Christ the Redeemer is the monumental Art Deco statue of Jesus Christ that stands above Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Corcovado Mountain. The statue itself is 30 metres (98 feet) tall, with an arm span of 28 metres (92 feet), and was inaugurated on October 12, 1931.
For travelers, the landmark combines two experiences: seeing one of Brazil’s most recognizable monuments up close and looking across Rio from a mountain inside Tijuca National Park. When visibility is clear, the setting opens onto the city’s mountains, bays, beaches and urban landscape.
Weather matters. Corcovado can become cloudy even when conditions elsewhere in Rio appear reasonable, so checking the forecast and visibility shortly before heading up can make a significant difference.
Christ the Redeemer at a Glance
Christ the Redeemer, known in Portuguese as Cristo Redentor, stands on Corcovado Mountain in Rio de Janeiro.
Key facts include:
- Location: Corcovado Mountain, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Setting: Tijuca National Park
- Statue height: 30 metres (98 feet)
- Total height with pedestal: about 38 metres (125 feet)
- Arm span: 28 metres (92 feet)
- Materials: reinforced concrete covered with soapstone
- Inaugurated: October 12, 1931
- Architect and engineer: Heitor da Silva Costa
- Sculptural work: Paul Landowski contributed to the head and hands
- Architectural style: Art Deco
The monument has become one of the defining images of both Rio and Brazil. It appears alongside the Eiffel Tower, Colosseum, Machu Picchu and other globally recognized sites in Eskimo’s famous landmarks around the world.
Christ the Redeemer Location
Christ the Redeemer is located at the summit of Corcovado Mountain, within Tijuca National Park in Rio de Janeiro.
The summit is about 709 metres (2,326 feet) above sea level, giving the viewing platform a broad outlook across the city.
Corcovado is surrounded by the forested landscape of Tijuca National Park rather than Rio’s dense urban streets. That setting helps explain why reaching the monument requires dedicated transport for the final part of the journey.
The wider landscape is internationally significant too. UNESCO’s Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes between the Mountain and the Sea World Heritage property includes Corcovado Mountain and its celebrated statue as part of the city’s cultural landscape.
The distinction is important: Christ the Redeemer is not a standalone UNESCO World Heritage Site. It forms part of the much larger UNESCO-listed Rio landscape extending from the mountains of Tijuca National Park toward the coastline.
Christ the Redeemer Height
The Christ the Redeemer statue is 30 metres (98 feet) tall, excluding its pedestal. With the pedestal included, the monument reaches approximately 38 metres (125 feet).
Its outstretched arms span 28 metres (92 feet) from hand to hand.
Those measurements can feel deceptive from central Rio. Corcovado’s elevation makes the monument visible from many parts of the city, but the scale of the statue becomes much clearer from the viewing platform at its base.
History of Christ the Redeemer
Ideas for a religious monument on Corcovado predate the statue by decades, but the project that eventually produced Christ the Redeemer took shape in the early 20th century.
A campaign led by Rio’s Catholic community helped raise funds for the monument. Engineer and architect Heitor da Silva Costa developed the project, while Brazilian artist Carlos Oswald contributed to its visual conception. French-Polish sculptor Paul Landowski worked on the sculptural modelling of the head and hands in France.
An earlier concept showed Christ holding a cross and a globe. The design evolved into the simpler form recognized today: Christ with both arms extended horizontally.
Construction was technically demanding. Materials had to reach a high mountain site, and reinforced concrete was used to create the enormous structure before its exterior was faced with soapstone.
Christ the Redeemer was inaugurated on October 12, 1931, after years of planning and construction. It has stood above Rio for more than nine decades.
Design and Construction
Christ the Redeemer is built primarily from reinforced concrete, with its exterior covered by a mosaic of small soapstone pieces.
The soapstone forms the monument’s distinctive outer surface. Seen at close range, the mosaic texture is quite different from the smooth pale silhouette visible from the city below.
The geometric simplicity of the figure also reflects its Art Deco character. Rio’s municipal cultural authorities identify the statue as an important expression of Art Deco in the city.
The monument’s authorship can be oversimplified because several people contributed to its creation. Rio’s municipal government formally recognizes Heitor da Silva Costa as the author of the monument, noting that he produced its plans and drawings and coordinated construction. Paul Landowski contributed sculptural work associated with the head and hands, while Carlos Oswald played a role in developing its visual conception.
Meaning and Symbolism
Christ the Redeemer is a Christian monument depicting Jesus Christ with his arms extended over Rio de Janeiro.
Its religious role remains central to the site. The pedestal houses a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Aparecida, Brazil’s patron saint, and the monument functions as both a major visitor attraction and a place of religious significance.
The silhouette has also acquired a broader cultural role. It appears repeatedly in international images of Rio and Brazil, while its position above the city visually connects the monument with Rio’s mountains, forest and coastline.
That relationship between human design and the surrounding landscape also helps explain Corcovado’s importance within Rio’s UNESCO-listed cultural landscape.
Get Eskimo eSIM to stay connected in Brazil
Need internet in Brazil? Here's what we recommend:
Fixed data plans
- No speed reduction
- No expiry, keep your data forever
- Transfer data to anyone
- Personal hotspot
Christ the Redeemer and the New Seven Wonders
Christ the Redeemer was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in the New7Wonders campaign announced in 2007.
