Sugarloaf Mountain cable car: price, hours and best time to go

A Sugarloaf cable car ticket starts at €33 per person in our catalogue, and the most-booked ticket costs €42 with a 4.6/5 rating from 4,049 reviews. To pair it with Christ the Redeemer, the half-day tour ending on Sugarloaf at sunset costs €109 (4.5/5, 2,672 reviews) and the full day with a barbecue lunch €66. There are 50 activities that include Sugarloaf, from €33, with a median price of about €120.

Prices, ratings and review counts updated on November 9, 2026 from the GetYourGuide catalogue. Tours Brasil is a GetYourGuide affiliate: booking through our links costs you the same and we earn a small commission.

Sugarloaf Mountain is the classic lookout over Guanabara Bay: Copacabana, Botafogo, Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado and Niterói across the water. The cable car climbs in two stages from Praia Vermelha in the Urca neighbourhood, first to Morro da Urca and then to the summit, about 396 metres above the sea. Every price and rating below comes from the Tours Brasil catalogue of things to do in Rio de Janeiro.

The 10 best ways to visit Sugarloaf Mountain

1. Sugarloaf cable car ticket — €42, 4.6/5 from 4,049 reviews. A return ticket for both stages, valid on the day you choose.
2. Budget cable car ticket — €33, 4.3/5 from 133 reviews. The lowest price in the catalogue.
3. Sugarloaf Mountain cable car ticket — €39, 4.6/5 from 102 reviews. Another simple ticket with a strong rating.
4. Fast-track pass with guided tour — €110, 4.4/5 from 62 reviews. Skips the line in peak season.
5. Half day: Christ, Selarón Steps and Sugarloaf at sunset — €109, 4.5/5 from 2,672 reviews, 6 hours. Timed to reach the top as the sun goes down.
6. Christ, Sugarloaf, Selarón and barbecue lunch — €66, 4.5/5 from 3,377 reviews, 8–9 hours with hotel pickup. The most-reviewed combo.
7. Best of Rio half day: Christ and Sugarloaf — €115, 4.7/5 from 776 reviews. The highest-rated combo with a large number of reviews.
8. Christ and Sugarloaf tour with lunch — €120, 4.6/5 from 967 reviews, 9 hours with pickup.
9. Guided hike and climb up Sugarloaf — €58, 5.0/5 from 52 reviews, 4 hours. Walk and climb up with a guide and safety gear.
10. Sugarloaf hiking trail — €64, 5.0/5 from 5 reviews, 4 hours, with only a handful of reviews so far.

Also worth a look: an 5-hour express tour of Christ and Sugarloaf (€96, 4.3/5 from 445 reviews, with pickup), Sugarloaf with lunch and a helicopter flight (€257, 4.7/5) and a layover tour from the airport (€178, 5 hours, 4.5/5 from 21 reviews).

Quick comparison: price, rating and pickup

Activity	From	Rating	Reviews	Duration	Spanish guide	Pickup
Sugarloaf cable car ticket	€42	4.6/5	4049	1 d	No	No
Cable car ticket (budget option)	€33	4.3/5	133	—	No	No
Sugarloaf Mountain cable car ticket	€39	4.6/5	102	—	No	No
Fast-track pass + guided tour	€110	4.4/5	62	—	No	No
Christ, Selarón steps and Sugarloaf at sunset	€109	4.5/5	2672	6 h	Yes	No
Christ, Sugarloaf, Selarón and BBQ lunch	€66	4.5/5	3377	8-9 h	Yes	Yes
Half day: Christ + Sugarloaf	€115	4.7/5	776	—	No	No
Guided hike and climb up the hill	€58	5/5	52	4 h	Yes	No

Which option suits you?

Just the views

Buy a cable car ticket (from €33) and take a taxi or ride-hailing app to Praia Vermelha. It is the cheapest and most flexible choice: go up when you like and stay as long as you want at each viewpoint.

