A Self-Guided City Tour of Rio de Janeiro's Historic Centre, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Think of a city tour of Rio de Janeiro and you’ll no doubt conjure up images of blissful sandy beaches, spectacular scenery and streets laden with samba-consumed revellers dressed in outlandish costumes.

And yes, they’re an important part of the Rio experience. Perhaps less appreciated are the sights and sounds of the historic centre. Including its dark past when, just two centuries ago, it was the docking point for over two million slaves shipped from Africa. 

Nowadays Rio centro is the financial hub of the city. Where modern skyscrapers mix with colonial and Belle Époque-era buildings. And where the legacy of the FIFA World Cup and Olympics of 2014 and 2016 can be seen along the waterfront in the shape of paved boulevards and gentrified red-brick warehouses.

It’s a part of the city that’s best explored on foot. Our walking tour of downtown Rio de Janeiro will take you through the main sites to give you an insight into how the past shapes the present and the future. And we’ll suggest how you can keep your energy up with some typical carioca street food.  ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).