Christ the Redeemer, Rio
Cristo Redentor · Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Christ with open arms: the soul of Brazil on the summit of Corcovado
Know before you go
- Visit favelas only with licensed tours — don't go on your own
- don't go alone to remote beaches at night
- keep a low profile with valuables.
This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.
Stories & people
Stories & people
History
A Parisian sculptor and a Romanian's face
In the 1850s a priest proposed building a Christian monument on the summit of Corcovado, dedicated to Princess Isabel, daughter of Emperor Pedro II, but it was not approved. Today's statue was built between 1922 and 1931, created by the French sculptor Paul Landowski and built under the Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa, with the French engineer Albert Caquot responsible for switching to a reinforced-concrete structure and the face carved by the Romanian sculptor Gheorghe Leonida. The statue is 30 m tall, not including its 8-m pedestal, and weighs 635 tonnes.
Source: Wikipedia: Christ the Redeemer
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
Completed in 1931, the 30-m statue of Christ opens its arms to embrace Rio, and in 2007 it was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. From the 710-m summit of Corcovado you can see Sugarloaf, Copacabana Beach and the Maracanã stadium; it is a symbol of Catholicism in Brazil and a spiritual landmark for the 'City of God' (Cidade de Deus).
Local customs
- Brazilians are warm and exuberant, and samba and football are social languages
- sights are crowded, so keep valuables close
- a 10% tip is common.
Religion & beliefs
- A Catholic statue and Brazil's guardian symbol
- there's a small chapel at the top where you can pray
- keep a respectful demeanour and don't climb the statue.
Etiquette
Etiquette & taboos
Rules that apply here
Brazil: don't go to city beaches after dark
- Take only a little cash to the beach
- If you are robbed, hand over your things and don't resist
- Going to city beaches after dark
- Taking valuables to the beach or using your phone in the street
Gangs carry out mass beach robberies known as 'arrastão'; phone snatching peaks between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Brazil travel advice
Brazil: e-cigarettes are completely illegal
- Leave your e-cigarette at home before you travel
- Carrying e-cigarettes, pods or accessories
All e-cigarettes and accessories are illegal, and customs confiscate them from checked and hand luggage.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Brazil travel advice
Don’t DON'T
- Visit favelas only with licensed tours — don't go on your own
- don't go alone to remote beaches at night
- keep a low profile with valuables.
Locals appreciate DO
- Cariocas appreciate visitors who love life and dare to dance samba
- drinking coconut water on Copacabana Beach and watching a Flamengo match at the Maracanã is the way to fit in with Rio.
Plan your visit
Practical info
| Best time | The May–September dry season is best (crowds are enormous at Carnival in February) |
|---|
Travel tips
- The May–September dry season is best (crowds are enormous at Carnival in February). The cog railway up costs about BRL 100 — be sure to book on the official website in advance
- early morning has the fewest people and least cloud
- combine with the Sugarloaf cable car.
Eat nearby
What to eat nearby
Must-try
- Feijoada (black-bean stew with rice)
- Brazilian barbecue (churrasco)
- Farofa (toasted cassava flour)
Feijoada (black-bean and meat stew, traditionally on Wednesdays / Saturdays), churrasco (Brazilian barbecue), farofa (toasted cassava flour side), açaí bowls, coconut water / sugar-cane juice
| Where to eat | Restaurants in Cosme Velho / Laranjeiras below Christ the Redeemer, small places in Santa Teresa, beach kiosks in Copacabana |
|---|---|
| Dining etiquette | The proper way to eat feijoada is with orange slices and kale; at all-you-can-eat churrascarias, use the card (green / red side) to pace yourself; ask prices first at beach kiosks |
| Typical price per person | BRL 80–150 ≈ CNY 104–195 |
| Tips | At the churrascaria, go easy at the salad bar to save room for the best cuts later; Saturday feijoada at a samba bar is as Rio as it gets. |
Prices are typical rates as of October 2026, not exact quotes; CNY equivalents are approximate where exchange rates fluctuate.
Bradleyzm · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photos
Photos
Wilfredor · CC0
Donatas Dabravolskas · CC BY-SA 4.0
Arne Müseler · CC BY-SA 3.0 de
Sources & verification notes
Compiled from Christ the Redeemer official ticketing information
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