📌Where it is
On top of Corcovado hill (710 m), inside Parque Nacional da Tijuca, in the city of Rio de Janeiro. You can see it from half the city, and from the statue you can see the other half.
📌How to get there
There are three official ways up: the Corcovado train from Cosme Velho, the official vans run by the Paineiras Corcovado consortium (from Copacabana, Largo do Machado or the Paineiras Visitor Centre) and the hike along the trilha do Corcovado, which starts at Parque Lage. You can't drive a private car all the way up to the monument.
📌How much time to spend
Half a day: 2 to 3 hours including the ride up, time at the top and the ride down. Once at the top, you can stay as long as you like within opening hours.
📌Best time to go
All year round, but the sky decides: if it's cloudy, Christ the Redeemer disappears into the mist. There are more dry days from April to October. Operators recommend going from 14:00 onwards, when visitor numbers drop.
📌Currency and prices
Brazilian real (R$). A train ticket costs R$ 134 for adults and R$ 107 at the reduced rate (2026); the price changes depending on the date you choose. You pay online by card.
📌Language
Portuguese. Staff at the ticket offices and on the train get by in English and Spanish, and all signage at the site is translated.
📌What surprises most
That the statue is much bigger than you imagine (30 metres without counting the pedestal), and that the viewpoint doesn't just look over Copacabana: you can see the Lagoa, Sugarloaf Mountain, the Maracanã, Guanabara Bay and the whole Tijuca forest.
📌Watch out for
Buying a ticket without a booked date and time. All three ways up have assigned time slots and they sell out; street sellers offering a 'guaranteed ride up' are not official.
💱 BRL exchange rate
Loading rate…
🌤️ Weather in Christ the Redeemer (Corcovado)
Loading weather…
There's something you don't really get until you're standing underneath, looking up: Christ the Redeemer is huge. Thirty metres of statue plus eight of pedestal, twenty-eight metres from fingertip to fingertip of the arms spread over the city, and a face that, from the ground, seems to tilt ever so slightly towards whoever is looking at it. All around, 710 metres up, Rio opens out in three hundred and sixty degrees: Guanabara Bay with the outline of Sugarloaf Mountain, the Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas like a blue patch between the hills, Copacabana and Ipanema in a row, and the Tijuca rainforest climbing up on every side.
The monument was inaugurated on 12 October 1931 and in 2007 it was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. It sits inside Parque Nacional da Tijuca, which explains why you can't drive up in your own car: access is regulated, and you go up on the century-old train that leaves from Cosme Velho, on the official vans of the Paineiras Corcovado consortium, or on foot, along the trail that starts at Parque Lage and climbs for about two hours through the forest.
This guide gives you the practical side: how much each way up costs at the official 2026 prices, what time to go to dodge the queue and the mist, how long each option takes and what you actually see from the top. One piece of advice that even the operators themselves repeat: don't book the first slot of the day if the forecast shows low cloud; Christ the Redeemer in the fog means a white photo and a wasted trip up.
📖 History of Christ the Redeemer (Corcovado)
The idea of crowning Corcovado with a religious monument dated back to the 19th century, but it only took off in 1921, when Rio's Catholic Circle launched the 'Semana do Monumento' campaign to fund it with public donations, on the eve of the centenary of Independence. The final project was by Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa, with the open-armed figure designed by French sculptor Paul Landowski and the face modelled by Romanian Gheorghe Leonida. The statue was built in reinforced concrete covered with thousands of soapstone (steatite) tiles, a material that stands up well to the weather and gives it that light grey skin. It was inaugurated on 12 October 1931, after almost five years of work, with the materials carried up by the Estrada de Ferro do Corcovado, the tourist railway opened in 1884 by Emperor Pedro II. It stands about 30 metres tall, on a pedestal of about 8 metres that houses a chapel, and measures about 28 metres between its fingertips. In 2007 it was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, and since then it has welcomed several million visitors a year. The hill and all the forest around it are part of Parque Nacional da Tijuca, the largest replanted urban forest in the world.
🗺️ What to see
Tours nearby, in Rio De Janeiro
If you only have one day, take a guided tour on the first one: it sets up the rest of your trip and saves you a lot of walking. We look ours up on Civitatis: guided in Spanish and booked online with no fuss. They have over 50 activities in Rio De Janeiro. And there are free tours here: you book without paying and tip the guide whatever you think at the end, so trying one costs you nothing. Three are below so you get the idea: tap any of them and they all open.
They depart from Rio De Janeiro, 6 km away. If you book from this link we earn a commission and you pay no more.
1
The monument and the viewpoint at Christ's feet
The platform at the foot of the statue, with the most famous view in Brazil: Guanabara Bay, Sugarloaf Mountain, the Lagoa, the beaches of the Zona Sul and the Tijuca forest in three hundred and sixty degrees.
Leer más ↓
The esplanade at Christ's feet is the end of the route and the reason for the trip. From there you can see the whole city spread out between the sea and the hills: to the east, Guanabara Bay with Sugarloaf Mountain and, behind it, Niterói; to the south, the Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas ringed by buildings and the beaches of Ipanema and Leblon; to the north, the Maracanã and the port area; and in every direction, the green expanse of Parque Nacional da Tijuca.
The platform is spacious but always busy, so it's worth taking the time to walk all the way round instead of staying at the first balcony. The trick for the classic photo is to lie down on the ground with the camera pointing up, and there are staff who organise the queue for people wanting that shot. At the base of the pedestal there's a small chapel, the Capela de Nossa Senhora Aparecida, where masses and even weddings are held.
How to get there: train, official van or trail on foot, then lifts and escalators (or about 220 steps) from the Visitor Centre. Best time to go: clear-sky days; there are fewer people from 14:00 onwards. Tips: bring a light jacket, as it's windy at the top and the temperature is several degrees lower than at the beach.
2
The Corcovado train (Estrada de Ferro do Corcovado)
Brazil's oldest tourist railway, opened in 1884: a twenty-minute rack-railway climb through the Atlantic rainforest of Parque Nacional da Tijuca.
Leer más ↓
The train leaves from Cosme Velho station and climbs a rack railway opened in 1884, the oldest in Brazil dedicated to tourism. The ride takes about twenty minutes and is worth it in its own right: the train climbs through ferns, jackfruit trees and palms, peeks out over a few clearings with views of the Lagoa and the bay, and sometimes crosses paths with monkeys and toucans. The carriages have large windows; if you can, sit on the right-hand side going up, which is the side with the open views.
The ticket includes the ride up, the ride down and entry to the monument, and is sold with an assigned date and time. The company recommends arriving at the ticket office at least 40 minutes before your slot, and there's no cloakroom, so it's best to go without luggage. In high season, morning slots sell out days in advance.
How to get there: Cosme Velho station, Rua Cosme Velho 513; reach it by taxi, ride-hailing app or bus from the Zona Sul. Best time to go: mid-afternoon. Tips: buy only on the official site tremdocorcovado.rio and keep the QR code on a charged phone.
3
The official Paineiras Corcovado consortium vans
The other authorised way up: vans that climb the Estrada das Paineiras from three boarding points (Copacabana, Largo do Machado and the Paineiras Visitor Centre).
Leer más ↓
The Paineiras Corcovado consortium is the only van service authorised to drive up to the monument through Parque Nacional da Tijuca. It has three boarding points: Praça do Lido in Copacabana (level with Posto 2), Praça do Largo do Machado opposite the Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora da Glória —next to the metro station— and the Paineiras Visitor Centre itself, halfway up the mountain.
The ticket includes the return trip from the same boarding point and entry to Christ the Redeemer, and you can stay at the top as long as you like within opening hours. The van can't stop anywhere else along the route. It's the most practical option if you're staying in Copacabana, because it saves you the trip to Cosme Velho. Note: the Visitor Centre has no parking, so driving your own car up to Paineiras isn't a good idea.
How to get there: boarding points in Copacabana and Largo do Machado, from 7:00 to 16:00; Paineiras Visitor Centre, from 7:30 to 18:00 with last entry at 17:00. Best time to go: first thing in the morning or after 14:00. Tips: prices change depending on the day and the boarding point, so it's best to buy on the official site and not on the street.
4
The way up on foot: a trail of about two hours uphill that starts at Parque Lage and crosses the forest to the Paineiras Visitor Centre.
Leer más ↓
For walkers, the climb up Corcovado from Parque Lage is one of the best urban hikes in South America: about 3.5 kilometres of steep trail that starts at the back of the park, in the Jardim Botânico neighbourhood, and climbs through the Atlantic rainforest of Parque Nacional da Tijuca. There are stretches of roots, stone steps and a couple of sections with chains where you need to use your hands. The climb takes between an hour and a half and two and a half hours depending on your fitness.
The trail doesn't replace the monument ticket: you come out at the Visitor Centre or on the Paineiras road, and from there you still have to pay for entry to the esplanade of Christ the Redeemer. Do it in the morning, never at dusk, and preferably in a group: the park's official advice is not to hike alone. After heavy rain the trail gets slippery and is sometimes closed.
How to get there: entrance through Parque Lage, Rua Jardim Botânico 414, open from 8:00 to 18:00. Best time to go: early and in dry weather. Tips: plenty of water, shoes with good grip, insect repellent and no valuables on you.
5
The Paineiras Visitor Centre
The halfway stop on the way up, with a viewpoint, café, toilets and the historic building of the former Hotel Paineiras, partway up the slope of Corcovado.
Leer más ↓
Halfway up the mountain, on the Estrada das Paineiras, is the Visitor Centre: the point where the official vans, the hiking trail and the cyclists riding up the road all meet. It occupies the site of the former Hotel Paineiras, a 1930s building that was abandoned for decades and was repurposed as the gateway to the monument.
It has a viewpoint looking over the Lagoa and the Zona Sul, toilets, a café, a shop and information panels about Parque Nacional da Tijuca. It's also the place to kill time if you arrive before your ticket slot, and a must-stop for those who ride up: the Estrada das Paineiras is a classic of Rio cycling at weekends.
How to get there: by official van, on foot along the trail or by bike up the Estrada das Paineiras; there's no parking for private cars. Best time to go: any clear day. Tips: if you're travelling with kids or with someone who doesn't walk much, this is the place to take your time before the final climb.
6
Mirante Dona Marta, just round the corner
A free viewpoint on Dona Marta hill, in the same Serra da Carioca, with the postcard view of the bay, Sugarloaf Mountain and Botafogo, and Christ the Redeemer in sight.
Leer más ↓
If the weather is iffy or the budget is tight, Mirante Dona Marta is the best alternative in the area: a lookout about 340 metres up, inside the same Parque Nacional da Tijuca, with the classic view of the Pão de Açúcar, Botafogo cove, the Aterro do Flamengo and Guanabara Bay. From there you can also see Christ the Redeemer up on Corcovado.
Access is free and you get there by road from Cosme Velho or from Botafogo. Many taxi drivers and guides combine it with the trip up Corcovado or with the Pão de Açúcar. It's a popular spot for sunset photos and, because of its location, it works well as a plan B when the top of Corcovado is covered in cloud.
How to get there: by car, taxi or ride-hailing app via the Estrada do Mirante Dona Marta. Best time to go: late afternoon. Tips: there are no facilities or café; bring water.
💵 Prices
Tickets
| Type | Price |
|---|
| Tren del Corcovado — adulto (incluye acceso al monumento) | R$ 134 (price published on the official site for a visit on 22/09/2026; the fare varies depending on the date chosen). Valid for all nationalities (source: tremdocorcovado.rio, verified 22/09/2026) |
| Tren del Corcovado — niños de 7 a 11 años, estudiantes brasileños, ID Jovem y PcD | R$ 107 for each category, with the documents required for each concession (2026). Children under 6 go free when carried by a responsible adult (source: tremdocorcovado.rio, verified 22/09/2026) |
| Tren del Corcovado — mayores de 60 años | R$ 70, only for people born in Brazil or foreign residents with an RNM and proof of address (2026) (source: tremdocorcovado.rio, verified 22/09/2026) |
| Vans oficiales Paineiras Corcovado (incluye acceso al monumento) | PRICE NOT CONFIRMED: the official website explicitly states that 'os valores variam de acordo com o dia da visita e o ponto de embarque escolhido' (Paineiras, Copacabana or Largo do Machado) and doesn't publish a fixed price list. It's usually lower than the train ticket. Check the price for your date at ingressos.paineirascorcovado.com.br (checked 22/09/2026) |
| Acceso al Parque Nacional da Tijuca | Free. The park itself makes clear that 'o único local tarifado dentro do Parque Nacional da Tijuca é o Corcovado' (source: parquenacionaldatijuca.rio, verified 22/09/2026) |
