Selarón Steps in Rio de Janeiro, between Lapa and Santa Teresa

At a glance

History of the Selarón Steps

Jorge Selarón, a Chilean artist, settled in Rio in the 1980s. Riotur dates the start of his work on the staircase to 1990, and Agência Brasil writes that the idea came to him around the 1990 World Cup. Over the years he covered the steps with tiles from all over Brazil and the world: some were donated, others he painted himself.

The city has protected the staircase as heritage since 2005. A preservation project, “Selarón Pedaços do Mundo”, started in 2018 and in 2020 finished an inventory of the ceramics: about 5,000 tiles and other pieces across 215 steps.

What is changing now: in July 2026 the city created an Art and Culture District to connect Lapa, Glória and Santa Teresa, and announced a “Boulevard Selarón” around the staircase. The plan widens the sidewalk in front of the steps on Rua Joaquim Silva, levels the pavements, adds a memorial to the artist and creates a bay on Rua Visconde de Maranguape where buses and tourist vans can drop off passengers. No completion date has been published, so expect some construction at the foot of the steps.

How to get to the Selarón Steps

By metro

Get off at Cinelândia (lines 1 and 2). MetrôRio lists Lapa and the Lapa Arches among the sights near the station, and Riotur puts the steps about five minutes from the Arches. The metro runs Monday to Saturday from 5:00 to midnight and on Sundays and holidays from 7:00 to 23:00.

By tram

The Santa Teresa tram (bonde) leaves from Rua Lélio Gama, 2, near Carioca metro (lines 1 and 2), crosses the Lapa Arches and climbs to Santa Teresa. Riotur gives hours of 8:00 to 17:00 but also notes that one branch runs on weekdays only, so we check the timetable for your day. For fares, see the official operator; we confirm them when we book.

With a driver

Santa Teresa sits on a hill with steep streets. A driver can take you to the top in the morning and pick you up in Lapa at the end, so you walk the steps downhill and skip the wait for the tram. See private driver in Rio.

When to go and how to take photos

The steps are busy every day. For a picture without other people’s backs in it, come early.

• Look at single tiles: they come from many countries, and some carry flags.
• People live along the staircase. Keep doorways clear and ask before taking close-up photos of anyone.
• Put your phone away between shots (see the safety note below).

For a planned shoot with a local photographer, see photoshoot in Rio.

Lapa: the Arches and nightlife

The Lapa Arches stand on Praça Cardeal Câmara. They are a former aqueduct from the colonial period with 42 double arches, which Riotur calls the largest architectural work built in Brazil in colonial times. Today the Santa Teresa tram runs across the top.

Riotur calls Lapa the cradle of bohemian Rio: a central neighbourhood full of bars, restaurants and clubs where samba, forró, choro, rock, funk and electronic music all have their nights. Two large concert venues, Circo Voador and Fundição Progresso, draw audiences from across Brazil and abroad. Where and when to hear live samba: samba in Rio.

Santa Teresa: tram, lanes and studios

Santa Teresa, which Riotur says is also known as “Rio’s Montmartre”, sits on the hill above downtown. Large European-style houses went up here in the 19th century and many are still standing; today the area has artists’ studios, bars and restaurants.

• Largo do Curvelo: the first tram stop on the main line, next to two lookouts.
• Largo dos Guimarães: a tram stop known for its bars and restaurants.
• Largo das Neves: the end of the Paula Mattos branch, with the Nossa Senhora das Neves parish, founded in 1860.
• Parque das Ruínas: a former mansion turned cultural centre, with a rooftop view over downtown and Guanabara Bay.
• Museu da Chácara do Céu: the former home of collector Castro Maya, with his art, rare books and furniture. We check opening days for your dates.

The tram itself was listed as state heritage by Inepac in 1988. It does not run in the evening, so plan the way back by car. Choosing a base in the city: where to stay in Rio.

Half-day route: Lapa, the steps and Santa Teresa

Not keen on the climb? Reverse it: tram up to Santa Teresa, steps down into Lapa. The block fits on the same day as Christ the Redeemer; for full days see Rio itinerary.

Safety in short

The US State Department keeps Brazil at Level 2, Exercise increased caution (31 August 2026), and the Government of Canada advises a high degree of caution, with regional advisories (updated 14 October 2026). The UK FCDO (updated 29 September 2026) advises:

• do not use your phone openly in the street, especially between 4pm and 9pm;
• buy your own drinks and keep them in sight.

Leave valuables in the hotel safe and come back from Lapa and Santa Teresa by car in the evening. More official advice: Rio safety tips.

How we help

We book a private tour of downtown, Lapa and Santa Teresa with a guide who speaks your language, and a driver who picks you up at the hotel, takes you up the hill and brings you back in the evening. We put the steps first thing in the morning, check the tram timetable for your day and add dinner with live samba in Lapa if you want it. How we work: how we work.

What to tell us in your request

• your dates and hotel area
• how many people, and whether anyone would rather not climb steps
• morning, afternoon or a full day
• guide only, or guide and driver
• the language your guide should speak
• whether you want an evening with live music in Lapa