Rio de Janeiro Virtual Walk

Take a free virtual walking tour through Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — home to 6,748,000 people and one of Americas's most remarkable cities. Nearaway streams immersive 4K street-level footage from Rio de Janeiro, letting you explore its neighbourhoods, culture, and atmosphere from anywhere in the world — no passport, no flights, no account required.

On New Year's Day 1502, navigator Gaspar de Lemos sailed into Guanabara Bay and mistook it for a great river — naming it Rio de Janeiro, River of January. The city was formally founded on March 1, 1565. For two centuries it was a colonial backwater until the Portuguese royal family fled Napoleon and made it the capital of their empire in 1808 — the only time a European monarch governed from the New World.

Rio's Christ the Redeemer statue is struck by lightning an average of 6 times per year. The best time to take a virtual walk through Rio de Janeiro is may–september (dry season) or feb for carnival. Must-try local foods in Rio de Janeiro include Açaí bowl, Churrasco, Pão de queijo. Cariocas (Rio residents) are warm and physical — hugs and cheek-kisses are normal greetings.