Santa Teresa Travel Guide

Rio de Janeiro
Santa Teresa
Stroll along the winding cobblestone streets of this famous Rio de Janeiro neighbourhood to see ageing 19th-century mansions and haunts of local artists.

Santa Teresa is a bustling hillside neighbourhood, famous for its bohemian atmosphere, art galleries and bars. Ride the city’s last operating streetcars through this lively neighbourhood. The area contains many excellent tourist attractions, including the mansion ruins of Brazilian heiress Laurinda Santos Lobo.

The Santa Teresa Tramline features unsurpassed views of the neighbourhood’s mansions and jungle areas. Ride the “bonde,” Rio’s last streetcar line, from Centro to Santa Teresa. The line crosses Arcos da Lapa, one of Rio’s famous aqueducts and a symbol of the nearby neighbourhood of Lapa.

With its welcoming atmosphere, Santa Teresa is a great place to relax when visiting Rio de Janeiro. Admire striking examples of colonial architecture while on a stroll and enjoy Brazilian beer and wine in local bars. During the 1960s and ’70s, an influx of artists, musicians and writers restored many of the ageing mansions. The buildings now function as restaurants, artists’ studios and guesthouses.

Walk Santa Teresa’s bustling streets to see many examples of its burgeoning creative life, such as Afro-Brazilian drumming performances. The Largo dos Guimarães is the heart of Santa Teresa and can be reached via the “bonde.” The small square is also used as a meeting point for carnivals and street parades.

Visit Ruins Park (Parque das Ruinas), one of Santa Teresa’s main attractions. The ruins contain the shell of a mansion once owned by Brazilian mate heiress Laurinda Santos Lobo. The mansion was a meeting point for many influential Rio de Janeiro artists and intellectuals in the early 20th century. Admire the magnificent views as you explore Ruins Park, now operating as a public park, gallery, bar and café.

The friendly hillside neighbourhood is located above downtown Rio, about 11 miles (17 kilometres) from Rio de Janeiro - Galeão International Airport. Stay in a historic mansion in Santa Teresa. Alternatively, luxury hotels and self-catered apartments are available in the nearby neighbourhoods of Lapa and Centro, Rio de Janeiro’s financial centre.

Many stores selling vintage clothing, locally made handicrafts, artworks and home goods make Santa Teresa an excellent shopping destination.


Popular places to visit

Things to do


Top hotels in Santa Teresa

Hotel Atlântico Prime
Hotel Atlântico Prime
4 out of 5
Rua do Resende 87, Rio de Janeiro, RJ
The price is £24 per night from 19 May to 20 May
£24
per night
19 May - 20 May
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Rio de Janeiro. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and room service. Our guests praise the restaurant and the clean rooms in their ...
6.8/10 (1,293 reviews)
"Boutique hotel close to the harbour and walking distance to dining areas and a few sightseeing spots"

Reviewed on 22 Dec 2023

Hotel Atlântico Prime
Panorama Inn
Panorama Inn
4 out of 5
Rua do Z, 29, Rio de Janeiro, RJ
The price is £31 per night from 17 May to 18 May
£31
per night
17 May - 18 May
Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking.
6.4/10 (5 reviews)
"Extraordinaria vista y las mejores atenciones por parte de todo el personal, en definitiva súper recomendable, iría de nuevo"

Reviewed on 21 Apr 2024

Panorama Inn
Hotel Monte Alegre
Hotel Monte Alegre
3 out of 5
Rua Riachuelo, 213 - Lapa, Rio de Janeiro, RJ
The price is £34 per night from 19 May to 20 May
£34
per night
19 May - 20 May
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly hotel in Rio de Janeiro. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a fitness centre and a 24-hour front desk. Popular attractions Christ the Redeemer ...
8/10 Very Good! (422 reviews)
"Great Location, so close to all the fun stuff happening in Lapa."

Reviewed on 10 May 2024

Hotel Monte Alegre
Sheraton Grand Rio Hotel & Resort
Sheraton Grand Rio Hotel & Resort
5 out of 5
Avenida Niemeyer 121 - Leblon, Rio de Janeiro, RJ
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is £222 per night from 27 May to 28 May
£222
per night
27 May - 28 May
Stay at this beach hotel in Rio de Janeiro. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, 2 outdoor pools and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the breakfast and the pool in their reviews. ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,001 reviews)
"We liked the property. It was close to the ocean and hearing the ocean rise and fall was wonderful for sleeping and meditation. I did not like being placed on the 20th floor of the hotel. I'm aversive to heights. The room was fine and we had a partial view of the ocean. But we also had a good view ..."

Reviewed on 14 May 2024

Sheraton Grand Rio Hotel & Resort
Hotel Atlântico Rio
Hotel Atlântico Rio
3.5 out of 5
Rua Xavier da Silveira, 112, Rio de Janeiro, RJ
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is £34 per night from 27 May to 28 May
£34
per night
27 May - 28 May
Stay at this 3.5-star business-friendly hotel in Rio de Janeiro. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and room service. Popular attractions Ipanema Beach and Copacabana ...
7.4/10 Good! (1,004 reviews)
"The staff"

Reviewed on 4 May 2024

Hotel Atlântico Rio
Windsor Plaza Copacabana
Windsor Plaza Copacabana
4 out of 5
Ave Princesa Isabel 263 Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, RJ
The price is £56 per night from 27 May to 28 May
£56
per night
27 May - 28 May
Stay at this beach hotel in Rio de Janeiro. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a rooftop terrace and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the pool in their ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (999 reviews)
"Noisy,,,"

Reviewed on 9 May 2024

Windsor Plaza Copacabana
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighbourhoods around Santa Teresa

Lapa which includes a city and street scenes

Lapa

You'll enjoy the churches and live music in Lapa. You might want to make time for a stop at Circo Voador or Arcos da Lapa.

Lapa
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Catete

You might enjoy the beaches while in Catete. Largo do Machado is a notable sight, and you can get around town at Largo do Machado Station or Catete Station to see more of the city.

Catete
Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro Centro

4/5(19 area reviews)

You might enjoy the museums while in Rio de Janeiro Centro. Tiradentes Square is a notable sight, and you can get around town at Tiradentes Tram Stop or Colombo Tram Stop to see more of the city.

Rio de Janeiro Centro
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Gloria

4.5/5(3 area reviews)

You might enjoy the museums while in Gloria. Museum of Modern Art is a notable sight, and you can get around town at Gloria Station or Russel Tram Stop to see more of the city.

Gloria
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Flamengo

Well liked for its beaches and breweries, Flamengo is worth a visit. Check out the variety of things to see and do like Catete Palace and Flamengo Park, and jump on the metro at Flamengo Station to get around the city.

Flamengo
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Botafogo

4/5(6 area reviews)

Botafogo is a destination travellers like for its beaches, and you might hop aboard the metro at Botafogo Station or Futura estação Morro de São João Station to explore sights like Botafogo Praia Shopping.

Botafogo

More to explore for Santa Teresa


Santa Teresa Travel Guide

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