Escadaria Selarón

The stairs are pretty but very touristy. HIDDEN GEM ALERT THO!!: Continue to walk up the hill after walking up the stairs. Once you've arrived the tram station there is one of the most beautiful pizzerias I've ever seen. If you then continue to walk straight there are more beautiful little bit lively cafes and restaurants to sit. Also you can see the Christo Redeemer from here! Absolutely stunning

I came here twice, solely because it was so ridiculously busy the first time I thought it deserved a second go. The first was on a Saturday around 12. It was so insanely busy you could barely move let alone get any sort of pictures or enjoyment. The second was on a Monday around 10:30 it was still very busy but far less people. You could walk without getting in the way of to many people's photos and find a spot to take your own. Well the stairs are very beautiful, and it is completely free. I wouldn't say it is an absolute must see. If it's a stop on your tour, or nearby where you're staying I think go for it. But I wouldn't go out of my way to see it.

It's a nice cultural walk to see the tiles and to think that it was self funded and started off as a simple restoration project. Absolutely beautiful! I went on a Sunday, the place was quite filled but still I was able to get a nice view and some pretty cool shots. (No need to pay to do this tour- it's a free space)

As stairs they work like 99% of the time. I saw a few people struggle but I dont think we can blame the architects. Really busy most of the time when I was there but that's probably because someone decorated them with some really lovely tiles. I didnt get a guided tour (because if I'm honest I have used many stairs in my lifetime and feel somewhat of an expert so didn't want to pay someone to teach me what my parents did many moons ago, ie, how to walk up, and not showing off here, but also down steps)... anyway with a lack of tour guide on my excursion to the stack of steps I was left guessing at why the steps were decorated so. Various stickers have bewn added and I dont think they convey much of a message. Highlight: the do not cycle sign. Really added some clarity to the safety of the stairs. I fear that too many people have come a croppa due to not realising that stairs are not in fact ideal terrain for the bicycle. I dread to think of the injuries and I hope minimal fatalities that occurred before the instalation of this sign. It does need a bit of a redo, it's red colour is fading thus endangering it's ongoing completion of its sacred task. If I'm honest making it larger might also help make it more visible for those dare devil cyclists who dont see all the small signs designed to help them on their environmentally friendly endeavours. Conclusion: lovely stairs, fairly well organised with minimal disparity between step height and depth. Worth a visit just expect crowds and as a pedestrian you should always keep an eye out for the cyclist but here you should be able to relax in the knowledge that they have installed the correct signage to protect you, whilst you too, wonder why someone has decorated these steps. As a final thought, probably best to start at the bottom for best and ease of viewing pleasure. If you so happen to start at the top, make sure you look over your shoulder or you might miss lots of the decoration someone or one's have painstakingly added to the steps. Furthermore to my final thought, if you are going to attempt the stairs on a bike, probably best to start at the top because stairs in general and these in particular are definitely designed to make cycling up them, somewhat more difficult than going down (which might just be slightly bumpy depending on the diameter of your wheel, suspension and tyre air pressure; check your tyres for the most idea air pressure as it is usually printed on the side. Also make sure if the grip is worn down these stairs, being made of slippy tile have minimal grip so definitely have fresh tyres on). For pedestrians, be careful in the rain.

Escadaria Selarón is one of those places that instantly captures your attention and fills you with inspiration. Every step is covered in vibrant, colorful tiles that tell a story—each one unique, artistic, and full of character. The atmosphere is lively and full of creative energy, making it a perfect spot for photos and taking in the local culture. Whether you’re visiting for the art, the history, or just to enjoy a beautiful walk, this staircase is a must-see. Truly a special landmark that stays with you long after you leave

Lovely set of steps lined with a variety of colorful tiles. Very busy when I went mid week. Walking to the top is a good workout! Lots of souvenirs to buy and also plenty of drink/food stalls so you will never be far from a nice caipirinha. Very popular with the Brazilian bum models looking for their picture to add to IG/tiktok etc so be careful when walking up, make sure you look forward so you dont bump in to them.... At the bottom of the steps there are also street vendors selling again the cocktails, bikini's, hats etc Definitely worth a visit just to see the tile art!

We walked there and enjoyed walking up the steps. There were many people lined up to take photos at the bottom. The truth is the shot would look better with one or two sets of steps higher up. With all the people there you can’t see the steps at the beginning anyway. It is colourful and busy.

