Excursion Downtown rio contrasts tour at Rio de Janeiro

Discover the contrasts of old and modern on this half day tour of downtown Rio.

Old Rio: Lapa District, Candelaria Church, São Bento Monastery

Heading downtown on a short drive, you will reach the Old Rio and  have the chance to visit the cultural side of this beautiful city with a glorious honorable past. This insider's tour to colonial Rio, highlights the concealed, preserved, and authentic Rio,  featuring the old Lapa district with its famous aqueduct arches; "the impressive Candelaria Church; as well as the São Bento Monastery, considered to be the city's richest historical building.

Cinelandia Square

Continue through the business heart of Rio to the scenic Cinelandia Square, where the magnificent Municipal Theater stands.   

Local Snack

During the tour, a refreshment stop will be made a local café, where you will be able to taste an original Brazilian cup of coffee with a cheese bread at Confeitaria Colombo.

New Rio: Olympic Boulevard, Museum of Tomorrow

In 2016 Rio de Janeiro hosted the Olympic and Paralympic games, so the city inherited many amazing places to visit and enjoy: Stroll down "The Porto Maravilha "(Olympic Boulevard) which is the port area, now completely restructured. In this area, you will find the Museum of Tomorrow made by the famous Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. This museum received the Best New Museum of the Year award in 2016 - South & Central America. Nearby you can also see the largest mural created by a single person. Eduardo Kobra painted a 3,000 square meter mural for the Rio Olympics. It is in a former cold-storage warehouse.

Your tour will conclude with a guided walk back to the ship.

Points of interests

Points of interest seen on this excursion may include: Lapa District, Candelária Church, São Bento Monastery, Cinelandia Square, Olympic Boulevard

Note

Please note: This tour involves an extensive amount of walking of approximately a total of 1.5 kilometres including uneven ground and a few steps to negotiate to get on/off the bus. This tour is not suitable for guests with limited mobility and guests who utilise a wheelchair. Lightweight, comfortable clothing with flat, closed-toe walking shoes and sun protection are recommended. All sites (cathedral, Monastery and Musuem of Tomorrow) include an exterior visit only. Confeitaria Colombo coffee shop is closed on Sundays therefore this stop will be replaced with a similar coffee shop.