santa teresa is rich in points of interest, first among all is the yellow tram (bonde), affectionately called 'bondinho' by locals, which connects the neighborhood with downtown rio - this tram was inaugurated in 1896 and later became the symbol of this neighborhood, originally green, was later painted yellow to be more easily visible against santa teresa's thick vegetation. 

the museu do bonde, located on rua carlos brant, tells the extensive history of this local icon, including the threat of closure following an accident in 2011 and the powerful community campaign that caused the reopening of the line in 2015.

the ride on the 'bondinho' takes people over the old 'aqueduto da carioca' (lapa's arches) offering rare views of the area and an experience second to none -  for safety reasons the best seats are in the center of the car, as people jumping on the tram along the way while it is in motion have the right to a free ride.