Skip to content
Historic Center
Overview
Rio wasn’t always about beaches and samba. In the heart of the city lies its true origin: the Historic Center. With centuries-old buildings, plazas, churches and cafés, this area blends colonial legacy, imperial past, and modern-day life. On this walking and driving tour, you’ll explore key landmarks and hidden corners while your guide brings Rio’s history to life, one story at a time.
Tour Highlights
- Lapa’s iconic arches and vibrant street art
- Rio’s modernist Metropolitan Cathedral
- Cinelândia and its early 20th-century buildings
- Praça Mauá and its mix of old and new, near the port
- A deep dive into Brazil’s political and cultural history
Tour Title’s Pictures
Lapa Arches.
Cinêlandia
Lapa
Selaron Steps
Center
Lapa Arches.
Cinêlandia
Lapa
Selaron Steps
Center
1/1
Good to Know
- Includes both walking and driving – bring comfy shoes
- Most of the route is accessible, but sidewalks can be uneven
- Tour available from Monday to Sunday
- Weather can shift – bring a light jacket or umbrella
- Perfect for first-time visitors and history lovers alike
Included / Optional
Private local guide
Curated walking route with iconic and lesser-known landmarks
Historical insights and storytelling throughout the experience
Visit to the Museum of Tomorrow or MAR
sedan/minivan upgrade (with pickup/drop-off)
Lunch stop in a local traditional restaurant
Tour Itinerary
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll explore during the tour. The order may vary depending on the day, but all the following spots are included:
Meeting Point
Your guide will meet you directly at the trailhead. Exact location and directions will be shared in advance.
Lapa District
Start in one of Rio’s most colorful neighborhoods, known for its historic aqueduct and bohemian vibe.
Metropolitan Cathedral
Explore this massive, cone-shaped cathedral with stunning stained-glass windows – a symbol of modern Rio.
Cinelândia Square
Walk past the Municipal Theater, National Library, and old cinemas that shaped Rio’s golden age of culture.
Praça Mauá Area
End near the port area, where colonial meets contemporary. Optional stop at the futuristic Museum of Tomorrow.
End of Tour
After enjoying the experience, your guide will walk you back to the meeting point.
Pricing
| Group Size | Price (BRL) | Per Person (BRL) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 1.500,00 | 1.500,00 |
| 2 people | 1.500,00 | 750,00 |
| 4 people | 1.500,00 | 375,00 |
| 6 people | 1.500,00 | 250,00 |
| 8 people | 2.000,00 | 250,00 |
Pricing includes guide.
Tours Reviews
Excellent5.0119 reviews
5.0Excellent119 reviewsI would like to express our gratitude and recognition to BET – Best Exclusive Travels for all the excellent work done during our program in Rio de Janeiro. From organizing transfers and guides, to tickets for tours, restaurant suggestions and reservations, to monitoring every detail of the program, everything was conducted with excellence, professionalism, and enormous attention to the client. A special thank you to Anthony, Camille Micaut, Sascha and Samantha Szczerb, and also to the entire team and professionals coordinated by BET. Always very attentive, available, and concerned with ensuring that everything happened in the best possible way. What impressed us most was precisely the attention to detail and the ability to offer solutions and support throughout the experience. Top-notch service. Congratulations to the entire BET team! Without a doubt, a company we recommend to anyone seeking excellence, attention, and truly personalized service in Rio de Janeiro. From organizing transfers and tour guides to arranging sightseeing tickets, restaurant recommendations and reservations, as well as carefully coordinating every detail of our itinerary, everything was handled with excellence, professionalism, and exceptional attention to the client. A special thank you to Anthony, Camille Micaut, Sascha, and Samantha Szczerb, as well as to the entire team and all the professionals coordinated by BET. Everyone was always extremely attentive, available, and genuinely committed to ensuring that everything went as smoothly as possible. What impressed us the most was their attention to every detail and their ability to provide solutions and support throughout the entire experience. Truly outstanding service. Congratulations to the entire BET team! We highly recommend BET to anyone looking for excellence, attention to detail, and truly personalized service in Rio de Janeiro.