The stairs themselves are stunning but the sheer number of people trying to pose on them makes it overwhelming and takes away from the art. Go early or in the rain for the best chance at a decent view. The street leading up to the steps is full of souvenir stalls that are actually pretty well priced compared to the same stuff at Christ the Redeemer or Ipanema.

Yelp Review 2025 #180: One of the most popular landmarks in Brazil. I chose a hotel close to Escadaria Selaron or Selaron Steps because I know it gets super crowded here from noon to late afternoon. Individual tourists and big tour groups from Brazil and around the world - this is on everyone's itinerary. I had to come here twice. The first time I came here was before 10am and there was already a crowd. Cars couldn't pass through so my Uber dropped me off a few hundred feet away. There were vendors on the side of the narrow street leading to the stairs. A few inconsiderate people who took their sweet time taking hundreds of photos while other people were waiting. There's just no way to get good pictures without photobombers. I knew I was better off coming back early the next day. But I climbed up all the way to the top of the stairs anyway and enjoyed the colorful tiles covering the stairs. I came back the next day at 6:15am and it was just me and this local homeless lady who was drunk or high or both. She was having a great time talking to people that weren't there, stumbling as she slowly climbed up the stairs. I was able to take good pictures with nobody around. A few minutes later, another traveler from another part of Brazil joined me and we took turns taking pictures. In 10 minutes or less, I got all the pictures I wanted. Now, there's quite a few stairs in Lapa but none as popular, colorful and interesting as Escadaria Selaron.

Did our online legwork before coming here and it def paid off. Was suggested we arrived as early as possible to avoid crowds so we went right at sunrise amd it was a total win. Absolutely no crowds! Just 1 couple a single traveler and 1 small group of 4 women... We basically had the place to ourselves so we were able to take our time and get all the pics we wanted. Was really cool seeing and person.. amd there are so many small details aside from taking photos you can literally spend hours here trying to see them all and still miss alot. In short: go early & enjoy it all

Let me preface this review by saying I visited around the peak of Carnival. I imagine my experience here would be better. Given that context I'm sure you can imagine that the steps were PACKED. It just so happened that a bloco was coming by right when we were around the steps. There's not much to say. An artist picked out a bunch of tiles and put them around these steps. There are a lot of steps so wear some comfy shoes. The plus side of there being so many people was that it made for good people watching. I also heard that the Lapa neighborhood isn't the safest. But don't let that deter you from visiting; go during the day, don't go alone, and don't be stupid. You'll be fine. The Selaron Steps are insanely popular and they'll show up towards the top of any list of things to see in Rio.

This is a very popular touristy spot. Luckily the walking route we took, placed us at the top of the stairs. I took a picture here right away. As we walked down and as we reached the bottom, we realized that people were lining up to take photos. So my pro tip - pass up all the people in line at thr bottom of thr steps and head to the top to get more photos with less people in the background.

This is an amazing art space in Rio, where art takes center stage in the form of beautifully tiles steps. The cool back story is Chilean artist Jorge Selarón, Selarón Steps are one of Brazil's most famous pieces of street art. Colorful mosaics and an environment that oozes expression through art make this trip a must for art seekers. Did I mention there are over 2,000 tiles to look at? Treat yourself and your imagination will thank you.

What a cool story. This is a fantastic way to spend a few hours in Rio. These are the Selarón steps done by Jorge Selarón. In 1990, Jorge started fixing and painting the dilapidated steps outside his home. Neighbors mocked his color choices of the Brazilian flag but he persisted. This is vibrant testament to artistic dedication, and now offers tourists a captivating experience in Rio. Jorge Selarón's transformative work on these 215 steps, adorned with tiles from 60+ countries, reflects his unwavering passion. The evolving masterpiece invites visitors to explore the Lapa and Santa Teresa neighborhoods of Rio. This relentless pursuit of art creates an unforgettable and ever-changing cultural landmark.