That distinction is separate from UNESCO World Heritage status. The New Seven Wonders resulted from an international campaign and public vote, while UNESCO operates its own World Heritage system.
UNESCO recognizes the broader Rio de Janeiro cultural landscape, which includes Corcovado and the statue. Rio’s natural setting is also represented separately by the Harbour of Rio de Janeiro in Eskimo’s overview of the seven natural wonders of the world.
Visiting Christ the Redeemer
Travelers can reach Christ the Redeemer using the Corcovado Train or official Paineiras transport services. The train departs from Cosme Velho and climbs through the forest of Tijuca National Park toward the monument.
The official Corcovado Train sells timed tickets, with return rail transport and access to the monument included. Booking ahead is sensible during busy periods rather than relying on same-day availability.
The choice between the train and official van services is worth planning in advance because boarding points, prices and temporary access arrangements can change.
As of October 2026, temporary access works are affecting the final route to the viewing platform. The project, which began on August 3, is replacing the existing escalators and installing inclined elevators.
The viewing platform remains open. Visitors can use the regular elevators to the second floor of Alto Corcovado, but the final section to the platform currently requires about 80 steps on the stone stairway.
Visitors with reduced mobility can request stair-climbing equipment at the ICMBio Visitor Assistance Center. However, the official operator states that this equipment does not operate on wet surfaces or in rainy conditions.
The works are currently expected to continue until the end of May 2027, subject to change. Travelers who need step-free assistance should check the latest official accessibility arrangements shortly before booking.
Best Time and Conditions for a Visit
Clear visibility matters more than chasing a particular hour of the day.
Corcovado rises high above Rio, so cloud, mist and rain can obscure both the statue and the views from the platform. Check the weather shortly before leaving and remember that conditions on the mountain can differ from those near the beaches.
Earlier visits can help avoid some of the day’s heat and crowds, although visitor numbers vary according to season, weekday, weather and major events. Sunset and late-day light can be attractive, but clear views are never guaranteed.
Rio’s busiest periods can also affect flights, accommodation and transport around the city. Travelers planning around major celebrations can check Eskimo’s Brazil public holidays and Carnival calendar, while the Rio Carnival overview explains how the city’s largest annual celebration spreads across different neighborhoods.
Views From Corcovado
The platform around Christ the Redeemer provides one of Rio’s best-known high viewpoints.
In clear conditions, visitors can see across major parts of the city, including Guanabara Bay, Sugarloaf Mountain, Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon and stretches of Rio’s Atlantic coastline.
The viewpoint also reveals something photographs of the statue alone can miss. Christ the Redeemer sits within a much larger landscape of forested peaks, bays, beaches and dense urban development.
That relationship between mountains and city is central to UNESCO’s description of Rio’s cultural landscape. Corcovado is more than the setting for the statue. Its elevation and position within Rio’s geography are fundamental to how the monument is experienced.
Practical Tips for Visiting
A few decisions can make a Christ the Redeemer visit easier:
- Check visibility before leaving. Heavy cloud can hide the city views and sometimes much of the statue itself.
- Use official transport and ticket channels. Check current arrangements directly with the Corcovado Train or official Paineiras services.
- Book ahead during busy periods. Timed departures can fill, particularly during weekends, holidays and major events.
- Allow extra time. Queues, transport departures, weather and crowds can make the visit longer than expected.
- Bring sun and rain protection. Conditions can change quickly at Corcovado’s elevation.
- Wear practical footwear. During the current works, the final approach includes about 80 stone steps.
- Check accessibility shortly before visiting. The temporary route can be especially important for travelers with reduced mobility, and rain can prevent the use of stair-climbing assistance equipment.
- Keep your ticket accessible on your phone. A screenshot or offline copy can be useful if reception becomes weak.
Mobile Data in Rio de Janeiro
Mobile data is useful around Rio for checking Corcovado tickets, arranging ride-hailing between your accommodation and Cosme Velho, monitoring mountain weather and navigating public transport. Reception is generally stronger across populated parts of Rio, while signal can vary inside tunnels, dense indoor spaces and forested sections around Corcovado.
An Eskimo Brazil eSIM plan can cover a trip within Brazil. Eskimo’s wider network reaches 175 countries and regions overall, which can be useful for travelers continuing elsewhere in Latin America or making an international stopover on the same trip. With fixed data plans, no-expiry data means unused allowance can remain available for a future journey instead of needing to be used during one visit to Rio.
New users can also claim a free 250MB Global eSIM.
FAQs:
Where is Christ the Redeemer?
Christ the Redeemer is on Corcovado Mountain in Tijuca National Park, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The summit is about 709 metres (2,326 feet) above sea level.
How tall is Christ the Redeemer?
The statue is 30 metres (98 feet) tall. Including its pedestal, the monument reaches approximately 38 metres (125 feet), while its arms span 28 metres (92 feet).
When was Christ the Redeemer built?
Christ the Redeemer was constructed during the 1920s and inaugurated on October 12, 1931.
What is Christ the Redeemer made of?
Christ the Redeemer has a reinforced-concrete structure covered with a mosaic of small soapstone pieces.
Do you need a ticket to visit Christ the Redeemer?
Yes. Visitors normally reach the monument through ticketed transport such as the Corcovado Train or official Paineiras services. Ticket prices, inclusions and access arrangements can change, so check the official operator before visiting.