| Horarios | Train: daily from 8:00 to 18:00, with departures every twenty minutes; you must check in at the ticket office 40 minutes before your slot. Vans: boarding in Copacabana and Largo do Machado from 7:00 to 16:00; Paineiras Visitor Centre from 7:30 to 18:00, last entry 17:00 (sources: tremdocorcovado.rio and paineirascorcovado.com.br, verified 22/09/2026) |
🔄 updated monthlyOfficial / reference values · double-check when buying
Activities and tours
| Activity | Price | Duration | Operator |
|---|
| Corcovado train ride with entry to the monument | R$ 134 adult / R$ 107 reduced / R$ 70 over-60s who are Brazilian or residents (2026) | 2 to 3 h in total | Trem do Corcovado (tremdocorcovado.rio) |
| Official van from Copacabana or Largo do Machado | Varies by date and boarding point; buy on the official site (2026) | 2 to 3 h in total | Consórcio Paineiras Corcovado |
| Corcovado trail on foot from Parque Lage | The trail is free; entry to the monument is paid separately | 1.5 to 2.5 h uphill | Independent or with local trekking guides |
| Combined Christ the Redeemer + Pão de Açúcar day tour | Varies by agency; each official entry is paid separately | Full day | Rio tour operators |
| Cycling up the Estrada das Paineiras | Free (entry to the monument is paid separately) | 1 to 2 h of cycling | Independent; a Rio weekend classic |
🔄 updated monthlyOfficial / reference values · double-check when buying
🚌 How to get there and distances
Getting around
Metro to Largo do Machado + official van
PriceMetro R$ 7,90 per journey (public fare in force since 12/04/2026) + van ticket
NotesMetro Line 1 drops you at Largo do Machado, and the van boarding point is opposite the Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora da Glória, a few metres from the exit. It's the simplest combination from Copacabana, Ipanema or the Centro (source: MetrôRio, verified 22/09/2026)
Taxi or ride-hailing app to Cosme Velho station
NotesThis is the usual way to get to the train station, at Rua Cosme Velho 513. You come back the same way: there are always cars at the station entrance. Pay by card in the app or in cash in the taxi
PriceR$ 5,00 per journey (fare in force since 4/01/2026, Decreto Rio nº 57.473/2025)
NotesSeveral routes run through Cosme Velho and Largo do Machado. Pay with the Bilhete Único Carioca or in cash on board, depending on the route
On foot along the trail from Parque Lage
Free
NotesEntrance through Parque Lage (Rua Jardim Botânico 414), open from 8:00 to 18:00 with free admission. Go in the morning, with company and in hiking shoes (source: EAV Parque Lage, verified 22/09/2026)
Private car
Not applicable
NotesYou can't drive your own car up to the monument: the final stretch is reserved for the train and the official vans, and the Paineiras Visitor Centre has no parking
🔄 updated monthlyOfficial / reference values · double-check when buying
How to get there
| Route | Airlines / operators | Avg. price | Duration |
|---|
| Copacabana → Christ the Redeemer | Official Paineiras van (Praça do Lido) or taxi/app to Cosme Velho | Van or train ticket depending on the option | 15 to 25 min to the departure point |
| Ipanema / Leblon → Christ the Redeemer | Metro Line 1 to Largo do Machado + official van, or taxi/app to Cosme Velho | Metro R$ 7,90 + ticket | 30 to 45 min |
| Historic centre → Christ the Redeemer | Metro Line 1 to Largo do Machado + official van | Metro R$ 7,90 + ticket | 30 to 40 min |
| Santos Dumont Airport (SDU) → Christ the Redeemer | Taxi or ride-hailing app to Cosme Velho | Variable fare | 20 to 35 min |
🔄 updated monthlyOfficial / reference values · double-check when buying
🏨 Where to stay
No exact prices: a scale from $ (budget) to $$$$$ (luxury), with 2-3 options per category.
Close to the access points: Laranjeiras, Cosme Velho and Flamengo
Recommended optionsQuiet residential neighbourhoods a few minutes from the train station, with hostels, small guesthouses and simple hotels. It's the most practical area if your priority is going up Corcovado early.
Recommended optionsThe neighbourhood with the most beds in the city and the boarding point for the official vans at Praça do Lido. There's a bit of everything: hostels, mid-range hotels and seafront classics.
Quiet base: Botafogo and Largo do Machado
Recommended optionsWell connected by Metro Line 1 and a short walk from the Largo do Machado van boarding point. Good value for the location and plenty of neighbourhood life.
