Christ the Redeemer: most searched attraction among foreign tourists
In 2025, Rio remains the top destination booked by foreign tourists. The city also continues to lead the ranking of Brazil’s ten most searched attractions online, with Christ the Redeemer topping the list with over 175,000 searches in a year. The data come from the 2025 edition of Tourism Trends, published by the Brazilian Agency for International Tourism Promotion (Embratur) and the Ministry of Tourism.
Christ the Redeemer has gained even more prominence with the launch of Embratur’s Rio, Blessed City campaign at the Lisbon Tourism Exchange (BTL) last week. The initiative aims to promote the city in the European market, showcasing its appeal for religious and sports tourism.
According to Embratur President Marcelo Freixo, Christ the Redeemer is one of the world’s most recognizable symbols of Brazil. “Rio de Janeiro is the country’s great postcard and main gateway. But our city’s greatest treasure isn’t just its iconic images—it’s our ability to welcome people from all over the world with joy, regardless of their faith, skin color, or origin. That’s the Rio we want to showcase to the world,” he said.
Christ the Redeemer
The statue stands at 30 meters (98 feet) tall and weighs 635 tons. It was built between 1922 and 1931. Equipped with lightning rods on its arms, head, and hands, it is struck by lightning an average of 12 times each summer.
A ranking based on data from the Similarweb platform, which measures internet traffic, highlights Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro, Iguaçu Falls in Paraná, and Lençóis Maranhenses in Maranhão as standout attractions.
In January, Rio de Janeiro and other destinations across the state welcomed 502,259 foreign tourists, a 50.4 percent increase from the same period in 2024, when the number of international visitors reached 333,903.
Data from the Ministry of Tourism, Embratur, and the Federal Police also reveal that the majority of tourists came from Argentina, Chile, the United States, Uruguay, and France.
According to the magazine, the key to continuing to attract so many visitors, particularly to Rio, lies in the combination of breathtaking landscapes, iconic beaches, vibrant nightlife, and unique cultural experiences, such as Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, and the lively samba circles in the Lapa district in the city’s central area.
“We are investing in promoting international tourism, enhancing infrastructure, and improving accessibility, making other incredible destinations in the state even more appealing to foreigners, alongside the capital,” Marcelo Freixo stated.
