Day trips · Rio de Janeiro · Brazil
6 best day trips from Rio de Janeiro
Where to go when you want a day away from Rio de Janeiro, and how long it really takes.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Photograph by Mike Peel ( www.mikepeel.net )., CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The classic day trip from Rio de Janeiro is Petrópolis (About 1.5 hours by bus). The closest option is Niterói and the MAC, about 15 km away.
Key facts
- Day trips in this guide
- 6
- Closest
- Niterói and the MAC (15 km)
- Most popular
- Petrópolis
Day trips compared
| Destination | Distance | Travel time | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petrópolis | 68 km | About 1.5 hours by bus | Bus from Rodoviária Novo Rio, or a tour | Culture, Families, Quiet stays |
| Niterói and the MAC | 15 km | About 20 minutes by ferry, then a short ride | Ferry from Praça XV, then bus or taxi | Culture, Couples, Budget |
| Búzios | 170 km | About 2.5–3 hours by bus or transfer | Bus from Rodoviária Novo Rio or private transfer | Beach, Couples, Nightlife |
| Arraial do Cabo | 160 km | About 2.5–3 hours by bus or transfer | Bus or organised tour | Beach, Families, Budget |
| Ilha Grande | 150 km | About 3 hours by road and boat | Transfer to Conceição de Jacareí or Angra dos Reis, then boat | Beach, Quiet stays, Couples |
| Paraty | 250 km | About 4–5 hours by bus | Bus from Rodoviária Novo Rio or transfer | Culture, Couples, Quiet stays |
The day trips
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68 km · About 1.5 hours by bus
1.Petrópolis
The emperors' summer retreat in the mountains holds the Imperial Museum in Dom Pedro II's palace, the Gothic-style cathedral with the imperial tombs and the iron-and-glass Crystal Palace. It is noticeably cooler than Rio and makes a relaxed, history-focused day.
- Getting there
- Bus from Rodoviária Novo Rio, or a tour
- Best for
- Culture, Families, Quiet stays
15 km · About 20 minutes by ferry, then a short ride
2.Niterói and the MAC
Oscar Niemeyer's flying-saucer Contemporary Art Museum (MAC) perches on a cliff with views back across Guanabara Bay to Sugarloaf and Corcovado. The ferry crossing doubles as an inexpensive harbour cruise, and Niterói's Icaraí beach promenade is close by.
- Getting there
- Ferry from Praça XV, then bus or taxi
- Best for
- Culture, Couples, Budget
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170 km · About 2.5–3 hours by bus or transfer
3.Búzios
A former fishing village on a peninsula with more than 20 beaches, Búzios is known for the restaurants and boutiques of Rua das Pedras and the calm bays of Ferradura and João Fernandes. The drive is long, so it works better as an overnight stay than a single day.
- Getting there
- Bus from Rodoviária Novo Rio or private transfer
- Best for
- Beach, Couples, Nightlife
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160 km · About 2.5–3 hours by bus or transfer
4.Arraial do Cabo
Cold currents keep the water off Arraial do Cabo unusually clear and turquoise, making it one of Brazil's best-known spots for boat trips and diving. Boat tours to coves and the Prainhas do Pontal do Atalaia leave from Praia dos Anjos.
- Getting there
- Bus or organised tour
- Best for
- Beach, Families, Budget
150 km · About 3 hours by road and boat
5.Ilha Grande
A car-free island of Atlantic rainforest and beaches, with the village of Abraão as its hub and Lopes Mendes beach a hike or boat ride away. Most people stay at least one night to make the journey worthwhile.
- Getting there
- Transfer to Conceição de Jacareí or Angra dos Reis, then boat
- Best for
- Beach, Quiet stays, Couples
250 km · About 4–5 hours by bus
6.Paraty
A colonial port of white churches and uneven stone streets, some of which flood at the highest tides, Paraty has boat trips to islands and beaches in its bay. The distance makes it an overnight trip, often combined with Ilha Grande.
- Getting there
- Bus from Rodoviária Novo Rio or transfer
- Best for
- Culture, Couples, Quiet stays
Day-trip tips
- Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
- For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best day trip from Rio de Janeiro?
Petrópolis. The emperors' summer retreat in the mountains holds the Imperial Museum in Dom Pedro II's palace, the Gothic-style cathedral with the imperial tombs and the iron-and-glass Crystal Palace.
+How long does it take to get from Rio de Janeiro to Petrópolis?
About 1.5 hours by bus — Bus from Rodoviária Novo Rio, or a tour, about 68 km.
+How long does it take to get from Rio de Janeiro to Niterói and the MAC?
About 20 minutes by ferry, then a short ride — Ferry from Praça XV, then bus or taxi, about 15 km.