Rio de Janeiro Highlights Tour with Christ, Sugarloaf and Lunch

Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado Mountain

Christ the Redeemer stands 30 metres tall on top of the 710-metre Corcovado peak, with arms stretching 28 metres wide over the city. The Art Deco statue was finished in 1931 and was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007. It is covered in thousands of small soapstone tiles, which you can spot when you stand at its base. It is the first thing most visitors plan in Rio.

On this tour the entry fee is already covered, so you go straight up with your guide instead of sorting out tickets yourself. Give yourself time at the viewing platforms, because the view takes in Sugarloaf, Guanabara Bay, the lagoon and the South Zone beaches. Clouds can cover the summit for a while, and your guide will adjust the visit so you see it at its clearest.

Sugarloaf Mountain and its two cable cars

Sugarloaf Mountain rises 396 metres from the mouth of Guanabara Bay, and reaching it is half the fun. A first cable car climbs from Praia Vermelha to Morro da Urca, and a second one continues to the summit. The line opened in the early 1910s and was among the first cable cars built anywhere in the world. Many people ask whether Sugarloaf is worth visiting; the views back towards Copacabana, Botafogo and Christ the Redeemer answer that.

The Sugarloaf cable car ticket is part of this tour, so you do not need to queue for one yourself. Plan to spend time at both levels, since Morro da Urca has its own terraces and photo spots, and the top gives the full 360-degree panorama. Late in the day the light over the bay is at its best, and your guide will suggest where to stand for photos.

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro

The Metropolitan Cathedral, in the city centre, looks nothing like a traditional church. Its cone shape rises about 75 metres and was inspired by Mayan pyramids, and it was completed in the mid-1970s. Inside, four stained-glass panels climb almost 64 metres along the walls, and the space can hold up to 20,000 people standing. If you are searching for the best things to see in downtown Rio, this modernist landmark is high on the list.

Your entry fee is included, so you can walk in and take in the light without a ticket queue. Visit the cathedral as a quiet stop after the busy viewpoints: the interior is calm, the colour of the glass is striking, and it gives a different view of Brazilian architecture from the beach-side postcards.

The Selarón Steps between Lapa and Santa Teresa

The Selarón Steps are a staircase of around 215 steps covered in tiles from many countries. Chilean-born artist Jorge Selarón began decorating them in the 1990s as a personal project, and kept adding new tiles until his death in 2013. Red, yellow, green and blue pieces are set against the stairs, and visitors still leave tiles of their own. The Selarón Steps have become one of the most photographed spots in Rio.

On this tour you visit from outside the vehicle and by foot for a short photo stop, then drive on. The steps are in a busy part of the city, so travel light and keep your phone and bag close while you take pictures. Your guide will share the story of the artist and point out tiles that come from far-away places.

Maracanã Stadium and the Sambodrome

Maracanã Stadium opened in 1950 for the World Cup, and it is still one of the best-known football grounds in the world. It has hosted World Cup finals, Olympic ceremonies and decades of local derbies. On this Rio tour with Maracanã you see it from the outside, and your guide explains its history, including the famous match of 1950 that shaped Brazilian football memory.

Close by, the Sambodrome is the long concrete avenue designed by Oscar Niemeyer where the Carnival parades take place each year, with stands for tens of thousands of spectators. Both stops are visits from outside, so entrance to the stadium and the Sambodrome is not included. If you want to go inside Maracanã, a separate stadium tour ticket is the way to do it.