Private Rio: Downtown Sites & Bites
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
From USD 92.00
Office phone number: +55 21 9 8372 1107
Private Rio: Downtown Sites & Bites
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil





Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.

Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
Discover how the old and modern parts of Rio’s downtown co-exist on this food and historical walking tour. Try delicious local food as you learn how to ride both the subway and the new electric tram, and discover areas that were rarely explored even by locals before the 2016 Olympics.This tour is priced for a minimum group size of two travellers. A solo traveller may still book this private experience but will be charged the base rate for two travellers. -
Highlights
- Discover the renovated harbour area and its highlights such as Kobra’s graffiti mural and Museum of Tomorrow
- Try delicious local food as you stroll around Orla Conde surrounding the downtown and into Rio’s Old Town district with a private local guide to answer your questions
- Ride the new eco-friendly tram of Rio
- Visit the city’s oldest bakery and treat yourself to the best pastries in town
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Schedule details
- Duration: 4 hours
- Meeting point:
Praça Floriano, 7 - Centro, Rio de Janeiro CEP 20031-050. Outside the main entrance of Cine Odeon, by the Starbucks
- Find the exact meeting point with what3words:
- Starting time: 1.30 PM
- Ending point:
Carioca Subway Station
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, tram fare, four food stops and a beer or cachaça shot.
Exclusions: Tips/gratuities for your local guide
We'll start our Private Rio experience from Cinelandia Square where we'll try a local treat to kick things off. From there, we hop on the modern and new eco-friendly tram of Rio for a sustainable ride across downtown all the way to the renewed harbour area, redeveloped into the modern Olympic Boulevard.
We get off the tram right by the amazing and colourful graffiti mural designed by Eduardo Kobra. His work features the indigenous people of five continents and covers over 2,600 square metres of the building.
Our next stop has our second included bite of the day as we try the delicious coxinha de pernil (a deep-fried pork snack) before we head up the historical Conceição Hill. This area is full of history and features some interesting street art and delightful views of the harbour.
It's time for another food stop in one of the local restaurants in the area. Here we'll try feijoada balls which are the traditional end to the famous feijoada meal. Our journey then moves on to Mauá Square where two modern architecture buildings are located: MAR (Museum of Art of Rio) and Museum of Tomorrow, followed by a walk into the Old Town. On the way, we'll see important sites such as the Cultural Centre of the Bank of Brazil (CCBB) and XV Square, and then head to to Confeitaria Colombo (the oldest bakery in town) for another food stop.
We're not done yet! There's still a visit to the Royal Portuguese Reading Room before we finish in one of the local bars for a drink before the tour comes to an end.
Feeling like you have some more adventure in you? Then incorporate this tour with our afternoon Sugarloaf Mountain and Urca Discovery tour!
(If you’d prefer to travel as part of a regular group experience, please book our Downtown Rio Sites & Bites Tour)This tour is priced for a minimum group size of two travellers. A solo traveller may still book this private experience but will be charged the base rate for two travellers.-
Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, tram fare, four food stops and a beer or cachaça shot.
Exclusions: Tips/gratuities for your local guide
Dress standard: Latin Americans can be very conscious of appearance, so try to be casual but conservative in your dress. Outside of beach areas, halter tops and very short shorts should not be worn. When visiting churches or religious sites, shoulders and knees should be covered.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Closure of sites: If the VLT (tram) is not running, we’ll walk a few blocks and take a public bus to continue the tour.
Child Policy: This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children under the age of 6 are permitted to join this tour free of charge. Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child under the age of 6. You can do so in the special request box on the checkout page.
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Local contact
Office phone number: +55 21 9 8372 1107
Email address: info@riodejaneirourbanadventures.com
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