Cidade Turismo – Brazil

Before you go

Your trip to Petrópolis.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Petrópolis – RJ Destination Rio de Janeiro Mountain Region (Serra Verde Imperial) about 67 km from Rio de Janeiro

How to get there

  • Aeroporto Internacional do Galeão (GIG) Rio de Janeiro · 53 km
  • Aeroporto Santos Dumont (SDU) Rio de Janeiro · 68 km
  • Rodoviária de Petrópolis (Terminal Leonel Brizola, em Bingen)

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

Petrópolis is 68 km from Rio de Janeiro, about an hour and a half on the BR-040. There are direct buses from the Rodoviária Novo Rio (bus station) throughout the day. The nearest airport is Galeão.

How many days

Two days cover the historic center without rushing. Three, if you want to include Itaipava and the mountain areas.

When to go

All year round, with a mild climate and cold nights in winter. June has the Bauernfest, the German immigrants' festival; July is high season and prices go up.

Do you need a car?

Not in the historic center: the main attractions are close together and you can do everything on foot. For Itaipava, the Vale do Cuiabá and Quitandinha, yes.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Petrópolis
  1. Morning
    Museu Imperial

    Start here, as soon as it opens. Allow about two hours: it is the highlight of downtown and gets crowded after eleven.

  2. Morning
    Cathedral and Palácio de Cristal

    Both are a few minutes' walk from the museum. Together, they take less than an hour.

  3. Afternoon
    Casa de Santos Dumont

    Small and full of its owner's inventions. An hour is enough.

  4. Afternoon
    Palácio Quitandinha

    It is outside downtown: go by car or taxi. Worth it for the sheer size of the place and the lake in front.

  5. Late afternoon
    Trono de Fátima

    The whole city below you as the light fades. A great way to end the day.

2 days in Petrópolis

Day 1

  1. Morning
    Museu Imperial

    Same start, without rushing this time.

  2. Morning
    Catedral de São Pedro de Alcântara

    The neo-Gothic cathedral, with the Imperial Mausoleum.

  3. Afternoon
    Palácio de Cristal

    After lunch downtown. It is close to everything.

  4. Afternoon
    Casa do Colono

    Petrópolis before the empire: the house of the first German immigrants.

  5. Late afternoon
    Rua Teresa

    If your trip includes shopping, this is the place, at the end of the day.

  6. Evening
    Cervejaria Bohemia

    The oldest brewery in the country, now a beer museum, with a bar at the end of the tour.

Day 2

  1. Morning
    Palácio Quitandinha

    Start with the biggest: the former casino and the lake shaped like the map of Brazil.

  2. Morning
    Casa de Santos Dumont

    On the way back downtown.

  3. Afternoon
    Itaipava

    Fifteen kilometers from downtown, where the mountain restaurants and shops are.

  4. Afternoon
    Parque Cremerie

    Atlantic Forest, a lake and pedal boats. An afternoon with no plans.

  5. Late afternoon
    Trono de Fátima

    The farewell, with a view of the historic center.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

Can I do a day trip from Rio?

Yes. It is about an hour and a half by road each way. But the historic center alone takes a full day: if you want to see Itaipava, Quitandinha or the mountains, spend the night in town.

Is there a best day of the week to visit?

Avoid Monday. The city's main museums are closed that day, and you would arrive at the door of several of them only to find them closed. Tuesday to Friday downtown is quieter; on weekends it is busier and more places are open at night.

Does it get very cold?

It is in the mountains, and it is colder than Rio all year round. In winter the nights get quite cold and you will need a real jacket. The rest of the year, a sweater at night is enough.

Can I visit without a car?

The historic center, yes: the main attractions are short distances apart and you can walk between them. For Quitandinha, Itaipava and the Vale do Cuiabá you will need a car, taxi or ride-hailing app.

Back to Petrópolis