📌Where it is
At the tip of the Urca neighbourhood, at the entrance to Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro. It is made up of two linked peaks: Morro da Urca (220 m) and the Pão de Açúcar itself (396 m).
📌How to get there
By cable car (the 'bondinho'), which leaves from Praia Vermelha station at Av. Pasteur 520, Urca. There are two stages: Praia Vermelha–Morro da Urca and Morro da Urca–Pão de Açúcar. You can also walk or climb up to Morro da Urca via the Pista Cláudio Coutinho.
📌How much time to spend
Between 2 and 4 hours. The ticket gives free access to the park all day, so many people go up in the mid-afternoon and stay for the sunset.
📌Best time to go
All year round. What really matters is a clear sky and the wind. Sunset, with the city lighting up and Christ the Redeemer lit up opposite, is the most sought-after moment.
📌Currency and prices
Brazilian real (R$). The Bilhete Bondinho starts at R$ 205; Brazilians pay R$ 160, and people born in or living in the state of Rio pay R$ 89 (2026).
📌Language
Portuguese, with service in English and Spanish at the ticket offices and on signage.
📌The biggest surprise
That the first stage, Morro da Urca, already has views, restaurants, a short trail and even free events: many people think it is just a technical stop and miss half the visit.
📌Watch out for
Days with strong wind or storms, when the cable car may suspend service. It is best to buy online with a set date and time and arrive early.
💱 BRL exchange rate
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🌤️ Weather in Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf Mountain)
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There is only one way to grasp Rio's impossible geography all at once, and that is to go up the Pão de Açúcar. From the 396 metres of that granite block closing off Guanabara Bay, the city falls into place: the sweep of sand at Copacabana on one side, the Aterro do Flamengo and the Centro on the other, Niterói across the water, planes taking off from Santos Dumont beneath you and, in the distance, Corcovado with a tiny Christ the Redeemer above the forest.
You get there on the bondinho, the cable car opened in 1912, which was the third in the world and is still the city's oldest attraction in operation. The ride has two stages: first up to Morro da Urca, at 220 metres, where there are viewpoints, restaurants, shops and even a short trail through the forest; and from there, in a second cabin, up to the summit of Sugarloaf. The ticket is valid all day, so you can go up in the afternoon, wait for sunset at the top and come down at night with the city lit up.
This guide gives you the essentials: how much each type of ticket costs at the official 2026 rates (including the promotional fares for Brazilians and for residents of the state of Rio), the actual opening hours and last boarding time, how to get to Praia Vermelha station and what to do at the top besides taking photos. And one fact almost nobody takes into account: you can go up to Morro da Urca for free, on foot.
📖 History of Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf Mountain)
The name has two explanations that coexist: the shape of the peak recalls the loaves of refined sugar moulded in colonial Brazil, and the Tupi people called it 'Pau-nh-Acuqua', something like high, pointed mountain. The block of granite and gneiss is about 600 million years old and for centuries served as a natural lookout for watching the entrance to Guanabara Bay: in 1565, when Estácio de Sá founded the city, he did so right at the foot of the peak, in the area that is now Urca. Its tourist history began in 1908, when engineer Augusto Ferreira Ramos proposed linking the peaks with a cable car. The first stage, between Praia Vermelha and Morro da Urca, opened on 27 October 1912, and the second, up to the summit of the Pão de Açúcar, in 1913: it was the third cable car built in the world and the first in Brazil. The original cabins were made of wood and carried twenty-four people. In 1972 the system was renewed with the glass cabins used today, which hold about 65 people, and the complex was renamed Parque Bondinho Pão de Açúcar. The peak was the setting for the fight between James Bond and Jaws in 'Moonraker' (1979), and today it welcomes more than a million visitors a year.
🗺️ 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, 5 km away. If you book from this link we earn a commission and you pay no more.
1
The summit of the Pão de Açúcar
396 metres of granite with a 360-degree view over Guanabara Bay, the harbour entrance, Copacabana, Niterói and Corcovado.
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The summit is a plateau with paths, terraced viewpoints and plenty of vegetation, much bigger than it looks from below. From the bay side you can see the mouth of Guanabara with the Santa Cruz fortress in Niterói, ships coming in, the Rio-Niterói bridge in the distance and planes taking off from Santos Dumont airport. On the other side you get the whole of Copacabana beach, Ipanema behind it and the outline of Corcovado with Christ the Redeemer.
