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Things to do in Niteroi

Our most recommended things to do in Niteroi

Rio de Janeiro: 6-Stop Highlights of Rio with Lunch

1. Rio de Janeiro: 6-Stop Highlights of Rio with Lunch

Start your adventure with a pickup in the morning from hotels located in the South Zone and head towards your first stop at Christ the Redeemer.  Enjoy great jungle views in the minivan ride through the Tijuca Forest that surrounds the Corcovado Mountain. Reach the peak of the mountain and meet the statue of the Christ the Redeemer with its arms right open over the city. Admire the sweeping views and take breathtaking pictures. Head to a nice walk outside the Maracanã Stadium and find out more about the passion of the Brazilians for football. Learn about the samba tradition in Rio by visiting the Sambadrome, the place with the biggest Carnival parade on the planet. Marvel at the beautiful street art of the Selarón Steps, a gigantic mosaic work of the Chilean artist Jorge Selarón. He started dedicating himself to decorate the stairs in the early 90s. The 250 steps have become a monument and an icon of Rio. Stop at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro to revel at the biblical passages on the stained-glass inside it, following a stop for lunch in an all-you-can-eat buffet restaurant. With the batteries recharged, there is still one place left.  Head to Urca neighborhood and marvel at the beauty of the Sugarloaf Mountain and be amazed by the cable ride to the top. From 220 meters above sea level take in the breathtaking 360-degree view of Rio de Janeiro, Guanabara Bay, the city of Niteroi, and the blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

Rio de Janeiro: Sunset Sailing Tour

2. Rio de Janeiro: Sunset Sailing Tour

Marvel at the scenery of Rio de Janeiro, the Marvellous City, on a sunset sailing tour in Guanabara Bay. Admire the beautiful sunset, and savor all-inclusive drinks and snacks aboard your boat. Enjoy a small group tour or opt to splash out on a private tour to make your experience extra special. Set sail from Marina da Glória and pass by 3 fortresses — São José, Lage, and Santa Cruz — on your way to Boa Viagem Island in Niterói. Cruise past Oscar Niemeyer's striking Niterói Museum of Contemporary Art and enjoy the views in Guanabara Bay. Then, sit back and appreciate the sunset over the city of Rio de Janeiro. Delight in scenic views of the city's most famous landmarks, such as Sugar Loaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer, as the sun sets on the horizon. Throughout the tour, relax with drinks on board, such as the famous Brazilian cocktail Caipirinha, beer, and sparkling white wine. The tour concludes back at the marina in Glória. Hotel pickup and drop-off options are available.

Rio: Boat Tour of Guanabara Bay

3. Rio: Boat Tour of Guanabara Bay

Get a new perspective of Rio on a catamaran tour, on which you'll check out all the bright spots while exploring stunning Guanabara Bay. Your tour begins at Marina da Gloria, boarding a modern and well-equipped catamaran. Depart in the direction of the Museum of Tomorrow, one of the architectural icons of Porto Maravilha, Rio's port region. On the way, get a look at amazing Villegagnon Island, Santos Dumont Airport, Fiscal Island, and the Arsenal of the Navy. Continue towards Niterói, passing beautiful Rio-Niterói Bridge and the famous Concha Acústica (Acoustic Shell) before heading to the MAC, the Museum of Contemporary Art, designed by Oscar Niemeyer. Be enchanted by its unique disc shape. Before returning to Rio de Janeiro, get to know other remarkable sights that surround the shores of Guanabara Bay, such as Adão and Eva Beaches, Santa Cruz Fortress, Lage Fortress,São José Fortress, and São João Fortress. Take in views of the famous Sugarloaf, where you'll have a few minutes to take pictures of the mountain from the catamaran. Before returning to Marina da Gloria, you'll pass the old Urca Casino and Flamengo Beach.

Rio de Janeiro: Unforgettable Sunset Boat Tour

4. Rio de Janeiro: Unforgettable Sunset Boat Tour

Start the tourt in the middle of the afternoon at the pier in Urca. Board the charming sailboat and pass by the Fortress of São José, Fortress Lage, Fortress Santa Cruz, and close to the Boa Viagem Island in Niterói. Here is the perfect stopping point for taking pictures and enjoying a spot of swimming.  Next, you will pass by the Niterói Contemporary Art Museum and sail back to the pier with an amazing view of the sunset on the horizon. Central to the scenery of Rio's coastline, there are many gorgeous views of Sugar Loaf and Christ the Redeemer throughout the ride. Along the way, enjoy a refreshing selection of drinks and snacks from your friendly onboard host. The tour finishes after sunset allowing you to make the most of the amazing views of the city.

Rio de Janeiro: 2-Hour Boat Trip with Parasailing

5. Rio de Janeiro: 2-Hour Boat Trip with Parasailing

The operator will first search for the best spot to fly. The most common destinations are the coast of Niteroi and Urca, but depending on the conditions, other routes are also possible.  After getting outfitted with a life vest and harness, you're seated on the flight deck of the boat. Once seated, the first crew mate clips your harness to the parachute. Then up you will ascend really nice and smoothly, just like sitting on a swing set that slowly elevates you for the experience of a lifetime.  The local operator does everything that is possible to ensure your safety. How? Always respecting the limits of nature, providing the best equipment and performing constant security checks. Your safety is top priority! 

