Olympic Stadium (Estádio Nilton Santos)

Estádio Nilton Santos, home to the Botafogo Football team hosted many athletic events during the 2016 Summer Olympics

Aerial view of Olympic Stadium in Rio
Aerial view of Olympic Stadium in Rio cc licensed photo by Jorge in Brazil

The Estádio Nilton Santos is commonly known by a couple of other names including Engenho (after the surrounding neighbourhood), Estádio Olímpico João Havelange or simply Estádio Olímpico meaning Olympic Stadium. Home to the Botafogo Football team and hosts a variety of other sporting events and concerts.

The stadium, which was first built for the Pan American Summer Games in 2007, has recently benefited from many upgrades, especially to the roof, to prepare it for the 2016 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. It can now accommodate up to 60,000 spectators.

Rio's Olympic Stadium lays claim to being the most modern stadium in Latin America and is indeed modern by global standards as well. In past years the stadium has been home to concerts by some big names including Paul McCartney and Justin Bieber. The Stadium can support a variety of athletic events and besides the soccer field it includes a full athletics track, pole vaulting, triple jump and high jump facilities.

The stadium is easy to get to via the SuperVia train which you can catch at Central Station. Click on the Map and Directions tab above for more information on how to get there.

Facts For Your Visit

Fee:

Estádio Nilton Santos 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 – 2:30 PM
  • Sunday: Closed

Address: R. José dos Reis, 425 - Engenho de Dentro, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 20770-001, Brazil

Phone: (21) 2546-1950

Official Website: Estádio Nilton Santos

Estádio Nilton Santos Reviews

Rated 4.5 out of 5 Star Rating

5 Star Rating Euuu ameiiii o futebollll!! Nao falo portugués más quero aprender porque the songs were sooo lit! Ok for the tourists, this is something you MUST know before you go: the side of the arena that you sit on matters, you cannot go to the opposite team’s side because fights break out. If you are on the visiting team’s side side, it will be less crowded but there won’t be as much chanting because the fans are not all there to fill the seats. I suggest you sit on the side of the home team (make sure you tell the ticket office who’s side you’d like to sit on) because they get let out first. As we were sitting on the side of the visiting team, we were let out 3 hours later. Police and military were watching us leave. It is crazy, and super worth the experience!!
Arianne Wilson - 6 months ago

Show More
Show Less

5 Star Rating Great tailgating parties before the game, nice stadium just avoid the concession stands. Great energy and fun experience!
Nikos O Likos - 3 months ago

Show More
Show Less

5 Star Rating Estádio Nilton Santos is Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas' home stadium, in Rio de Janeiro. The stadium was also home to many olympic sports during the Pan American games in Rio and the Summer Olympics in Rio (Usain Bolt broke a WR here!). On Botafogo game days the stadium and it's surrounding areas are filled with fans, lively bars and food stands. I'd recommend trying to book tickets early and arriving a bit earlier to get a sense of the atmosphere around the stadium and get in avoiding long lines (30 min before kick off). If you want to be a part of a rowdy crowd, the East inferior and east superior (Leste Inferior and Leste Superior) sections are the best, as the "ultras" are there with big flags, drums, etc. If you want a great view of the game and less of a crazy crowd, I'd suggest the west end (Oeste Inferior or Oeste superior), as this is the side where the TV booths, media boxes and commentators watch the game from (in other words, any TIFOs and fireworks go off on the opposing side, so you have a better view of that stuff). Overall, the stadium is great, easy access with QR codes, beautiful field and fans that just love the club and are super passionate. It's a great vibe. There is limited parking at the stadium, but you can park at the nearby Norte Shopping (20 min walk, but it's easy to find just follow the fans wearing Botafogo jerseys) and will save you time when leaving the stadium as it's not as crowded. Also gives you the opportunity to use some clean washrooms and grab a bite, as the bathrooms at the stadium do lack in cleanliness, especially in really crowded games as it gets later into the night. If you have any questions feel free to message me @FogaoTaEmbalado ⚪️⚫️
Tony - a year ago

Show More
Show Less

5 Star Rating The entrance is well organised, the access to the stadium from different parts of the city is easy, as it lies in front of the Engenho de Dentro Supervia Train Station.
Fábio Luiz Matta - 8 years ago

Show More
Show Less

2 Star Rating Honestly it was a bit of a nightmare. The stadium doesn't feel set up to handle the crowds. Getting there was nearly impossible and leaving was even worse.
Khalid Mundwiller - 5 months ago

Show More
Show Less

Directions

Metro and SuperVia Line Nearest Station Walking Time
Line 1 or 2 + SuperViaEngenho de Dentro Station1 Minute

How to get to Estádio Nilton Santos by Metro and SuperVia

Unlike the majority of our attractions in Rio, a visit to the Olympic Stadium will require use of a SuperVia Train in addition to the Metro, however it is conveniently located right beside Engenho de Dentro Station. To get there you can take the Metro to Central Station and transfer a SuperVia train destined for destined for Deodoro, Santa Cruz or Japeri. Information about the SuperVia trains and fares can be found here.

Map & Instant Route Finder

Click&Go Map and Route Finder with public transit, walking, driving or cycling directions. Get up-to-the-minute transit times for your route.

Finding Your Route - Please Wait

Accommodations near Estádio Nilton Santos:

Photo Gallery

Video

Please provide consent and/or disable ad blocker to view the video.


Rio de Janeiro Hotel Deals


Book Now, Pay Later
Price Matching
2,563,000+ Properties Worldwide
24/7 Support
booking.com logo
Booking.com sale banner link

Visiting Rio de Janeiro?
Here's why we use Booking.com for our hotel bookings.
Best Selection
Daily Deals
Price Matching
Pay at the Hotel
24/7 Support
Share on Pinterest
Share on Pinterest
Help us grow! Please Share
Thanks for Visiting!