Is the Rio Centro Express tour in Rio de Janeiro free?

Yes. It is one of 3 free self-guided audio tours of Rio de Janeiro in the Itinerarly app. Some sights charge their own entry ticket.

How long does the Rio Centro Express tour take?

About 1 h for 3 stops, including time at each stop.

Where does the Rio Centro Express tour start and finish?

It starts at Praça XV de Novembro and finishes at Confeitaria Colombo.

Which languages is the narration in?

English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese, with natural-sounding synthetic voices.

Itinerarly › City guides › Rio de Janeiro › Rio Centro Express

Rio Centro Express: free self-guided audio tour of Rio de Janeiro

Rio Centro Express is a free self-guided audio walking tour of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: 3 stops in about 1 h. The Itinerarly app walks you from one stop to the next and plays a short narrated story when you arrive, in English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese.

Stops	3
Duration	about 1 h, including time at each stop
Difficulty	Easy
Distance	about 616 m in straight lines between the stops (a little more on foot)
Start	Praça XV de Novembro
Finish	Confeitaria Colombo
Price	Free (some sights charge their own entry ticket)
Languages	English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese

Historic square, Imperial Palace and Belle Époque pastry house

The stops, in order

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. Its name commemorates November 15, 1889, the day the Brazilian Republic was proclaimed.
Imperial Palace↳ 120 m from the previous stop (straight line)Here 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. It was from its balcony that Princess Isabel signed the 'Golden Law' abolishing slavery in Brazil on May 13, 1888—an event that changed the country's destiny.
Confeitaria Colombo↳ 496 m from the previous stop (straight line)Welcome 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. Step inside its sumptuous interior: Belgian crystal-cut mirrors, Carrara marble, carved jacaranda wood, and the original stained-glass roof opening onto the grand dining hall.

How to take this tour

Install the free Itinerarly app on iPhone or Android and create a free account.
Open Guided tours, choose Rio de Janeiro, then Rio Centro Express.
Start whenever you like: the app guides you to Praça XV de Novembro and the story plays when you arrive at each stop.

Other audio tours of Rio de Janeiro

Frequently asked questions

Is the Rio Centro Express tour in Rio de Janeiro free?: Yes. It is one of 3 free self-guided audio tours of Rio de Janeiro in the Itinerarly app. Some sights charge their own entry ticket.
How long does the Rio Centro Express tour take?: About 1 h for 3 stops, including time at each stop.
Where does the Rio Centro Express tour start and finish?: It starts at Praça XV de Novembro and finishes at Confeitaria Colombo.
Which languages is the narration in?: English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese, with natural-sounding synthetic voices.