History · Rio de Janeiro · Brazil
7 historic sites to see in Rio de Janeiro
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Marshallhenrie, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Maracanã Stadium, Santa Teresa and the bonde tram and Museu de Arte do Rio (MAR). Together the 7 picks below take roughly 9–10 hours across 5 areas; 2 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 7
- Free entry
- 2
- Time to see them all
- 9–10 hours
- Areas
- Maracanã, Santa Teresa and Praça Mauá
Historic sites in Rio de Janeiro
Landmark · Maracanã
1.Maracanã Stadium
Stadium tours visit the dressing rooms and pitchside, but the real experience is a match, with flags, drums and non-stop chanting from the stands.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours for a tour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- After dark
- Kids
Neighbourhood · Santa Teresa
2.Santa Teresa and the bonde tram
Get off near Largo dos Guimarães to explore studios, small museums and bars, and walk to the free Parque das Ruínas, a ruined mansion with a terrace over Guanabara Bay.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Couples
- Art
Gallery · Praça Mauá
3.Museu de Arte do Rio (MAR)
A walkway on the top floor leads to a terrace looking over the port, Praça Mauá and the Museum of Tomorrow.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
- Views
Historic site · Lapa
4.Lapa Arches
Beneath them the square fills with street parties at weekends, and the samba halls of Rua do Lavradio and Rua Mem de Sá are a short walk away.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes by day, an evening for samba
- Cost
- Free
- History
- After dark
- Free
- Architecture
Architecture · Centro
5.Real Gabinete Português de Leitura
Founded by Portuguese immigrants, it is a working library with one of the largest collections of Portuguese literature outside Portugal.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Free
- Rainy day
- Photo spot
Experience · Centro
6.Confeitaria Colombo
Cariocas have met here for coffee and pastries for well over a century.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
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Architecture · Centro
7.Theatro Municipal
Guided tours show the building, and the season includes opera, ballet and orchestral concerts.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
- After dark
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Maracanã | Maracanã Stadium | 1.5 hours for a tour |
| Santa Teresa | Santa Teresa and the bonde tram | Half a day |
| Praça Mauá | Museu de Arte do Rio (MAR) | 1.5 hours |
| Lapa | Lapa Arches | 30 minutes by day, an evening for samba |
| Centro | Real Gabinete Português de Leitura, Confeitaria Colombo and Theatro Municipal | 30 minutes + 1 hour + 1 hour |
Booking and timing
Of these 7, 2 free, 4 low cost, 1 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Santa Teresa and the bonde tram; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Maracanã): Maracanã Stadium, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Santa Teresa): Santa Teresa and the bonde tram, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Praça Mauá, Lapa and Centro): Museu de Arte do Rio (MAR) → Lapa Arches → Real Gabinete Português de Leitura → Confeitaria Colombo → Theatro Municipal, at least 5 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- August: highs of 26°C (79°F), about 5 rainy days, quiet crowds. Dry and sunny, with occasional cold fronts that bring a few grey, cooler days; good hiking weather in Tijuca.
- June: highs of 25°C (77°F), about 6 rainy days, quiet crowds. Mild winter weather with some of the clearest skies of the year; June festivals bring bonfires, corn dishes and quentão (spiced hot cachaça).
- May: highs of 26°C (79°F), about 7 rainy days, quiet crowds. One of the most comfortable months: warm, mostly dry days, clearer views from Corcovado and fewer visitors.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Santa Teresa — Hilltop lanes, old mansions, artists' studios and the bonde tram
- Lapa and Centro — Colonial churches, the aqueduct arches and Rio's samba nightlife
More of Rio de Janeiro
All things to do in Rio de Janeiro · Where to stay · When to go.
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Rio de Janeiro?
Maracanã Stadium. Built for the 1950 World Cup and rebuilt for 2014, when it hosted the final, the Maracanã is the home ground of Flamengo and Fluminense.
+Which of these are free in Rio de Janeiro?
Lapa Arches and Real Gabinete Português de Leitura.