There are lookout points at different levels connected by stairs and ramps, an open-air amphitheatre where shows are held, kiosks and toilets. It gets packed at sunset: the advice is to go up with an hour of daylight left, walk round the viewpoints and stay to watch the city lights come on. Marmosets (tití monkeys) are a common sight; do not feed them.
How to get there: second stage of the cable car from Morro da Urca, included in the ticket. Best time: late afternoon. Tips: bring something warm, as it gets windy at the top; and do not leave the trip down until the last minute, because last boarding is at 19:30.
2
Morro da Urca
The intermediate station at 220 metres: viewpoint, restaurants, shops, an open-air stage and a small trail through the Atlantic Forest.
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Many people rush straight through Morro da Urca on their way to the second stage and miss half the outing. This first peak has its own view (Botafogo cove with Corcovado behind it is one of Rio's classic postcards), a plaza with restaurants and cafés, shops, an amphitheatre for concerts and free events included in the ticket, and even a short interpretive trail through the forest.
It was also a historic venue for parties and shows: Morro da Urca has hosted everyone from classic Brazilian artists to international bands, and for years it was home to a famous carnival ball. If you are travelling with kids or are short on time, it is an outing in its own right.
How to get there: first stage of the cable car, or on foot via the Pista Cláudio Coutinho and the trilha do Morro da Urca. Best time: late afternoon, before going up to the summit. Tips: your ticket gives you free access to the park all day, so you can go up, come down for a walk around Urca and go back up again.
3
The bondinho: the glass cabins
The ride itself: two stages in panoramic cabins hanging over the sea and the forest, on Brazil's oldest cable car and one of the first in the world.
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The cable car is as much of an attraction as the destination. The first stage covers the 575 metres between Praia Vermelha and Morro da Urca in about three minutes, and the second spans the 750 metres to the summit. The current curved-glass cabins arrived with the 1972 renovation and carry about 65 people; at the busiest times, try to stand near the glass on the sea side.
The system has been running since 1912 without any passenger accidents, with periodic stops for maintenance and occasional suspensions due to thunderstorms or strong winds. Departures are continuous, with no fixed times per cabin: the ticket books an entry time slot, not a specific car.
How to get there: Praia Vermelha station, Av. Pasteur 520, Urca. Best time: outside the midday peaks. Tips: if you end up queuing, the line for the second stage is usually shorter than for the first.
4
The Pista Cláudio Coutinho and the Morro da Urca trail
The free walk at the foot of the peak: 1.25 km of paved path between the sea and the rock, and the detour that climbs on foot to Morro da Urca.
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Next to the cable car station starts the Pista Cláudio Coutinho, a paved path just over a kilometre long that runs along the sea between Praia Vermelha and the base of the Pão de Açúcar. It is free, flat, very popular with runners and families, and full of marmosets and birds. It ends at a small pebble beach with an open view of the Atlantic.
Halfway along, the trilha do Morro da Urca branches off to the right: about 20 to 40 minutes uphill through the forest, with some stretches of roots and rock, ending at the top of the first peak. For many cariocas it is the way to go up without paying for the first stage; from there you can buy just the second-stage ticket or walk back down. It is usually open from early morning until sunset.
How to get there: entrance next to Praia Vermelha station. Best time: early, before the heat. Tips: shoes with good grip, water, and absolutely no feeding the monkeys.
5
Praia Vermelha and the Urca neighbourhood
The small coarse-sand beach at the foot of the peak and the quietest neighbourhood in the Zona Sul, with its wall over the bay where cariocas drink beer at sunset.
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Praia Vermelha is a crescent of coarse, reddish sand tucked between Morro da Urca and Morro Cara de Cão, with calm water and an unusual view of both peaks together. It is small, urban and quiet; a good place to wait for your cable car slot.
Around it lies Urca, a residential neighbourhood of low-rise houses, home to the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro and military institutions, with an unhurried pace that contrasts with Copacabana. Its best-known ritual is the 'Mureta da Urca': people sit on the low wall facing the bay, with a beer and a pastel bought at the bar across the street, watching the sunset over the Centro and Christ the Redeemer. No stage, no ticket, and one of the best views in the city.
