The view from Niterói. You can see the mountains of Rio de Janeiro, with the coastline of Niteroi, with the sun shining down on the water.

Best Things to Do in Niterói: A Day Trip from Rio de Janeiro

ByTess Kazenoff


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Whether you feel like you’ve made it through most of the main tourist destinations in Rio already, or are just looking to get away from the city for a bit, Niterói is one of the best and easiest options out there. I spent a day in Niterói during one of my several trips to Rio de Janeiro, and I can’t wait to go back and spend more time there.

It’s not only super close to Rio de Janeiro — making it perfect for a day trip — but there’s lots to do in Rio’s often-overlooked neighbor. For art lovers, beach-goers, hikers, and just those who enjoy going a bit off the beaten path, these are all the best things to do in Niterói. 

Niterói Contemporary Art Museum

One of the most best (and most popular) things to do in Niterói is the Niterói Contemporary Art Museum. This was my first stop during my day in Niterói, and I loved everything about it, from the gorgeous scenery to the interesting exhibits.

It’s famous partly for its unique, futuristic-looking architecture. Designed by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer, some say that it resembles a UFO, and I definitely agree with that. In true Rio fashion, it’s also all about the view, and it has a 360-panoramic view of Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro and Niterói. 

But apart from that, it of course also has an impressive art collection — the second largest contemporary art collection in Brazil, in fact.

The museum is closed on Mondays and is R$12.00. (Mirante da Boa Viagem, s/nº – Boa Viagem, Niterói – RJ)

Part of the Niterói Contemporary Art Museum is visible on the top and lower half — you can't really tell from the photo, but it is shaped a bit like a UFO. The ocean with some hills are between the building.
The view from Niterói Contemporary Art Museum shows tall buildings along the water, with the side of the pink building shown on the left side.
Niterói Contemporary Art Museum

Caminho Niemeyer (Niemeyer Way/Path)

If you’re in the mood for even more cool architecture, there’s also Caminho Niemeyer (Niemeyer Way/Path).

I haven’t visited this area, but there are a number of cultural centers in this area, including a theater used for outdoor shows, a center dedicated to literature and history, and a film-roll-shaped building with five cinemas rooms, a coffee shop, a bookstore and an art gallery. (Avenida Jornalista Rogério Coelho Neto,  s/nº, Centro – Niterói, RJ)

Itacoatiara Beach

Since we’re still in Rio de Janeiro, after all, next, you’ll probably want to head to the beach.

There are many beaches in Niterói, but the best one is about a 30-minute drive from the museum.

Praia de Itacoatiara is known for being both insanely gorgeous, but also much calmer and less crowded than beaches like Copacabana and Ipanema which are in the heart of Rio. 

Hiking in Niterói

There are a couple hikes you can do in this area too.

I haven’t had a chance to do these yet but they’re on my list for next time!

The most popular one, Costao de Itacoatiara, is supposed to be super beautiful and average-difficulty. But, according to my husband, a Rio local who I consider to be a bit of a hiking expert, it can be difficult just because you’re directly in the sun the whole time, or if you’re afraid of heights.

Pedra do Elefante is longer, but not as steep and is less directly in the sun. 

A beach with Niterói Contemporary Art Museum, a saucer-shaped building in the background, with some other tall buildings.
The beach near Niterói Contemporary Art Museum

Fortaleza de Santa Cruz da Barra,

Directly on the other side of the bay, with a direct look at the Sugarloaf Mountains in Rio is Fortaleza de Santa Cruz da Barra, a historic military fortress from colonial times. It’s R$6 and is closed on Mondays. (Estrada Eurico Gaspar Dutra, s/nº – Jurujuba)

Parque da Cidade

An absolute must in Niterói is a visit to a park, Parque da Cidade. The best time to visit is in the late afternoon/evening time so you can watch the sunset here! This is when I went, and it was a bit crowded at the top, but it was still possible to enjoy the amazing view and get some nice photos.

This is one of the best things to do in Niterói not only for its amazing view of the city, but also of nearby Rio de Janeiro, since you can get a great look at some of Rio’s landscapes that aren’t visible from within the city. 

It’s not uncommon for Cariocas, or Rio de Janeiro locals, to joke that the best thing to do in Niterói is to look at Rio — and while Niterói has plenty to offer on its own, it’s true that you do get an awesome view. 

