Image: Praia do Forte, Cabo Frio, Brazil.
Highlights
– Buzios and Cabo Frio are two relaxing destinations less than four hour bus rides from Rio de Janeiro.
Time of Visit: May 2026
Duration of Visit: Two Nights in Buzios, Four Nights in Cabo Frio
Description
Buzios and Cabo Frio are two relaxing destinations less than a four hour bus ride from bustling Rio de Janeiro. Buzios is a small town while Cabo Frio is a small city. Each has a different vibe but both easily convince us to slow down and have chillax moments.
Buzios
Buzios is a popular destination among Brazilians. This small seaside town has pedestrian only cobbled streets lined with restaurants and shops. If you like gastronomy (and who doesn’t), especially seafood, this is the place to be. We found restaurant prices, even the fancy ones, to be significantly lower than neighboring Argentina and Uruguay.
Buzios also has an ocean facing promenade lined with benches. Whether it’s the day or evening, taking a walk along this promenade can be very relaxing. Walking north on the promenade, you will come across the statue of French actress, Brigitte Bardot, who visited Buzios in 1964. Her stay put the coastal town on the map, transforming it into a major international luxury resort destination often called the St. Tropez of Brazil.
Because it’s by the water, there are water related activities. But those are more common during the summer when rain is seldom but the temperature can be warm. One local said that the best time to visit Buzios is January and February. During our visit in May, it was overcast with light rain for two days but the sun came out on the third day. Even then, it felt warm under direct sunlight.
Cabo Frio
Cabo Frio is a small city on a peninsula. It has the bluest water we have seen in Brazil and the fine white sand of Praia do Forte seems unbelievable. Praia do Forte reminded us of the famous Boracay in the Philippines, minus the coconut trees.
At first, we thought Cabo Frio was going to be a disappointing destination. Our bus from Buzios passed by crowded urban streets humming with traffic. The sidewalks were uneven and the buildings just butt up to one another. There was nothing nice to look at. But as soon as we saw Praia do Forte, our disappointment disappeared and we were elated.
Activities
The main activities in Buzios and Cabo Frio are to slow down and relax. Just take casual strolls with the wind in your face (or back), enjoy a good meal at a restaurant and do more walking afterwards. Or you can just enjoy your favorite beverage and people watch as most locals do.
Buzios
Besides walking, eating and shopping along Rua da Pedras, Buzios does have nearby beaches to enjoy. But because the weather was overcast and chilly due to the wind, we decided to pass up on it.
Another popular thing to do in Buzios is to go on a buggy ride. The ride just goes around town.
Cabo Frio
Praia do Forte
Without a doubt, the number one attraction in Cabo Frio is the beautiful Praia do Forte. Its white sand beach is the most beautiful we saw in Brazil. Its water is also the bluest but cold, hence called “frio”. Waves can be strong and flags are erected to warn people of the dangers.
The beach is more than a mile long so there is plenty of space to get away from the crowd. There are also sand dunes at its western end. Walking up and down the beach is another way to spend a relaxing day at the beach if the water is too cold for you.
Passagem
We went to the Passagem neighborhood for the colorful buildings. There is also the Capela de São Benedito (Chapel of St. Benedict) which was under renovation and was closed to the public during our visit. Praça São Benedito right in front of the chapel is a nice place to sit under the shade trees. And there are several sidewalk restaurants in the area.
Ilha do Japonês
Another popular activity to do while in Cabo Frio is to spend a relaxing day at Ilha do Japonês. It is a small uninhabited island about five minutes water taxi ride from Passagem. It has calm water because it is in a sheltered area of the Araruama Lagoon and Itajuru Channel. This makes it a safe place for swimming and wading.
Forte de São Mateus and Viewpoints
Forte de São Mateus is a small 17th century Portuguese fortress sitting on a rocky outcrop at the east end of Praia do Forte. Entry is free to the public. You will find old cannons and artists selling their paintings besides having an elevated view of the surroundings.
