Carnival. Street parties. Christ the Redeemer. Samba. Soccer. Beaches. Rio de Janeiro is a megacity and it’s got it all. (That’s not a dumb millennial word I made up, it really is called a megacity). Rio de Janeiro has a ton of distinct neighborhoods, each with its own unique vibe. With a historical center, beaches and favelas, the city is incredibly diverse.
We spent six months backpacking in Latin America on our year-long honeymoon, but sadly we didn’t make it Brazil. It’s like, a HUGE continent, y’all! We tried our best!
So when our friend Roz from Irish Nomads offered to create a self-guided free Rio walking tour for us, we were thrilled! … and then immediately filled with FOMO and travel regret again.
Take it away, Roz!
Table of Contents
Psst: Planning a trip to Rio de Janeiro? Here are some other posts that you might find helpful:
- What to Pack for South America: 34 Backpacking Essentials
- 30 Things No One Tells You About Backpacking in South America
- 12 Long Haul Flight Essentials & Travel Tips for Economy Fliers
About the Self-Guided Rio Walking Tour
Walking around a city is the best way to get to know it. We love creating our own self-guided walking tours (like this one!) and self-guided food tours (like in Mexico City and Lima, Peru). In Rio, you’ll just need to do your walking around in bite-sized chunks!
This tour covers two of the most interesting neighborhoods in Rio: Lapa and Centro.
Lapa is full of street art, grunge and boho vibes and it’s where the cool kids (that’s you) hang out.
Centro, as you’d expect, is Rio’s historical center – you’ll see the citie’s best architecture, learn about its history, and get a taste of the classic culture here.
Heads Up: To make your exploring easier, we’ve created a Google Map of the self-guided walking tour route that you can download to your phone and use offline while you’re in Rio! You’ll find it embedded at the bottom of this post. We recommend bookmarking this post to refer to along with the map.
- Rio Travel Tip: While this walking tour will take you through 2 of Rio’s coolest neighborhoods, there’s no way anyone’s two legs could carry them around the entirety of this enormous metropolis in one afternoon! We recommend spending another day of your trip taking a guided tour of Rio, like this day tour with included transportation.
Travel Tips for the Free Rio Walking Tour
Other than wearing good walking shoes (psst: these are our favorites for men & women) there are a few things you should know before you embark on your Rio walking tour! Here are our tips:
- Bring water, sunscreen and a hat: Rio is hot. The weather in the city is no joke – the sun beats down strong most days and when you couple that with the humidity: sweeeaaty. So please don’t risk fainting because you under-prepared, guys – bring plenty of water, layer on the sunscreen and wear a hat. It’s times like these that I feel that I’m morphing into my Mom, but you’ll thank me later (oh wait, she says that too – darn).
- Download a map for offline use: This tour will be a whole lot easier if you’ve saved the center of Rio for offline use on Google Maps. Just go into the Google Maps app on your phone, hit menu –> offline maps and drag the map to download the area you need.
- Brush up on a little Portuguese: While you don’t need to be a linguistic expert or be proficient in the language, it’s useful to know the niceties in Portuguese. It’s not a given that the locals will be able to speak English, so knowing a few words goes a long way.
- Hello – Olá
- Good morning/afternoon/evening – Bom dia/Boa tarde/Boa noite
- Thank you – Obrigado or Obrigada (masc/fem)
- Do you speak English? – Você fala inglês?
- I don’t understand – Não compreendo
- Where’s the bathroom? – Onde é o banheiro?
Looking for more tips for your trip? Check out this helpful guide to the best apps to use while traveling.
Now that you know exactly what to expect, strap on your walking shoes, download your map and get ready for your Rio walking tour!
Cinelandia Square
Your first stop of the day is at Cinelandia Square. This is in the heart of the historic center and it’s as ‘traditionally’ historic as it gets for Rio – I guess a city that’s only technically existed since 1565 isn’t that old, but hey! That’s still old AF compared to the USA, though …
After this first stop, it’ll be more about soul and spirit than architecturally impressive buildings, so soak the history in here first.
Here’s a pretty useless fact to begin your stop at Cinelandia Square: its official name is ‘Praça Floriano Peixoto’, after the country’s second president, but most Brazilians won’t even recognize that name so don’t worry about remembering it.
My absolute favorite view in the square is of the Municipal Theatre (you’ll be going in there next!). It’s so Disney-esque from the outside, with gold-rimmed turrets and a giant gold gilded eagle on top. I mean, how extra can you get? I love it!