My buddies hit up Escadaria Selaron without me (how rude) so I had to make my way to check it out myself. I have always been a fan of street art and outdoor displays of art. Escadaria Selaron is an impressive example. I Ubered over but they can only get you so close. They leave you at the base of a narrow and busy street which you walk up to get to these hand-painted tile stairs. As you walk toward the attraction, there are a bunch of souvenir shops, bars, and restaurants. Part of what makes Escaderia Selaron impressive is the scale of it. We're talking a lot of steps! Walking up them all is a workout. But you should do it. Beyond the exercise, you'll see a mural at the top. Lots of people stop and take pictures along the way. I was lucky enough to run into a tourist from Hong Kong who took some pics of me and I returned the favor. As always, since this is a popular attraction, be aware of your surroundings as it's ripe for pickpocketing. And it's in a part of town that's a little sketch. Well worth the trouble though because this is one of the coolest attractions in Rio.

Beautiful artwork in a lovely country. The craftmanship is amazing. Brazilian culture is wonderful.

The 215 steps got its name from Jorge Selarón (1947-2013), a Chilean painter, the steps ran along the front of his house. The entire 410-foot long concrete staircase is covered in decorative, over 2000 colorful tile, many of which were sent to him from around the world depicting the city/countries where it originated. This was on my list of to do while visiting the RIO area. It was not far from my hotel Windsor Leme, 7 stops on the train line north bound, took maybe 20 minutes. From the metro about 10 min walk, learn some conversational Spanish, so you can ask for help if needed. There were plenty of law enforcement officers along the way for safety. I would highly recommend you going early due to the steps being a popular tour destination. Be careful of pick pocketers and other dangers all over, lots of people in the area. The city has info in English on some of the directional signs. The steps are gorgeous and a site to see for sure, you can climb them to the top. I did stand in line to take a picture in front of the RIO sign, took approx. 15min. You can take a pic anywhere lots of steps for photo opportunities. Remember very crowed to so stay alert and safe. And of course lots of people selling things all over...for your shopping needs!

This is a very tall stucture of steps, each intrically detailed with colorful art and hand made tiles. When you look closely at the tiles, they each tell a small story. Its a beautiful piece of artwork. You can climb to the top of the steps and take pictures along the way. If you go during the daytime, expect crowds. Everyone wants to take a picture on the stairs. Don't feel like you are rushed. Take your pictures, make sure they come out ok. If you are going there solo, take a good selfie-stick and take your time!!! Wear comfortable shoes since the steps can get steep. I've been twice. The first time I wore sneakers and I was fine. The second time, I wore sandals with a small heel and I thought I was going to fall! So wear comfortable shoes!! As you climb the stairs, there are mini-stores along the way. You can buy a beer or caparinha, or hand made tiles with art on them, souveniers as well. Across the street there is a famous restaurant with delicous feijoida and other popular Brazilian dishes. The steps are within walking distance to Lapa as well.

Ambiance: 9 out of 10; Staff: n/a Price: $ out of $$$$. There is always a linle but it goes fast. Something incredibly cool is that they have a business that will take the picture for you and put it on a ceramic tile. My mother and I both got a tile and have it hung up on our home. I love this little souvenir!! Everyone was polite and no one rushed you when you were taking your own picture. Lots of vendors nearby to make the wait go by first.

I have never heard of this attraction nor was it on our private tour's itinerary, but it was cool to visit! It wasn't overly crowded while we were there and good photo ops are available. THE STAR: The steps got its name from Jorge Selarón (1947-2013), a Chilean painter who made it his goal to beautify the then-dilapidated steps that ran along the front of his house. The entire 410-foot long concrete staircase is covered in decorative, colorful tile, many of which were sent to him from around the world depicting the city/country where it originated. I thought I had climbed the entire thing but stopped at the top of the straightaway as I was winded. The stairs went up further bending to the right but our tour guide advised not to go further as there were some shady characters at the very top. SHOPPERS: There were several vendor selling all kinds of knick knacks on the stairs itself. My spouse is a sucker for that kind of thing so we ended up at a vender who took our picture on the stairs and affixed it somehow to a piece of ceramic tile, which actually turned out pretty cool. Another vendor was making keys. The keys are like regular house door lock keys but are cleverly cut with some type of guitar-looking string on a jigsaw to create word(s) of your choice along its shaft. Super cool! Yes, the spouse had to get one, lol. OVERALL: Free, good exercise, vibrant photo ops.

