Lage Park | Parque Lage
Rio's Lage Park is stunning and highly recommended
Parque Henrique Lage is located at 414, Rua Jardim Botanico, in the city of Rio de Janeiro. It lies north of Ipanema Beach and the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, at the foot of Corcovado Mountain. This beautiful garden became a public park in the 1960s with no admission charge to the public. Featuring historical architecture (some as old as the 1840s) and protected rainforest gardens with several walking trails. In 2004 the gardens of Parque Henrique Lage became part of the Tijuca National Park.
The park has many adventures for the whole family. Take advantage of one of the picnic areas. There’s a children’s playground. Stroll across the bridges and along the hiking trails, geared for a variety of different levels of hikers. Wander through the Italian villa that got its start in the early 1920s. The historic estate is now a visual arts school: Escola de Artes Visuais do Parque Lage. This school is opened to the public. Walk through the halls and witness students at work creating art. Make your way to the balcony that overlooks the villa’s Swimming pool. Enjoy a tasty meal at the Cafe du Lage. At this little oasis you will get a spectacular view of Corcovado and Christ the Redeemer.
The park provided the setting where Snoop Dogg and Pharrell filmed their music video “Beautiful.”
In 1922 Henrique lag had the mansion redesigned to please his wife, Italian opera singer Gabriella Besanzon. Henrique Lage hired an Italian architect and designer Mario Vodret, who gave the mansion its Italian marbles, tiles, interior paintings by Salvador Paylos Sabate of salons, and a courtyard that frames the central swimming pool and fountain. This gives you the feeling that you are in an Italian villa. The design added to the existing style gives an eclectic style to the mansion.
To enter the premises you go through double gates inviting you along a windy driveway lined with Royal Palms. This leads to the beautiful structure surrounded by 52 hectares of picturesque gardens and trails. The premises are filled with ponds, lush rainforests and miles of paths that wind through shady areas creating a calming atmosphere. Explore man-made caves, made from artificial rocks and logs. One cave showcasing 12 beautiful aquariums. These aquariums are embedded in the walls, displaying a variety of fish from lakes and rivers in Brazil. The largest tank has the capacity to hold 6,000-litres. Children love to view these gorgeous species.
June 14th, 1957 the Historical and Artistic Institute listed Henrique Lage Park a historical and cultural heritage of the city of Rio de Janeiro.
If you are an experienced hiker, you will likely enjoy hiking up through hills and rainforest to the summit of Corcovado. It is not advisable to hike this trail alone though, as tourists have been robbed on it.
After touring Parque Henrique Lage make your way to Jardim Botanico the nearby Botanical Gardens. These gardens feature plants from all around the world, covering an area of 338 acres. There’s a fee to enter the gardens.
Facts For Your Visit
Fee:Parque Lage Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays
- Monday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Sunday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Address: R. Jardim Botânico, 414 - Jardim Botânico, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 22461-000, Brazil
Official Website: Parque Lage
Parque Lage Reviews
Rated out of 5
Because this place is a major tourist attraction, come prepared to wait in line for a long time in order to get a picture. There is a lack of organization that made it a little difficult but the view of Cristo was incredible. We were told that the food was not the best so we decided to skip eating there but the 2 hour wait for pictures was definitely worth it. There was slight cloud coverage so we had to be patient but once it revealed itself, it was truly a sight to see. Definitely be prepared to stand in line for a least an hour regardless what day you go, and either bring a hat or umbrella and waters (or you can purchase some there) because it gets extremely hot.
Meg G. - 2 months ago
I really loved this place as a park. The building that houses the restaurant is seriously impressive and I could snap pictures of it all day. I’d actually like to see if they do a tour and explain the history. The restaurant inside however I wasn’t too impressed with the my food was kinda bad. I don’t regret going, it was a fantastic experience, but the food from street vendors was better.
The park was amazing. Tons of extra stuff to see and explore in there
Brandon Turner - 2 months ago
Nice family park. Nice palace, but would like more info on its history. People posing for selfies are very inconsiderate of others. How many ways can one pose? Clean bathrooms at entrance. Looks like nice restaurant inside the palace. There is a food vendor next to the palace. No tickets necessary. It is a good place for more views of the Redeemer.
Paul - 3 months ago
Parque Lage is a stunning park nestled within Tijuca National Park, offering a lush tropical forest experience right in the heart of Rio. It features a scenic trail that leads up to Corcovado Mountain and the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue, perfect for nature lovers and adventure seekers alike. Along the way, you’ll encounter a variety of wildlife, especially birds and playful monkeys like marmosets and capuchins. Peaceful, beautiful, and rich in biodiversity, it’s a must-visit for anyone looking to explore Rio’s natural side.
Myles Joshua Tan - 3 weeks ago
Nice park with monkeys, fish and nature. You can either wait 1000 hours in the queue or you can ask for a restaurant reservation and they will send you a whats app for when is your time (they have a separate queue for that). Place is full of angry tourists some of them should take a chill pill
Borja Hughes - 2 months ago
Directions
| Metro and Metro Bus Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| Line 1 - Orange or Line 2 - Green | Botafogo | 3 MInutes |
How to get to Parque Lage by Metro and Metro Bus
Purhase a Metro na Superficie farecard take the Metro to Botafogo Station and transfer to the blue 'Metro na Superficie Bus' destined for Gavea and ride it to the stop far side of Rua Rua Nina Rodrigues which is a little past beyond the park entrance. Exit and walk back along Rua Jamim Botanico to the park entrance. (3 minutes).
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Photo Gallery
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Photo Credit: acmoraes - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: acmoraes - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: acmoraes - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: acmoraes - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: acmoraes - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Catarina Oberlander - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Fora do Eixo - cc license via Flickr
