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Sight Lapa, Rio de Janeiro

Selarón Steps

A sight in Lapa, Rio de Janeiro, free to visit and worth about 45 minutes. Best time to go: Morning.

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Selarón Steps in Lapa, Rio de Janeiro
Photo: Imanol Gallego · Google

Why go

Staircase covered in tiles from around the world by artist Jorge Selarón.

It is one of 10 curated places we feature in Rio de Janeiro, alongside 3 outdoor spots, 3 sights and 2 places to eat. The closest of our other picks is Confeitaria Colombo, 1.1 km away as the crow flies. At about 45 minutes, it slots neatly between bigger plans.

Type
Sight · Culture
Neighborhood
Lapa
Price
Free
Time needed
45 min
Best time
Morning

Nearby

The 6 closest curated picks in Rio de Janeiro, measured as straight-line distance.

  1. 1
    Confeitaria Colombo

    Belle Époque tea room from 1894 with mirrored walls, pastries and lunch.

    Food · 1.1 km straight-line
  2. 2
    Aprazível

    Treehouse-like terrace restaurant in Santa Teresa serving Brazilian dishes with bay views.

    Food · 1.4 km straight-line
  3. 3
    Museu do Amanhã

    Science museum by Santiago Calatrava on the revived Praça Mauá waterfront.

    Sight · 2.4 km straight-line
  4. 4
    Christ the Redeemer

    Art Deco statue atop Corcovado, reached by a cog train through Tijuca forest.

    Sight · 3.4 km straight-line
  5. 5
    Bar Urca

    Neighborhood bar where locals sit on the seawall with beers and snacks at sunset.

    Drinks · 3.7 km straight-line
  6. 6
    Sugarloaf Mountain

    Two-stage cable car up Pão de Açúcar for views across Guanabara Bay.

    Sight · 4.7 km straight-line

On these curated routes

Selarón Steps is a stop on our Rio, Ilha Grande & Paraty route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More to do in Rio de Janeiro

Selarón Steps is our only sight pick in Rio de Janeiro; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Rio de Janeiro guide.

When to go

Average daily highs in Rio de Janeiro run from 24°C in July to 29°C in February; December is usually the wettest month. For Selarón Steps itself, we suggest: Morning.

Modelled monthly averages for Rio de Janeiro from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Rio de Janeiro weather by month.

Getting there

Map links open a live search for Selarón Steps, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Address
R. Manuel Carneiro - Santa Teresa, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 20241-120, Brazil
Coordinates
-22.91529, -43.17920
Destination
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Selarón Steps: quick answers

How much time do you need at Selarón Steps?

Plan on about 45 minutes at Selarón Steps. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Selarón Steps?

Our pick: Morning. Insider tip: Go early before tour groups crowd the steps.

Is Selarón Steps free?

Yes, we list Selarón Steps as free to visit. Check locally before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.

Where is Selarón Steps?

Selarón Steps is at R. Manuel Carneiro - Santa Teresa, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 20241-120, Brazil, in Lapa. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.

Which TripsCircle routes include Selarón Steps?

Selarón Steps appears on Rio, Ilha Grande & Paraty, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add Selarón Steps to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Rio de Janeiro.

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Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.