Escadaria Selarón
215 colourful steps laid with over 2,000 tiles from around the world by Chilean artist Jorge Selarón, linking Lapa and Santa Teresa: Rio's most photogenic street art.
The Escadaria Selarón lies between Lapa and Santa Teresa on Manuel Carneiro Street. It has 215 steps covering 125 metres. Chilean artist Jorge Selarón began decorating the run-down staircase in front of his house with tiles in 1990. Initially he used the green, yellow and blue of the Brazilian flag. Later, visitors from around the world began sending tiles, and today there are more than 2,000 tiles from over 60 countries, including many from China. He calls it 'a gift to the Brazilian people.' After the artist died on the steps in 2013, it was listed as municipal cultural heritage. The staircase is free to visit all day. Entering from Joaquim Silva Street in Lapa is the main approach. As you climb, you'll see Selarón's signature tile of a pregnant woman, tiles depicting landmarks and football teams from different countries, and the top leads to Santa Teresa. It gets crowded for photos, so go before 10 am or on a weekday for fewer people. Graffiti and street vendors are nearby. For safety, Lapa is walkable during the day (a 10-minute walk from Cinelândia metro station, passing the Lapa Arches), but don't walk the side streets alone, and take a taxi directly at night. On Friday and Saturday nights, the samba and forró bars and street parties around the Lapa Arches are Rio's most famous nightlife; it's very crowded, so keep an eye on your phone. You can combine the Lapa Arches, the Metropolitan Cathedral (a modern church shaped like a volcanic cone), the Confeitaria Colombo café and Santa Teresa into a half-day walking route.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Arcos da Lapa (Carioca Aqueduct)
- Metropolitan Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro
- Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro
- National Museum of Fine Arts
- Santa Teresa
- Confeitaria Colombo
- Real Gabinete Português de Leitura
- Flamengo Park