Beyond Rio
Petrópolis: the imperial city in the mountains
The back story
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Filipo Tardim · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAbout Petrópolis: the imperial city in the mountains
Petrópolis lies in the mountains north of Rio, where Brazil’s 19th-century emperors spent their summers. The Imperial Museum, in the palace of Emperor Pedro II, shows the life of the court; nearby are the Gothic cathedral and the small house of the aviation pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont.
Getting there
By bus from the Rodoviária Novo Rio, or by car up the mountain road.
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Donatas Dabravolskas · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsThe city
The Museu Imperial, at Rua da Imperatriz 220, in the emperor’s summer palace (museuimperial.museus.gov.br); the Cathedral of São Pedro de Alcântara; and the Casa de Santos-Dumont.
Buses run from the Rodoviária Novo Rio to Petrópolis; the road climbs the Serra.
Our advice: bring a jumper: Petrópolis is much cooler than the coast.
Why it's on our list
- Getting there
- The city
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Petrópolis: the imperial city in the mountains before you go.
What’s nearby
Distances from Petrópolis: the imperial city in the mountains are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 12 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Key sights
- Galeão Airport35 kmCar or taxi 120 min