Simply amazing! We were expecting to be impressed by the Selaron Steps, but we were blown away. You truly have to see them in person to understand their beauty and fine craftsmanship. It took artist Jorge Selaron over 20 years to complete this masterpiece with over 2,000 tiles that he collected from around the world. A marvelous work of art! The steps are located in the Lapa neighborhood, about a 20 minute taxi ride from Copacabana.

Loved the beauty of these steps. They are so colorful and vibrant. When you come be ready to be in the huge crowds of people. They also have little vendors right there selling items. I thought it was a great site to see after hearing about the artists passion for creating these steps.

A must do bucket item for Rio. Jorge Barton chose, crafted and designed every tile in this piece, its unbelievable when you think about it. The colors and beauty will leave you infatuated. Tons of tourist around to take your picture for you, taking one without ppl around maybe tricky though.

Is it beautiful? Heck yeah!! Is it safe? *nervous laugh* Coming here put me on edge. It was starting to get dark and walking there was extremely sketchy. There were lots of tourists by the foot of the stairs so we started walking up to take better pictures; but that's where the favelas are and you better keep your eye on your stuff!! I wish I visited when it was lighter outside, because when we walked back the locals tried luring us into these side shops and it was one of the scarier walks in rio. I know this post sounds bad; but for the record we DID get robbed in rio at knife point on the copa cabana beach at sunset. Be safe!

More beautiful in person. Smaller than what I thought (width wise) but there was a lot of stairs going up. Really cool. Nothing cool around that area. In Santa Teresa town.

Very easy to get there. I took the subway train from Ipanema, Nossa Senhora da Paz station to Cinelândia station and after crossing a big avenue, I was there. It's a very touristic place.There were many people taking photos there and the street crossing it is full of bars, restaurants and old houses, it's very picturesque. There is a cool souvenir shop near by. There is an artist there who can create a personalized tile for you with your own personal photos that you take there. Next time I will do it.

I like this spot because it's so colorful and you can spend plenty of time looking at each of the tiles and wonder how they made their way to Rio. The area surrounding it is a little sketchy to say the least. Lapa is apparently the place to be for nightclubs but it's kind of a strange tourist district. I haven't explore Santa Theresa much but it's an up and coming artist district. If it's super crowded, work your way up and the crowds tend to thin out higher up where you can take a clear shot of the stairs. They'll never be completely empty to just crop out as many people as you can from the shot. Everyone climbs the first spot on the right for the title of the stairs. Be careful because it's steep and a bit slick especially when wet. There's a couple of vendors at the bottom selling drinks and souvenirs. I got a mid-sized key from the guys hand carving it at the bottom. It's actually pretty impressive work for a hand saw, though probably too brittle to carry around with your keys in your pocket. It has all the good landmarks on it. The larger the key, the more the details. You can order one with your name on it but have to wait around for an hour.

If you are into art and a bohemian vibe, this the place for you. The street art is something not to missed as you recognize several artist from around the world. Great pictures of the stairs or the homes that surround them. Its walling distance from the cathedral and the nearest metro stop is about 8 short blocks. Across the street from the aqueduct.

I've always wanted to visit the famous stairs featured in the Pharrell and Snoop Dog "Beautiful" video and I finally got the opportunity to visit this summer. It's been updated since the video was shot, but it still has it's authentic feel. Not commercialized at all. Lapa is such an eclectic neighborhood, there's art on every block. There are about 10 flights of stairs (just an estimate). Definitely venture up to the top for a shot of the red wall, as well as an opportunity for a photo-bomb free picture. Do not visit Rio without visiting!

I feel so fortunate to have seen this work of art not once but twice! The love and time that went into creating this one of a kind artwork is truly amazing. Each tile has a story to tell. If you have the time, make sure to peruse as much as you can. The tiles came from all over the world and was lovingly used and placed by the artist (RIP). It might not be in the best area but it is worth the trip. The color and vibrancy is amazing to see. The pictures do not do it justice. Bonus: plenty of small museums in the area!

