Rio de Janeiro: Walk and Ride in the City Center

Meet the small group at the centrally located meeting point in Praça Mauá. Admire the newly revitalized area considered to be the new cultural center of Rio de Janeiro. Learn about the scale of the project Porto Maravilha and see the before and after. Then visit the recently inaugurated Santiago Calatrava's Museum of Tomorrow.

After starting in the contemporary part of the city, make your way back in time and visit the historical areas that have defined Rio de Janeiro's Downtown for centuries. Navigate the small charming streets filled with baroque, colonial, and neoclassical architecture. On your way the tour guide will discuss the history of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and how it differs from other colonized countries. See the imperial palace in Praça XV. Make a pit stop at a traditional cafe, Confeitaria Colombo, a perfect representation of the glamorous early 20th century era. Then finish at the most iconic historical plaza enclosed by the Municipal Theater, National Library, the Museum of Belas Artes, and more. 

After you have seen both the new and the old, you take a trolley ride over the Arches of Lapa to the bohemian hillside neighborhood of Santa Teresa. This french influenced part of town is full of great restaurants, stores, and is a great place spend some time away from the hustle and bustle of the city. You end with a walk down the newly famous Selarón Staircase that has caught the interest of national and international visitors and has become one of the most iconic places in Rio de Janeiro.