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

Places to visit near Petrópolis

Petrópolis is a city in Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro district, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, home to about 272,691 people. Within 50 km by road there are 115 places to visit — 25 churches, 9 museums, 32 waterfalls and 11 forts & heritage. The must-see places are Casa da Princesa Isabel (1 km), Palácio de Cristal (1 km) and Palácio Do Grão-Pará (1 km).

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

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

Petrópolis at a glance

Location
Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro district, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Population
about 272,691
Coordinates
22.5050° S, 43.1786° W
Places within 50 km
115 (23 must-see)
Best time to visit
July to January, best August to November right after rains for waterfalls; October to February for forts & heritage; year-round for churches and museums

Top places to visit near Petrópolis

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Petrópolis: 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 Petrópolis

Things to see near Petrópolis, by type

Churches near Petrópolis

43 churches within 100 km of Petrópolis. The closest is Catedral de São Pedro de Alcântara (1 km). Best time: year-round.

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Museums near Petrópolis

39 museums within 100 km of Petrópolis. The closest is Imperial Museum of Brazil (1 km); the best-known is Palácio de Cristal (1 km). Best time: year-round.

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Waterfalls near Petrópolis

38 waterfalls within 100 km of Petrópolis. The closest is Cachoeira da Figueira (5 km); the best-known is Cachoeira Caneca Fina (13 km). Best time: july to january, best august to november right after rains.

All waterfalls in Rio de Janeiro →

Forts & heritage near Petrópolis

32 forts & heritage within 100 km of Petrópolis. The closest is Mausoléu Imperial (1 km); the best-known is Casa da Princesa Isabel (0 km). Best time: october to february.

All forts & heritage in Rio de Janeiro →

Hill stations & viewpoints near Petrópolis

29 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Petrópolis. The closest is Morro Do Avião (9 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

All hill stations & viewpoints in Rio de Janeiro →

Beaches & coast near Petrópolis

17 beaches & coast within 100 km of Petrópolis. The closest is Gres Unidos Do Porto da Pedra (47 km). Best time: october to march.

All beaches & coast in Rio de Janeiro →

A one-day trip from Petrópolis

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 8 km on the road.

  1. Start in Petrópolis
  2. 1 km Palácio Do Grão-Pará · heritage site, Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro
  3. 3 km Casa Stefan Zweig · museum, Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro
  4. 2 km Casa de Santos Dumont · museum, Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro
  5. 1 km Palácio de Cristal · museum, Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro
  6. 1 km Casa da Princesa Isabel · heritage site, Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro
  7. 0 km Back to Petrópolis

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

From travellers near Petrópolis

No traveller has reported from around Petrópolis 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.

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How to reach Petrópolis

    All places near Petrópolis by distance

    Within 15 km of Petrópolis

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Petrópolis by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Churches2543Catedral de São Pedro de Alcântara (1 km)
    Museums939Imperial Museum of Brazil (1 km)
    Waterfalls3238Cachoeira da Figueira (5 km)
    Forts & heritage1132Mausoléu Imperial (1 km)
    Hill stations & viewpoints1729Morro Do Avião (9 km)
    Beaches & coast117Gres Unidos Do Porto da Pedra (47 km)
    Parks310Parque Das Ruínas (11 km)
    Rivers, islands & mangroves59Ilha de Brocoió (36 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens48Área de Proteção Ambiental Petrópolis (9 km)
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs26Reservatório de Água à Rua Montevidéu (2 km)
    Caves33Gruta Pedra da Laranjeira (10 km)
    Other attractions11Mosteiro da Virgem (1 km)
    Mosques & dargahs11Baitul Awwal Mosque (2 km)
    Buddhist sites11Templo Lo Han Ssu (3 km)
    Temples01Monte Makaya (71 km)

    Petrópolis: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Petrópolis?

    Casa da Princesa Isabel (heritage site, about 1 km), Palácio de Cristal (museum, about 1 km), Palácio Do Grão-Pará (heritage site, about 1 km), Casa de Santos Dumont (museum, about 1 km), Casa Stefan Zweig (museum, about 3 km), Cachoeira Caneca Fina (waterfall, about 13 km).

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

    115 places on Spotwander: 25 churches, 9 museums, 32 waterfalls, 11 forts & heritage, 17 hill stations & viewpoints.

    Which is the nearest church to Petrópolis?

    Catedral de São Pedro de Alcântara, about 1 km by road; Igreja Evangélica de Confissão Luterana (0 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest museum to Petrópolis?

    Imperial Museum of Brazil, about 1 km by road; Palácio de Cristal (1 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest waterfall to Petrópolis?

    Cachoeira da Figueira, about 5 km by road; Veu da Noiva Waterfall (8 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Petrópolis?

    Start in Petrópolis, visit Palácio Do Grão-Pará, then Casa Stefan Zweig, then Casa de Santos Dumont, then Palácio de Cristal, then Casa da Princesa Isabel, and drive back — about 8 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Petrópolis?

    July to January, best August to November right after rains for waterfalls; October to February for forts & heritage; year-round for churches and museums.

    Towns near Petrópolis

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