Santa Teresa Tram
Open-sided cars still climb from the centre into Santa Teresa, crossing the Carioca Aqueduct.
The Santa Teresa tram, called Bonde de Santa Teresa in Portuguese, is a heritage tramway between the city centre and the hillside neighborhood of Santa Teresa.
Service opened in 1877 and has run as an electric railway since 1896, which makes it the oldest electric railway in Latin America. Brazil listed the line as a national historic monument in 1985.
Yellow open-sided cars still use the 1,100 mm gauge. The main line runs about 6.0 km toward Dois Irmãos; a longer Silvestre stretch reopened in 2026.
After a 2011 accident the line was closed, then limited service returned in 2015. Boarding in the centre is on Rua Lélio Gama, near Carioca metro, and the cars still cross the Carioca Aqueduct.
The walk from Lapa to the Santa Teresa tram and to the Arcos da Lapa is about 5 minutes on foot. Ride the open car as it crosses the aqueduct, then continue uphill into Santa Teresa.
Places in this story
Bonde de Santa Teresa
The Santa Teresa Tram has run between downtown Rio and the hillside neighborhood of Santa Teresa since 1877, making it one of the oldest street railway lines in the world.
Arcos da Lapa
The Carioca Aqueduct, popularly known as Arcos da Lapa, is a striking 18th‑century stone structure that once carried water to Rio’s residents.
Stay nearby
Stay at Mural da Lapa; the Santa Teresa tram is about 5 minutes on foot.