One week State of Rio de Janeiro itinerary

Rio de Janeiro 7-day itinerary

Experience the best of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in just 7 days

In the state of Rio de Janeiro, we focused our time on two destinations: Rio de Janeiro and Paraty. We flew into Rio de Janeiro the night before starting this itinerary. The activities below are listed in the order we experienced them, but you can easily rearrange them to fit your own interests and schedule. 

Day 1 - Spend the full day walking around Rio

On our first day, we decided to get a better understanding of the city by exploring Rio on foot. One of the most photographed spots in Rio is the Escadaria Selarón, also known locally as the "Lapa Steps" because it is located in the Lapa neighborhood. It is a colorful set of steps designed by Chilean-born artist Jorge Selarón, who created the artwork as a tribute to the Brazilian people. We arrived early in the morning because, just after 9 am, several tours start arriving. The fun part is trying to find the tile representing your hometown or country.

After taking a few pictures, we walked to Passeio Público, which is only about 5 minutes away. It is one of the oldest parks in the city, although it is currently in need of significant maintenance. The park hosts many Samba events, and opinions about the place are mixed. If it is not your style, Cinelândia Square is another great option just a few minutes away.

Cinelândia is an architectural and cultural hub, famous for its impressive 20th-century buildings. Some of the main landmarks around the square include the Theatro Municipal, a stunning opera house; the National Library (Biblioteca Nacional), the largest library in Latin America; the National Museum of Fine Arts (Museu Nacional de Belas Artes), an art museum with architecture reminiscent of the Louvre; and Pedro Ernesto Palace, the city hall.

In the city center, you will find the Catedral Metropolitana. Built in 1979, this is not a typical cathedral, and its unique design makes it a place you will not find anywhere else. The building rises dramatically against the city skyline, immediately capturing your attention. Its unusual shape symbolizes a sacred mountain, creating a sense of grandeur even before you enter. Inside, the cathedral feels enormous, with stunning stained-glass windows stretching from floor to ceiling and filling the space with a kaleidoscope of light. There is no ticket required to enter the main temple.

In the late afternoon, we spent some time at the beach. Depending on where your hotel is located, Flamengo, Copacabana, and Ipanema are the classic Rio beaches. For sunset, Mirante do Leblon and Arpoador are two excellent viewpoints. From the city center, you can easily reach these areas by metro (which felt very safe to us) or by Uber.

Day 3 - Hiking the tallest rock.

For today, if you enjoy hiking, there are two great options: Pedra da Gávea and Pedra do Telégrafo. Both offer iconic views of Rio de Janeiro, but they provide completely different experiences and difficulty levels.

Pedra do Telégrafo: Located in Barra de Guaratiba, on Rio’s west side, this trail is world-famous for the viral photos that create a death-defying optical illusion, making it look like you are hanging off the edge of a cliff. In reality, the rock is only about 3 feet above the ground and completely safe.

The hike takes approximately 1 hour and is relatively easy. However, the photo queue at the famous viewpoint can take a couple of hours, especially during busy times.

Pedra da Gávea: We chose Pedra da Gávea, located in Tijuca National Park. At 842 meters (2,762 feet), it is the world’s tallest ocean-side monolith and one of the most challenging hikes in Rio. The trail is highly strenuous, usually taking 4–6 hours, and includes steep sections, scrambling, and basic rock climbing.

The reward is an incredible 360-degree panoramic view of Rio, stretching across the beaches, city skyline, and Tijuca Forest. It is arguably one of the most breathtaking viewpoints in the city.

The most famous and challenging section of the hike is the Carrasqueira, a near-vertical 30-meter rock face that must be climbed during the final part of the ascent.

Although the Carrasqueira requires some basic rock-climbing skills, we completed the hike on our own. You can hire climbing equipment at the site, but we saw several people climbing without it. We followed the hikers ahead of us, who helped us when needed, and we helped the people behind us. The experience felt very collaborative.

For us, going down was actually more difficult than going up. The descent requires more control and confidence, especially on the steep, rocky sections.

In the late afternoon, we chose a different beach from Day 1 to relax and enjoy a quieter end to the day.

Day 4 - Bus to Paraty 

We spent this day traveling to Paraty. We recommend booking your bus ticket in advance (we used Costa Verde Bus), although buses run approximately every hour. The journey took us more than 6 hours, including a long stop for lunch before arriving in town.

We arrived in Paraty in the late afternoon. After leaving our carry-on bags at the hotel, we started exploring the town and looking for tour options for the following days.

Day 5 - Boat Trip and Exploring Paraty

The best tour is definitely the full-day boat trip along the Paraty coast, stopping at beautiful locations such as Ilha dos Cocos, Ilha Comprida, Lagoa Azul, and Praia da Lula. There are several options, from private boats to schooners (large, traditional wooden boats). Most tours leave from the Paraty pier in the morning and return in the late afternoon.

You can bring your own snorkeling gear or rent equipment on the boat. Food and drinks are usually not included, so you will need to pay separately for them during the trip.

Once you return to Paraty, you will have some time to explore the historic town. Several walking tours explain the fascinating history of the city. Founded in 1667, Paraty’s development was shaped by five major economic periods: the Gold Rush, the sugar and cachaça trade, the coffee boom, a period of isolation, and its modern rebirth as a major tourist destination.

The town’s unique street layout was also designed as a defensive strategy, helping protect the city from pirate attacks during the colonial period.

Day 7 - Transportation back 

From Paraty, you can either take a bus back to Rio or continue south toward São Paulo.

We had an evening flight departing from Rio, so we took a morning bus back to the city. Alternatively, you can spend more time in Paraty and use this day to visit Trindade before continuing your journey.

Know before you go

Is Rio safe?

Rio has a reputation for being unsafe, but we felt comfortable during our visit by taking a few simple precautions. Avoid wearing jewelry or anything that makes you stand out as a tourist. If you need to use your phone, step inside a store or café instead of using it on the street. We also avoided empty streets at any time of the day, and stayed in areas with plenty of people around. We used Uber and the metro throughout our trip and found both to be safe, convenient, and inexpensive. As in any large city, staying aware of your surroundings and using common sense goes a long way.

At the beach, feel comfortable asking your neighbors to look at your stuff if you go for a swim. 

Samba

The best or easiest places to listen to or dance Samba are Pedra do Sal and Parque Lage.

Places to stay

Rio de Janeiro

Hotel Regina* is situated in front of Flamingo beach, just 5 minutes' walk, in a cool, non-touristy but safe feeling area.  It has a good breakfast. 

Paraty

Casarão Paraty. Nice central location with breakfast.