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Rio de Janeiro has great public transportation options, which make getting around the city relatively easy!

This Rio de Janeiro Transportation Guide gives details on both how to get to and from the city, as well as transportation options available for getting around once there. General information about getting around Brazil can be found by visiting our Brazil Transportation Guide. Further background information about Rio de Janeiro is available at our Rio de Janeiro Destination Guide page.

Rio de Janeiro Transportation Guide

How to get to Rio de Janeiro by plane

Two Brazilian airlines, Varig and TAM, operate both international and domestic flights. Aerolineas Argentinas, Air France, American Airlines, British Airways, Continental, Iberia, Lufthansa, TAP and United Airlines are just a few of the numerous international carriers that fly to Rio de Janeiro. Brazilian Gol Transportes Aéreos also operates domestic flights.

Rio de Janeiro International Airport (Aeroporto Internacional do Rio de Janeiro/Galeão/Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport) is located on Ilha do Governador, in Guanabara Bay, about 20 kilometers north from downtown. It is the main airport in Brazil for both international and domestic flights. Facilities at the airport include currency exchange, 24-hour bank, ATMs, a variety of restaurants and shops, a pharmacy, post office, hospital, tourist information centre and car hire offices. To reach most of the hotels and touristic areas, there are executive coaches, known as "frescão", conventional buses and taxis that operate at the airport. There are also special vans that provide regular and private transfers from airport to hotels. Reservations can be made directly from us.

Aeroporto Santos Dumont is a domestic airport located beside the city centre and receives mainly Rio-São Paulo flights. The privileged localization, allows quick access to most of the hotels and touristic areas. Nearby there taxi companies and many bus lines headed to several places in Rio de Janeiro. Some companies that operate in Santos Dumont Airport: Gol Transportes Aéreos, TAM Linhas Aéreas, Total Linhas Aéreas, Varig, Ocean Air, TEAM.    

The airports of Santos Dumont and Galeão are administrated by Infraero (Empresa Brasileira de Infraestrutura Aeroportuária), responsible for the administration of the main airports in Brazil.

Visit our partner Air Valid for Airline Reviews and Information about Brazil.

Rio de Janeiro flights

By boat

Cruise ships are basically the only way of getting to Brazil from North America or Europe by sea. A number of cruise liners stop at Rio de Janeiro. Public buses, taxis, private and regular transfers are available to take disembarking passengers to the city centre and other major tourist destinations around Rio de Janeiro.

By car

There is an expansive highway system in Brazil, which accounts for more than half of the road network. Unfortunately, road conditions, especially the minor roads, are often poor quality and lack adequate signage. Approximate driving times to Rio de Janeiro, from: São Paulo - 6 hours; Brasilia - 20 hours; Foz do Iguaçu - 21 hours; Porto Alegre - 26 hours; Salvador - 28 hours.

By bus/coach

Coaches, both interstate and international, operate ouf of the Novo Rio Bus Terminal (Terminal Rodoviário Novo Rio), located on Avenida Francisco Bicalho, in Santo Cristo. Another terminal which also caters to long-distance buses is the Menezes Cortes  Bus Terminal (Terminal Rodoviário Menezes Cortes), located at São Jose Street, Downtown. International destinations include Asuncion (Paraguay), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Montevideo (Uruguay) and Santiago (Chile).

Below, you will find some companies that arrive in Rio de Janeiro Bus Terminal with departures from the main cities of Brazil and other countries:  

Interstate:

Águia Branca - Salvador (BA), Vitória (ES)
Andorinha - Campo Grande (MS)
Caiçara de Transportes S/A - Belo Horizonte (BH)
Expresso Brasileiro S/A - São Paulo (SP)
Expresso União - Palmas (TO)
Itapemirim - Aracaju (SE), Belém (PA), Brasília (DF), Curitiba (PR), Florianópolis (SC), Fortaleza (CE), João Pessoa (PB), Porto Alegre (RS), Recife (PE), Salvador (BA), São Luís (MA), São Paulo (SP), Vitória (ES)
Nacional - Maceió (AL)
Real Expresso - Goiânia (GO)
São Geraldo - Goiânia (GO), João Pessoa (PB), Maceió (AL), Natal (RN), Recife (PE)
Transbrasiliana - Belém (PA)
Útil - Belo Horizonte (BH)
Viação 1001 - São Paulo (SP)
Viação Cometa - Belo Horizonte (BH), São Paulo (SP)
Viação Motta - Cuiabá (MT)
Viação Nossa Senhora da Penha - Aracaju (SE), Belém (PA), Brasília (DF), Curitiba (PR), Florianópolis (SC), Fortaleza (CE), João Pessoa (PB), Porto Alegre (RS), Recife (PE), Salvador (BA), São Luís (MA), São Paulo (SP), Teresina (PI), Vitória (ES)

International:

Crucero del Norte - Buenos Aires (Argentina)
Pluma - Assunção (Paraguai), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Santiago (Chile)
Rápido Yguaçu S/A - Assunção (Paraguai)

