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South AmericaBrazilRio de Janeiro

Santa Teresa

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil · South America

About Santa Teresa

Santa Teresa works well as a base: 10 minutes from Leme, 1km from Escadaria Selaron.

Santa Teresa is a town located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. With a population of 35,873, it is an important destination in South America.

On a road trip, Santa Teresa sits in Brazil, where you drive on the right. It's in the America/Sao Paulo time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Santa Teresa to your route.

About Santa Teresa

Santa Teresa (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈsɐ̃tɐ teˈɾezɐ]) is a neighborhood in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is located on top of the Santa Teresa hill, by the centre of Rio, and is famous for its winding, narrow streets which are a favourite spot for artists and tourists. The neighborhood originated around

Read more the Santa Teresa Convent, built in the 1750s on the Desterro hill. At the end of the 19th and early 20th century it was an upper class borough, as testified by its many opulent villas. Santa Teresa ceased being an upper-class neighbourhood long ago, but it has been revived as a fashionable hotspot. It is home to several artists and art studios and galleries. The offer of restaurants and bars is also varied. One of Santa Teresa's most illustrious inhabitants was Raymundo Ottoni de Castro Maia, an art collector who lived in his Chácara do Céu mansion in the neighborhood. The estate was turned into a museum (Museu da Chácara do Céu) and its exhibits include works by Matisse, Jean Metzinger, Eliseu Visconti, Di Cavalcanti, and Candido Portinari. It is located near the cultural center Parque das Ruínas. In 2006, some paintings were stolen, and have not yet been recovered. Another museum is the Museu do Bonde, which tells the history of the famous Santa Teresa Tram since its historic origins. A ride on the tram is a popular attraction among tourists. It sports crossing the old Carioca Aqueduct, going through picturesque streets of the Santa Teresa neighbourhood and wonderful views of the city downhill.

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in Santa Teresa

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Santa Teresa?

Santa Teresa offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.

How do I plan a road trip to Santa Teresa?

Plan your road trip to Santa Teresa with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Santa Teresa as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Where is Santa Teresa located?

Santa Teresa is located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, South America. The coordinates are -22.9177 latitude, -43.1881 longitude.

What is the population of Santa Teresa?

Santa Teresa has a population of approximately 35,873 people, making it a town in Brazil.

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Quick Information

Population
35,873
Continent
South America
Country
Brazil
Region
Rio de Janeiro
Timezone
America/Sao_Paulo
Coordinates
-22.9177, -43.1881

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in Brazil

Police
190
Ambulance
192
Fire
193
Driving side
right
Full driving guide for Brazil

Tags

South AmericaBrazilRio de JaneiroTown

Worth the detour from Santa Teresa

8 notable places within an hour's drive.

photogenic

Escadaria Selaron

A staircase between Lapa and Santa Teresa covered by Chilean artist Jorge Selaron in over 2,000 tiles sent from 60 countries, worked on daily from 1990 until his death in 2013.

1 km · about 5 min drive

cafe

Confeitaria Colombo

An 1894 Rio patisserie of Belgian mirrors, Portuguese tiles and jacaranda cabinets, built when the city was flush with coffee money and still serving pastel de nata under a vast stained-glass skylight.

2 km · about 5 min drive

museum

Museu do Amanhã

Science museum by Santiago Calatrava on Rio's revitalised Praça Mauá waterfront, adjacent to the port district drive.

3 km · about 5 min drive

landmark

Christ the Redeemer

Towering 30-metre Art Deco statue of Jesus Christ atop Corcovado mountain overlooking Rio de Janeiro.

4 km · about 10 min drive

tunnel

Rebouças Tunnel

Twin-bore road tunnel under the Tijuca massif linking Rio's South Zone to the North Zone, about 2.8 kilometres long.

4 km · about 10 min drive

scenic viewpoint

Sugarloaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar)

A granite peak rising 396 meters from Guanabara Bay, reached by cable car with sweeping views of Rio's beaches, mountains, and cityscape.

5 km · about 10 min drive

beach

Copacabana Beach

Rio de Janeiro's legendary four-kilometre stretch of sand framed by dramatic mountains and buzzing with energy.

6 km · about 10 min drive

bridge

Rio-Niterói Bridge

13 km box-girder giant striding across Guanabara Bay: the longest bridge in the Southern Hemisphere at its opening in 1974, with sweeping views of Rio's skyline.

6 km · about 10 min drive

Driving roads near Santa Teresa

  • Right hereRebouças TunnelTwin-bore road tunnel under the Tijuca massif linking Rio's South Zone to the North Zone, about 2.8 kilometres long.
  • Right hereSugarloaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar)A granite peak rising 396 meters from Guanabara Bay, reached by cable car with sweeping views of Rio's beaches, mountains, and cityscape.
  • Right hereRio-Niterói Bridge13 km box-girder giant striding across Guanabara Bay: the longest bridge in the Southern Hemisphere at its opening in 1974, with sweeping views of Rio's skyline.
  • Right hereVista ChinesaA pagoda-style belvedere built in 1903 in the Tijuca forest, giving a framed view over the Lagoa, Corcovado, Ipanema and Sugarloaf. Reachable by car on the Estrada da Vista Chinesa.

When to drive here

Year-round

Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Santa Teresa.

Catete

🇧🇷 Brazil

1 km awayPop. 22,295

Rio de Janeiro

🇧🇷 Brazil

1 km awayPop. 6,747,815

Cidade Nova

🇧🇷 Brazil

1 km awayPop. 4,745

Estácio

🇧🇷 Brazil

2 km awayPop. 23,260

Saúde

🇧🇷 Brazil

2 km awayPop. 1,876

Gamboa

🇧🇷 Brazil

2 km awayPop. 11,416

Santo Cristo

🇧🇷 Brazil

3 km awayPop. 9,936

Leme

🇧🇷 Brazil

5 km awayPop. 12,479

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Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence