Guided tour

Rio: Olympic Boulevard, Museum of Tomorrow & History Tour

4.6 / 5

31 reviews

Activity provider: C2RIO TOURS & TRAVEL
Guided tour

Rio: Olympic Boulevard, Museum of Tomorrow & History Tour

Activity provider: C2RIO TOURS & TRAVEL

From US$ 54.46 per person

Walk along Rio’s Downtown area to learn more about Brazil’s history and the city’s post-olympic legacy. Visit the Valongo Wharf, the Olympic Boulevard, the Kobra Mural, the Museum of Tomorrow, the Monastery of Saint Benedict, and many more attractions.

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Reserve now & pay later
Keep your travel plans flexible — book your spot and pay nothing today.
Covid-19 precautions
Special health and safety measures are in place. Check your activity voucher once you book for full details.
Duration 4 hours
Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide
Spanish, English, Portuguese
Pickup included
At hotels in the South Zone (Copacabana, Leme, Ipanema & Leblon) between 8:10 AM and 8:55 AM. If you're staying in a hostel or B&B you will be informed of the nearest hotel for pick up and drop-off. Please inform your hotel to arrange your pickup and drop-off.

Experience

Highlights
  • Discover the hidden gems of Rio de Janeiro's Downtown with a local and professional tour guide
  • See the Museum of Tomorrow (the most visited museum in Brazil) and observe its futuristic structure.
  • Walk by the Valongo Wharf, the latest Unesco World Heritage site in the city, and learn more about the African influence in Brazil
  • Admire one of the largest graffiti murals in the world by Eduardo Kobra
  • Experience the Confeitaria Colombo — one of the "must-see cafés" from around the world
Full description
Begin your tour by being picked up from your hotel and discover the many hidden gems in Rio’s Downtown area with a tour guide. Start at the Valongo Wharf (the latest Unesco World Heritage site in the city) and learn more about the African influence in Brazil. Then head to the Kobra Mural — one of the largest graffiti walls in the world — created by the Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra, to admire the five ethnic groups portrayed in a colorful geometric background. After a few pictures, you will walk along the Olympic Boulevard towards the Museum of Tomorrow. This is a modern and technological science museum dedicated to exploring and questioning all the possibilities for constructing the future of the planet and mankind. Discover its remarkable architecture, and pay a visit to the most visited museum in Brazil. After exploring the future, travel to the past in the Monastery of Saint Benedict, where you will experience the contrast of the simple façade, with the interior covered with golden ornaments, a heritage from the Baroque period. Before heading towards the historical streets of Rio, you will see the Rio 2016 Olympic Cauldron created by the American artist Anthony Howe. You will notice the reflective-kinetic-sphered-structure is a reminder of the Games. At the Praça XV, you will see one of the former headquarters of the Brazilian empire and learn more about important facts of Brazilian history that happened in the area. Your last stop will be at Confeitaria Colombo (closed on Sundays), one of the “must-see cafés” from around the world. Enjoy the opulent art nouveau decorated with huge stained glass, tiles, and mirrors imported from France, Portugal, and Belgium. You can finish your tour tasting one of the Brazilian traditional snacks such as the coxinha de frango (‘little chicken thigh’), or desserts such as the brigadeiro (‘brigadier’) in one of Rio de Janeiro’s most prestigious places at the beginning of the 20th century.
Includes
  • Guided half-day walking tour in Downtown Rio de Janeiro
  • All taxes, fees and handling charges
  • Tickets to the Museum of Tomorrow
  • Professional guide with live tour commentary in English, Spanish & Portuguese.
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off from hotels in South Zone (Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon & Leme)
  • Comfortable air-conditioned van with maximum capacity of 19 passengers
  • Food and Drinks (available for purchase at Confeitaria Colombo)
  • Gratuities (optional)

Select participants and date

Participants

Date

Important information

Not allowed

  • Unaccompanied minors

Know before you go

  • This experience requires a minimum number of people. If it is canceled due to lack of participants, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • Children under 5 years old go free if they do not occupy a seat
  • There is a maximum group size of 19 people
  • Confeitaria Colombo is closed on Sundays
  • Pick up and drop-off is available from hotels in the South Zone (Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, and Leme)
  • If you stay in a hostel or B&B you will be informed of the nearest hotel for pick up and drop-off
  • This tour operates rain or shine
  • It is recommended to wear comfortable shoes because a moderate amount of walking is involved
Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.6 /5

based on 31 reviews

Review summary

  • Guide
    4.7/5
  • Transportation
    4.3/5
  • Service
    4.7/5
  • Organization
    4/5

Sort by:

Traveler type:

Star rating:

We had a great tour with Ricardo! He gave us lots of interesting information about the old part of Rio and Downtown. We learned a lot. The Museum of Tomorrow was just awesome and impressive. It was the best museum I’ve ever visited. C2RioTours was extremly reliable and punctual when it came to the pickup and dropoff at the hotel. Thanks to Ricardo for being such a great guide. We enjoyed very much☺️

Read more

March 31, 2023

My group of four had a wonderful morning with Juan. We learned so much about the history of Rio de Janeiro. Juan was enthusiastic, punctual, and considerate. His command of English was excellent. We loved the museum of tomorrow and the Kobra Murals. We ended our tour with a visit to Confeitaria Colombo. Mmlm

March 31, 2023

Our guide Pedro was very knowledgeable. We walked a lot though, so best to wear comfortable shoes. We got much more information that we anticipated because we thought we were just going to do the museum. We saw the world’s biggest graffiti/ mural, pastry shop etc. The museum itself is nothing short of amazing! Will definitely do my part in the conservation of our planet.

Read more

March 31, 2023

Product ID: 148766