You can take either a 20-minute easy (I promise) hike to the overlook, or you can drive. 

The view from Niterói. Trees, a street, water and mountains are visible.
The view from Parque da Cidade

Where to eat in Niterói

Sadly I wasn’t yet in my ~ blogger era ~ when I visited so I didn’t write down where I ate, but here are some recommendations from my husband who’s from Rio: 

For restaurants in general, a great place to go is Praia de São Francisco, which is about 15 minutes from the art museum. It’s a nice area to walk around (there’s a beach there too), and there are lots of restaurants in this area. 

Noi São Francisco is a restaurant and brewery with lots of steak and seafood options plus classic Brazilian dishes. (Avenue Quintino Bocaiúva, 201 – São Francisco, Niterói, RJ)

Familia Paludo has a focus on grilled foods — think steaks, seafood, and chicken. You can also get things like risotto and vegetarian items. (247 – San Francisco, Niterói, RJ)

Mocellin Churrascaria is a popular steakhouse. (Quintino Bocaiúva Avenue, 151, Niterói, RJ)

Another popular area to eat is at Mercado de Peixe São Pedro, a fish market.

There are stalls where you can buy fresh seafood, as well as some actual restaurants, and tables to eat. It’s within walking distance from Caminho Niemeyer. (Av. Visconde do Rio Branco, 55 – Centro, Niterói)

Trees are on the bottom half of the photo, framing water with mountains in Niterói, a city in the state of Rio de Janeiro.
Seen from Parque de Cidade

How to Visit Niterói

Where is Niterói?

Niterói is in the state of Rio de Janeiro but it’s about 12-and-a-half miles away from the city, Rio de Janeiro.

How to get to Niterói from Rio de Janeiro

The easiest way to get to Niterói from Rio is by car. It’s just a 30-minute to an hour drive (depending on traffic) across the Rio Niterói bridge. Uber is extremely accessible and affordable in Brazil so this is a great option.

If you’re looking for an even more budget-friendly option though, you can take a bus from various spots throughout Rio de Janeiro. 

There’s also a ferry that you can take. It typically leaves every 20 minutes from Praça XV in Rio. It then arrives at Praça Arariboia in Niterói, and is a 20 to 30-minute ride.

Rome2Rio is a great resource for checking out transportation options too.

Planning Your Trip to Rio de Janeiro

Niterói is such a hidden gem, that so many tourists (and even Cariocas) can overlook its beauty and all that there is to do there. While writing this, I’ve even convinced myself I need to take another day trip there my next time in Rio!

On that note, if you’re heading to Rio soon (or dreaming of a future trip), I have a ton of resources available to help you!

Before you head off to Rio, definitely grab my free map — it’s filled with all my top recommendations, curated over the course of my years visiting to Rio.

Looking for some more day or weekend trips to take while you’re in Rio?

Paraty

Seriously, such a dream destination, about hours away from Rio. Beautiful colonial architecture, waterfalls, cachaça distilleries, beaches, need I say more?

Paqueta Island

Want a super minimal effort, relaxed day trip from Rio where you can just sit in front of the water? Hop on a ferry and reach this island in an hour.

Head to one of these Rio guides next

Tess Kazenoff is the writer and photographer behind Tess the Traveler. She is passionate about helping people have meaningful — and affordable — travel experiences. Her favorite region to explore is Latin America (especially Brazil, where she's been several times), or her home state of California.

12 Comments

  1. Niterói seems a great getaway from the chaos of Rio. I’d want to explore the hikes and the architecture!

    Reply

  3. I loved your guide on Niterói! The tips on how to get there and where to eat are super helpful. You made me really excited to check out Niterói. Thanks for the great recommendations!

    Reply

  4. When we visited Rio we did not get a chance to head out on day trips. Niterói sounds like an interesting spot to visit. The futuristic Contemporary Art Museum would be on our list – even if we never got inside to see the great art. I certainly would not miss that view from above!

    Reply

  5. Great guide on Niterói! I’ve never been to Brazil but it’s on my list. This place sounds like the type of destination I love to explore so will be sure to add to my list. Thnaks for sharing.

    Reply

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