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Rio de Janeiro Viewing points

Our most recommended Rio de Janeiro Viewing points

Rio de Janeiro: Yup Star Observation Wheel Ticket

1. Rio de Janeiro: Yup Star Observation Wheel Ticket

Feel the thrill of riding on the largest observation wheel in Latin America with this ticket for Yup Star in Rio de Janeiro. Stay comfortable as you take in the views in one of the 54 climate-controlled cabins.  Hop aboard the Yup Star observation wheel in Porto Maravilha. Capture pictures of the stunning skyline of Rio de Janeiro to share with your friends and family. View sights from above without having to do any climbing. See attractions like the City of Samba complex, the Central do Brasil Clock, and the Museum of Tomorrow. 

Rio: Half-Day Jeep Tour at Floresta da Tijuca

2. Rio: Half-Day Jeep Tour at Floresta da Tijuca

Explore Tijuca National Forest in meticulously restored ex-military open-air off-road vehicles. After hotel pick-up, cut to the Lagoa with the striking view of the Christ statue and head to the rainforest. Stop at the famous Vista Chinesa to discover the history of this unique monument as you'll soak in the views of the Christ Statue in the distance. Move on to the Cascatinha Visconde de Taunay waterfall, and take a quick dip in the crystal clear refreshing water. Continue to a charming chapel constructed in 1855, and start the first of 2 trails. See coatis, toucans, and monkeys! Take a restroom stop and start the second trail of the tour, passing through the Atlantic forest with the sounds of waterfalls following your footsteps. Hop back into your top-down Jeep and head to the famous São Conrado Beach to watch the hand-gliders, before your scenic drive back to your hotel.

Private Tijuca Forest & Botanical Garden Guided Tour

3. Private Tijuca Forest & Botanical Garden Guided Tour

Discover the natural wonders of Rio de Janeiro on a guided tour that visits Tijuca Forest, Rio’s botanical garden, Cascatinha Taunay, and the Chinese Viewpoint, including round-trip transportation from your hotel. Walk along a trail and immerse yourself in all the nature of Rio. After pickup, your trip starts at the Chinese Viewpoint. At an altitude of 388 meters, admire panoramic views of Rio de Janeiro, filled with mountains, forests, and the sea. In the distance, you can also see Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain. Later, go on an adventure through the Tijuca National Forest, one of the largest urban forests in the world. Be enchanted by the Cascatinha Taunay (waterfall) as you walk along a simple trail and learn more about the Atlantic Forest, its flora, and its fauna. Admire breathtaking panoramic views en route back to your hotel. Your tour ends at the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden, with a visit to the sensory garden. Finish off your trip by learning more about local and international flora at the gardens. Spot the redwood tree, from which the country received its name, and stroll among the bicentennial imperial palm trees as you walk to the orchidarium and the bromeliad greenhouse.

Rio: Pedra Bonita Hike

4. Rio: Pedra Bonita Hike

Pedra Bonita (Beautiful Stone) is located in the Tijuca's National Park, in São Conrado (696 m / 2284 ft). It is one of the best options for those looking for a good relationship between time and attractiveness. Most of the climb is by car or van and includes a visit to the paragliding ramp. The trail is wide open and takes around 45 minutes, considered easy, to reach an amazing ridge. As Pedra Bonita is very close to Pedra da Gávea, the view is fantastic and covers most of the city's sights. Enjoy one of the 5 best views of Rio. * Hiking duration: 1:30 hours (approx. 45 min. way up / 45 min. way down). * Vista Chinesa (Chinese Belvedere) - visitation only in weekdays, except local holidays.

Rio: Museum of Tomorrow, Yup Star & Olympic Boulevard

5. Rio: Museum of Tomorrow, Yup Star & Olympic Boulevard

Be enchanted by the colors of the Rio sky as you ride 2 of the main attractions of Olympic Boulevard: the Museum of Tomorrow and the Yup Star Ferris wheel. Discover the port area of Rio and admire Rio de Janeiro 88 meters high. Start your tour by going to Boulevard Olímpico or Porto Maravilha, the city's port area that has been completely revitalized and where the newest tourist attractions in Rio de Janeiro are located. Visit the Museum of Tomorrow, a modern and technological applied science museum dedicated to exploring and questioning all the possibilities for building the future of the planet and humanity. Observe and take photos in front of the unusual and futuristic architecture from one of the most visited museums in Brazil. Inside the Museum of Tomorrow, you'll learn about opportunities and challenges that humanity will have to face in the coming decades. Then, take a short break for photos at the Kobra Mural, one of the largest graffiti murals in the world, created by Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra. Observe five ethnic groups depicted realistically on a colorful background with geometric shapes. End the tour by visiting Yup Star, the Ferris wheel with the best panoramic view in Rio de Janeiro. Get a 360-degree view of Rio de Janeiro's most famous sights, including Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain.

Frequently asked questions about Rio de Janeiro

What top attractions are a must-see in Rio de Janeiro?

The must-see attractions in Rio de Janeiro are:

What are the best day trips and excursions from Rio de Janeiro?

The best day trips and excursions from Rio de Janeiro are:

Petrópolis

What are the best inexpensive tours in Rio de Janeiro?

Other Sightseeing Options in Rio de Janeiro

Want to discover all there is to do in Rio de Janeiro? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Rio de Janeiro

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 2,114 reviews

Fantastic tour of the rainforest, we booked late the night before due to a mistake booking another tour on our part and we we're put on the tour in the morning without a problem. The tour itself was lovely, even with a bit of rain we saw a few bits of wildlife including monkeys. I didn't catch the name of our tour guide but he was incredible, we had multiple languages on our tour and he was talking to everyone about everything in their languages! And we also had a man in a wheelchair on the jeep with us, although he didn't get to come down the trails with us he was still able to see alot which was lovely to see :)

Our Tour Guide Mr. Guilherme was wonderful. He gave us a lot information about Rio and about the views we could see from top. He picked us on-time and the sunset viewing experience was memorable.

Incredible!! Amazing view. Our guide was the best (Andre). 100% recommend this trip, extremely worth it if you are in Rio

Eduardo was amazing. He showed us so many spots that werent in the itinerar! Beautiful experience

well organised tour and very well versed and friendly guide...highly recommended