By Aaron Luz · 25 years in tourism · Last reviewed October 2026
A former fishing village turned upscale beach town, a couple of hours from Rio — the easiest "add three relaxed days" decision on this site.
By Aaron Luz · 25 years in tourism · Last reviewed October 2026
About 2.5–3 hours by car or bus from Rio de Janeiro. No airport of its own worth using — pair it with a Rio itinerary rather than flying in directly.
The main walkable strip — restaurants, boutiques, and the harbor, all on foot.
Calmer bay, quieter at night, still a short walk or taxi to the main strip.
If Rio already has you tired of city noise, yes — Búzios is the decompression stop I recommend most often, precisely because it asks nothing of you. Walk, eat, swim, repeat. It's not the place for big adventure; it's the place that makes the rest of the trip feel less rushed.
— Aaron
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