How to get there: a few steps from the cable car station; bus or taxi from Botafogo. Best time: late afternoon, with or without the bondinho. Tips: combine the Pão de Açúcar with the Mureta after coming down.
💵 Prices
Tickets
| Type | Price |
|---|
| Bilhete Bondinho (general, cualquier nacionalidad) — dos tramos, ida y vuelta | From R$ 205; includes free access to the whole park for the day and the free events programme (source: bondinho.com.br, verified 22/09/2026) |
| Promocional para brasileños | R$ 160 for people born in and living in Brazil, with documentation (2026) (source: bondinho.com.br/promocional-para-brasileiros, verified 22/09/2026) |
| Promocional estado de Río de Janeiro | R$ 89 for people born in or living in any of the state's 92 cities, with proof of address on the day of the visit (2026) (source: bondinho.com.br/estado-rj, verified 22/09/2026) |
| Media entrada | 50% for people over 60 (of any nationality), children aged 3 to 12, students, people with disabilities and other cases provided for by law; cannot be combined with the promotional fares (source: bondinho.com.br, FAQ, verified 22/09/2026) |
| Gratuidad | Children under 2 go free, accompanied by a responsible adult and with ID (2026) |
| Horarios | Every day from 8:30 to 21:00, with last boarding at 19:30 (source: bondinho.com.br, verified 22/09/2026) |
| Pista Cláudio Coutinho y trilha del Morro da Urca | Free (public access at the foot of the peak) |
🔄 updated monthlyOfficial / reference values · double-check when buying
Activities and tours
Cable car ride (two stages, return)
Guided tour and fast-track access
PriceSeparate product from the general ticket, sold on the official website; price not shown outside the shopping cart
Sport climbing on Morro da Urca and the Pão de Açúcar
PriceDepends on the guide; the classic routes are among the most climbed in Brazil
Walk along the Pista Cláudio Coutinho and the Morro da Urca trail
Free
Sunset at the Mureta da Urca
🔄 updated monthlyOfficial / reference values · double-check when buying
🚌 How to get there and distances
Getting around
PriceR$ 5,00 per ride (fare in force since 4/01/2026, Decreto Rio nº 57.473/2025)
NotesSeveral lines terminate in Urca, opposite the cable car station. It is the cheapest option from Copacabana and Botafogo
Metro to Botafogo + bus or walk
Metro R$ 7,90 + bus R$ 5,00
NotesThe park's official website advises getting off at Botafogo station via exit E (Mena Barreto), taking bus 513 on Rua Voluntários da Pátria and getting off at UNIRIO, about 260 m from the park (source: bondinho.com.br, verified 22/09/2026)
Taxi or ride-hailing app
Fare varies by starting point
NotesThe most direct option if you are short on time or heading back at night. There is a taxi rank at the station entrance
Private car
Paid parking in the area
NotesThe park has an agreement with the RioSul shopping centre car park (promotional rate of R$ 20 for up to 6 hours, according to the official website); pickups, vans and buses are excluded from the offer
On foot from Botafogo
Free
🔄 updated monthlyOfficial / reference values · double-check when buying
How to get there
| Route | Airlines / operators | Avg. price | Duration |
|---|
| Copacabana → Pão de Açúcar | City bus, taxi or ride-hailing app | Bus R$ 5,00; taxi varies | 15 to 25 min |
| Ipanema / Leblon → Pão de Açúcar | Metro Line 1 to Botafogo + bus 513, or taxi | R$ 7,90 + R$ 5,00, or taxi varies | 30 to 45 min |
| Historic centre → Pão de Açúcar | Metro Line 1 to Botafogo + bus, or taxi | R$ 7,90 + R$ 5,00 | 30 to 40 min |
| Santos Dumont Airport (SDU) → Pão de Açúcar | Taxi or ride-hailing app | Fare varies | 15 to 25 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.
Recommended optionsA small, quiet neighbourhood with very few places to stay (the odd guesthouse and short-term rentals). You sleep in total silence with the bay in front of you, but you have to travel to eat at night.
Recommended optionsThe most practical base for the Pão de Açúcar: fifteen minutes away, with the metro, modern hostels, mid-range hotels and the best young food scene in the Zona Sul.
Recommended optionsThe largest supply of beds in the city, a short distance from the peak, with hotels in every category and the sea right in front.
Recommended optionsResidential neighbourhoods with cheaper hotels and hostels on metro Line 1, twenty minutes from the cable car.
