Top 16 most beautiful monuments in Rio de Janeiro2026 ranking

Arcos da Lapa is like a modern aqueduct right in the heart of the popular Lapa neighborhood. I suggest waiting a few minutes to take a picture of the tram passing over it or, even better, taking the tram across it yourself. You are just a short distance from the Selaron Steps, a must-see in the area. You should also know that every Friday, a typical Brazilian street party happens in this neighborhood under the arches. And it is seriously crazy!

It is not worth making a special trip to the Saint Sebastian Cathedral in Rio de Janeiro. However, if you are passing through the Lapa or Santa Teresa neighborhoods, you can make a stop there because this cathedral is really different from the others. It is a gray pyramid, which reminds me a bit of the architecture in Brasilia, the country's capital. Inside, the stained glass windows are magnificent and there is also an impressive organ.

When you visit Santa Teresa, I recommend taking the Selarón Steps. The Chilean artist of the same name covered the steps with various mosaics that made him famous. Today you will see hundreds of influencers there taking photos. Try to go early in the morning to avoid the crowds. The atmosphere is cheerful even if some of the alleys in the immediate vicinity are not recommended in the evening.

Corcovado, or Christ the Redeemer, is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Perched at the top of a hill with arms wide open, it sits 710 meters above the ground, though the statue itself is only 38 meters tall. This monumental statue of Christ is one of the largest in the world. You can get up to the site on foot, by bus, or by taxi. The view is incredible, especially since you can see Sugarloaf Mountain and the entire bay of Rio de Janeiro from the observation deck.

Even though it is right in the city center, buzzing with cars and buses honking at the top of their lungs, you get there by walking up a ramp. Once you reach the little square, the serenity of the place takes over.

Surrounded by busy traffic and located in a neighborhood with zero tourists and some sketchy people, it is better to enjoy it from afar than to go see it up close! Pretty original, that conical shape and its detached bell tower.

The historic center of Rio is a mix of skyscrapers and churches. It is... something else. The Candelária is imposing right on the corner of the busy intersection. It is tough to get enough distance to fit it all in the frame!

I wanted to see the steps in the late afternoon, thinking the neighborhood would start coming alive to welcome the evening party crowd. Bad idea! As soon as I headed into the small alley, I felt right away that I shouldn't be there. There were some strange people giving me suspicious looks. When it feels like that, turn around as soon as possible!

This viaduct was recommended in my guidebook, but I really didn't feel comfortable there. There weren't many tourists left, the big avenues had non-stop traffic that made it impossible for pedestrians to cross, and there were weird people everywhere looking at me suspiciously. I didn't even have time to take a picture, I just turned right back around!