8-Hour Petrópolis Imperial Heritage Tour from Rio de Janeiro

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Explore the charming imperial city of Petrópolis in the mountains north of Rio
• 02 Visit the exquisitely designed Palácio Quitandinha with its beautiful gardens
• 03 See artefacts from the Brazilian Empire at the Imperial Museum
• 04 Admire the Neogothic Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Peter of Alcantara

Take a short trip through the stunning forested peaks of Serra dos Órgãos National Park to reach the charming imperial city of Petrópolis, north of Rio de Janeiro. Explore the exquisitely designed Palácio Quitandinha, visit the Imperial Museum to see artefacts from the Brazilian Empire, and admire the beautiful Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Peter of Alcantara. This tour offers a glimpse into Brazil's imperial heritage in a scenic mountain setting.

Take a short trip through the stunning forested peaks of Serra dos Órgãos National Park to reach the charming imperial city of Petrópolis, north of Rio de Janeiro.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 8 Hours

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Not included

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Cities Rio de Janeiro, Petrópolis, Serra dos Órgãos National Park

Languages English, French, Portuguese, Spanish

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Petrópolis Imperial Heritage Tour from Rio de Janeiro

• Meet your Brazilian tour guide at your hotel, cruise ship, Airbnb, or airport. Then take the road to Petrópolis. The drive of around one hour takes you through Serra dos Órgãos National Park.
• Upon arrival in Petrópolis, your first stop is Palácio Quitandinha. This former casino hotel has a beautiful garden and luxurious interior and was built in 1944 by Joaquim Rolla to be the largest hotel-casino in Latin America. Its architectural style is Hollywood rococo on the inside and Norman-French on the outside - the latter strongly present in the city's architecture due to Petrópolis' German colonisation.
• After the visit, continue to the Imperial Museum to see more than 100,000 artefacts from the Brazilian Empire. From there, go to a restaurant for lunch at a restaurant of your choice. Meals, drinks, and tips are not included.
• After lunch, continue the tour with a visit to the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Peter of Alcantara, a beautiful and essential Neogothic Catholic edifice where the mortal remains of the Brazilian imperial family rest.
• Return to Rio at the end of the tour.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

• English-speaking Brazilian tour guide
• Private transportation in an air-conditioned 4x4 deluxe vehicle
• Van with air-conditioning and driver
• Toll and parking fees

What's Not Included

• Personal expenses and souvenirs
• Food and drinks
• Tips
• Entrance tickets

Know before you go

• Meeting point options: Cruise Ship Port, Airport, Hotel, Airbnb.
• End point options: Cruise Ship Port, Airport, Hotel, Address, or Intersection.
• 112 USD per adult (* 5 to 10 people in a van, with a minimum fee of 6 persons if there are fewer than 6 passengers).
• 355 USD per group (* 1 to 4 passengers).

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Tour start

Petrópolis - Cascatinha, Petrópolis - State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.