Rio de Janeiro Landmarks Tour: Christ the Redeemer & Santa Teresa

Start at the statue before dawn, end at the mosaic steps as the city lights up

A seven-hour guided tour of Rio de Janeiro's main landmarks, starting with early-morning pickup at your hotel and Christ the Redeemer ticket included to skip the crowds. The route covers Parque Lage at the foot of Corcovado rainforest, the Municipal Theater and Cathedral in Centro, the bohemian streets of Santa Teresa, and the iconic Selarón Steps mosaic. Lunch at a traditional pay-by-weight restaurant is your choice. At the end, you pick drop-off at your hotel or at Sugar Loaf for the cable car and sunset views (ticket separate).

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Christ the Redeemer50m · entry included
2. Santa Teresa15m
3. Selarón Steps20m
4. Rio de Janeiro Cathedral15m
5. Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro5m
6. Lage Park30m

Explore Rio's main landmarks

• Pick up from hotel or hostel
• Visit Christ the Redeemer early
• Explore Parque Lage and wildlife
• Stop for lunch at pay-by-weight restaurant
• Photo stop at Maracana Stadium outside
• Visit Municipal Theater from outside
• Visit Rio de Janeiro Cathedral inside
• Walk around Santa Teresa neighborhood
• See Selarón Steps mosaic
• Drop off at Sugar Loaf or hotel

The experience

The tour starts with pickup from your Zona Sul hotel or hostel and heads straight to Christ the Redeemer while the morning is still quiet. The ticket is already paid. From there you walk through Parque Lage, the gardens at the foot of Corcovado mountain that sit inside Tijuca Forest, one of the world's largest urban rainforests, where you might spot wildlife among the colonial architecture and green.

After Parque Lage, the route moves into Centro: a stop at Maracanã Stadium from outside (a quick photo at the Bellini statue), then the Municipal Theater and the Rio de Janeiro Cathedral, which you enter to see the 1979 building with its geometric concrete design. Between the cathedral and the next stop, you break for lunch at a traditional pay-by-weight restaurant where you choose what you eat and pay by the plate. This is typical Rio and not included in the tour price. The guide leads you through Santa Teresa, the bohemian neighborhood of colonial houses, art studios and the yellow tram, then down to the Selarón Steps, the mosaic staircase made by a Chilean artist that has become one of the city's most photographed landmarks.

At the end of the day, you decide: drop-off back at your hotel, or at Sugar Loaf Mountain where you can take the cable car up for the sunset view (the cable car ticket is separate). The guide speaks English, Spanish or Portuguese depending on the group, and the air-conditioned vehicle stays with you the whole route. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring water and sunscreen: the day involves walking through neighborhoods and up to viewpoints, and it suits all fitness levels.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Zona Sul hotels.
• Christ the Redeemer ticket.
• air-conditioned vehicle for the full route.
• local guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese.
• entry to the Rio de Janeiro Cathedral and walks through Parque Lage, Santa Teresa and the Selarón Steps.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (18 to 80 years) · Infant (2 to 17 years)

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 9 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Brazil Expedition Day Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you're based in Zona Sul and want hotel pickup included. If you're elsewhere in Rio, confirm your location matches the tour's pickup zone when booking.

Traveler reviews

4.78★★★★★★★★★★

168 verified traveler reviews

5 ★150

4 ★9

3 ★3

2 ★2

1 ★4

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (2 to 17 years).

What time does the tour pick me up from my hotel?

Pickup happens in the early morning from Zona Sul hotels and hostels so you arrive at Christ the Redeemer before the crowds build. The exact time depends on your hotel location within Zona Sul. Confirm the pickup window when you book.

Is the Christ the Redeemer ticket really included?

Yes, the Christ the Redeemer ticket is included in the tour price. That's why the tour arrives early: to get you to the statue before the queues form.

What is Parque Lage and why do we stop there?

Parque Lage is a garden at the foot of Corcovado mountain, nestled inside Tijuca Forest, one of the world's largest urban rainforests. You walk through the gardens and colonial buildings, and it's a place where you can see Rio's wildlife and green space in the middle of the city.

Do I have to pay for lunch?

Lunch is not included in the tour price. You stop at a traditional pay-by-weight restaurant in Centro where you choose what you eat and pay by the plate. It's a typical Rio experience and you decide how much to spend.

Can I skip Sugar Loaf and just go home at the end?

Yes. At the end of the tour, you choose between drop-off at your hotel or at Sugar Loaf Mountain. If you pick your hotel, the tour ends there. The cable car ticket up Sugar Loaf is not included and is only an option if you want it.

How much walking is involved?

The tour involves walking through neighborhoods like Santa Teresa and up to viewpoints, plus time inside buildings like the Cathedral. It suits all fitness levels, but wear comfortable walking shoes and bring water and sunscreen.