Christ the Redeemer (statue)

Christ the Redeemer is an Art Deco statue of Jesus Christ standing atop the Corcovado peak in Rio de Janeiro, with a statue height of 30 meters and an arm span of 28 meters. The full monument includes an 8 meter pedestal and sits about 710 meters above sea level.

The site offers panoramic views across Rio de Janeiro, including Guanabara Bay, Sugarloaf Mountain and the city’s beaches; visitors reach the monument via road, railway and hiking routes through Tijuca Forest. The statue is constructed of reinforced concrete and covered in a mosaic of soapstone tiles.

Designed by Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa and sculpted by French artist Paul Landowski, the project was completed and inaugurated on 12 October 1931. The face was sculpted by Romanian artist Gheorghe Leonida.

Perched on Corcovado within Tijuca National Park, the monument overlooks the central districts of Rio and is an iconic feature of the city skyline.

Access options: Access to the statue is commonly by the Corcovado Rack Railway, roads with shuttle services, or from trails in Tijuca National Park; timed ticketing and visitor limits apply at peak times.
Best time to visit: Early morning or late afternoon visits give the clearest light and fewer crowds for panoramic city views, including Sugarloaf Mountain and Copacabana Beach.

How to Get to Christ the Redeemer (statue) #

Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado is commonly reached by the Corcovado Rack Railway (Trem do Corcovado) from Cosme Velho station, or by official tourist vans that depart from points such as Copacabana and Largo do Machado; organized tours also operate. The train or van ride delivers you near the top and it’s a short walk from the arrival point to the statue’s viewing platform. Driving from central Copacabana is on the order of several kilometres up into Tijuca National Park; local traffic and parking restrictions mean public transport or the rack railway are often easier.

Tips for Visiting Christ the Redeemer (statue) #

Take the earliest Corcovado rack-rail train or an official van from Cosme Velho to reach the statue before tour buses fill the summit - mornings also tend to have clearer views before low cloud builds.
Prebook train or van tickets and consider combining the visit with a Tijuca Forest hike to reach quieter viewpoints and longer forest trails that many visitors miss.
Spend a few minutes walking the viewpoint platforms around the statue rather than leaving immediately; different angles on the platforms give varied skyline photos of Rio that get overlooked by people who only take the official photo spot.

Best Time to Visit Christ the Redeemer (statue) #

Best visited during the drier months (May-October) for clearer views and more comfortable conditions.

Dry season (best)

May-October · ~18°C to 25°C

Cooler, drier weather and generally clearer skies - better visibility from the statue over Rio.

Wet season

December-March · ~22°C to 30°C

Warmer with frequent showers and higher humidity; cloud and fog can reduce visibility from the mountaintop.

Shoulder months

April and November · ~20°C to 27°C

Transitional conditions with a mix of dry and wet days; often a good compromise between weather and crowd levels.

Weather & Climate near Christ the Redeemer (statue) #

Climate

Christ the Redeemer (statue)'s climate is classified as Tropical Monsoon - Tropical Monsoon climate with warm summers (peaking in February) and mild winters (coldest in July). Temperatures range from 13°C to 30°C. Abundant rainfall (1216 mm/year), wettest in March.

Temperature & Rainfall

Temperature Range

30°

Warmest Month

13°

Coldest Month

Monthly Conditions