Novo Rio Terminal:
Adress: Av. Francisco Bicalho, 1 - Santo Cristo
Telephones: (21) 2291-5151/ 3213-1800/ 2263-5828 ext. 192

Menezes Cortes Terminal:
Adress: Rua São José, 35 - Castelo
Telephones: (21) 2533-8819/ 2544-6667

Getting Around Rio de Janeiro

By Metro

Metrô Rio runs the underground service in Rio de Janeiro, which is clean, fast, safe and air-conditioned. However, it does not cover the whole city, with only two lines, both of which operate from Monday to Saturday 05:00-24:00, as well as on Sundays and holidays 07:00-23:00.

Line 1 runs from Copacabana (Cantagalo Station) to Tijuca (Sãens Pena Station), whereas Line 2 runs from Centro (Estácio Station) to Pavuna, located in the city's north. Regular tickets and combined Metrô and bus tickets are available at Metrô stations.

Besides the stations from lines 1 and 2, an integration service is provided. It allows the passengers to reach the places where there is no Metrô station. The passenger gets in the Metrô and then uses an integration bus or train, or vice-versa, with only one reduced tariff. The integration trip has always a lower price than the sum of the transportations used separately.

Line 1

Cantagalo - Siqueira Campos - Cardeal Arcoverde - Botafogo - Flamengo - Largo do Machado - Catete - Glória - Cinelândia - Carioca - Uruguaiana - Presidente Vargas -Central - Praça Onze - Estácio - Afonso Pena - São Francisco Xavier -  Saens Peña

Line 2

Estácio - São Cristovão - Maracanã - Triagem - Maria da Graça - Del Castilho - Inhaúma -Engenho da Rainha - Thomaz Coelho - Vicente de Carvalho - Irajá -  Colégio - Coelho Neto - Acari/Fazenda Botafogo - Engº Rubens Paiva Pavuna

The stations in Copacabana: Cantagalo, Siqueira Campos and Cardeal Arcoverde allow access to the beaches nearby, and the Catete, Glória, Cinelândia, Carioca and Uruguaiana stations are close to the most important historical and cultural attractions in town. Estação station connects both lines.

Types of Metro Integracion:

Metro-Bus Express Integration:

• Botafogo - Urca;
• Cardeal Arcoverde - Leme;
• Largo do Machado - Rodoviária (via Estácio);
• Largo do Machado - Cosme Velho;
• Carioca - Santa Teresa (Paula Matos);
• Estácio - São Cristóvão/Caju;
• Estácio - Rio Comprido;
• São Francisco Xavier - Vila Isabel;
• Saens Peña - Andaraí;
• Saens Peña - Usina;
• Saens Peña - Grajaú;
• Saens Peña - Muda;
• Del Castilho - Fundão.
• Siqueira Campos - Alvorada (via Av. Américas);
• Siqueira Campos - Novo Leblon (via Praia).
• Botafogo - Gávea;
• Siqueira Campos - Gávea.
• Pavuna - Nova Iguaçu (Via Light);
• Pavuna - Nilópolis (Via Light);
• Pavuna - Mesquita - Nilópolis (Via Light);
• Pavuna - Nova Iguaçu - Caxias (Via Light);
• Pavuna - Nova Iguaçu - Morro Agudo (Via Light).

SuperVia Integration (Train):

Stations: Pavuna; Triagem; São Cristóvão; Central

Site: http://www.metrorio.com.br

By Bus

Buses are a good way of getting around Rio de Janeiro, as they regularly run to all parts of the city, are cheap and operate 24 hours a day. Tickets can be purchased inside the vehicle.

By Taxi

The yellow taxis in Rio de Janeiro are official, metered taxis, and can be hailed on the street. Special taxis, which are either blue or red, operate from the airports. Payment for them is by pre-paid vouchers, which can be purchased at airport kiosks. Radio taxis are another option, although they are generally a little more expensive than hailing a taxi from the street. Tipping is generally not expected, although will be appreciated.

By Private Cars

If you plan on doing a lot of sightseeing and don't feel like taking public transportation, taking a private car is another option. We have excellent deals for you!

By Ferries

Water transport, aboard ferries, hydrofoils and catamarans, are available as transport across Guanabara Bay to Niterói and Paquetá Island. Barcas S/A operates daily services.

Car Hire

Driving in Rio de Janeiro is generally not recommended, with public transport or private cars being better options. If you do wish to rent a car, all the major car hire companies are well represented, both in the city centre and at the airport. Drivers must have a license in their home country, plus an International Driving Permit.

Bicycling

Rio de Janeiro has 140 km of bike paths, the larger in the country and second in Latin America (Bogota is the first with 250 Km). It is estimated that 320 thousand people ride bikes in the city. The bike paths spread throughout the beaches from Leme to Pontal, Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, downtown and several other areas in south and west zones.