Rio In Depth: 5 Days with Petrópolis Imperial City
Stay in Ipanema, explore the old city, port area and Santa Teresa at a relaxed pace, and add a day trip to the imperial city of Petrópolis.
Beyond the classic landmarks, give half a day each to the old city and the port district: the Imperial Palace (Paço Imperial), the Royal Portuguese Reading Room, the Saint Benedict Monastery and the Museum of Tomorrow. In the evening, head to Lapa to hear samba. On day four, take a coach up the mountains to Petrópolis to see the Imperial Museum, avoiding the seaside heat. The pace is moderate, suited to travelers who enjoy historic architecture and city life.
The Imperial Museum is closed on Mondays, so plan your Petrópolis day trip for another day.
Day by day
Day 1 · Arrival in Ipanema
A taxi from the airport to Ipanema takes about 50–70 minutes. In the afternoon, stroll the beach. In the evening, watch the sunset at Arpoador.
Stay: Ipanema
Day 2 · Christ the Redeemer and Parque Lage
Rio（Christ the Redeemer / Corcovado、Parque Lage、Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden、Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon）
In the morning, take a taxi to Cosme Velho and ride the little train up. After coming down, taxi to Parque Lage and the Botanical Garden. In the evening, walk back along the lagoon trail.
Book an early train in advance. Parque Lage and the Botanical Garden are within walking distance of each other.
Stay: Ipanema
Day 3 · Sugarloaf, Santa Teresa and Lapa
Rio（Sugarloaf Mountain、Flamengo Park、Santa Teresa、Escadaria Selarón、Arcos da Lapa (Carioca Aqueduct)）
In the morning, take the cable car at Urca. Then taxi to Flamengo Park for a walk. In the afternoon, go up to Santa Teresa and walk down the Selarón Steps to Lapa.
Lapa's nightlife is liveliest on Friday and Saturday nights, so take a taxi there and back.
Stay: Ipanema
Day 4 · Petrópolis Imperial City
Take a coach from Novo Rio bus station up the mountain, about 1.5 hours. Walk around the city, then return the same way in the evening.
The Imperial Museum is closed on Mondays. It's cooler up in the mountains, so bring a jacket.
Stay: Ipanema
Day 5 · Old City and Port District
Rio（Praça XV & Paço Imperial、Real Gabinete Português de Leitura、Confeitaria Colombo、Monastery of São Bento、Museu do Amanhã / Porto Maravilha）
Take the metro to downtown and walk around, then take the light rail to the port district. In the afternoon, a taxi to the airport takes about 25 minutes.
The Museum of Tomorrow is closed on Mondays. You can leave your luggage at the hotel and pick it up by taxi later.