Upmarket: Ipanema and Leblon
Recommended optionsThe most expensive neighbourhoods to stay in; you reach Corcovado by metro to Largo do Machado or by car to Cosme Velho in half an hour.
🍴 Where to eat
Arriba, en el monumento y en Paineiras
Options / signature dishCafé and snacks at the Paineiras Visitor Centre and kiosks on the esplanade. It's grab-and-go food at tourist-attraction prices: if you're spending the morning up there, have breakfast first.
Cosme Velho y Laranjeiras
Options / signature dishBotequins and neighbourhood restaurants around the train station, ideal for a relaxed lunch after coming down, with feijoada on Saturdays and pay-by-weight food at lunchtime.
Largo do Machado y Catete
Options / signature dishAn area of traditional cafés, bakeries and simple restaurants right by the metro exit, popular with people taking the official van.
Jardim Botânico, al pie de la trilha
Options / signature dishIf you hike up from Parque Lage, the neighbourhood has good cafés and restaurants for afterwards, including the park's own café.
❓ Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to go up to Christ the Redeemer?+
For the Corcovado train, the official site listed R$ 134 for adults, R$ 107 for children aged 7 to 11, Brazilian students, ID Jovem holders and people with disabilities, and R$ 70 for over-60s born in or resident in Brazil; children under 6 go free. The price varies depending on the date you choose, so you'll see the exact amount when you select the day. The official Paineiras Corcovado vans don't publish a fixed price list: the company itself warns that the price changes depending on the day and the boarding point (verified 22/09/2026 at tremdocorcovado.rio and paineirascorcovado.com.br).
Can I drive up in my own car?+
No. The monument sits inside Parque Nacional da Tijuca, and the final stretch can only be done on the Corcovado train or the official vans run by the Paineiras consortium. It's not a good idea to drive to the Paineiras Visitor Centre either, as it has no parking of its own.
Do I need to buy tickets in advance?+
Yes, and this is the most important tip. All three access options work with an assigned date and time slot, and in high season the morning slots sell out days ahead. Buy from the official sites (tremdocorcovado.rio or ingressos.paineirascorcovado.com.br) and be wary of anyone on the street offering a 'guaranteed ride up'.
What time is best to go?+
The van operator itself recommends visiting from 14:00 onwards, when visitor numbers drop. The downside is that in summer there tend to be more clouds in the afternoon. The golden rule is to check the forecast: with low clouds, the summit is covered and you won't see a thing, and tickets aren't refunded for bad weather.
How long does the whole visit take?+
Between two and three hours door to door. The train takes about twenty minutes each way, plus waiting time at the station (you need to be there 40 minutes early) and however long you want to spend at the top, which is up to you within opening hours.
Can I walk up?+
Yes. The trilha do Corcovado starts at Parque Lage and climbs through the forest in between an hour and a half and two and a half hours. The trail is free, but you still have to pay to access the monument's terrace. Go early, with company and in hiking shoes; the park advises against walking alone.
Is it accessible for people with reduced mobility?+
The final stretch has lifts and escalators from the Visitor Centre up to the terrace, and the train has a PcD fare that includes a companion. The trilha on foot, however, is not accessible: it's a mountain trail with steps and roots.
Sources consulted (8)
- Trem do Corcovado — Ingressos and official hours: https://www.tremdocorcovado.rio/ingressos
- Trem do Corcovado — Informações úteis (open 8h-18h, departures every 20 min): https://www.tremdocorcovado.rio/institucional/informacoes-uteis
- Paineiras Corcovado — Dúvidas frequentes (boarding points and times, variable prices): https://www.paineirascorcovado.com.br/duvidas/
- Parque Nacional da Tijuca (ICMBio) — FAQ: 'O único local tarifado dentro do Parque Nacional da Tijuca é o Corcovado': https://parquenacionaldatijuca.rio/faq/
- Parque Nacional da Tijuca — opening hours 8h-17h: https://parquenacionaldatijuca.rio/
- MetrôRio — Meios e Tarifas (standard fare R$ 7,90 since 12/04/2026): https://www.metrorio.com.br/ComoPagar/MeiosTarifas
- Secretaria Municipal de Transportes do Rio — Decreto Rio nº 57.473/2025 (bus fare R$ 5,00 since 4/01/2026): https://transportes.prefeitura.rio/historico-das-tarifas/
- EAV Parque Lage — O Parque (open 8h-18h, free entry): https://eavparquelage.rj.gov.br/o-parque
