Santa Teresa Tram

Clattering over the monumental stone aqueducts of Lapa, the Bonde de Santa Teresa offers the most evocative transit experience in Rio de Janeiro, bridging the frantic pulse of the city center with the bohemian, sun-drenched canopy of the hillside.

What to expect

The bonde (tram) is an open-sided, canary-yellow relic that functions as both public transport and a moving observation deck. As you depart the Estação Carioca terminal, the tram climbs the steep incline of the Arcos da Lapa, providing a dizzying, bird's-eye view of the neighborhood’s street art and historical arches.

The journey passes through tight, winding streets lined with colonial-era mansions, overgrown bougainvillea, and the occasional resident hopping off at informal stops. The ride is tactile and visceral: you feel the sudden shifts in humidity as you ascend, hear the rhythmic screech of metal on metal, and watch the dense urban sprawl of downtown slowly give way to the quieter, artistic aesthetic of Santa Teresa. Because it is a public transit vehicle, don't expect a polished tour; you will be squeezed in with locals commuting home, students, and other travelers.

History & significance

Inaugurated in 1896, the Santa Teresa Tram is the oldest electrified streetcar system in Brazil. It has survived near-obsolescence, a temporary total shutdown following a tragic 2011 derailment, and extensive modern safety overhauls. It remains the essential artery of the neighborhood, having resisted the modernization that paved over much of Rio’s older infrastructure. It is a National Historic Landmark, serving as a living museum of late-19th-century urban engineering.

Practical tips

• Tickets: You must purchase a ticket at the Estação Carioca office before entering the platform. As of 2024, tickets cost R$20 (cash only is often preferred, though terminals may vary). Keep your paper ticket until the end of the trip.
• Operating Hours: The tram typically runs Monday–Friday (8:00 AM to 4:00 PM) and Saturday/Sunday (9:00 AM to 4:00 PM). Schedules can fluctuate; check the official Central do Brasil transit signage.
• Queues: Weekend mornings see heavy crowds. Expect to wait in line for 30–60 minutes.
• Safety: The tram is safe, but be vigilant. Keep your camera secured around your neck rather than dangling, and avoid flashing expensive smartphones. Pickpocketing can occur in crowded areas near the city center terminus.

Getting there

The starting point is the Estação Carioca, located in the Centro district, near the Petrobras building and the Metrô Carioca station. If arriving by Metro, take Line 1 or 2 and get off at Carioca station; follow signs for "Bonde."

Nearby

• Parque das Ruínas: A ten-minute walk from the tram’s Largo do Curvelo or Largo do Guimarães stops, this former mansion is now a cultural center offering the best 360-degree view of Rio’s bay and mountains.
• Bar do Mineiro: Located near the heart of the neighborhood, this is the essential Santa Teresa stop for feijoada (black bean stew) and ice-cold cerveja in an environment plastered with local art.
• Escadaria Selarón: While located at the base of the hill near Lapa, you can easily walk down the colorful, tile-covered steps of Jorge Selarón before or after your tram ride.