Oh, by the way – the first half of this tour is ridiculously easy. The next three stops on the tour are all buildings located on the square. Don’t worry, there’ll be some walking later.
- Estimated time at this stop: 10 minutes
- Walking time to next stop: 3 minutes (200m)
Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro
For your second stop on the tour, step inside Rio’s regal Municipal Theatre. Entry is free and you need to pass through a security check and put your rucksack in a locker before walking around the theatre.
Inside, the building is an opera house, and it’s as glamorous inside as the golden view from the outside. There are beautiful sculptures and paintings by famous artists dotted around the place and everything is gold – gold leaves dotted around the place, gold-framed paintings, gold trimmings.
This place is opulent AF!
Just spend ten or fifteen minutes walking around, but if you’re really interested, you can do a paid, 40-minute guided tour of the theatre.
- English tours run three times daily Mon-Fri and four times daily on Saturdays and holidays and cost R20,00 / $5. Check out the schedule on their website for more info.
- Estimated time at this stop: 20 minutes
- Walking time to next stop: 3 minutes (200m)
Fundação Biblioteca Nacional (National Library)
Rio’s National Library is just across the square from the theatre, and it’s also got free entry and a similar security check and bag drop system.
The library is the largest in all of Latin America and has a couple of million pieces of historical significance – not just books, but photos, maps, music sheets and so much more that comprise and conserve the culture of Brazil.
This building seems impressive and museum-like from the outside but once you step inside, you’ll see that it’s actually a bustling hive of activity. There are university students rushing in and out of the clear, modern glass doors that are set into the traditional stone arches.
The rule is: visitors stick to the areas outside the glass doors. Everything that looks traditional and old is within your limits, the new bit is reserved for studying and real library use.
You can walk up the red-carpeted staircase to the second floor where there’s a balcony with the best view of Cinelandia Square, and the turrets of the opulent theatre across the way.
Because it’s a working library, you’ll just scratch the surface on your visit as you’ll stick to the main areas, but that’s totally fine. It’s a beautiful place.
- Estimated time at this stop: 20 minutes
- Walking time to next stop: 2 minutes (110m)
Museu Nacional de Belas Artes
Your final stop in Cinelandia Square is the National Museum of Fine Arts. It’s the same deal here as the previous two; free entry, security and bag check.
If you’re an art buff, you could easily lose hours in this museum. There are galleries of sculptures, paintings, prints, drawings and modern art and it’s an eclectic mix of old and new, Brazilian and international.
If – like us – you’re interested but not a huuuge appreciator of the fine arts, you can wander a little more quickly between the galleries and copy the expressions of the art subjects for corny photos.
Disastrously childish? Yes. Hilarious? Also yes (sorry serious art folk!).
My favorite are the paintings with hilariously accurate modern hashtag summaries of the serious old paintings…” #migas #bff #primavera #bests #bonsdrinks #maisqueamigasfriends “ When that’s accompanying a stuffy photo of smartly dressed ladies set centuries ago, it’s pretty hilarious, you have to admit.
- Estimated time at this stop: 45 minutes
- Walking time to next stop: 13 minutes (900m)
Escadaria Selaron
Did you even visit Rio de Janeiro if you didn’t go to the famed Selaron Steps? The vibrant colored steps are donned with beautiful mosaics. They’re iconic, they’re busy at every time of day and they’re still awesome.
If you’re feeling full of the old-town vibe of Cinelandia, the Selaron steps are the complete opposite.
Walk slowly up the steps from the bottom and take everything in. There are cool perspective tiles, where you have to stand at a certain angle on the steps to realize that the fragmented pieces over five or six different steps actually resemble a whole image.
The steps are the work of Chilean artist Jorge Selarón and he considered it a way to pay homage to his new neighborhood. As you walk up the steps, try to comprehend the fact that he worked on the steps for over twenty years (hell, I can’t dedicate myself to a task for twenty minutes) and went broke multiple times, leaving his vision unfinished.
The reward for his work? In 2013, the dedicated artist was found mysteriously dead on the famous steps he spent twenty years building. So they’re also haunted art steps. That’s a 2 for 1!
Today, the steps are an iconic feature of Rio and a must-visit for local tourists and internationals alike to feel the true energy of the place – in steps!
