Santa Teresa & Lapa
Santa Teresa and Lapa: the tram, the steps and the samba
Neighbourhood guide
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Fulviusbsas · CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAbout Santa Teresa and Lapa: the tram, the steps and the samba
Santa Teresa sits on a hill above Centro: a neighbourhood of old mansions, artists’ studios and steep lanes, reached by the bonde over the white arches of Lapa. Below, Lapa is quiet by day and Rio’s music quarter at night.
Sights
The Escadaria Selarón, the Arcos da Lapa, the bonde and the Museu da Chácara do Céu.
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Donatas Dabravolskas · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsEating
Aprazível and Térèze (both in the 2026 MICHELIN selection).
Go up on the tram in the afternoon and come down to Lapa for music.
Music
Circo Voador under the arches, and the Sala Cecília Meireles on the Largo da Lapa.
Staying
The Santa Teresa Hotel RJ – MGallery and the Vila Galé Rio de Janeiro.
Our advice: take a taxi rather than walk between Lapa and Santa Teresa late at night.
Why it's on our list
- Sights
- Eating
- Music
- Staying
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Santa Teresa and Lapa: the tram, the steps and the samba before you go.
What’s nearby
Distances from Santa Teresa and Lapa: the tram, the steps and the samba are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 12 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Nearest metro stations
- GlóriaLine 1Line 2950 m12 min walk
- CateteLine 1Line 21.1 km14 min walk
Key sights
- The Theatro Municipal1.7 kmWalk 21 minCycle 8 minCar or taxi 11 min
- Santos Dumont Airport2.6 kmWalk 32 minCycle 13 minCar or taxi 14 min
- The Museu do Amanhã3.1 kmWalk 39 minCycle 16 minCar or taxi 15 min
- Christ the Redeemer4.2 kmCycle 21 minCar or taxi 19 min
- The Sugarloaf cable car4.3 kmCycle 22 minCar or taxi 19 min
- Copacabana Beach6.0 kmCycle 30 minCar or taxi 25 min
- Ipanema Beach7.5 kmCycle 37 minCar or taxi 30 min
- Galeão Airport14 kmCar or taxi 53 min