Hop on the tramTo get to Santa Teresa, a picturesque, bohemian neighborhood on a hill, catch one of the iconic yellow street trams that provide a terrific tour on the way up. The tram passes over the famed Arches of Lapa, an 18th-century aqueduct that is a symbol of Rio. The tram leaves every 30 minutes from the downtown station (tickets available there, 20 reis), with the final ride at 4 p.m. on Saturdays. The trams seat just 16 people and can sell out on the weekends, so the earlier you ride, the better. Before you hop on, duck into the Metropolitan Cathedral of Rio , which is next to the downtown station.

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