Downtown Rio de Janeiro Ancient Sites Tour with Hotel Pick-up and Drop-off
by Rio Carioca Tour
Overview
This half-day tour of downtown Rio de Janeiro focuses on the city's ancient and historical sites. The tour lasts about four hours and includes hotel pickup and drop-off by air-conditioned vehicle. It begins at Cinelandia Square, where visitors spend around 30 minutes viewing important buildings such as the Municipal Theater, National Library, National Museum of Fine Arts, and the Municipal Chamber. Next, the group visits the Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro for about 20 minutes. This theater, opened in 1909, is known for having its own choir, symphony orchestra, and ballet company. The tour then continues to the Biblioteca Nacional, Latin America's largest library, where visitors spend 20 minutes seeing rare books, original documents, and historical archives. After that, the group visits the Museu Nacional De Belas Artes for 20 minutes to see a building designed in 1908 during Rio's urban modernization. The itinerary proceeds to Praça Quinze de Novembro for about 30 minutes, a historic square surrounded by the Palácio Tiradentes, the Legislative Assembly, and the Paço Imperial. This square also includes a ferry terminal connecting Rio and Niteroi. Following this, the tour walks through Arco do Teles, a former market area with narrow streets lined with bars and small restaurants, spending 20 minutes there. A brief 10-minute stop is made at the Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil (CCBB), a cultural center housed in a former bank. The group then visits the Church of Our Lady of the Candelaria, located on the city's busiest avenue, for 30 minutes. The final stop is the Mosteiro de São Bento, where visitors spend 30 minutes viewing detailed statues, decorated walls, gold leaf elements, and floor designs. Snacks and lunch are not included. The tour accommodates up to 19 travelers per minivan. Comfortable clothing and walking shoes are recommended. Pickup times are arranged according to hotel location and communicated in advance.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Cinelandia
Cinelandia Square is surrounded by important historical and political buildings in Downtown Rio, including the Municipal Theater, National Library, National Museum of Fine Arts, and the Municipal Chamber of Rio.
30 min
Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro
Inaugurated in 1909, the Theatro Municipal is a major theater in Brazil and Latin America, hosting international and Brazilian artists. Since the 1930s, it has maintained artistic independence and has its own choir, symphony orchestra, and ballet company.
20 min
Biblioteca Nacional
Founded in 1810 by King D. João VI, this is Latin America's largest library with nearly 9 million items, including rare books, manuscripts, letters from Princess Isabel, early newspapers, and two copies of the Mainz Psalter Bible from 1492.
20 min
Museu Nacional De Belas Artes
Designed in 1908 by architect Adolfo Morales de los Rios, this building was originally the National School of Fine Arts and was constructed during urban modernization led by mayor Pereira Passos.
20 min
Praca Quinze de Novembro
Located in Rio's historical center, this square is surrounded by the Palácio Tiradentes, Legislative Assembly, and Paço Imperial. It also features the Praça XV ferry terminal serving various city destinations including Niteroi.
30 min
Arco do Teles
This area, once the downtown market, contains narrow streets and alleys filled with bars and small restaurants.
20 min
Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil - CCBB Rio de Janeiro
The Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil is an important cultural center housed in a former bank building.
10 min
Church of Our Lady of the Candelaria
This significant church is located on Rio's busiest avenue in the city center.
30 min
Mosteiro De Sao Bento
The monastery features statues, walls, gold leaf decorations, and floors designed for public admiration.
30 min
Meeting point
If you do not provide us the pickup location at the time of booking and you do not inform us about it later, we will assume you will meet us at the Meeting Point at the Front Desk of the Rio Othon Palace (Avenida Atlântica, 3264 - Copacabana).
End point
If you do not provide us the pickup location at the time of booking and you do not inform us about it later, we will assume you will meet us at the Meeting Point at the Front Desk of the Rio Othon Palace (Avenida Atlântica, 3264 - Copacabana).
Languages
Available sessions
Choose a session on the next step.
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.
Additional info
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