Rio de Janeiro

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Sugarloaf Mountain
2026 Americas 50 - Best Things to Do

Sugarloaf Mountain

8.2
4.7/5
301 reviews
Sugarloaf Mountain stands at the entrance to Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro and is a peak approx. 400 m high. Its name comes from its resemblance to the traditional conical sugar loaves used in sugar refining—a conical mold used to store raw sugar before the advent of sugar cubes. Although the Chinese name contains the word "bread," it has nothing to do with bread. At the foot of the mountain, ruins of a fortress built during the Portuguese colonial period remain, bearing witness to the former military importance of this bay entrance. The classic way to reach the summit is by cable car. The cable car operates in two stages: the first stage goes from the Praia Vermelha station at the foot of the mountain to the adjacent Urca Hill, and the second stage goes from Urca Hill to the summit. Upon reaching the observation deck, you can overlook the panoramic view of Guanabara Bay and downtown Rio to the north, see the curved coastline of Copacabana Beach to the south, gaze at the Christ the Redeemer statue atop Corcovado Mountain to the west, and see the vast Atlantic Ocean to the east. If you reach the summit at dusk, you can watch the sunset slowly sink behind the ridge in the direction of the Christ the Redeemer statue, with the city lights gradually turning on. The Urca Hill transfer station has a dining area and an observation deck, where you can sit and rest between transfers.Rio de Janeiro · 4.7km from downtown
Rio de Janeiro Cathedral
No. 10 of Best Things to Do in Brazil

Rio de Janeiro Cathedral

7.5
4.5/5
178 reviews
Rio de Janeiro Cathedral is a modernist building designed by architect Edgar Fonseca and constructed between 1964 and 1979. Its exterior lacks traditional church features like spires; the entire structure is a reinforced concrete cone inspired by Mayan pyramids in the Americas. With a diameter of approx. 106 m, it stands out prominently among the city's high-rises. A separate bell tower is also built next to the cathedral. Stepping inside, the massive space is free of columns. Four stained-glass windows stretch from the floor to the dome, which is tens of meters high, corresponding to the east, south, west, and north directions, symbolizing the Church's unity, holiness, universality, and apostolic tradition. The four glass windows meet at the top to form a translucent cross, and sunlight streams through the stained glass, injecting vibrant colors into the plain concrete space. The entire cathedral can accommodate approx. 20,000 people. Beneath the dome, a crucifix is suspended in mid-air by steel cables above the altar, creating a sharp contrast with the light and shadow of the surrounding stained glass. The cathedral's basement houses a museum of religious art, with a collection that includes paintings, sculptures, and religious artifacts. Exhibits include the throne of Emperor Pedro II of Brazil and the Golden Rose gifted by Pope Leo XIII to Princess Isabel after the abolition of slavery in Brazil.Rio de Janeiro · 1.4km from downtown

Experiences you can't miss in Rio de Janeiro

Featured Day tours in Rio de Janeiro

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1-day tour of Christ the Redeemer + Sugarloaf Mountain + Selarón Steps + Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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4.3/5
· 3 reviews· 52 booked
Duration: 4.6 hrs
English
86 travellers saved
From₹ 11,336.26
Rio de Janeiro day tour · Christ the Redeemer (by train) + Sugarloaf Mountain
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From₹ 18,534.38
Christ redeemer Tour
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Duration: 24 hrs
English
Free cancellation
From₹ 4,711.41
Rio de Janeiro 1-day tour · Christ the Redeemer + Sugarloaf Mountain + BBQ buffet lunch
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From₹ 17,297.70
Rio de Janeiro | Christ the Redeemer - Sugarloaf Mountain (join-in tour - includes lunch)
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From₹ 20,611.37
Rio de Janeiro half-day tour · Christ the Redeemer (by minibus) + Sugarloaf Mountain
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From₹ 13,746.20
Rio de Janeiro Christ the Redeemer + Sugarloaf Mountain + cathedral lunch (Chinese upgrade available)
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From₹ 9,688.93
Rio de Janeiro: SUP + Waterfall Adventure Experience
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Duration: 2.5 hrs
English
Free cancellation
5% off
Limited-time sale
From₹ 7,223.38₹ 7,603.56

