The Quitandinha Palace is one of the most beautiful and impressive tourist attractions in the city of Petrópolis: Its construction began in 1941 and was completed in 1944 by entrepreneur Joaquim Rolla to become one of the largest casino-hotels in South America. The palace has 440 apartments, 13 halls measuring up to 10 metres high and a dome in the Mauá Hall measuring 30 metres high and 50 metres in diameter. In addition to the enormous construction, the Quitandinha Palace has a large lake in front of its façade in the shape of a map of Brazil. In the construction of the lake, much of the sand was brought from Copacabana beach. During its period of operation, the hotel welcomed many famous people, such as Henry Fonda, Carmen Miranda, Walt Disney, and politicians such as Getúlio Vargas and Evita Perón. After the ban on casinos in Brazil in 1946, the palace ceased its activities as a casino and operated solely as a hotel.

The pointed side towers and ogival windows of the Cathedral of São Pedro de Alcântara are typical of French and German Gothic. Inside, beautiful stained glass windows depict images of saints, Christ and the Holy Family. Via Crucis, of patinated plaster, is French, as is the image of São Pedro de Alcântara, carved in Carrara marble. But the main attraction of the sanctuary is the Imperial Mausoleum: on the tombstones of Dom Pedro II, Dona Teresa Cristina, Conde d’Eu and Princesa Isabel, life-size sculptures represent them. Notice that, due to an optical illusion, the emperor's chest seems to move, as if he is still breathing.

It was opened in 1884 to house exhibitions of flowers, birds and agricultural products. Its precast structure, in cast iron, was commissioned from a foundry in France by Count D`Eu, being assembled in Petrópolis by engineer Eduardo Bonjean. Today it hosts cultural events and exhibitions. Its most beautiful party was held on Easter Sunday, 1888, in which Princess Isabel, along with her children, delivered letters of freedom to slaves, most of whom compensated their masters with a remarkable campaign developed in the city. Listed by the National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute, it is part of the architectural and landscape complex of the former Praça da Confluência.

The Imperial Museum, in Petrópolis, was the refuge of the imperial family in the summer. Walking through the palace halls is like moving into a history book. Everything seems intact, as if Dom Pedro II and his family still frequented the place. Walking through the halls of the Imperial Museum's palace is like travelling inside a history book. One of the thrones used by Dom Pedro II is in the State Room, the feeling is that the emperor can enter there at any time. It gathers relics such as furniture, jewellery and documents from the Second Reign (1840/1889). In the attached hall, there are carriages and the locomotive that made the route Rio de Janeiro-Juiz de Fora by the Estrada de Ferro Mauá. The garden values construction even more. In the jewellery room. It is impossible not to be impressed with the sceptre made for the consecration of D. Pedro I, with the crown of diamonds and pearls of D. Pedro II or with the gold and ruby feather used by Princess Izabel to sign the abolition of slavery.

It was the summer residence of Alberto Santos Dumont, the Father of Aviation, and is known as “The Enchanted House”. The museum has a collection of objects, books, letters and furniture, as well as the shower and the entrance staircase, with racket-shaped steps, which can only be accessed by starting with the right foot. The Enchanted House reveals much of Santos Dumont's personality. A large room served as both a library and office; on the lower floor, his workshop and laboratory; on the upper floor, his bathroom and bedroom. On the terrace, embedded in the tin roof, is the observatory where he spent hours admiring the stars. The building is a French Alpine-style chalet. An interesting fact about the house is that it had no kitchen and all meals were brought from the Palace Hotel, currently the building of the Catholic University of Petrópolis, next to the Flower Clock. The staircase cut in the shape of a racket draws the visitor's attention, which forces anyone who wants to climb it to always start with the right foot.