Rio de Janeiro

15 Best Day Trips from Rio

The escapes Rio day-trippers rate: Angra’s 365 islands and Ilha Grande’s car-free beaches, Petropolis with its imperial palace in the hills and Buzios, the fishing village Bardot made famous. The coast competes hard with the city.

1.Rio de Janeiro: Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande Full-Day Tour

Discover the natural beauty of Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande with this full-day tour from Rio featuring lagoons, beaches, marine life, and local cuisine.

Most Popular★ 4.6

“So much fun! The guides were amazing and so nice, the excursions like snorkeling and jet skiing were very affordable. I burn very easily in the sun and was worried about the 14hr day in the sun but there is lots of shade on both…”

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2.Full Day Excursion to Petrópolis from Rio de Janeiro

Discover Petrópolis with this full-day tour from Rio, exploring imperial palaces, museums, shops, and more — a blend of history, culture, and scenery.

★ 4.5

“This was a nice, complete tour of Petropolis. Very enjoyable day with Chris. Saw everything that was listed on the itinerary and had enough time to explore a bit on our own. Lunch was a buffet with good selections. The only downside was that we…”

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3.From Rio de Janeiro: Angra dos Reis Boat Trip with Lunch

Discover stunning islands near Rio with a full-day boat trip to Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande, including stops, snorkeling, and a buffet lunch. Perfect for water lovers.

★ 4.0

“Why so many bad reviews? They picked me up on time! They tell you on the bus that LUNCH, is at FOUR PM.4pm) BUT THEY STOP LIKE 2x to buy hot food. Or, you can order the expensive food ahead. The buffet meal isn’t the…”

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4.25 – Full Day Tour to Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande

Discover Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande on a full-day boat tour from Rio, featuring stunning beaches, snorkeling, and a delicious lunch — all at an accessible price.

★ 4.0

“I did during the peak season, in early January. Our guide, Felipe was nice and kind. The overall problem is there are too many people in a group as others pointed. This is not good for both tour participants and the guide. A daily group…”

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5.Full Day Tour to Angra dos Reis and Grand Island

Discover Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande on a full-day tour offering scenic boat rides, beaches, and snorkeling. Great value but long travel times.

★ 4.0

“This budget-friendly tour is a solid deal if youre looking for a cheap escape, with lunch included and the opportunity to experience both a bus ride and a boat trip. However, most of the day was spent travelingfirst on the bus picking up passengers of…”

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6.From Rio de Janeiro: Angra dos Reis & Ilha Grande Day Tour

Discover the stunning beaches, clear waters, and lush landscapes of Ilha Grande and Angra dos Reis on this full-day tour from Rio, with guides, lunch, and snorkeling.

★ 4.6

“great beaches, tour guide and activiti es. The only downside is the fact that for over 100 people there is not enough space on the boat, you don't feel comfortable sitting all cramped up holding your bags”

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7.Transfers Rio X Buzios

Enjoy seamless, private transfers between Rio de Janeiro and Buzios with professional drivers, flexible timing, and top-rated service for a stress-free trip.

★ 5.0

“Great driver. Communication with the company was outstanding. Many checking to make sure timing was correct”

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8.From Rio de Janeiro: Petrópolis Day Trip with Optional Lunch

Discover Petrópolis on a full-day tour from Rio, visiting the Imperial Museum, Cathedral, and Quitandinha Palace, with optional lunch and brewery visit.

★ 4.3

“Amazing tour! Our tour guide Rafael Robaina and driver Carlos Marrone were extremely helpful and full of knowledge. I would highly recommend this tour!”

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10.Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande: Small-Group Fast-Boat Tour

Experience the beauty of Ilha Grande on a small-group speedboat tour from Rio, including beaches, snorkeling, and personalized guides for an unforgettable day.

★ 4.4

“I strongly recommend this activity, which was very well organized! We visited some very nice beaches, swam with some amazing fishes and even turtles and were not bothered by other tourists. The guides were very friendly and the general atmosphere was excellent! Very well done!!!”

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11.Full Day Tour to Angra dos Reis with Lunch

Discover Angra dos Reis on a full-day boat tour with island visits, beaches, and a buffet lunch. Enjoy scenic views, authentic experiences, and practical insights.

