Private Petropolis Imperial City Day Trip from Rio de Janeiro

Leave Rio de Janeiro behind on a private day tour to Petrópolis, the mountain city that served as the summer retreat of Brazil's imperial family. Your own car and English speaking driver/guide pick you up at your accommodation and take you through the green mountain landscapes north of Rio.

Start at the Imperial Museum, the former summer residence of Emperor Pedro II. Continue to the Neo-Gothic Cathedral of Saint Peter of Alcantara, which houses the tombs of members of Brazil's imperial family, then see the Crystal Palace, an elegant glass-and-metal structure set in peaceful gardens.

Spend time in the historic center of Petrópolis, with its tree-lined streets, gardens and distinctive buildings, and admire Quitandinha Palace, built in the 1940s as a luxurious hotel and casino, before the scenic drive back to your accommodation. Entrance tickets, including the Imperial Museum, are not included.