There are three official ways to reach Christ the Redeemer: the Corcovado rack railway from Cosme Velho (R$134 per adult, round trip with access to the monument included), the official Paineiras-Corcovado vans (R$132 from Copacabana or Largo do Machado, R$87 from the Paineiras visitor center), or walking, in which case you pay only the monument entrance fee (R$60). Since 3 August 2026, the replacement of the escalators has cut capacity at the summit by 50% and requires 80 steps on foot. Prices come from the Tijuca National Park (ICMBio) and Trem do Corcovado websites; here is how to choose.
The statue towers over the city. To plan the rest of your stay, see our guide to visiting Rio de Janeiro and our Sugarloaf Mountain page, the other unmissable viewpoint.
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Christ the Redeemer: the essentials
- Corcovado train: R$134 adult, R$107 child aged 7 to 11, free up to age 6 on an adult’s lap — checked on 27 October 2026 on tremdocorcovado.rio
- Train times: every day from 8 am to 6 pm, departures every twenty minutes; check in at the ticket office at least 40 minutes before your booked time.
- Official vans: R$132 adult from Copacabana or Largo do Machado, R$87 from the Paineiras visitor center — checked on 27 October 2026 on parquenacionaldatijuca.rio
- On foot: monument entrance only, R$60 adult (R$54 + R$6 collected by the Mitra), at the summit ticket office.
- Ongoing works: since 3 August 2026, simultaneous capacity is cut by 50% and 80 steps are mandatory up to the terrace.
- Safety: the UK FCDO reports armed robberies on the Corcovado walking trail (GOV.UK, updated 29 September 2026); see the safety section below.
The monument in numbers
According to Trem do Corcovado, the monument’s first stone was laid in 1922 and it was inaugurated on 12 October 1931. The statue is 38 meters (125 ft) tall and stands at the top of Corcovado hill, at 710 meters (2,329 ft). It was chosen as one of the « New Seven Wonders of the World » in a vote organized by the New7Wonders Foundation. Christ the Redeemer is in the Tijuca National Park (Parque Nacional da Tijuca), managed by ICMBio, which describes it as the most visited national park in the country, with more than 4.6 million visitors in 2024.
The train is older than the statue: inaugurated in 1884 by Emperor Pedro II, the 3,824-meter (2.4 mi) line even carried the monument’s pieces for four years, the operator says. It was electrified in 1910, the first electrified railway in Brazil.
Three ways to go up: official comparison
| Mode | Departure | Adult price | What is included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corcovado train | Cosme Velho station, Rua Cosme Velho 513 | R$134 | Ride up, ride down and access to the monument |
| Official Paineiras-Corcovado van | Copacabana (Praça do Lido) or Largo do Machado | R$132 | Round trip from the same point and access to the monument |
| Official Paineiras-Corcovado van | Paineiras visitor center | R$87 | Round trip and access to the monument |
| On foot (trail) or with an authorized guide | Depends on the route | R$60 (entrance only) | Access to the monument; ride down by train possible for R$37 |
The Corcovado train
The adult ticket « is valid for all nationalities », the operator states. The train runs from 8 am to 6 pm, seven days a week, with departures every twenty minutes; times may change without notice for technical or weather reasons. You must report to the ticket office at least 40 minutes before your booked time, with the bank card used for the purchase and the cardholder’s ID: after that, the time slot is lost and boarding depends on remaining seats. There is no luggage storage, and strollers must be folded during the ride.
To reach Cosme Velho station, the operator mentions in particular the metro to Largo do Machado and then buses 583 or 422 towards Cosme Velho (stop in front of São Judas Tadeu church), or line 583 from Copacabana.
The official vans
Paineiras-Corcovado describes itself as the only transport authorized to reach the monument by the National Park road. The vans leave from Copacabana (Praça do Lido), Largo do Machado (in front of Nossa Senhora da Glória church) and the Paineiras visitor center. The latter has no car park: the operator advises going there by taxi or ride-hailing app, and says that access via the Alto da Boa Vista road is closed. Time at the summit is free within opening hours, and the van does not stop on the way.
On foot or with an authorized guide
ICMBio names two groups of authorized guides, made up of residents of neighboring communities: the Anfitriões do Cosme Velho (blue shirt) and the Condutores do Parque (yellow shirt). The Park asks visitors to accept only guides wearing a Tijuca National Park badge, with the ICMBio hologram on the front and a QR code on the back; their prices vary by route. At the summit you buy only the monument entrance, whose price is set by the federal government.
Buying tickets: official site or reseller
Trem do Corcovado points out on its website that its only official online ticket office is tremdocorcovado.rio. The vans are booked at paineirascorcovado.com.br, at the same prices as at the counter according to the operator. Resellers and agencies also offer tickets or combined tours: compare with the official price, check which way of going up is included, and note that an official booking fixes a precise boarding time.
Works in 2026: what changes at the summit
Since 3 August 2026, ICMBio has been replacing the four escalators that have been in service for more than twenty years and installing two inclined lifts to improve accessibility. The visit is not interrupted, but the Park lists several changes:
- simultaneous capacity at the summit (Alto Corcovado) is cut by 50%, for all visitors: train, van or trail;
- from the drop-off point to the terrace there are 220 steps; the elevators remain in service up to the 2nd level, but the last 80 steps, between the ICMBio welcome center and the terrace, must be climbed by the stone staircase;
- for visitors with reduced mobility, automated stair-climbing carts and chairs, operated by trained staff, cover this section (about eight minutes going up); they do not operate in the rain;
- the Park asks everyone to assess their physical condition before going up, and points out benches, fresh water fountains and toilets along the way.
