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Free audio walking tours of Rio de Janeiro
Itinerarly has 3 self-guided audio tours of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 1 h to 2 h 20. Each one walks you between the stops in order and plays a short narrated story when you arrive. The narration is available in English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese, and the tours are free.
Rio Centro Express
Historic square, Imperial Palace and Belle Époque pastry house
- Praça XV de NovembroWelcome to Praça XV de Novembro, the historical cradle of Rio de Janeiro and beating heart of its colonial center. Here lay the former harbor pier, where for three centuries ships landed bringing Brazil's gold, enslaved Africans, and the Portuguese royal family fleeing Napoleon in 1808.
- Imperial PalaceHere stands the Paço Imperial, the imperial palace that was the heart of power in Brazil for nearly two centuries. Built in 1699 as the residence of the Portuguese colonial governors, it later housed the exiled Portuguese royal family and then became the seat of the Brazilian Empire.
- Confeitaria ColomboWelcome to Confeitaria Colombo, a true Art Nouveau jewel and one of the most beautiful pastry houses in the world. Founded in 1894 by two Portuguese immigrants, it was quickly adopted by the Carioca elite, intellectuals, and politicians of the Belle Époque.
Santa Teresa and Lapa
Colonial arches, Selarón stairway and bohemian district
- Arcos da LapaHere are the Arcos da Lapa, the former colonial aqueduct that became the emblem of Lapa's bohemian district. Built between 1744 and 1750, this monumental structure 270 meters long, supported by 42 white arches, once carried water from the Carioca River from the Santa Teresa hill down to the public fountain in the city…
- Selarón StairwayWelcome to the Escadaria Selarón, Brazil's most famous and photogenic stairway. This unique artwork is the legacy of Chilean artist Jorge Selarón, who devoted more than twenty years of his life, from 1990 until his death in 2013, to covering these 215 steps with over 2,000 ceramic tiles from more than 60 countries.
- Largo do Guimarães (Santa Teresa)Here is Largo do Guimarães, the beating heart of the picturesque Santa Teresa neighborhood, perched on the hill overlooking central Rio. This small tree-lined square is the meeting place of bohemians, artists, and travelers seeking authenticity.
- Ruins ParkWelcome to the Parque das Ruínas, one of Rio's most evocative and romantic sites. This was once the home of Laurinda Santos Lobo, a patron of the arts and socialite of the early 20th century who turned her house into a true artistic salon, welcoming Heitor Villa-Lobos, Anna Pavlova, and many other intellectuals of the…
- Chácara do Céu MuseumHere is the Museu Chácara do Céu, one of Rio's best-kept secrets. This elegant modernist residence was the home of art patron and collector Raymundo Ottoni de Castro Maya, who on his death in 1968 bequeathed his entire personal collection and his house to the Brazilian state.
Copacabana and Ipanema
Long beachfront walk from the Forte to the Garota de Ipanema bar
- Forte de CopacabanaWelcome to the Forte de Copacabana, a military fort built in 1914 at the southern tip of the beach to protect the entrance to Guanabara Bay. It was from here, in 1922, that the famous 'Revolt of the 18 of the Fort' began, marking the start of the Tenentist movement that shook Brazilian politics.
- Calçadão de CopacabanaYou are now walking along the famous Calçadão de Copacabana, one of the most iconic sidewalks in the world. Its famous wave-like black-and-white pattern, evoking the ocean's waves, was designed by landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx in the 1970s.
- Copacabana Beach (Posto 5)You have reached the heart of Copacabana beach, at the level of the legendary Posto 5. Each 'posto' was originally just a lifeguard station, numbered 1 to 6, but these numbers have become essential meeting points and social markers for Cariocas.
- ArpoadorWelcome to Arpoador, the mythical rock that separates Copacabana and Ipanema beaches. Its name means 'harpooner' in Portuguese, referring to the whales that fishermen hunted here in the 19th century.
- Pedra do ArpoadorClimb now onto the Pedra do Arpoador, a granite rock accessible by a short laid-out path. From its summit, you take in one of the finest panoramic views of Rio: to your right, the long, perfect curve of Ipanema beach with the two mythical Dois Irmãos peaks in the background.
- Ipanema Beach (Posto 9)You are now arriving at Posto 9 in Ipanema, considered the most emblematic and cosmopolitan spot in Rio. In the heart of Ipanema beach, this stretch of fine sand is traditionally the gathering place of intellectuals, artists, activists, celebrities, and hipsters.
- Garota de Ipanema BarYou end your walk in front of the famous Garota de Ipanema bar, located on Vinicius de Moraes Street. Formerly named Veloso, this simple, unpretentious bar entered history because it was here that Tom Jobim and poet Vinicius de Moraes watched Helô Pinheiro, the seventeen-year-old girl who inspired them to compose…
Frequently asked questions
- Is there a free audio walking tour of Rio de Janeiro?
- Yes. The Itinerarly app has 3 free self-guided audio tours of Rio de Janeiro: Rio Centro Express (3 stops, about 1 h); Santa Teresa and Lapa (5 stops, about 1 h 40); Copacabana and Ipanema (7 stops, about 2 h 20). The narration is available in English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese.
- Which sights do the Rio de Janeiro audio tours visit?
- Stops include Praça XV de Novembro, Imperial Palace, Confeitaria Colombo, Arcos da Lapa, Selarón Stairway, Largo do Guimarães (Santa Teresa), Ruins Park, Chácara do Céu Museum, Forte de Copacabana, Calçadão de Copacabana.
- How long does a walking tour of Rio de Janeiro take?
- The Rio de Janeiro tours take from 1 h to 2 h 20, including time at each stop. Pick the shortest one if you only have an hour.
- Do I need to pay or book?
- No. The tours are free and you start them whenever you want. Some monuments charge their own entry ticket; the app links to the official ticket page where there is one.
- Does it work offline?
- You need a connection for the map and directions. A stop you have already downloaded can be replayed without a connection.
- What do I need?
- The free Itinerarly app on iPhone (App Store) or Android (Google Play), and a free account.
- Can Itinerarly plan the rest of my day in Rio de Janeiro?
- Yes. In Plan mode you add the places you want to see and Itinerarly puts them in the best order, with travel times that account for live traffic.