Featured Culture & history in Rio de Janeiro

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Rio de Janeiro Highlights Audio Tour: Colonial Treasures and Cultural Landmarks
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Duration: 2 hrs
English
Free cancellation
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20% off
Limited-time sale
From₹ 677.95₹ 847.44
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Ride along the coastline to see lakes, beaches, and mountain views | 3-hr guided tour
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From₹ 5,961.45
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Take the train through the rainforest to see Christ the Redeemer | 2-hr in-depth guided tour
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From₹ 9,275.12
Explore AquaRio aquarium, Museum of Tomorrow and the Olympic Boulevard - Half-Day Tour
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Duration: 24 hrs
English
Free cancellation
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From₹ 12,841.17

Featured Water activities in Rio de Janeiro

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Angra dos Reis & Ilha Grande: Guided Tour from Rio de Janeiro + Schooner Cruise
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Duration: 11 hrs
Free cancellation
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From₹ 8,712.97
Rio de Janeiro: 2-Hour Boat Trip with Parasailing
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5.0/5
· 13 reviews
Duration: 2 hrs
Free cancellation
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5% off
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From₹ 9,896.51₹ 10,417.38
Authentic Surf Lesson Arpoador Beach Rio de Janeiro
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5.0/5
· 11 reviews
Duration: 1 hr
Free cancellation
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5% off
Limited-time sale
From₹ 2,761.79₹ 2,907.15
Rio de Janeiro: Sunrise Stand-Up Paddleboarding Experience
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5.0/5
· 7 reviews
Duration: 1.5 hrs
Free cancellation
5% off
Limited-time sale
From₹ 3,627.30₹ 3,818.22
Rio de Janeiro: The Best Carioca Surf Experience
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5.0/5
· 1 review
Duration: 4 hrs
Free cancellation
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5% off
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From₹ 6,887.86₹ 7,250.38
Surfing lessons: at Arpoador in Ipanema.
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5.0/5
· 3 reviews
Duration: 1 hr
Free cancellation
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5% off
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From₹ 2,797.06₹ 2,944.28

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Rio de Janeiro Today's weatherPartly clear 23-30℃
Rio de Janeiro weather for the next 2 days11/3: 24-31℃, 11/4: 24-31℃

Free things to do in Rio de Janeiro

What travellers say about Rio de Janeiro

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Md Iqbal Hasan28 October 2025
5.0
Christ the Redeemer, standing atop Mount Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is one of the world’s most iconic landmarks. This 30-meter-tall statue of Jesus Christ, with arms outstretched over the city, symbolizes peace and faith. Completed in 1931, it’s made of reinforced concrete and soapstone, offering breathtaking panoramic views of Rio’s beaches, mountains, and the Sugarloaf. Reached by train or hiking trail through Tijuca National Park, the journey itself is scenic and memorable. At sunrise or sunset, the statue glows against the sky, creating a truly spiritual and awe-inspiring experience—an unmissable highlight for any traveler to Brazil.

Christ the Redeemer

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花丛中5 June 2026
5.0
The shops on the old street are all decades-old establishments. The old lady selling fabric will tell you which material is best for making a cheongsam, and the goldsmith can melt down old jewelry and redesign it on the spot. The sesame seed cakes at the corner stall are so hot you can barely hold them; one bite and they crumble, the savory meat filling oozing out oil. Every few steps, someone will strike up a conversation with you, all with an innate, friendly warmth. Even the air is filled with the comforting warmth of everyday life, making it far more interesting than strolling through the same old commercial pedestrian streets.

