Rio City and Day Trips
Stay in Botafogo. Spend four days in the city, plus three day trips to Arraial do Cabo, Ilha Grande and Petrópolis.
City landmarks and the old city are split across several days, with three day trips in between: boat tours to the clear-water beaches of Arraial do Cabo, Abraão village and the Blue Lagoon on Ilha Grande, and the imperial city of Petrópolis. Each one-way trip takes 1.5–3 hours, so joining a group tour with transfers is the easier option. You stay at one hotel throughout, making this suitable for a week-long holiday for travelers who want both the city and an island.
Island boat tours are only worth it on sunny days. Winter swells sometimes cancel sailings.
Day by day
Day 1 · Arrival and Copacabana
Rio（Copacabana Beach、Fort Copacabana）
A taxi from the airport to Botafogo takes about 40 minutes. Take the metro one stop to Copacabana to stroll the seafront.
Stay: Botafogo
Day 2 · Christ the Redeemer and Santa Teresa
Rio（Christ the Redeemer / Corcovado、Santa Teresa、Escadaria Selarón、Arcos da Lapa (Carioca Aqueduct)）
Taxi to Cosme Velho to ride the little train up. After coming down, taxi to Santa Teresa and walk down to Lapa.
Book the early little train for Christ the Redeemer in advance.
Stay: Botafogo
Day 3 · Arraial do Cabo Beaches
Búzios（Arraial do Cabo、Praia do Forno、Prainhas do Pontal do Atalaia）
A group coach one way takes about 2.5–3 hours. Locally, take a boat tour around the bay and to Forno Beach, then return to the city in the evening. The whole day is about 12 hours.
The water is cool but very clear, so bring sunscreen and a swimsuit.
Stay: Botafogo
Day 4 · Old City, Port District and Sugarloaf
Rio（Praça XV & Paço Imperial、Real Gabinete Português de Leitura、Confeitaria Colombo、Museu do Amanhã / Porto Maravilha、Sugarloaf Mountain）
Take the metro to downtown and walk around, then the light rail to the port district. In the evening, taxi back to Urca to take the cable car and watch the sunset.
The Museum of Tomorrow is closed on Mondays.
Stay: Botafogo
Day 5 · Ilha Grande Day Trip
Angra dos Reis & Ilha Grande（Vila do Abraão、Lagoa Azul）
A group coach to Conceição de Jacareí pier takes about 2.5 hours. Then a boat to the island takes about 30–50 minutes. Tour the Blue Lagoon and return.
A day trip leaves little time on the island. If you want to hike the trails, plan to stay overnight.
Stay: Botafogo
Day 6 · Petrópolis Imperial City
Take a coach from Novo Rio bus station up the mountain, about 1.5 hours. Walk around the city, then return in the evening.
The Imperial Museum is closed on Mondays.
Stay: Botafogo
Day 7 · Ipanema and Departure
Rio（Ipanema Beach / Arpoador、Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon）
Take the metro to Ipanema. Stroll the beach and lagoon in the morning, then taxi to the airport in the afternoon, about 1 hour.