Free Historical Centre Tour of Rio de Janeiro

About the tour

Come with us and discover the real Rio de Janeiro, the Rio beyond the paradisiac beaches, the exuberant nature, carnival and the Corcobado. On our Historical City Free Tour of Rio you will see the past 5 centuries of rich Brazilian history unfold, from the arrival of the Portuguese in 1502 to present day. Hear how a green virgin marsh land, with hills and sugar cane fields became the most important and charismatic city in Brazil, the most cosmopolitan city in South America, and one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

Let us unravel for you all the elements that make contemporary Rio so vibrant and exciting. Marvel at how one square can go from being the main port where African slaves arrived to the New World in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, to the imperial residence of the Portuguese Royal family during the Napoleonic wars in the early 19th century, to the place where the Republic was proclaimed and an independent free Brazil was born in 1889.

Re-live the past as you wonder at charming colonial Belle Epoque buildings and stand in awe of the magnificent temples build in the name of Catholicism, a key ingredient to understand the roots of not just Rio but all Brazilian culture.

On our Historical City Free Tour of Rio you will get an understanding of all the components that have help create this colourful, festive, musical, cosmopolitan, multicultural metropolis of six million people. The first ever South American city to host the Olympic Games.