Things to Do in Búzios: The Honest Guide to Getting the Most Out of Every Day
Búzios has over 20 beaches, dramatic viewpoints, colonial history, great food and one of the liveliest nightlife scenes on the Brazilian coast. This honest guide covers the best things to do in Búzios — organized by time of day — so you don't waste a single hour.
Búzios is one of Brazil's most complete destinations. The peninsula has over 20 beaches spread across two completely different sides, viewpoints with panoramic views that stop conversations, 280-year-old colonial architecture, exceptional seafood and a nightlife scene that doesn't wind down until after midnight.
The challenge isn't finding things to do in Búzios. It's knowing which things are worth your time — and in what order to do them.
The First Thing to Do in Búzios — Always
No matter how many days you have, the first program on any visit to Búzios should be the private buggy tour.
In 90 minutes, a local guide drives you across both sides of the entire peninsula — 8 beaches and 3 viewpoints — with the context and history of every stop. By the time the tour ends, you know exactly which beach you want to spend the rest of the day at, which viewpoint you want to see at sunset and where the best lunch spots are.
Visitors who skip the buggy on day one spend days two and three discovering what they could have learned in 90 minutes.
Things to Do in Búzios in the Morning
Private Buggy Tour — 8am to 9:30am
The most efficient morning program in Búzios. Hotel pickup included, 90 minutes, both sides of the peninsula. R$100 per person, children under 5 free. The guide comes to your door.
Praia do Forno — 9:30am to 12pm
Pink-tinted sand that exists nowhere else in Brazil. Crystal clear cold water. The best snorkeling spot on the peninsula. The buggy gets you here directly — no steep downhill walk in the sun. Best visited early before it fills up around midday.
João Fernandes Viewpoint — Sunrise or Early Morning
The most spectacular panoramic view in Búzios. The entire João Fernandes bay opens up below — turquoise water, anchored boats, coastline to the horizon. Morning light hits it perfectly. There's a local craft market here if you want to pick up something genuinely local.
Things to Do in Búzios in the Afternoon
Praia da Ferradura — Perfect for Families
The horseshoe-shaped bay creates naturally calm, pool-like water — ideal for families with young children. Full infrastructure with restaurants and kiosks. One of the most beautiful beach settings in Búzios.
João Fernandes Beach — Swimming and Snorkeling
Crystal clear water, snorkeling on the rocky side, restaurants with decks over the sea. The most complete beach experience on the north side of the peninsula.
Boat Tour — Schooner Around the Islands
Departs daily at 11:30am, returns around 3pm. Covers 12 beaches and 3 islands with 3 snorkeling stops. On-board water slide, bar and open-air deck. Best combined with the buggy tour on the same day — buggy in the morning, boat in the afternoon — for the most complete single-day experience in Búzios.
Azeda and Azedinha — Most Intimate Beaches
The most private and preserved beaches in Búzios. Small, hidden, with extraordinarily clear water. Accessible by water taxi from the central pier or a short walk from Praia dos Ossos. Best in the afternoon when they're less crowded than the morning.
Things to Do in Búzios at Sunset
João Fernandes Viewpoint at Golden Hour
The single best sunset spot in Búzios. The golden light over the bay at 5pm to 6pm is one of the most beautiful sights in the entire Rio de Janeiro state. Arrive by 4:45pm to secure the best position.
Forno Viewpoint at Late Afternoon
360-degree view of the entire coastline with the late afternoon light creating an orange sky over the coast. The buggy tour at 3:30pm ends here with the sunset — the most dramatic photo of the entire trip.
Orla Bardot Boardwalk
The historic boardwalk comes alive at dusk. The sun setting over the boats anchored in Armação Bay creates one of the most photographed scenes in Búzios. Walk slowly, stop at the Brigitte Bardot statue, watch the light change over the water.
Things to Do in Búzios at Night
Rua das Pedras
The heartbeat of Búzios after dark. Restaurants with sea-view terraces, bars with live music, craft shops open late. Starts filling up around 6pm and peaks between 9pm and midnight. Arrive before 8:30pm at the best restaurants to get a table without waiting.
Dinner with Ocean View
Búzios has restaurants for every budget — from tapioca stalls at R$15 to award-winning seafood restaurants on the water. The kiosks along the beaches consistently offer better value than the Rua das Pedras restaurants with comparable quality.
Things to Do in Búzios When It Rains
Light rain and overcast days are actually ideal for the buggy tour — perfect temperature in the open vehicle and more dramatic photography at the viewpoints. In heavy rain:
- Rua das Pedras shopping and galleries
- Long lunch at a restaurant with ocean view
- Bairro dos Ossos walking tour — the colonial architecture and Sant'Anna Church (1740) are worth seeing in any weather
- Spa at your pousada — the most in-demand service on rainy days in Búzios
Things to Do in Búzios in One Day
- 8:00am: Private buggy tour — see the entire peninsula in 90 minutes
- 10:00am: Praia do Forno — pink sand and snorkeling
- 1:00pm: Lunch at a beach kiosk
- 3:00pm: Praia da Ferradura — calm water and relaxation
- 5:00pm: João Fernandes Viewpoint for sunset
- 7:00pm: Orla Bardot walk
- 8:30pm: Dinner on Rua das Pedras
Things to Do in Búzios with Kids
- Private buggy tour — children under 5 free, all ages welcome, hotel pickup included
- Praia da Ferradura — calm pool-like water safe for all ages
- Boat tour — water slide on board, snorkeling, open-air deck
- Ponta da Lagoinha — 520-million-year volcanic rocks that fascinate children
Things to Do in Búzios for Couples
- Sunrise buggy tour — first light over the peninsula with no crowds
- Praia do Forno — pink sand and snorkeling for two
- João Fernandes Viewpoint at sunset — the most romantic view in the city
- Dinner with ocean view — Rua das Pedras at its most atmospheric after dark
How to Book the Buggy Tour
Booking is done by WhatsApp in minutes. No upfront payment — you pay only at the end of the tour, directly to the guide. Hotel pickup included at no extra cost. Daily departures from 8am to 4pm.
Children 0–5 free. 6–10 half price. R$100 per person. Up to 4 per buggy — 100% private, just your group.
To put this plan into action, check our private buggy tour in Búzios. And if you want a longer day, we also run boat tour in Búzios.
Book your private buggy tour in Búzios directly on WhatsApp — no deposit required.