Just below the fort is the crescent shaped end of Praia do Forte. The water here is calm and perfect for swimming and wading.
There are also a couple of viewpoints nearby. Mirante da Boca da Barra is at the end of the boardwalk and provides views of Araruama Lagoon and Ilha do Japonês.
Day Trip to Arraial do Cabo
Arraial do Cabo is a town to the south of Cabo Frio about 30 minutes by bus (Bus 150). When it comes to water activities, Arraial do Cabo has a lot to offer because it sits on a peninsula with a couple of nearby islands. Its most popular beach is Ponta do Atalaia which we were not able to reach because we left late and did not have the time for it. Instead we just enjoyed Praia dos Anjos and Praia Grande. We still consider Praia do Forte to be more beautiful than either of those two beaches.
How To Get There
Rio de Janeiro to Buzios
We took Bus 1001 (that’s the name of the company) from the Rodavia do Rio (the bus station in Rio de Janeiro) to Buzios. There are multiple trips throughout the day. It is advisable to buy the tickets ahead of time as the bus can get full if you are unlucky enough to show up on a busy time. The ride took approximately four hours. The bus station at Buzios is a short walk to Rua da Pedras.
Buzios to Cabo Frio
We took the local bus 160 to get to Cabo Frio from Buzios. The bus runs about every hour on top of the hour. The bus stop is in front of the Bus 1001 ticket office. It is an actual bus, not the Sprinter van type. The ride takes about an hour because there are a lot of intermediate stops.
Cabo Frio to Rio de Janeiro
We took Bus 1001 from Rodavia de Cabo Frio back to Rio de Janeiro. The rodavia is quite a walk from downtown Cabo Frio but fortunately, Uber is available.
Where To Stay
Buzios: Staying within walking distance from Rua das Pedras would be very convenient. Parking is difficult in Buzios so having a car would be disadvantageous.
Cabo Frio: If we were going to do it over again, we would stay in Arraial do Cabo and ride the bus to do a day trip to Cabo Frio. This is because Arraial do Cabo has more places to visit while the places we saw in Cabo Frio only requires a day.
How To Get Around
Besides the local buses and Uber, walking was our primary mode of getting around.
Expected Expenses
Bus 1001 Rio de Janeiro to Buzios: 201.34 BRL ($42 USD) for two people, credit card accepted at Rodavia do Rio.
Bus 160 Buzios to Cabo Frio: 16.70 BRL ($3.40 USD) for two people, cash only.
Bus 150 Cabo Frio to Arraial do Cabo: 16.70 BRL ($3.40 USD) for two people, cash only.
Bus 1001 from Cabo Frio to Rio de Janeiro: 171.88 BRL ($34.54 USD) for two people, credit card accepted at Rodavia do Cabo..
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Summary
Located in the Costa do Sol region of Brazil, Búzios and Cabo Frio are popular tourist destinations. Búzios feels like a resort town offering fine dining, shopping and vibrant nightlife while Cabo Frio offers expansive white sand beach with turquoise water and rich colonial history.
Búzios is often dubbed the “Saint-Tropez of Brazil”. It provides a chic but relaxing resort experience. Made famous in the 1960s by French actress Brigitte Bardot, the peninsula boasts over 20 distinct beaches ranging from calm, warm bays to premier surfing spots. Visitors flock to its charming, cobblestone streets to explore high-end boutiques, world-class seafood restaurants, and the legendary nightlife along Rua das Pedras.
Cabo Frio draws travelers because of its expansive Praia do Forte. This beach is celebrated for its fine white sand, sand dunes and clear, refreshing ocean waters. Beyond its beach, the city has historic 17th-century São Mateus Fort and the colorful but quiet neighborhood of Passagem.
Both Buzios and Cabo Frio offer a chance to slow down and relax. We are certain you will enjoy taking a stroll along the cobbled Rua das Pedras in Buzios and the white sand beach of Praia do Forte in Cabo Frio.