must-visit in Rio de JaneiroSquare & Landmark

Christ the Redeemer

📍 Estrada do Corcovado, Alto do Corcovado, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

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4.9/ 5.0

★★★★★

Quick Facts

Location: Brazil, Rio de Janeiro
Category: Square & Landmark
Duration: About 1 hour at the top; 1.5–2 hours with the train.
Opening Hours: Daily 08:00-18:00 · 07:20-19:00 from December to March; last train 18:00; escalators are being replaced from Aug 2026 to May 2027, so the final 220 steps are on foot
Ticket Price: Adult: Free · 2026 round-trip train + monument entry: adults R$134, ages 7–11 R$107, under 6 free; Brazilian seniors 60+ R$70, students/PwD R$107. Book at tremdocorcovado.rio; check in 40 min early.
Address: Estrada do Corcovado, Alto do Corcovado, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Coordinates: -22.9519, -43.2105

Introduction

Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor) crowns Corcovado mountain in Rio de Janeiro's Tijuca National Park, 710 m above the sea — Brazil's best-known landmark. The statue is 30.1 m tall (38 m with its 8 m pedestal), spans 28.5 m and weighs about 1,145 tonnes, a reinforced-concrete frame clad in soapstone triangles. Engineer Heitor da Silva Costa led the design, French sculptor Paul Landowski shaped the body and Romanian Gheorghe Leonida modelled the face. Work began in 1922 and the monument was inaugurated on 12 October 1931, the feast day of Brazil's patron saint Nossa Senhora Aparecida, whose chapel sits inside the base. It was voted one of the New 7 Wonders of the World on 7 July 2007. The electric cog railway, running since 1884, climbs 3.82 km through the Tijuca Forest — replanted from 1862 on Emperor Pedro II's orders, one of the world's first large-scale reforestations. The 360-degree terrace frames Sugarloaf, Copacabana and Ipanema, Guanabara Bay and the Maracanã; dawn cloud seas and late golden light are the two finest hours.

✨ Highlights

A 38-metre colossus

The figure stands 30.1 m (38 m with pedestal), arms spread 28.5 m, about 1,145 tonnes; engineer Heitor da Silva Costa designed it, Paul Landowski sculpted the body and Gheorghe Leonida modelled the face.

Inaugurated 1931

Began in 1922 and inaugurated on 12 October 1931, the feast of Brazil's patron saint Nossa Senhora Aparecida, whose chapel sits inside the pedestal.

Century-old cog railway

The electric cog line, opened in 1884, climbs 3.82 km through Tijuca rainforest in about 20 minutes; part of the fare funds ICMBio forest conservation.

360° terrace at 710 m

From the summit: Sugarloaf, Copacabana and Ipanema, Guanabara Bay and the Maracanã; the classic shot is cloud seas drifting under the outstretched arms at dawn.

New 7 Wonder

Voted one of the New 7 Wonders of the World on 7 July 2007, the monument draws over two million visitors a year and the summit stays busy year-round.

Tijuca Forest and lightning

Tijuca Forest was replanted from 1862 on Emperor Pedro II's orders, among the world's first large-scale reforestations; the statue takes several lightning strikes a year — a 2014 bolt burnt a fingertip of the right thumb, since repaired with new protection.

🛈 Practical Info

→Duration：About 1 hour at the summit; 1.5–2 hours including the round-trip train ride.

→Works：Escalators are being replaced and inclined elevators installed from 3 Aug 2026, finishing around May 2027; meanwhile only about 80 stone steps lead from the second floor to the terrace, with stair-climbing chairs for wheelchairs (none in rain).

→Booking：Buy timed tickets at tremdocorcovado.rio, 3–4 weeks ahead in peak season; gate tickets often sell out. Avoid unofficial resellers.

→Bring：Sunscreen, a wind layer and water — the summit is windy with strong UV; strollers must stay folded, no food outlets on top.

→Pair with：Combine with Sugarloaf, the Selarón steps and Copacabana beach in one day; the train down is untimed, first come first served.

→Transportation：Cog train from Cosme Velho station (Rua Cosme Velho 513), about 20 minutes; official vans from Largo do Machado, Copacabana or Paineiras. No metro direct.

Opening Hours

Opening Hours
Monday	08:00-18:00
Tuesday	08:00-18:00
Wednesday	08:00-18:00
Thursday	08:00-18:00
Friday	08:00-18:00
Saturday	08:00-18:00
Sunday	08:00-18:00

07:20-19:00 from December to March; last train 18:00; escalators are being replaced from Aug 2026 to May 2027, so the final 220 steps are on foot

Ticket Information

Ticket Information
Adult	Free

2026 round-trip train + monument entry: adults R$134, ages 7–11 R$107, under 6 free; Brazilian seniors 60+ R$70, students/PwD R$107. Book at tremdocorcovado.rio; check in 40 min early.

💡 Tips

• Take the first train (8:00) on a weekday to dodge holiday crowds and cruise-ship days; cloud often swallows the summit after 10 a.m., so early slots see farthest.

• Check the official live webcam before heading up; if it is fogged, switch to the afternoon — Rio's weather shifts fast and the statue often re-emerges.

• During the works only about 80 stone steps lead from the second floor to the terrace; visitors with reduced mobility can use stair-climbing chairs at the ICMBio assistance centre (none in rain).

• There is no restaurant on the summit; buy water and snacks downtown. Souvenir prices are high — spend wisely.

• Bring a wide-angle lens to fit the statue in frame; the first train and the golden light after 4 p.m. shoot best, and sunset slots sell out first.

• Fit hikers can walk up from Parque Lage along a roughly 4 km trail (the trail is free; monument entry R$58 at the gate; a licensed guide is recommended).

FAQ

What are the opening hours of Christ the Redeemer?

Monday: 08:00-18:00; Tuesday: 08:00-18:00; Wednesday: 08:00-18:00; Thursday: 08:00-18:00; Friday: 08:00-18:00; Saturday: 08:00-18:00; Sunday: 08:00-18:00; 07:20-19:00 from December to March; last train 18:00; escalators are being replaced from Aug 2026 to May 2027, so the final 220 steps are on foot

How much is the admission for Christ the Redeemer?

Adult: Free; 2026 round-trip train + monument entry: adults R$134, ages 7–11 R$107, under 6 free; Brazilian seniors 60+ R$70, students/PwD R$107. Book at tremdocorcovado.rio; check in 40 min early.

Any practical tips for visiting Christ the Redeemer?

Take the first train (8:00) on a weekday to dodge holiday crowds and cruise-ship days; cloud often swallows the summit after 10 a.m., so early slots see farthest. Check the official live webcam before heading up; if it is fogged, switch to the afternoon — Rio's weather shifts fast and the statue often re-emerges.

How long should I spend at Christ the Redeemer?

A typical visit takes About 1 hour at the top; 1.5–2 hours with the train..

Prices and schedules from the official Trem do Corcovado site (Oct 2026). Escalator works run until May 2027; weather or technical issues may change times — confirm before travel.