🍴 Where to eat
Options / signature dishMorro da Urca and the summit have restaurants, cafés and kiosks, with menus aimed at visitors and attraction prices. Better for a coffee with a view than for a proper meal.
Bares de Urca y la Mureta
Options / signature dishNeighbourhood bars facing the bay, where the custom is to buy beer and pastéis and sit on the wall to watch the sunset. The quintessential carioca plan after coming down.
Options / signature dishFifteen minutes away, one of Rio's most interesting food hubs, with chef-driven bars, contemporary Brazilian cooking and vegetarian options.
Options / signature dishSimple kiosks and restaurants by the little beach, ideal for waiting for your ticket time with something cold.
❓ Frequently asked questions
How much does the Sugarloaf cable car cost?+
The general Bilhete Bondinho starts at R$ 205 and includes both stages, up and down, plus free access to the park all day. People born in and living in Brazil pay R$ 160, and those born in or living in any of the 92 cities in the state of Rio pay R$ 89 with proof of address. There is a 50% half-price ticket for people over 60 of any nationality, children aged 3 to 12, students and people with disabilities, which cannot be combined with the promotions; children under 2 go free (official prices verified on 22/09/2026).
What are the opening hours, and how late can you go up?+
The park is open every day from 8:30 to 21:00, with last boarding at 19:30. Since the ticket is valid all day, the usual strategy is to go up in the mid-afternoon, stay for the sunset and come down at night with the city lit up. If you are going for the sunset, allow an hour of daylight beforehand so you can explore the viewpoints without rushing.
Can you go up for free?+
As far as Morro da Urca, yes: the trail that starts from Pista Cláudio Coutinho, next to the Praia Vermelha station, climbs through the forest in about 20 to 40 minutes on foot. For the second stretch, up to the summit of Pão de Açúcar, you still have to buy a ticket. Pista Cláudio Coutinho itself is a free walk of just over a kilometre at the foot of the hill.
Is it better to go during the day or at sunset?+
At sunset you get both: the city in daylight and then lit up. The downside is that it's the most popular time and the queues are longer, especially at weekends. If you'd rather have some peace and sharp photos of the bay, the first hour of the morning is unbeatable.
What happens if the weather is bad?+
In strong wind or a thunderstorm the service may be suspended for safety, and with low cloud you lose the view. The park lets you reschedule your visit once, free of charge, if you bought on the official website, as long as there's availability on the new date and you do it before your visit's start time.
How much time should you set aside?+
Between two and four hours. The two cable car stretches add up to less than ten minutes of travel, but Morro da Urca has viewpoints, shops, restaurants and events, and the summit has several observation levels. If you add Pista Cláudio Coutinho and sunset at Mureta da Urca, it's half a day.
Is it suitable for kids and older people?+
Yes. The route inside the park has ramps, stairs and lifts, the cabins are roomy and there are no stretches you have to walk. Children aged 3 to 12 and over-60s pay half price, and under-2s go free.
Sources consulted (8)
- Parque Bondinho Pão de Açúcar — Bilhete Bondinho (from R$ 205, hours 8h30-21h, last boarding 19h30): https://www.bondinho.com.br/ingresso-bondinho
- Parque Bondinho Pão de Açúcar — Promocional para brasileiros (R$ 160): https://www.bondinho.com.br/promocional-para-brasileiros
- Parque Bondinho Pão de Açúcar — Bilhete Estado RJ (R$ 89): https://www.bondinho.com.br/estado-rj
- Parque Bondinho Pão de Açúcar — Perguntas frequentes (half price, free admission, rescheduling): https://www.bondinho.com.br/perguntas-frequentes
- Parque Bondinho Pão de Açúcar — Como chegar (Botafogo metro, exit E + bus 513): https://www.bondinho.com.br/promocional-para-brasileiros
- MetrôRio — Meios e Tarifas (R$ 7,90): https://www.metrorio.com.br/ComoPagar/MeiosTarifas
- Secretaria Municipal de Transportes do Rio — bus fares (R$ 5,00 since 4/01/2026): https://transportes.prefeitura.rio/historico-das-tarifas/
- Wikipedia (ES) — «Pan de Azúcar (Río de Janeiro)»: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan_de_Az%C3%BAcar_(R%C3%ADo_de_Janeiro)