Rio de Janeiro: Private Sunrise Tour at Mirante Dona Marta

6. Rio de Janeiro: Private Sunrise Tour at Mirante Dona Marta

Located 360 meters above the sea, Mirante Dona Marta is the perfect spot to see the sunrise. Enjoy the sunrise from an incredible viewpoint which gives you views of Sugarloaf Mountain and the famous Christ the Redeemer statue. Depart from your hotel at around 5:00 AM, so you can get there in time to see the first lights of dawn. The tour takes around 2.5 hours so you should be back at your hotel at around 7:30 AM, in time to do other activities or tours. Suggestion: Book this tour in the beginning of your trip, this way, in case of bad weather we can try to postpone the tour to another day.

Rio: 5-hour Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Express Tour

7. Rio: 5-hour Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Express Tour

Start with a pickup in the morning from hotels located in the South Zone and make your first stop at Christ the Redeemer.  Enjoy a great jungle view while riding through the Tijuca Forest that in a minivan and take in the stunning surroundings of the Corcovado Mountain.  Reach the peak of the mountain and see the statue of the Christ the Redeemer with its arms right open over the city. Admire the sweeping views and take breathtaking pictures. Head to the Urca neighborhood and marvel at the beauty of the Sugarloaf Mountain and be amazed by the cable ride to the top. From 220 meters above sea level take in the breathtaking 360-degree view of Rio de Janeiro, Guanabara Bay, the city of Niteroi, and the blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

From Rio de Janeiro: Niterói Day Trip

8. From Rio de Janeiro: Niterói Day Trip

After pickup, sit back and relax during the 1-hour drive from Rio to Niterói. Take the opportunity to snap some photos as you cross Guanabara Bay. Learn about the old capital of Rio state and how the name comes from the indigenous Tupi language. Make your first stop in downtown Niterói and visit the Niemeyer Way, a series of works by the renowned architect Oscar Niemeyer. Sites such as the Oscar Niemeyer Popular Theatre, Oscar Niemeyer Foundation, and Roberto Silveira Memorial extend for 11km in the coastal neighborhoods of the city. Continue on to Juscelino Kubitschek Square. Head to Niterói Contemporary Art Museum, known locally as ‘the MAC’ and the highlight of this day trip. Revel at the interesting and inventive shape of what is considered one of the greatest works by Niemeyer. See contemporary art inside the museum. Make a quick stop at São Pedro Fish Market to finish off the tour. See where most restaurants buy their fresh fish and seafood. Finally, be dropped off back at your accommodation in Rio.

Rio de Janeiro: Private Speedboat Trip with Barbecue

9. Rio de Janeiro: Private Speedboat Trip with Barbecue

Admire the beautiful beaches, coastline, and main sights on a 2-, 3-, 4-, or 5-hour journey around Rio de Janeiro's coast aboard a speedboat that features coolers, a Bluetooth stereo, a barbecue, and a bathroom. Relax and enjoy drinks as you admire panoramic views of Rio de Janeiro, including the iconic Sugarloaf Mountain, Urca, and Ilha da Laje. Stop for a swim and lunch onboard in Adão and Eva Beach on the coast of Niterói or at Vermelha Beach in Urca. Choose and bring your own food for the boat trip, and let your Portuguese-speaking sailor cook it for you on the grill while you bask in the sunshine.

Rio de Janeiro: Speedboat Sunset Tour with Beer

10. Rio de Janeiro: Speedboat Sunset Tour with Beer

The speedboat tour starts at the Urca pier, where the boarding takes place. From there, the captain of the speedboat will begin to tell a brief story as he passes through each tourist spot in the city. Among the places to be visited are: São João Fort, Sugar Loaf Mountain, Red Beach, Copacabana Beach, Arpoador, Cagarras Islands, Niterói, Santos Dumont Airport, among others. Diving stops will be made for you to enjoy even more. The entire itinerary lasts 3 hours and the disembark will be done on the same pier as the boarding.

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Frequently asked questions about Niteroi

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What people are saying about Niteroi

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 628 reviews

That's strange. A request for a review comes with 5 stars preselected. :-) Well, I actually wanted to give it 5 stars anyway. Taking into account the price, the type of objects visited, and qualities of the guide, I think it was an excellent trip. I liked it.

An amazing afternoon spent with super amazing hosts. The boat was excellent and Karina and her companion really looked after all the travellers. Breathtaking views and excellent overall experience

Great and efficient tour. It would've been nice to have a little bit more time at every tourist sight, but it was overall a great way to see a lot of things in one day. Would 100% recommend!

The guides were very helpful and responsive from the start, knew exactly where to go and what time. Pedro the boat driver was great and really enjoyed parasailing my first time ever!

Our guide was very talkative and realy looked after us.we had a trouble free day and realy enjoyed our day.