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Petrópolis packs a full weekend of sightseeing into a compact, walkable centre, so most of the main attractions sit within 15 minutes on foot of the Museu Imperial. The city was founded in 1843 by Emperor Pedro II as his summer retreat, and the imperial palaces, cathedral and breweries that survive today are the reason visitors come. Add a day in the Serra dos Órgãos for hiking and you have a solid three-day plan, all of it covered in this Petrópolis travel guide guide.
Things to Do in Petrópolis: Imperial History
Museu Imperial (Imperial Museum)
The former summer palace of Pedro II, at Rua da Imperatriz 220, is the one sight nobody skips. Inside are the imperial crown with 639 diamonds and 77 pearls, the emperor’s carriage, and the room where Princess Isabel signed the Lei Áurea abolishing slavery in 1888. It opens Tuesday to Sunday from 10:30 to 18:00, with the ticket office closing at 17:30. Tickets cost around R$10, with half-price entry for students and seniors, and you must wear the felt slippers provided over your shoes to protect the wooden floors. For the quietest time to visit, see the best time to visit guide.
Catedral de São Pedro de Alcântara
The neo-Gothic cathedral on Rua São Pedro de Alcântara holds the marble tomb of Pedro II, his wife Teresa Cristina and their daughter Isabel, moved here in 1939. The 70-metre spire is the tallest structure in the city. Entry is free and it is open daily from 8:00 to 19:00. The French stained-glass windows are worth a look, and the surrounding praça is a good place to sit after walking up the hill from the museum.
Casa de Santos Dumont (A Encantada)
The summer home of aviation pioneer Alberto Santos Dumont, on Rua do Encanto 22, is a steep-roofed chalet he nicknamed “A Encantada” (the enchanted one). It is famous for two quirks: an external staircase you can only start climbing with your right foot, and a heated shower Dumont invented himself. It opens Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30 to 17:00, tickets around R$10, and it sits a short downhill walk from the Museu Imperial, so the two pair naturally in one morning.
Things to Do in Petrópolis: Palaces and Gardens
Palácio Quitandinha
The Quitandinha was built in 1944 as the largest casino-hotel in South America, a Hollywood-style art deco building wrapped around an artificial lake. Gambling was outlawed in Brazil in 1946 and the palace became a hotel, then a cultural centre run by SESC. Entry is free, the lakefront grounds are open Tuesday to Sunday and holidays from 9:00 to 17:00, and free guided tours of the halls run throughout the week. The palace hosts much of the events and festivals calendar in July.
Palácio de Cristal
This glass and cast-iron conservatory in Praça Koblenz was prefabricated in France and assembled here in 1884 for Princess Isabel to exhibit plants. It now hosts flower shows and cultural events, including most of the Bauernfest programme. Entry is free and the gardens are open daily from 9:00 to 18:00. It sits directly beside the Quitandinha lake area and takes 15 minutes to see, making it a quick stop between the centre and the palace.
Things to Do in Petrópolis: Beer, Shopping and Food
Cervejaria Bohemia
The Bohemia brewery at Rua Alfredo Pachá 166 claims to be the first beer ever brewed in Brazil, in 1853, and its visitor centre runs a self-guided tour through the history of the brand with a tasting at the end. Tours run Tuesday to Thursday from 12:00 to 17:00, Friday, Sunday and holidays from 10:00 to 17:00, and Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00. Tickets cost R$36 full price and R$18 for students and Petrópolis residents. The taproom pours Bohemia’s wheat and pilsner styles, plus guest taps from the Grupo Petrópolis portfolio.
Rua Teresa
Rua Teresa is a 1.2 km shopping strip packed with factory outlets and fashion stores selling clothes, knitwear and winter jackets at wholesale prices, plus chocolate shops selling Petrópolis-made sweets. Most stores open Monday to Saturday from 9:00 to 18:00 and several now open Sundays. Bargaining is not the custom here, but prices are already well below Rio’s malls. It sits in the Alto da Serra district covered in the neighborhoods guide, about 10 minutes by car or bus from the centre.
Things to Do in Petrópolis: Nature and Hiking
Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgãos
The Serra dos Órgãos National Park wraps around the city’s southern edge, with trails, waterfalls and the famous Dedo de Deus (Finger of God) peak. The Petrópolis entrance is at the end of Estrada do Bonfim, and the most popular walk is the Cachoeira Véu da Noiva trail, an easy 1.5 km path to a 20-metre waterfall. The park gate opens daily from 7:00 to 16:00 and day entry costs around R$30 for foreigners. Trails close in heavy rain, so check the weather by month guide for the seasonal pattern before you set out.
Parque Natural Municipal de Petrópolis
For a quicker dose of green, this municipal park in the Morin district has a visitor centre, a lake with pedal boats and short forest trails that work for families with children. Entry is free and it opens daily from 8:00 to 17:00. It is less than 15 minutes by car from the historic centre and pairs well with a half-day in the city. Once you know what you want to see, pick a hotel with the where to stay guide and sort the logistics with the travel tips guide.
