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

“From Rio traveled via bus, than with boat visited number of beautiful beaches and locations where we were able to swim near the boat. Overall all views and activities gives really good vibes, which is definitely worth to try.”

Check Availability →Read our full review →

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

“The tour is ok. A lot of driving but not a lot of activity.our guide had a great attitude but barely spoke English. Considering they dobthese tours every day they can have either pre-recorded or written scripts for their guides. Co sideline the cost we…”

Check Availability →Read our full review →

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

“We were picked up on time by the bus and Alex (our main guide) was very helpful in translating in English for us even at the stopover store to buy some snacks. The boat ride was pretty smooth and had about 150 people onboard. The…”

Check Availability →Read our full review →

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

“The beaches and the boat were fine. The beaches were beautiful and plenty of room on the boat. However, there’s false advertising that they pick you up at the hotel. It’s a pickup at a central location at 8, whereas it’s advertised as hotel to…”

Check Availability →Read our full review →

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…”

Check Availability →Read our full review →

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

“We saw some amazing places swim in amazing waters and our tour guides made the party for the whole ship! Over all we has an amazing time with lucas!”

Check Availability →Read our full review →

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”

Check Availability →Read our full review →

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

“The trip and the guide was good with a visit to the brewery as well. The only downside to the trip was the vehicle used was not braziling. Every time we stopped all the quests had to enter from the offside which is dangerous. The…”

Check Availability →Read our full review →

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

“The booking was easy and the meeting point was easily found. Communication thru WhatsApp was no problem and replies were done in a timely manner. Our guides Jessie and Erica were lively and fun. They kept the party mood alive and was always willing to…”

Check Availability →Read our full review →

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

“La guía no fue muy buena y el tour era desorganizado e innecesariamente largo, el almuerzo recién fue a las 18.00 y llegamos de vuelta casi a medianoche (partimos a las 8 de la mañana). A pesar de que no recomendaría tomar el tour con…”

Check Availability →Read our full review →

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

“Great outing all around. Nice to get out and about with other tourists. My girlfriend and I really enjoyed snorkeling with the fishes.”

Check Availability →Read our full review →

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

“What an amazing tour and our guide Rafael was the best! It was nice to get away from Rio and visit Petropolis for a day. Rafael spoke perfect English. He is a history major so he was a wealth of Brazilian knowledge. His stories were…”

Check Availability →Read our full review →

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