef, paio sausage and calabresa sausage, with rice, farofa and kale (always on FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS)
- Dessert: Chocolate-filled profiteroles, condensed milk pudding; chocolate ice cream cake with Negresco crumbs and pineapple with lemon zest.
- Customers will have access to the restaurant with the possibility of shared tables (to be determined, subject to availability).
Reviews(6)
Emma is very accommodating on our questions and clarificationsa about some places.. very interesting!
Dear Joanne, Thank you for your kind words! We’re so glad to hear that Emma was helpful and accommodating with your questions and clarifications. It’s wonderful to know you found the experience interesting as well. We’ll be sure to share your feedback with her. We hope to welcome you again soon! Customer Experience Team
We had a fantastic experience on the C2Rio All-Day Tour of Rio. It was an incredibly efficient way to see so many of the city’s highlights in just one day—something we never could have done on our own. Our guide Luciana was amazing—so knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about Rio. She shared great insights at every stop and made the whole day fun and engaging. Our driver Cristiano was also excellent, navigating the city smoothly and making the entire tour feel easy and stress-free. Of course, Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain were the highlights—both absolutely breathtaking. Highly recommend this tour, especially if you get Luciana and Cristiano!
Dear George, Thank you for sharing such a wonderful review. We’re thrilled to hear that the full-day tour allowed you to experience so many highlights of Rio in a smooth and enjoyable way. It’s great to know that Luciana made the day informative and fun, and that Cristiano provided a comfortable and stress‑free ride throughout the city. We truly appreciate your recommendation and your kind words about our team. It will be a pleasure to welcome you again on your next visit to Rio!
It’s the BEST EXPERIENCE we’ve had since we arrived in Brazil, our guide Santos made us tours of the impressive and shocking history of this beautiful country from its monuments and buildings to recommendations for local food, took photos and videos, made us laugh a lot. I think we not only learned the history of Brazil... We also won a friend. Thanks for everything Santos! Recommended 100%.
Estimado Diego, Muchas gracias por compartir una reseña tan especial. Nos alegra saber que Santos hizo que su experiencia fuera memorable, con buenas historias, recomendaciones locales y hasta fotos y videos para recordar el día. Es maravilloso saber que logró mostrar lo mejor de Río en un ambiente amigable y relajado. Agradecemos mucho la recomendación y será un placer recibirlos nuevamente en su próxima visita a Brasil.
A wonderful experience! Santos is a genius, highly recommended
Estimado cliente, gracias por compartir su experiencia con nosotros. Nos alegra saber que la ha disfrutado y que Santos haya sido un guía formidable. Agradecemos su recomendación. Esperamos atenderle nuevamente pronto. - Equipo C2Rio
Me and my friends hade a private tour with Emma, who showed us around in the historic center. She was really nice and friendly, and told us what we needed to know about famous buildings.
Good tour, Henrique is a attentive and well informed guide. He made a tour of beautiful churches, which was what we wanted, and had a lot of patience. It's worth it.
Muito obrigada pelo seu comentário, Iwona! 😊 Ficamos felizes em saber que o passeio atendeu exatamente ao que vocês buscavam. O Henrique realmente é um guia muito atencioso e bem informado, e é ótimo saber que as igrejas e todo o tour tornaram a experiência especial. Esperamos recebê-la novamente em breve!