Only one day in Rio

Combine both icons. The barbecue combo (€66) is the best value and includes hotel pickup; the sunset half day (€109) is better for golden-hour photos. Planning Corcovado separately? Read our guide on how to visit Christ the Redeemer.

Active travellers

Walk up instead. The guided hike and climb (€58, 5.0/5) follows an Atlantic Forest trail on Morro da Urca and finishes with roped rock sections. For an easy stroll, the flat Pista Cláudio Coutinho path runs along the foot of the hill next to Praia Vermelha.

One-day itinerary with Sugarloaf

Morning: beat the crowds at Corcovado with the Corcovado train ticket (€44, 4.4/5 from 5,437 reviews). Midday: wander Santa Teresa and the Selarón Steps, then lunch in Lapa or Botafogo. Late afternoon: reach Praia Vermelha about 90 minutes before sunset, ride up with a cable car ticket (€42) and stay until the city lights come on.

Doing it yourself costs €86 per person in tickets. If you would rather have it organised, the guided sunset half day costs €109 and the barbecue full day €66 with lunch included. For more ideas, see the best tours in Rio de Janeiro.

How much does Sugarloaf cost?

• Cable car ticket: €33–42 per person depending on the provider.
• Fast-track pass with guide: €110; a private guided visit with ticket costs €87.
• Christ + Sugarloaf combos: the most-booked range from €66 (with barbecue) to €120 (with lunch); half-day versions €96–115.
• Guided hike up: €58–64.
• Private tours: €150–254 per person.
• Special experiences: sunrise with breakfast (€123) and a helicopter flight with lunch (€257).

The median across the 50 Sugarloaf activities is about €120, because most are full-day combos. For the cable car alone, budget €33–42. You see the final price when you pick a date.

Plan your visit

Getting there: the lower station is at Praia Vermelha in Urca; a taxi or ride-hailing app from Copacabana, Ipanema or Botafogo is easiest, and city buses stop near Praça General Tibúrcio. How it works: two stages, Praia Vermelha to Morro da Urca and Morro da Urca to the summit, with viewpoints, cafés and shops on the middle hill. Allow at least two hours.

Best time to go: sunset is the most spectacular and the busiest; early morning is quieter with crisp light over Copacabana. Skip days with low cloud. Where to stay: Botafogo and Urca are minutes from the station, Copacabana has the widest choice of hotels and pickups, and Ipanema and Leblon are calmer, about 20 minutes away by car.

Practical tips

• Check opening hours on the ticket page before you go, as they can change for maintenance or events.
• Look at the sky before leaving: if Sugarloaf is wrapped in cloud, change your day.
• For sunset, arrive early; queues at Praia Vermelha can be long in peak season. The fast-track pass (€110) is the alternative.
• Bring a light jacket: it gets windy at the top after dark.
• Standalone tickets do not include a guide; 5 of the 10 options in our ranking offer a Spanish-speaking guide; check each page for English.

FAQ

How much is the Sugarloaf cable car?

In our catalogue, tickets cost €33–42 per person. The most-booked one is €42 and rated 4.6/5 from 4,049 reviews.

What is the best time to visit Sugarloaf?

Sunset is the most beautiful and the busiest time. Early morning has shorter queues. A clear sky matters more than the hour.

How long do you need?

Allow 2–3 hours for both cable car stages and the viewpoints. Christ + Sugarloaf combos last 5–9 hours.

Can you hike up Sugarloaf?

Yes, with a guide and gear. The guided hike and climb costs €58, takes 4 hours and is rated 5.0/5 from 52 reviews.

Which Christ and Sugarloaf tour is best?

The most-reviewed is the full day with barbecue (€66, 4.5/5 from 3,377 reviews). Among half-day tours, the top-rated scores 4.7/5 from 776 reviews (€115).

Do I need a visa for Brazil?

Since 10 April 2025, US, Canadian and Australian citizens need an e-visa to visit Brazil. UK and EU passport holders do not need a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days. Always check the official Brazilian consulate website before travelling.

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