Santa Teresa by bonde and on foot

The hilltop bairro that kept Rio's last tram: ride the bonde over the Arcos da Lapa, then walk between the ruins of Laurinda Santos Lobo's mansion, Castro Maya's modernist house-museum, the bar-lined Largo dos Guimarães and the small square of Largo das Neves.

Best time: Wednesday to Saturday from late morning, when the Chácara do Céu museum is open (Wed-Sat 10:00-16:30 per its Google listing, Sept 2026). Ride the bonde up from Estação Carioca and walk back down the hill.

The route, stop by stop

1. 1
   Museu do Bonde (Estação Carioca)

   The bonde leaves from Estação Carioca in Centro (BRL 20 return); the small Museu do Bonde is on Rua Lélio Gama. 15 min

2. 2
   Largo do Curvelo

   Square a short walk from the Parque das Ruínas and the Chácara do Céu. 5 min

3. 3
   Parque das Ruínas (Parque Glória Maria)

   Municipal park and cultural centre in the ruins of the mansion of Laurinda Santos Lobo, belle époque patron of the arts, now renamed Parque Glória Maria; an award-winning project kept the ruins and added a contemporary structure. 30 min

4. 4
   Chácara do Céu Museum

   Raymundo Castro Maya's 1950s modernist house with his art collection and two rooms kept as he lived in them, in gardens with a wide city view. 60 min

   The hilltop home of collector Raymundo Castro Maya, left to the public with his art, rare books and furniture across three floors; two rooms keep their original furnishings, and…

5. 5
   Largo dos Guimarães

   Santa Teresa's best-known square, with a bonde stop on Rua Almirante Alexandrino. 30 min

6. 6
   Centro Cultural Laurinda Santos Lobo

   Cultural centre in an old mansion at Rua Monte Alegre 306. 20 min

   A 1907 mansion run by the city as a neighbourhood arts centre, with exhibition rooms, an auditorium and photographs of Laurinda Santos Lobo, Santa Teresa's Belle Époque hostess…

7. 7
   Largo das Neves

   Quiet square at the end of the Paula Mattos tram branch (reopened in 2025). 15 min

Walking directions

More walks in Rio de Janeiro

• Praça XV to São Bento: the colonial and imperial centre1.6 km · 3 h
• Pequena África and the port: Valongo, Pedra do Sal and Morro da Conceição2.5 km · 5 h 20 min
• Cinelândia to Lapa: belle époque avenues, the aqueduct and the Selarón steps2.4 km · 3 h 20 min
• Glória, Catete and the Aterro do Flamengo4.4 km · 4 h 30 min
• Urca: Praia Vermelha, the Cláudio Coutinho path and the Mureta at sunset4.5 km · 3 h
• Leme to Arpoador along Copacabana beach6.4 km · 4 h 30 min
• Ipanema to Leblon: bossa nova streets and the Mirante5.3 km · 3 h 10 min
• Parque Lage, the Botanical Garden and the Lagoa3.4 km · 4 h
• Tijuca Forest: Cascatinha and the Mayrink chapel1.2 km · 1 h 20 min
• Laranjeiras and Cosme Velho: Parque Guinle to the Corcovado train3.8 km · 2 h 20 min
• Niterói by ferry: Caminho Niemeyer to the MAC4.1 km · 2 h 50 min