★ 4.0

“Longue activitee mais super,Les deux spot de baignade paradisiaque Le repas est ok et l ambiance sur le bateau top Mapfre beaucoup de monde”

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12.Exploring Angra Dos Reis and Ilha Grande in One Day

Discover the highlights of a full-day tour from Rio to Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande, featuring stunning beaches, snorkeling, and authentic Brazilian cuisine.

★ 4.5

“The transportation time to get to the boat was extraordinary. The guide and crew were great. There were many people on the outing. Based on the time spent commuting, I would not want to do this again.”

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13.Petrópolis Day Trip from Rio de Janeiro including Imperial Museum and Crystal Palace

Discover the highlights of Petrópolis on this full-day Rio tour, including the Imperial Museum, Crystal Palace, and optional brewery visit—great for history lovers and culture seekers.

★ 4.0

“Well I was the 1st stop for pick up and we did about 9 pick ups this took over an hour out original pick up time was 8:10 but the arrival of the tour guide was :20 mins later due to inclement weather. Call it…”

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14.Discover Petropolis and its Hidden Gems with our Private Tour

Explore Petrópolis, Brazil’s Imperial City, on this private tour featuring historic palaces, architecture, and local charm with personalized guides and flexible options.

★ 5.0

“Faby was a WONDERFUL tour guide! From the hotel pick-up to drop-off, she ensured that my friend and I had an amazing experience. When we mentioned that we would love to have some Brazilian coffee to take home as a souvenir, she incorporated a stop…”

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15.Petrópolis: Imperial City Tour

Explore Petrópolis, the Imperial City of Brazil, on a full-day tour featuring palaces, historic buildings, imperial jewels, and stunning mountain views.

★ 3.7

“It was a nice day trip with the casino and palace definitely being the highlights and worth the price of the tour.”

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More Day Trips from Rio

4.5Petropolis The Imperial City with Beer tour and Lunch10 hours (approx.)$59.84 3.5Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande Day Trip with Schooner Cruise and Lunch12 hours (approx.)$96.40 3.5Shared transport Rio de Janeiro Ilha Grande$27.55 3.5Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande Day Trip from Rio de Janeiro12 hours (approx.)$98.57 3.5Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande Tour from Rio with Boat Ride and Lunch14 hours (approx.)$64.00 4.5Angra dos Reis Boat Tour with Lunch12 hours (approx.)$71.90 4.0Day Tour to Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande14 hours (approx.)$101.85 3.5Shared Transfer Rio x Ilha Grande (Vila do Abaão)2 to 3 hours (approx.)$44.54 4.5Petropolis: The Imperial City with Lunch10 hours (approx.)$56.85 3.3From Rio de Janeiro: Búzios Full-Day Boat Tour13 hours$69 4.523 – Guided Excursion to Búzios with Boat Trip and Lunch14 hours (approx.)$105.00 4.5Guided Tour to Búzios with Boat Tour and Lunch$105.00 5.0Private VIP Paradise Ilha Grande Speed Boat and Transfer from Rio9 to 10 hours (approx.)$1,013.95 4.7Full-Day Tour to Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande14 hours$77 4.521 – Guided Tour to the Imperial City of Petrópolis with Lunch10 hours (approx.)$80.00 4.5Imperial Petrópolis – Historic Tour + Teresa Street and Lunch9 hours (approx.)$57.83 4.5Guided Tour to the Imperial Cida of Petrópolis with Lunch$80.00 3.0Búzios Day Trip from Rio de Janeiro12 hours$94 3.5Buzios Day Trip with Lunch, City Tour and Cruise from Rio de Janeiro13 hours (approx.)$95.74 4.2From Rio: Full Day in Búzios with Catamaran Tour and Lunch14 hours$76 4.5Tour Angra dos Reis + Ilha Grande | Departures from Rio de Janeiro13 hours (approx.)$61.75 4.5Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande Tour in an Adventure Day14 hours (approx.)$86.27 4.0Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande Boat Tour from Rio de Janeiro14 hours (approx.)$64.43 5.0Historic Petrópolis From Rio: The Imperial City Palaces, Architecture & Culture10 hours (approx.)$296.00

Explore Rio de Janeiro

Christ above, Sugarloaf below and samba wherever the night lands.