Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro district, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Places to visit near Nilópolis

Nilópolis is a city in Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro district, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, home to about 147,281 people. Within 50 km by road there are 215 places to visit — 48 churches, 36 museums, 25 forts & heritage and 30 hill stations & viewpoints. The must-see places are G.R.E.S. Unidos de Padre Miguel (10 km), Museu Aeroespacial (11 km) and Cachoeira Em Nova Iguaçu (11 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Nilópolis on the map

Nilópolis, Rio de Janeiro
Nilópolis, Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro district, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Nilópolis at a glance

Location
Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro district, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Population
about 147,281
Coordinates
22.8075° S, 43.4139° W
Places within 50 km
215 (133 must-see)
Best time to visit
October to February for forts & heritage; October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; year-round for churches and museums

Top places to visit near Nilópolis

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Nilópolis: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

More places near Nilópolis

Things to see near Nilópolis, by type

Churches near Nilópolis

49 churches within 100 km of Nilópolis. The closest is Igreja Batista Restaurar (1 km); the best-known is G.R.E.S. Unidos de Padre Miguel (10 km). Best time: year-round.

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Museums near Nilópolis

39 museums within 100 km of Nilópolis. The closest is Museum of Humanity (3 km); the best-known is Museu Aeroespacial (11 km). Best time: year-round.

  • Museu Aeroespacial · museum · Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro · ~11 km · Must-see
  • Train Museum · museum · Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro · ~20 km · Must-see
  • Museu da Maré · museum · Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro · ~23 km · Must-see
  • Museum of Humanity · museum · Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro · ~3 km
  • National Museum of Brazil · museum · Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro · ~28 km · Must-see
  • Marak'anà Village · museum · Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro · ~28 km · Must-see

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Forts & heritage near Nilópolis

31 forts & heritage within 100 km of Nilópolis. The closest is Nova Belford Roxo (5 km). Best time: october to february.

All forts & heritage in Rio de Janeiro →

Hill stations & viewpoints near Nilópolis

30 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Nilópolis. The closest is Morro Do Nascimento (3 km); the best-known is Alto Dos Pretos Forros (20 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

  • Alto Dos Pretos Forros · viewpoint · Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro · ~20 km · Must-see
  • Morro Do Outeiro · viewpoint · Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro · ~23 km · Must-see
  • Morro Do Nascimento · viewpoint · Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro · ~3 km
  • Morro de São Maron · viewpoint · Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro · ~24 km · Must-see
  • Colina Do Presunto · viewpoint · Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro · ~4 km
  • Pico da Tijuca · viewpoint · Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro · ~25 km · Must-see

All hill stations & viewpoints in Rio de Janeiro →

Beaches & coast near Nilópolis

18 beaches & coast within 100 km of Nilópolis. The closest is Botafogo (8 km); the best-known is Rio de Janeiro Zoological Garden (27 km). Best time: october to march.

All beaches & coast in Rio de Janeiro →

Waterfalls near Nilópolis

16 waterfalls within 100 km of Nilópolis. The closest is Templo de Umbanda Caboclo Cachoeira e Zé Pelintra Das Almas (5 km); the best-known is Cachoeira Em Nova Iguaçu (11 km). Best time: july to january, best august to november right after rains.

All waterfalls in Rio de Janeiro →

A one-day trip from Nilópolis

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 61 km on the road.

  1. Start in Nilópolis
  2. 14 km GRES Acadêmicos de Vigário Geral · church, Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro
  3. 4 km Igreja Nossa Senhora da Apresentação · church, Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro
  4. 11 km Museu Aeroespacial · museum, Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro
  5. 8 km G.R.E.S. Unidos de Padre Miguel · church, Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro
  6. 13 km Cachoeira Em Nova Iguaçu · waterfall, Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro
  7. 11 km Back to Nilópolis

Plan a longer trip from Nilópolis — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Nilópolis

No traveller has reported from around Nilópolis yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

Post an update from the map →

How to reach Nilópolis

    All places near Nilópolis by distance

    Within 15 km of Nilópolis

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Nilópolis by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Churches4849Igreja Batista Restaurar (1 km)
    Museums3639Museum of Humanity (3 km)
    Forts & heritage2531Nova Belford Roxo (5 km)
    Hill stations & viewpoints3030Morro Do Nascimento (3 km)
    Beaches & coast1718Botafogo (8 km)
    Waterfalls1516Templo de Umbanda Caboclo Cachoeira e Zé Pelintra Das Almas (5 km)
    Parks1415Parque Carioca da Pavuna (5 km)
    Rivers, islands & mangroves1111Rio Ninguém (12 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens66Rio de Janeiro (8 km)
    Other attractions66GRES Beija-Flor de Nilópolis (1 km)
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs55Reservatório Caixinha (11 km)
    Temples11Monte Makaya (26 km)
    Caves11Desmanxa Cave (9 km)

    Nilópolis: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Nilópolis?

    G.R.E.S. Unidos de Padre Miguel (church, about 10 km), Museu Aeroespacial (museum, about 11 km), Cachoeira Em Nova Iguaçu (waterfall, about 11 km), Igreja Nossa Senhora da Apresentação (church, about 12 km), GRES Acadêmicos de Vigário Geral (church, about 14 km), Parque Estadual Do Mendanha (nature spot, about 14 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Nilópolis?

    215 places on Spotwander: 48 churches, 36 museums, 25 forts & heritage, 30 hill stations & viewpoints, 17 beaches & coast.

    Which is the nearest church to Nilópolis?

    Igreja Batista Restaurar, about 1 km by road; Igreja Nossa Senhora de Nazaré (3 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest museum to Nilópolis?

    Museum of Humanity, about 3 km by road; Favela (8 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest fort to Nilópolis?

    Nova Belford Roxo, about 5 km by road; Casarão (7 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Nilópolis?

    Start in Nilópolis, visit GRES Acadêmicos de Vigário Geral, then Igreja Nossa Senhora da Apresentação, then Museu Aeroespacial, then G.R.E.S. Unidos de Padre Miguel, then Cachoeira Em Nova Iguaçu, and drive back — about 61 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Nilópolis?

    October to February for forts & heritage; October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; year-round for churches and museums.

    Towns near Nilópolis

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Nilópolis’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Nilópolis on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.