Rio is hard to leave, but the state around it is full of places that are worth the trip: mountain towns, turquoise water, car-free islands and colonial streets. Some are an easy half day. Others are technically possible in a day but much better with a night or two.
Here are the best trips from Rio, from closest to furthest, with an honest note on how long each one really needs.
Niterói: The Easy Half Day
How far: about 20 minutes by ferry from Praça XV in Centro.
Niterói sits right across Guanabara Bay, and the ferry ride alone is worth it for the views back to Sugarloaf and the Rio skyline. The star is the MAC, Oscar Niemeyer's flying-saucer-shaped Museum of Contemporary Art, perched on a cliff over the water. Check the opening hours before you go (it's usually closed on Mondays). Add a walk along Icaraí beach, or head further out to the wilder beaches of Itacoatiara if you have a car.
Time needed: half a day.
Petrópolis: The Imperial City in the Mountains
How far: about 1.5 hours by road, with buses from Rodoviária Novo Rio.
When Rio's summer gets too hot, Petrópolis is where people escape. This was the summer retreat of Brazil's emperors, and the town is full of grand houses, gardens and cool mountain air. Visit the Museu Imperial, the emperor's former summer palace, the Gothic-style cathedral, and the house of aviation pioneer Santos Dumont. Bring a light jacket: it can be properly cool up there.
Time needed: a full day.
Búzios: Beaches and Boat Days
How far: about 2.5 to 3 hours by road.
Búzios is a peninsula with more than twenty beaches, a pretty center around Rua das Pedras, and a waterfront promenade with a statue of Brigitte Bardot, who made the town famous in the 1960s. The easiest way to see a lot of it is a schooner boat trip that hops between beaches. Day tours from Rio exist, but with five or six hours of driving, Búzios is much better with at least one night.
Time needed: one night, ideally two.
Arraial do Cabo: The Brazilian Caribbean
How far: about 2.5 to 3 hours by road.
The water in Arraial do Cabo is a turquoise you won't believe until you see it. The classic way to visit is a boat trip around the coast, stopping at beaches and coves, including the protected Ilha do Farol, which you can only reach with an authorized boat. Day tours leave Rio very early and get back late. It's doable, but it's a long day, so many people combine Arraial with Búzios on the same trip.
Time needed: a very long day, or one night.
Ilha Grande: The Island Without Cars
How far: about 2.5 to 3 hours by road to the pier, then a boat to the island.
Ilha Grande is covered in rainforest, has no cars, and is ringed by beaches you reach on foot or by boat, including the famous Lopes Mendes. The main village, Abraão, is small and relaxed. With the drive and the boat crossing, a day trip leaves you very little time on the island. Stay at least one night and go slow.
Time needed: one or two nights.
Paraty: Colonial Streets and Calm Bays
How far: about 4 hours by road.
Paraty is a beautifully preserved colonial town of white houses with colored doors and uneven stone streets, some of which flood at very high tides. Spend your days on boat trips around the bay and its islands, and your evenings wandering the old center. It's too far for a day trip, but perfect for a weekend.
Time needed: two nights.
Tips for Trips Out of Rio
- Leave early. Rio's traffic is worst on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons, so avoid those times if you can.
- Tours vs. doing it yourself. Organized tours with hotel pickup are the easiest option for Búzios and Arraial. Buses work well for Petrópolis and Paraty.
- Watch the weather. Boat days depend on the sea. Have a backup plan if the wind picks up.
- Book weekends ahead. Cariocas escape the city too, especially in summer and on long weekends.
Rio will always pull you back, and that's half the joy of leaving it for a day or two. Keep one slow day in the city for when you return: a beach afternoon, a long lunch, or a few hours customizing your own bikini at the Carioca Bikini Co workshop in Botafogo, ready for the next beach on your list.
— Mel
