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Best Attractions in Rio de Janeiro (2026)

Rio's best-known sights are its viewpoints. Christ the Redeemer stands on Corcovado, reached by the rack railway from Cosme Velho that has run since 1884, while the two-stage cable car to Sugarloaf Mountain starts at Praia Vermelha in Urca and has operated since 1912. Both sell tickets online, and the Sugarloaf cable car runs into the evening, with the last boarding at 19:30, so many visitors save it for late afternoon. The forest of Tijuca National Park surrounds Corcovado, and Parque Lage, at its foot, is the start of a trail to the statue for those who prefer to walk.

In the historic centre, the Theatro Municipal on Cinelândia, the Real Gabinete Português de Leitura and the waterfront Museu do Amanhã by Santiago Calatrava can be combined in one day, using the VLT light rail to reach Praça Mauá. The Escadaria Selarón climbs from Lapa towards Santa Teresa and is free to visit. The Botanical Garden, founded in 1808, and the Maracanã, with its stadium tour, need half a day each. Check opening days before you go: the Botanical Garden opens late on Wednesdays, and the Maracanã tour closes early on match days.

10 places · Updated October 27, 2026

Our top 3 attractions in Rio de Janeiro

  1. Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor) Monument and viewpoint, Corcovado / Cosme VelhoThe Art Deco statue of Christ on the summit of Corcovado, dedicated in 1931 and reached by a rack railway that has run since 1884.
  2. Sugarloaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar) Mountain and cable car, UrcaThe 396-metre granite peak at the mouth of Guanabara Bay, reached by Brazil's first cable car, which opened in 1912 and stops at Morro da Urca.
  3. Escadaria Selarón Tiled public staircase, Lapa / Santa TeresaA 215-step staircase between Lapa and Santa Teresa covered in more than 2,000 tiles by the Chilean artist Jorge Selarón between 1990 and 2013.

Attraction

8. Parque Lage

Historic park and mansionJardim Botânico

A landscaped park at the foot of Corcovado around a 1920s mansion that now houses an art school and a café beside its courtyard pool.

View details — Parque Lage