Christ the Redeemer is one of the most iconic places on Earth. It stands atop Mount Corcovado, overlooking the city of Rio de Janeiro. Visible from nearly every corner of the city, it’s often said to watch over its people. In June 2024, we had the incredible opportunity to visit this famous monument. Here’s how our visit to Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro went.
Where is the Christ the Redeemer Statue?
Located on Mount Corcovado in Rio Janerio.
How to get to the Christ the Redeemer Statue?
We started our visit to Christ the Redeemer by taking a taxi from Copacabana Beach to the base of Mount Corcovado. This was actually our second attempt at visiting the statue.
As I mentioned, our first attempt didn’t go as planned. We arrived on a Saturday at 1 p.m. because Nicola had to work. The next available railway time wasn’t until 5 p.m. Of course, we could have taken a taxi or bus or walked up, but that wasn’t what we wanted to do. So, we booked to return on Monday, the day we were leaving. We left a bit dejected, but knew we would see it for sure on Monday.
When we arrived on Monday morning, it was a complete contrast to the long queues on Saturday. We stepped out of our taxi, exchanged our online tickets for paper ones, and were at the front of the queue, ready to board the railway within minutes.
The cost for us was R$97.50 per adult and R$67.00 for children. It is cheaper to visit during the week than on weekends. While I mentioned that you can book at the station, from our experience, it’s best to book online in advance through their official website.
The train ride lasted about 25 minutes and was absolutely stunning. Everyone rushes to get to the front, but we recommend going to the back; the view is just as good, and no one rushes there. As we climbed through the surrounding forest, we caught some amazing views of the city below. Before we knew it, we had arrived at the stop and were waiting to get off.
If you’re not set on taking the cog railway, there are plenty of buses that run up and down throughout the day. If you’re feeling energetic, you can also hike up, though there are many warnings about robberies along the way. I would highly recommend the railway; it was a beautiful journey.
About the Christ the Redeemer Statue.
While we waited briefly at the Cog Railway Station, we learned about the Christ the Redeemer statue from the information boards.
The statue was designed in 1922 by Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa and brought to life by French sculptor Paul Landowski, who aimed to create a universal symbol of peace.
Construction of the statue began in 1922 to commemorate the centenary of Brazil’s independence and was completed in 1931. The statue stands 98 feet (30 meters) tall, with an additional 26-foot (8-meter) pedestal, making the total height 124 feet (38 meters). The arm span stretches 92 feet (28 meters).
Up at the Christ the Redeemer
Once we got off at the cog railway stop, we made the short walk up the steps. This led to the platform where Christ the Redeemer stands. The climb isn’t too difficult. However, if you aren’t able to make the climb, there are elevators with a small queue. We made the walk without any issues. Our first WOW moment came when we saw the back of the statue.
The next thing we seen was the ‘people soup.’ I honestly wonder what it was like on the Saturday when it was packed at the bottom; how could they fit more people up here? I saw so many phones being kicked or stood on as people tried to get the perfect selfie with their arms out and the statue in the background. Just be honest with yourself it ain’t going to be perfect.
If you have met me you will know I don’t have patience for crowds, so I took a few photos, walked around, glanced over the edge, and visited the small chapel at the base of the statue. While it is amazing to see, I honestly felt underwhelmed.
The closest we actually got to Megan posing for a photo at Christ the Redeemer was at a metal statue at the bottom. As you can tell, she was overly joyed to be doing that!
There is a coffee shop at the top, which was really busy and surrounded by monkeys. We didn’t get to visit it, as my banana hat was getting a bit of attention from them. Check out our YouTube video to see them go for it.
Our thoughts on Visiting Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro.
We will probably be going against the grain here. However, we have to say we were underwhelmed. The statue is amazing, and the views are spectacular. However, we honestly think it’s better to see it from the bottom, perhaps around Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas. Although, let’s face it: no matter what I say, if you find yourself in Rio de Janeiro, you are going to visit Christ the Redeemer. So, learn from our mistakes: don’t go on weekends; book your tickets in advance, and try to get there first thing before the crowds gather.
Thank you for taking the time to read about our experience visiting Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro. If you have any questions, please drop them in the comments below, and if you found this in any way useful, please buy us a coffee to help support our blog.
Check out our other blog posts on Brazil.
Thanks again
The Lewis Family.