- Estimated time at this stop: 45 minutes
- Walking time to next stop: 4 minutes (350m)
Carioca Aqueduct/Arcos de Lapa
Right around the corner from Escadaria Selaron, you’ll find the Carioca Aqueduct.
These are the famous ‘Arches of Lapa’ but they do play a significant role in Rio’s history. The aqueduct was erected almost three hundred years ago to deliver fresh water to the city centre, relieving the city’s residents of their daily encounters with contaminated swamp water.
Carioca Aqueduct is in the heart of Lapa and by strolling under the arches, you’ll get a glimpse into a local’s life.
Look out for the up-and-coming street performers practicing their acts underneath the bridge. It’s a top teenager hangout and the arches are a pretty iconic view in Rio, but you won’t need to spend much time here.
Snap your best photo here and move on to the next stop!
- Estimated time at this stop: 10 minutes
- Walking time to next stop: 6 minutes (450m)
Catedral Metropolitana de São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro
The stop on our Rio walking tour is The Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian.
Brazil is a devout Catholic nation – there’s over 130 million Roman Catholics in the country, and the church makes up a big part of their life. But this church isn’t your usual traditional affair and that’s what makes it so special.
The church is shaped like a pyramid and its architecture is based on Mexican Mayan temples, giving it this eerie, surreal throwback to another world.
Once you step inside the strange giant concrete structure, you’ll be amazed by the stunning stained glass panels shrouding the pews. Spend a few quiet minutes relaxing in the cool, dark interior and admiring the stained glass.
- Estimated time at this stop: 30 minutes
- Walking time to next stop: 12 minutes (950m)
Royal Portuguese Reading Room
The Royal Portuguese Reading Room must be Rio’s best-kept secret.
It’s absolutely entrancing, like something straight out of Harry Potter or Oxford, England – certainly not what you’d expect right in the heart of a bustling Latin city!
Like everything on this self-guided walking tour, it’s free to enter. Once you get inside, you’ll see rows of rich mahogany tables lining the floor, with an endless ceiling stretching up lined with books, books, books.
You can spend a few minutes here taking in the hushed atmosphere, but we really recommend bringing your own book (or, um, e-reader – but I’m not sure if that’d be silently frowned upon in this shrine to books).
Settle into one of the desks and pass away a half-hour reading a few chapters of your latest book, while you’re surrounded by a cushion of thousands more.
- Estimated time at this stop: 45 minutes
- Walking time to next stop: 7 minutes (450m)
Confeitaria Colombo
Okay, okay. Enough time has passed on this tour without food. By this point, chances are you’re han-gry and very ready for something delicious.
Confeitaria Colombo is just that.
Expect to react like a little kid in a candy store when you walk in here. Cake! Everywhere!
There are hundreds of teeny tiny pastries on display in glass cabinets at the entrance, but if you can drag your eyes past those and into the restaurant, you’ll see more high ceilings and beautiful architecture.
Take a seat and admire the splendor of the place. Check out the wrought-iron balcony wrapping around overhead, the gold trimming on everything, the original art on the walls and the soft yellow lamps illuminating everything.
This is the oldest restaurant still operating in its original four walls in Rio and the vibe is just incredible. We recommend enjoying afternoon tea here to fully indulge yourself after all that walking!
Try to restrain yourself from jumping straight for the cakes, have something savory first because the whole menu is delicious. The cheese pastries and seafood snacks are great – enjoy unlimited sweet things afterward!
- Rio Travel Tip: There’s often a waiter here selling local Brazilian coffee beans. If you’re a coffee buff, this is an added bonus.
- Estimated time at this stop: 45 minutes
- Walking time to next stop: Optional, 25 minutes (2 kilometres)
Optional: Museum of Tomorrow
This technically isn’t part of the self-guided walking tour for two reasons. Firstly, it’s not close to all of the other stops and secondly, it’s not free (except on Tuesdays)!
But the weirdly shaped, futuristic science museum is definitely worth an honorary mention. If you’re feeling up to it after your overindulgence at Confeitaria Colombo – or if you want to walk off some of those cakes – then head to the Museum of Tomorrow.
- Rio Travel Tip: We recommend picking up an advance ticket online to avoid long lines.
The museum is a mile and a half walk from Confeitaria Colombo and takes 25 minutes. It’s pretty straightforward, you just get onto Av. Rio Branco and walk right along it until you see the sea – you’ll see the museum sticking right out, you can’t miss it.