Sugarloaf Mountain and Urca Hill Natural Monument

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Ms Shanghai25 July 2023
5.0
Sugarloaf Mountain is a must-visit site in Rio. We went on a Monday at 16:00, thinking we would make it up in time for sunset at 17:30. The queue was so long that the attendants just laughed when we asked for an estimate. We went to the beach instead, then prebooked tickets on CTrip for the next day. The process of using the tickets was a bit confusing. When we arrived at the cable station at 15:00 we were told to go to the reception desk to have our proof of booking printed out. A kind lady at reception helped us do this luckily, but it was a bit confusing due to the language barrier. After we’d printed the proof we had to go to another window to collect our physical ticket and were then allowed to join the queue to board the cable car quite far ahead of the back of the line - so even though the process was confusing, booking online definitely helped. This is the one occasion where I would say that paying extra to skip the queue is really worth it!!! The Sugar Loaf cable car ride is actually divided into two separate segments. This means that you queue to get tickets, queue to board the first cable car, queue to board the second cable car, and then queue twice more to go back down - and each time you’re queuing for about 30 minutes! And this was on a Tuesday in July; I can’t imagine what it’s like on the weekend. Anyway, the pictures show that it was definitely worth the effort:)

Sugarloaf Mountain

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Lavender and Sun30 October 2021
5.0
Copacabana Beach is known as the most famous beach in the world. It has a 4.5-kilometer-long coastline, with blue water, white waves, clean and soft sand. The temperature is suitable for swimming all year round, so there is an endless stream of tourists.

Copacabana Beach

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还不曾去过倒悬山!31 October 2025
4.0
The Hersinia favela, located on a hillside in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is the largest favela in South America. This area forms a stark social divide with the surrounding upscale residential areas. While security improved after the Brazilian government's "repression campaign" in 2009, the threat of remaining armed groups persists. The government has improved residents' quality of life by building new cultural centers and stadiums, and the political participation of private university scholarship programs and the CUFA (Favela Federation) has driven changes in the social structure. The popularity of funk party culture and the rise of English language training schools reflect the impact of globalization on the community's economic and cultural development.<sup>1</sup> Educational Support: Government provides private university scholarships.<sup>1</sup>

Rocinha Favela

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圣吉米尼亚诺伊尹6 June 2021
5.0
Rio de Janeiro Cathedral is also known as the Ladder Church. It took 12 years to complete and was finally put into use in 1976. Its style is very different from the ancient and elegant churches in Europe at the same time. The main building of Rio de Janeiro Cathedral is a modern building with reinforced concrete as the main building material, with a conical top and a fashionable shape, giving people the impression of a pyramid. The church is 80 meters high and the base diameter is 106 meters. It can accommodate 20,000 people.

Rio de Janeiro Cathedral

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WillSum21 June 2016
4.0
Although it is a slum with slopes, Chilean master of art left behind a piece of porcelain decoration to add a touch of romantic fresh style to this colorful staircase, but also led to the development of surrounding art graffiti and other fields. Naturally, not too wide steps are often overcrowded by tourists.

Escadaria Selarón

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E24***643 November 2019
5.0
There is a very beautiful beach on the Strait Line for a walk. The sand near where I live is very good and very fine, and it doesn't hurt at all when you step on it. It is also a relatively clean sea area with fewer people.

Ipanema Beach

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小思文4 September 2019
4.0
A newly built and very novel museum, the exterior uses a lot of new composite materials, the entire structure of the museum is also very good, you can see a lot of exquisite items here, the location of the museum is also quite good. The surrounding landscape is very good. [Fun] Very interesting activities

Museum of Tomorrow

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建驰15 May 2025
5.0
The cable car is very large and can carry more than 60 people, but it is very stable. The scenery on the cable car is great!

Sugar Loaf cable car

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Frequently asked questions

When choosing a tour, start with how much time you have and the kind of experience you're looking for. Trending options right now include 1-day tour of Christ the Redeemer + Sugarloaf Mountain + Selarón Steps + Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Rio de Janeiro day tour · Christ the Redeemer (by train) + Sugarloaf Mountain, and Christ redeemer Tour. Check the real-time availability and itinerary before you book.

As of 2 November 2026, the reference price for day tours and activities in Rio de Janeiro is around INR 4,711.41 – INR 20,611.37. Rates vary by duration, group size, transport, tickets, meals, and any special admission requirements. Before you book, please confirm the billing currency and whether the price is quoted per person or per group.

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