Three days in Rio, a flight to Foz do Iguaçu for the falls and the Itaipu Dam, then São Paulo's museums and the Mercadão before you fly home.
7 days, 43 stopsBalanced paceApr to May, Aug to SepApproved by TravPa Editors, Nov 7, 2026
Trip at a glance
Add your first day to see each day's date, weather, sunset and closing days.
Day 1: Downtown, the Selarón Steps and Lapa
The port square and a 19th-century reading room, lunch in an 1894 tearoom, the tiled Selarón Steps, hilltop Santa Teresa and a samba night in Lapa.
Check the weekday. Royal Portuguese Reading Room is closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Confeitaria Colombo is closed on Sundays.
1
9:30 AMPraça MauáStart between the Rio Art Museum and the Museum of Tomorrow, and look across the square to the A Noite building.About 45 min here
Free to visit
VLT tram or taxi to Rua Luís de Camões, about 15 min
2
10:30 AMRoyal Portuguese Reading RoomOpen Monday to Friday only, 10 AM to 5 PM, so keep this day for a weekday. Speak quietly in the reading hall.About 30 min here
R$[fee]; open on weekdays
Walk about 10 min
3
11:15 AMOptionalTheatro MunicipalAdmire the 1909 facade from Cinelândia; guided tours inside are booked by phone, so check times before you go.About 45 min here
Guided tours, R$[fee]
Walk about 8 min
4
12:15 PMConfeitaria ColomboLunch under the Antwerp mirrors. The tearoom closes on Sundays and at 6 PM, and lunch is served from 11 AM.About 1 hour 15 min here
Pay as you go
Walk about 15 min
5
1:45 PMSelarón StepsClimb the tiled steps from Rua Joaquim Silva; come early in the afternoon, before the light fades on the tiles.About 1 hour here
Free to visit
Taxi up to Santa Teresa, about 10 min
6
3:00 PMSanta TeresaWander the old mansions and stairways around Largo do Guimarães, and look for the rooftop view at Parque das Ruínas.About 2 hours 45 min here
Free to visit
Taxi down to Lapa, about 10 min
7
6:00 PMLapa and the Lapa ArchesHave dinner by the Lapa Arches, then stay for samba, choro or forró in the music halls that fill up after dark.
Pay as you go
Before you go
Book these aheadChrist the Redeemer (day 2), Iguaçu Falls Trail (day 4), MASP (São Paulo Museum of Art) (day 6): timed tickets, or tickets that often sell out.
Start on a weekdayDay 1 needs a weekday for the reading room, and the Rafain dinner show on day 4 does not run on Sundays.
Book timed ticketsBook the Corcovado Train, the Iguaçu National Park entry and MASP online; park tickets are sold only online.
Treat flights as blocksThe flight days use 4-hour planning blocks. Book the flights first, then move the stops around your times.
Plan around MondaysMASP, the Afro Brasil Museum and Farol Santander close on Mondays, so avoid days 6 and 7 falling on one.
Carry little on the beachTake only what you need to the sand in Rio and keep your phone and cash out of sight in busy areas.
Where to stay for this plan
Stay in Copacabana or Ipanema for days 1 to 3, near Avenida das Cataratas in Foz do Iguaçu for day 4, and near Avenida Paulista for days 5 and 6.
Map and live prices from Stay22 and its booking partners. TravPa earns a commission if you book; your price stays the same.
Plan last checked Nov 7, 2026. Check individual fee sources before you go. TravPa earns a commission when you book through a partner; your price stays the same.