Best time to visit
Weather is everything: a summit in the clouds shows nothing of the bay. For the seasons in Rio, see our page on the best time to visit Rio de Janeiro. As for light, the table below combines sun times with the train schedule (8 am to 6 pm).
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5:20 am | 6:43 pm | 13 h 23 min |
| February | 5:41 am | 6:32 pm | 12 h 51 min |
| March | 5:54 am | 6:08 pm | 12 h 14 min |
| April | 6:05 am | 5:39 pm | 11 h 34 min |
| May | 6:18 am | 5:19 pm | 11 h 01 min |
| June | 6:31 am | 5:15 pm | 10 h 44 min |
| July | 6:33 am | 5:24 pm | 10 h 51 min |
| August | 6:18 am | 5:36 pm | 11 h 19 min |
| September | 5:49 am | 5:46 pm | 11 h 57 min |
| October | 5:20 am | 5:57 pm | 12 h 37 min |
| November | 5:00 am | 6:14 pm | 13 h 13 min |
| December | 5:01 am | 6:34 pm | 13 h 32 min |
The sun sets between 5:15 pm and 6:43 pm depending on the month. From April to October it sets before 6 pm, the time of the last train departure: a late-afternoon slot then lets you watch the sun go down from the summit. From November to March it sets after 6 pm. The first train at 8 am always leaves after sunrise (5:00 to 6:33 am).
Safety
According to the UK FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 29 September 2026), the most common incidents affecting British nationals in Rio de Janeiro are thefts and pickpocketing around Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, Lapa and Santa Teresa, and tourists have reported armed robberies on the Corcovado walking trail to the statue. The U.S. Department of State (travel.state.gov, last updated 6 August 2026) advises increased caution when hiking in isolated areas, particularly near popular tourist locations in Rio de Janeiro. If in doubt, choose the train or the official vans. The FCDO also advises against hailing taxis in the street and notes that ride-hailing apps are widely available in Brazil.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Arriving at Cosme Velho station less than 40 minutes before your booked time: the slot may be lost.
- Buying a « Christ the Redeemer » ticket without knowing whether it includes the ride up (train, van) or only the entrance.
- Going up alone through the forest: the FCDO reports armed robberies on the walking trail.
- Following an unidentified guide: only those with the ICMBio badge are authorized.
- Driving to the Paineiras center: there is no car park.
- Forgetting the 80 mandatory steps during the works if you have reduced mobility: ask about the stair-climbing lifts.
What to see nearby
- Sugarloaf Mountain: the cable car facing Guanabara Bay.
- Best time to visit Rio: seasons, rain and carnival.
- Brazil: our complete guide to the country.
- Best time to visit Brazil: the regions season by season.
- Travel eSIM: getting data for your e-tickets.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to visit Christ the Redeemer?
The Corcovado train costs R$134 per adult, ride up, ride down and access included; the official vans R$132 from Copacabana or Largo do Machado (R$87 from Paineiras); on foot, the entrance alone costs R$60 (ICMBio and Trem do Corcovado prices as of 27 October 2026).
What are the Corcovado train times?
Every day from 8 am to 6 pm, with departures every twenty minutes, according to the operator; report to the ticket office 40 minutes before your time.
Do you need to book Christ the Redeemer in advance?
It is advisable: the train runs on time slots and, since 3 August 2026, capacity at the summit has been cut by 50% during the works.
Can you walk up to Christ the Redeemer?
Yes: ICMBio provides for access on foot, with the purchase of the summit entrance. The UK FCDO reports armed robberies on the walking trail (GOV.UK, updated 29 September 2026); the Park lists authorized guides who wear a badge.
Are there stairs at Christ the Redeemer?
During the current works, 80 steps are mandatory between the ICMBio welcome center and the terrace; there are 220 steps in total from the drop-off point, with elevators covering the rest.
Is Christ the Redeemer wheelchair accessible?
The complex has elevators and accessible toilets; during the works, stair-climbing carts operated by staff cover the last 80 steps, except in rainy weather.
Our sources
- Parque Nacional da Tijuca (ICMBio): « Como visitar o Corcovado » and « Saiba tudo sobre a troca das escadas rolantes do Cristo Redentor », parquenacionaldatijuca.rio, consulted on 27 October 2026
- Trem do Corcovado: « Informações úteis », « Como chegar » and « História e Curiosidades » pages, tremdocorcovado.rio, consulted on 27 October 2026
- Paineiras Corcovado: home page and « Dúvidas », paineirascorcovado.com.br, consulted on 27 October 2026
- UK FCDO, GOV.UK foreign travel advice for Brazil, Rio de Janeiro and taxi travel sections (updated 29 September 2026): gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/brazil, read 11 November 2026
- U.S. Department of State, Brazil travel advisory and country information (last updated 6 August 2026): travel.state.gov, read 11 November 2026
- Coordinates of Christ the Redeemer: Wikipedia, « Christ the Redeemer (statue) » article
- Sunrise, sunset and day length: Destination de Voyage calculation, NOAA solar algorithm, America/Sao_Paulo time zone, Corcovado coordinates (Wikipedia), on the 15th of each month (year 2027)
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026. Prices, hours and access rules may change: check the official website before you go.