Petropolis day trip from Rio

At a glance

Why Petrópolis is called the Imperial City

Petrópolis was planned from the start as a summer retreat for the monarchy. In 1843 Emperor Pedro II signed a decree leasing the Córrego Seco farm in the mountains to Major Julio Frederico Koeler, who laid out a settlement there. In 1845, at Koeler’s invitation and with the emperor’s approval, German immigrants arrived to help build the town. The city sits at about 809 m above sea level, and its tourism office gives a usual temperature range of about 14 to 23 °C, so it is noticeably cooler than Rio. For the coast, see Rio weather.

The Imperial Museum

The museum is in Pedro II’s former summer palace at Rua da Imperatriz 220, in the center, and has been open since 1943. Its collection has about 300,000 objects, documents and books. The pieces most people come for are the imperial crown and scepter, Pedro II’s ceremonial robe and the pen used to sign the Lei Áurea, the law that abolished slavery in Brazil.

Entry to the palace has a ticket; we check the current terms for your date. On Fridays and Saturdays at 17:30 the museum stages the Sarau Imperial, a 45-minute show in the carriage pavilion, with its own ticket. If you want it, we plan a later return to Rio.

What else to see in Petrópolis

The city’s tourism office lists these among the main sights, and we fit two or three of them around the museum:

• Catedral São Pedro de Alcântara, the cathedral in the historic center.
• Palácio de Cristal, the glass and iron palace, which hosts events.
• Museu Casa de Santos Dumont, the house of the Brazilian aviation pioneer.
• Palácio Quitandinha, now a cultural venue.
• Casa Stefan Zweig and Palácio Rio Negro, once the summer residence of the presidents.

Opening days and hours change, and we check each one for your date before the trip.

Nature and Itaipava

Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgãos, one of Brazil’s first national parks, starts near Petrópolis, with Atlantic Forest trails and waterfalls. It is also the start of the three-day Travessia hike to Teresópolis, which is a separate trip. Itaipava, a district of Petrópolis, is known for its small weekend fair, crafts and local produce market. On a day trip we usually pick either a short nature stop or Itaipava, not both.

A sample day

Pickup at your hotel in Rio in the morning, the drive up the mountain road, the Imperial Museum when it opens, lunch in the center, the cathedral and one more sight in the afternoon, and the drive back to Rio in the late afternoon. We change the order around your interests, children, and the museum’s day.

What we arrange

• A private car with driver from your hotel in Rio and back: see private driver in Rio.
• A guide who speaks your language, for the whole day or only for the museum.
• The plan for the day, with opening hours checked for your date.
• A lunch suggestion that fits your group.
• One contact for the day: our team answers in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Our fee is already included in the price. Terms and payment are set out in the proposal; you pay nothing before you confirm. If you would rather stay in the city, see our private tour of Rio.

Cancellation and changes

Cancellation is at no cost up to 48 hours before the trip. You can move the date once at no cost with 48 hours’ notice if the provider has another date. If a provider lets you down, we find a replacement or refund your deposit in full. If weather or force majeure stops the trip, you get a new date or a full refund of the deposit.

What to tell us in your request

• Your date (remember the Imperial Museum is closed on Mondays)
• How many travelers, and the ages of any children
• Your hotel in Rio
• What interests you: museum and history, nature, Itaipava
• Whether you want the Sarau Imperial on a Friday or Saturday
• The language of your guide

Check entry requirements on official websites before you travel.