Urca Walk, Rio de Janeiro

Urca Walk (Self Guided), Rio de Janeiro

While Rio de Janeiro enjoys a reputation for the fast-paced and exiting, there is a gentler, more tranquil side to this beautiful city that requires some exploration. Urca is a charming oasis of serenity at the foot of Sugar Loaf Mountain, a traditional and wealthy neighborhood that some of Brazil's celebrities call home.

A good place to start your visit inside this small village is at its main attraction, the "mureta". This promenade snakes through the area and overlooks Guanabara Bay, providing gorgeous views of the city. As you amble along the streets, look over the designs of the beautiful houses. You will see a number of different types of architecture here, including mock Tudor, faux Spanish and Art Deco.

Tour Forte São João, the first Portuguese settlement in Rio. Today, it is a military base that is open to the public on weekday afternoons. Go to its fascinating museum to learn about the history of the defensive stronghold and to study the exhibits, including displays of guns.

For some well-earned relaxation, roll out your towel on one of the neighborhood's three beaches. Enjoy a paddle or swim in the refreshing water. Then savor a casual meal in one of the informal bar-restaurants known as botequins.
How it works: A discovery walk features a route using which you can explore a popular city neighborhood on your own. This walk, along with other self-guided walks in over 1,500 cities, can be found on the app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" which can be downloaded from Apple App Store or Google Play Store to your mobile phone or tablet. The app's built-in GPS navigation functions allow following this walk route with ease. The app works both online and offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

Urca Walk Map

Guide Name: Urca Walk
Guide Location: Brazil » Rio de Janeiro
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Discovery)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Author: naomi
Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, University Palace

1) Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, University Palace

Pasteur Avenue, Benjamin Constant Institute

2) Pasteur Avenue, Benjamin Constant Institute

Pasteur Avenue, Earth Sciences Museum

3) Pasteur Avenue, Earth Sciences Museum

Monument to the Heroes of Laguna and Golden

4) Monument to the Heroes of Laguna and Golden

Vermelha Beach, Sugarloaf Mountain

6) Vermelha Beach, Sugarloaf Mountain

Cláudio Coutinho Trail

8) Cláudio Coutinho Trail

Ramon Franco Street

9) Ramon Franco Street

Ramon Franco Street

10) Ramon Franco Street

Urbano Santos Street

11) Urbano Santos Street

Former Cassino da Urca

13) Former Cassino da Urca

Joao Luis Alves Avenue

14) Joao Luis Alves Avenue

View from Joao Luis Alves Avenue

15) View from Joao Luis Alves Avenue

Walking Tours in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Create Your Own Walk in Rio de Janeiro

Create Your Own Walk in Rio de Janeiro

Creating your own self-guided walk in Rio de Janeiro is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Rio de Janeiro Introduction Walking Tour

Rio de Janeiro Introduction Walking Tour

Rio de Janeiro is the capital city of the state of Rio de Janeiro. It was founded in 1565 by the Portuguese. It was the capital of the State of Brazil of the Portuguese Empire from 1763 until 1822.

When Brazil became independent of Portugal in 1822, Rio de Janeiro became the capital of the Empire of Brazil. In 1889, Brazil became a republican nation, with Rio de Janeiro as its capital. But in...  view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
Rio's Top Religious Sites

Rio's Top Religious Sites

Due to the legacy of the Portuguese in language, religion, and law, Rio de Janeiro has had a rich and influential Catholic tradition. Until the mid-20th century almost all Brazilians were – at least nominally – Catholic, and today the country’s religious sites, both classic and modern, impress with their skill, creativity and devotion.

Founded in 1590 by Benedictine monks from Bahia, the...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Rio de Janeiro Beach Walk

Rio de Janeiro Beach Walk

The Copacabana and Ipanema beaches are two of the main reasons Rio is so famous around the world. While Copacabana is a year-round tourist hub, famed for its incredible New Year’s Eve celebrations, the Ipanema and Leblon neighborhoods have the cleanest, safest, most beautiful beaches in the city, and are the favorite playgrounds of Rio de Janeiro’s upper-middle class.

Start your tour with a...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.9 Km or 3 Miles

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip


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