If you are visiting Rio de Janeiro, you absolutely cannot miss Christ the Redeemer, the symbol of the city and of Brazil! This huge statue, clearly visible from all over the city, is located in the beautiful surroundings of Tijuca Park and is one of Rio's main attractions. Here are our tips on how best to organise your visit!
Where it is and how to get there
By train: the cogwheel train is the most impressive means of transport as it crosses the entire forest. It leaves from the Trem do Corcovado station, at R. Cosme Velho, 513(Get directions to the station) and costs €20.00 approx.
By minibus: departing from various points in the city such as Largo do Machado, Copacabana, Barra da Tijuca and the Centro de Visitantes Paineiras. Price from BRL 30.00 (€6.70) to BRL 106.00 (€23.80) depending on the point of departure
By taxi: you can only go as far as the Centro de Visitantes Paineiras, the park's visitor centre. From there you proceed by minibus.(Get directions to the Centro de Visitantes Paineiras)
Onfoot: inside Tijuca Park there are tekking routes to reach the Redeemer on foot in between 1 h 30 min to 2 h. It is recommended to bring water and wear comfortable shoes and appropriate clothing
Timetables and prices
The Redeemer is open daily during the hours of 8am-7pm. To go up to the top you have mainly two options: by cogwheel train or by minibus. Definitely the small train is the most beautiful experience, as it runs through the forests of the Tijuca Park!
The train operates in the same time slot as Christ the Redeemer, so 8am-7pm, and the cost of train+entrance is BRL 79.00 (€17.80). In this regard, the train is a very popular experience; if you try to buy tickets for the same day you probably won't find a seat! This is why we advise you to book your train ticket in advance! For the minibus, on the other hand, there are no problems. Running 8am-6pm, they depart from three different points in the city: Largo do Machado, Copacabana and Barra da Tijuca. In addition, there is a fourth line that departs from the Centro de Visitantes Paineiras, the tourist information centre of the park and Christ the Redeemer.
Timetable: daily 8am-7pm, train on duty 8am-7pm, shuttle bus 8am-6pm
Best time to avoid queues: at the first available ride, at 8:00 am
Ticket price: Little train with entrance 79.00 BRL (€17.80) / Minibus from 30.00 BRL (€6.70) to 106.00 BRL (€23.80) depending on point of departure
Reductions: small train with children 5-11 years old 51,00 BRL (€11,44)
Free of charge: children up to 4 years old
Tours, guided tours and online tickets
What to see and how to visit Christ the Redeemer and Tijuca Park
Christ the Redeemer is definitely the symbol of Brazil and one of the main things to see in Rio! With its position it dominates the whole city from above and, on sunny days, is easily visible from every neighbourhood! It is located in Parque de la Tijuca, a national park established in 1961 to protect the mountainous area of the Tijuca massif, at the base of which Rio itself develops.
To access the Christ the Redeemer area, you must first arrive at the Centro de Visitantes Paineiras, the visitor centre, which can be reached by taxi, minibus or cogwheel train. From here the train continues to the foot of the great statue, alternatively you can continue by minibus. Once at the top, you will have the whole of Rio de Janeiro at your feet, a truly unique sight!
Christ the Redeemer
Every city has its great symbol: Rome has the Colosseum, Paris the Eiffel Tower, Rio de Janeiro has Christ the Redeemer. With its imposing bulk, it is the third largest statue on the planet! But that's not all: of course it has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the 7 Wonders of the Modern World. Absolutely not to be missed!
Once you arrive, either by train or minibus, at the Cristo Redentor stop, you will immediately find yourself at the base of the great platform. All you have to do is climb the steps to reach the Mirador Cristo Redentor, the viewing terrace, from where you can admire a 360° view of Rio! And right above you you will have Christ the Redeemer with his arms outstretched and open, as if he wanted to embrace the entire city! A truly mighty statue: including the base on which it rests, it reaches a height of 38 m!
Tijuca Park
As already mentioned, Tijuca Park is a national park established to preserve the flora and fauna of the mountain massif on whose slopes the city is built. It is Rio's green lung, a place you absolutely must discover and one of the best ways to do so is by taking part in a jeep tour through the forest, where you can immerse yourself in a real tropical jungle just a stone's throw from the metropolis! If you have enough time available, we recommend that you dedicate a whole day to visiting Christ the Redeemer first and then the park.
Established in July 1961 and after a small enlargement in 2004, the park now covers almost 4,000 hectares! It is the smallest of the Brazilian parks in terms of size, but within it is home to an important ecosystem that absolutely must be protected. Moreover, it offers breathtaking views of the entire city: the park is full of spectacular belvederes and miradors, from which postcard-perfect photos can be taken. A stop at the Vista Chinesa viewing terrace(Get directions) or the Mirante Dona Marta(Get directions), one of the most famous in the city, is a must!
Useful tips for visiting the attraction
Getup early: ideally you should reach the entrance by 8am. Guided tours to the Redeemer and Sugar Loaf are also available for early risers. Info and costs here
Buy thecity card: if you are interested in visiting other museums or attractions in the city, you can buy the city card and save on entrance fees
Online ticket: buy your ticket online to avoid the endless queues and, most importantly, secure your seat on the train. Info and costs here
Day in Rio: If you want to see the main attractions in one day, we recommend a tour that includes a visit to the Redeemer, Sugar Loaf and other attractions. Info and costs here
Redentore from above: if you don't suffer from vertigo the helicopter experience over Rio is one of the best things to do in the city. With a 30 min or 1 hr ride you can admire all of Rio from above, including Christ the Redeemer. Info and costs here
Check the weather: ideally you should visit the attraction on a clear day. With clouds or fog you will not be able to enjoy the wonderful panorama
Watch out for restrictions: flying with a drone, carrying bulky bags or suitcases is prohibited. Follow the visiting rules, do not lean out too far from the balconies during the visit and always consult the weather conditions
Minimumtime: we recommend a minimum of 2 hours for the visit. Ideally, you should be able to dedicate half a day
Accessibility: thanks to an intervention between 2002 and 2003, in addition to the 222 steps to climb up to the base of the Redentore, lifts and escalators were installed, making it accessible to all
History and curiosities: what to know in brief
Rio's Christ the Redeemer was built between 1926 and 1931 by engineer Heitor da Silva Costa, and was inaugurated on 12 October 1931 by then President Getúlio Vargas. Initially the design envisaged the Statue with its arms folded and a cross in its hands, but Cardinal Leme insisted on having it depicted differently, so that it would be clearly visible from afar! The statue was thus built with open arms, symbolising peace! In addition, the pieces used to build the Redeemer were transported from France to Brazil and then taken to the top using the train that transports tourists today, inaugurated back in 1884!
But there is also a bit of Italy on the day of the inauguration: the lighting system was switched on directly from Rome by Gugliemo Marconi using short waves! On the base of the statue you can read a commemorative plaque dedicated to Marconi himself, for this feat of his!
Finally, probably captivated by the beauty of the statue, you might not notice the small chapel located right behind it: this is where the statue of the Black Madonna is kept. According to legend, the body of the statue of the Madonnina was found in the sea by fishermen who had not caught any fish for days. Throwing their nets back into the water they also found the head of the little statue and, the following day, their nets were filled with fish, as if a miracle had happened!
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