(Translated by Google, see original)An absolutely unforgettable journey — thank you, Brazil Exclusive Travels! From the very first email to the final goodbye, planning our trip with Brazil Exclusive Travels was a genuine pleasure, and we could not recommend them more highly. Our three-week journey across Brazil — the Lençóis Maranhenses, Salvador de Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, Angra dos Reis, the Iguaçu Falls and the Pantanal — was organized flawlessly from start to finish. A very special thank-you goes to Vincent Droesbeke, our travel consultant, who looked after us with extraordinary care both before and during the trip. He crafted an itinerary that balanced adventure, culture, nature and pure relaxation perfectly, and not a single detail was left to chance. He even came to welcome us in person when we landed in Rio — a thoughtful, personal touch that meant a great deal to us — and surprised us with a wonderful room upgrade on top of it. Every transfer, flight and connection ran perfectly, and each local guide and driver was outstanding: knowledgeable, warm and genuinely passionate about their country. The experiences they arranged were once-in-a-lifetime — a scenic flight over the Lençóis, the Iguaçu Falls from both the Brazilian and Argentine sides, and, the highlight of them all, watching a female jaguar and her cub play at sunset in the Pantanal. Thank you, Vincent and the entire BET team, for turning our dream of Brazil into reality. We will treasure these memories forever — and we will be back! Ilaria & CristianoThis agency went above and beyond for my trip to Rio de Janeiro. From the first email to getting on the plane back home. The tour guides, security team and drivers were amazing-professional , friendly and always looking out for me. I felt completely taken care of the entire time, which made the trip even more enjoyable. I'm so grateful for their support and would absolutely recommend them to anyone looking for a stress-free, high high quality travel experience.Dara and Brazil Exclusive Travels is a 5 star plus company. I would give them 10 stars if possible! Dara and her team helped me plan a perfect Rio holiday. She had ideas on everything from tours - to restaurants - to transfers - to a Michelin level chef to cook for us! Plus Dara and her team were with us every step of the way! Honestly I have nothing negative to say about this company at all! I highly recommend them.I reached out to Brazilian exclusive travel as I was unable to order tickets for a concert for a birthday visit to São Paulo. This happens a lot when booking things if you’re not in or from Brazil but Brazilian exclusive came to the rescue!!! They ordered my tickets and did everything they could to reassure me about safely receiving them! It was a 10/10 for my experience! Quick and efficient, too! Using them to book the rest of my tours and things whilst I am there! 🩷🩷🩷🩷Brazil Exclusive Travels arranged a private tour for a corporate group of 20 people. All the logistics pre-tour handled by Felipe were very well coordinated. Communication was very clear. The team was very attentive to details. Our tour guide Juliana was amazing. I highly recommend them for experiencing the best of Rio.We spent a fantastic 2 days in Rio de Janeiro at the beginning of November. Thanks to Felipe everything went exactly as planned. The guide and driver arrived always on time, theyp were extremly polite,attentive and courteous. Tatiana, the guide was perfect, showed and told everything that could be done in just 2 days. It helped a lot that the driver always dropped us off at the closest location and waited us, as well as fast pass entrance tickets to important places. Overall it was a wonderful experience, just as we had imagined. Thanks to everyone who participated in the organisation and implementation. I recommend the office to everyone, they were very fair. Suzan from HungaryLeave with peace of mind for Brazil, in RIO by entrusting Camille with the care of organizing your stay. With a perfect knowledge of RIO and its surroundings, your efficient help and relevant advice Camille have been very valuable to us and in particular: obtaining tickets for a match at the Maracana (delivered directly to our hotel room), putting us in touch with a French-speaking guide for a morning visit to Santa Teresa (request made the day before), organizing a transfer Ilha Grande - Rio with a stop at the Rio heliport for a flight over the city (Help in choosing the helicopter company) ... Responsiveness, Rigor, Precision and solutions provided (even to last-minute requests): Camille has a great sense of service and support for a tailor-made trip. Thank you Camille for your assistance, your discreet, pleasant and so comfortable presence, you have greatly contributed to the success of our trip.
(Translated by Google, see original)We had an amazing experience!!! Felipe Tauile went above and beyond for our guided tour to help with restaurant recommendations, reservations, and even private airport transfers. He responded immediately to all of our questions and even pivoted plans around weather cancellations. 10/10 recommend and plan to utilize his expertise for future business trips in Brazil!Went for two weeks for carnival. Dara our tour organizer and Pedro our driver were amazing at organizing everything and patient with multiple changes many of which were last minute as we learned more on the ground about different events or places we should experience. Although definitely on the higher side price wise it is worth it if you want a stress free private experience. We will definitely be recommending to any friends traveling to Rio. Anyone who enjoys history should definitely take the private tours as it is you with a guide fluent in your language and whom are very sociable. If you have a lack of plans or want a more dynamic day I’d book the car for the day. The drivers can recommend places to shop, beach, eat etc as can Dada. Ubers can take a while and even the Uber blacks are basic Toyota Camrys and not always in the best of shape.
Book your Tour
Secure your tour with private guide in Rio de Janeiro today.
You Might Like This
Where to Stay at Iguazu Falls: 3 Exceptional Luxury Hotels Compared
Wondering where to stay at Iguazu Falls? Compare Belmond Hotel das Cataratas, Awasi Iguazu, and…
Iguazu Falls Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting
Planning your first visit to Iguazu Falls? Discover where to stay, how many days you…
Scarlet Ibises: Witnessing One of Brazil’s Most Remarkable Wildlife Spectacles
Scarlet ibises are among Brazil’s most striking wildlife species, known for their vivid red plumage…