You can get a cab if you’d prefer but it could take just as long in city traffic, and the walk is so interesting anyway as it goes right through open-air street markets with locals touting their wares.
If you would like to spend more time in the markets you can take a great tour through the farmer’s markets, Ipanema handicraft & Northeastern traditions markets.
The reason we’re including the museum is that it’s a fantastic anthropological depiction of life in Brazil, but it culminates with a huge focus on today’s economic, social and environmental status. The problems evident in the world today cannot be ignored. And while we all have some appreciation of what these problems are, this museum breaks it down into hard-hitting facts in a digestible way.
It’s heartening to see such a huge facility dedicated to such a good cause in one of Brazil’s biggest cities, especially since other prominent figures in Brazil get a bad rap for promoting industry over the environment, and deforestation in the Amazon.
In this museum, you can see that there are two sides to every story and that the people of Brazil are passionate and forward-thinking, despite the global perception.
Whew! That was a heavy end to a light-hearted tour, but travel should educate you about the current situation in cities too, as well as the history and art.
- Estimated time at this stop: 2 hours
- Walking time to next stop: There’s no next stop! You’re done! That is, unless you’d like to see the largest street art mural in the world, which is just a few minutes away on foot.
Free Walking Tour of Rio Map
To help you plan your walking tour route, we’ve created a map of the entire itinerary. We recommend saving the map to your phone so you can access it offline, and bookmarking this page to refer to as you go!
More Suggestions for Rio de Janeiro
Have a few more days to spend exploring Rio? Here are a few suggestions to round out your trip:
- Keep Going All Night: Still up for an adventure after all that exploring? Do as the locals do and hit the bars! Or if you’re looking for something a little more low-key, there’s a great sunset cruise along Guanabara Bay with drinks and nibbles as you sail.
- Foodie Focused: There’s nothing we love more than a food tour like this one – it combines walking and sightseeing with our other favorite activity, eating! Looking for a way to take delicious Brazilian food back home with you? No, we’re not encouraging you to smuggle food across international borders. Learn how to make your own Brazilian dishes at this local cooking class in Centro!
- Rio’s Top Sights: You can’t leave Rio without getting a closer look at its most iconic sights. We recommend taking a guided tour to cultural spots such as Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, the Maracana, and Sambadrome, like this one!
- Wake Up To A View: There are some seriously fancy places to stay for less than fancy prices. There is this penthouse with a private pool overlooking Flamengo Beach and Sugarloaf Mountain. If you want even grander views of Sugarloaf Mountain and the city below, this beautiful house is tucked up on a hill with a pool and waterfall!
- Get Your Nature On: This tour will take you to waterfalls, and lush green forests – all within Rio’s city limits. Speaking of waterfalls, you can get up and personal with them in the Tijuca Rainforest on this guided tour.
- Take Another Walking Tour: Rio is HUGE and there’s so much to see! Learn about Rio’s complex history and culture from the experts on a guided walking tour, like this one, this one, or this one.
About Our Guest Poster: This post was written by Roz of Irish Nomads. She’s spent the past year backpacking around Latin America, New Zealand and Australia and she’s currently making her way through South East Asia. She’s fascinated by new destinations, food and drinks. Discovering cuisines is one of her favourite aspects of travel. Exploring nature is her other travel highlight and she hikes, bikes, swims and scuba dives. Find her on a mountain or at the nearest bar.
Interested in writing us a post for us? Take a look at our guest post guidelines and pitch us your idea!
Are you ready to strap on your walking shoes and hit the streets of Rio? Which stop on this self-guided free Rio walking tour are you most excited to see? Drop us a comment below!
Psst: Looking for more suggestions in South America? Take a look at some of our other posts.
- Colombia Itinerary: 1 Month of Backpacking Colombia
- How To Visit The Galapagos Islands Without a Cruise: A Complete Guide
- 13 Things to Know Before You Go to Cusco and Machu Picchu, Peru
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Fabio says
Fantastic post about the historic downtown of Rio de Janeiro. I am a private tour guide in the marvelous city (www.rioculturalsecrets.com) and i offer private walking tours to Rio City Center. For who is visiting Rio i suggest to save a time in the area to visit the fantastic São Francisco da Penitencia Church and Nossa Senhora de Montserrat church (Inside the St Benedict Monastery). Those historical biulding are the best example of the brazilian barroc. Don`t miss.
Regards and big hugs from Rio.
Lia Garcia says
Fantastic suggestions, thank you Fabio!