Total Tourist Trap but definitely a MUST-SEE! We UBER'd here - no problem. All the taxi/Uber drivers know this place. The crowds come in bursts it seemed like. At one point - it was so claustrophobic because of all the people crowding the bottom of the stairs to get a picture on the iconic 'Rio De Janeiro' tiled steps & then there was also a point where there wasn't a single person taking a picture at the bottom. So my suggestion would be waiting it out - you'll get a chance to take at least one pic at the bottom. The stairs go up a way - btw. Went all the way to the top just so I can say I did. There are tiles that have cities & countries represented - it's awesome! I found WA and CA :) There are a ton of nice people that offered to take our picture for us. I would say to be careful of this - just practice caution. I mean there are more than enough people here that if someone were to take your phone/camera that there would be someone to stop them. As you go up the stairs - there are vendors selling you tiles as well as other souvenirs. At the very bottom you can get a tile that has the FAMOUS Pharrell and Snoop Dogg music video clip on it as well as other designs. All in all - it is A MUST when you come to Rio. Yes, yes, it's a tourist trap but worth it.

These famous steps are a work of art by chilean artist Jorge Selarón who claimed it as "my tribute to the Brazilian people" with 215 steps are a vivid explosion of color. They are located right at the beginning of the neighbourhood of Santa Tereza, before you go up the hills. It's definitely something you can't miss if you're visiting Rio, but you need to be aware of your surroundings. Go during the day only, and do not let your cab or uber driver leave you anywhere else other than AT the steps. The street in front of the steps is crowded with homeless people and heavy-drug users. I might be from Rio and we Cariocas love to defend our city, but I gotta be real with you here. To get out, just walk along the street in the directions of the bigger venue with cars and get a cab or call an uber while you're still on the steps. Upon leaving the steps you will already be in Lapa, a neighbourhood full of bars and cafes with Brazilian Jazz and Bossa Nova.

The Selaron Steps were the highlight of Lapa for me! If you don't know, Lapa is a small neighborhood in Rio De Janeiro very worthy of exploring. Everyone recommended my friend and I go to the Selaron Steps during the daytime - even a police officer we asked directions from advised against us going around 6pm - but we explored anyway. For the record, it was totally fine. Area is a bit sketchy, but with my handy dandy pepper spray, I felt safe walking to the Selaron Steps. It was so worth it! The steps are magnificent, and the artist is truly talented. His work is beautiful. We couldn't take enough pictures. There are tiles dedicated to various cities and countries all around the world, and also tiles of random pictures that are meaningful to Selaron, the artist. Work this spot into your Rio itinerary - you won't regret it!

This is an overrated tourist trap located in a sketchy neighborhood. People are always telling me they want to see the stairs and I'm always asking them why. It seems like it's one of those things people want to see because they hear that they have to see it. If you come to Rio and don't visit the steps you won't be missing anything. I guess it's good so you can get your touristy picture (like standing with your arms outstretched in front of Cristo) but that's it. Next time someone tells me they want to go here I'm gonna lose it.

So many cool and interesting tiles. Interesting for all ages. Its not about climbing the stairs, it's about what you see along the way

This was my second time in Rio, but my first time making it to the steps. While we got great photos, there were moments where I didn't feel too safe and we definitely saw a drug deal as we were leaving. I strongly suggest going midday and being sure to watch you things closely at all times.

Definitely a fun touristy spot to take a pic in Brazil. I think reading a little about the backstory of Selaron and why he built the steps makes the location much more interesting. No need to spend a lot of time here, it is a bit of a tourist trap, but it is definitely a place to check out if you have time.

Simply an amazing thing to see. We went there on a Saturday and really there were not too many people around the centro area. In fact the stair st were probably one of the only crowded things in the area. Much longer than I expected the stairs offer a lot to look at. A bit touristy yes but worth it totally. I love checking out things like this when in a new city. I'm sure this spot will continue to be used in all kinds of videos featuring tilde janero

The steps are really beautiful. The artist was able to take tiles from all over the world and incorporate them into this landmark. Be sure to stop by and enjoy this wonderful piece of art.

so beautiful (apropos being that the song "beautiful" by pharell and snoop dogg was filmed here). so many colors and textures and walks of life and music and bustling and seemingly endless steps of mosaic patterns and collages of history and visual storytelling and... basically this place was just amazing. super easy to get to on foot via the underground. nestled into the lapa neighborhood, this is the epicenter of rio's bohemian/artsy heartbeat, but to be fair the area may be a little too "real" for some people thinking that this area is properly gentrified to accommodate tourists and such. likeminded picture takers are always happy to spare you of your clumsily awkward selfie maneuvering as long as you return the favor. bring water! or if you don't, you can always buy some from the people who actually live along the steps- they sell them off of their patios. charming little destination.