Rio de Janeiro International Airport; (c) Portal Brasil2016
Rio de Janeiro Transportation
Airport
Riogaleão – Aeroporto Internacional Tom Jobim (GIG) is one of the busiest airports in South America. Every terminal was upgraded for the 2016 Summer Olympics. Major airlines serving the airport include GOL Airlines, Aerolíneas Argentinas, KLM, American, United, Delta, and Air Canada airlines. You can book direct flights from Miami, Atlanta, NYC, Houston, and Toronto.
GIG Airport features WiFi, shopping, dining, lounge, passenger amenities, and artwork sprinkled around each terminal. Don’t be surprised if you see a military jet take off. For historical reasons, some of GIG’s airport facilities are shared with the Brazilian Air Force.
Though you can rent a car from GIG Airport, it’s best to reach your hotel by shuttle, taxi, or Uber and deposit your luggage first. If you want to drive later, get comfortable by renting a taxi driver for 2 hours to observe the roadways and driving styles in Rio, then rent a car.
People drive on the same side as the USA, but speed limits are posted in kilometers per hour (kph) like in Canada and Mexico. For example, 50 kph = 31 mph on streets, 60 kph = 37 mph on main avenues, 80 kph = 50 mph on divided lane boulevards, and 110 kph = 68 mph on highways. Brazil has speed cameras posted in some places.
AdventurodoBrasil has detailed information about driving in Rio and Brazil.
Premium Auto Ônibus, Uber, and Taxis are better choices upon arrival at GIG Airport. Premium Auto Ônibus operates executive bus 2018 from GIG every 30 minutes between 05:30 and 23:30 hours. Brasil uses 24-hour Marine Time. The route goes from GIG to the Central Station in central Rio de Janeiro, Santos Dumont Airport, Copacabana, Ipanema, and Alvorada Bus Terminal in Barra da Tijuca.
Ticket counters for bus services are located at the terminal arrival areas. Taxis at the ground transportation level are plentiful. MetroRio does not go to GIG Airport.
Train Station
Central do Brasil is Rio’s intermodal transportation center as the terminal of its SuperVia commuter rail network, a MetroRio station, VLT light rail station, and the central bus station. SuperVia commuter rail lines anchor MetroRio Central Station. Since intercity train service was canceled decades ago, SuperVia only goes to Rio suburbs.
SuperVia commuter train of Rio de Janeiro; (c) Henrique Freire/Wiki Commons
Don’t get it twisted. The word CENTRAL refers to Central do Brazil, the ground transportation hub where Commuter Rail, Metro Mail, Light Rail, and buses meet. The word CENTRO refers to downtown Rio de Janeiro.
SuperVia runs on 8 lines to 104 stations. SuperVia commuter rail travels from Rio de Janeiro to nearby cities: Duque de Caxias, Guapimirim, Nova Iguaçu, Nilópolis, Mesquita, Queimados, São João de Meriti, Belford Roxo, Japeri, Paracambi and Magé. They also go to the Olympic Stadium and Maracana Stadium for football (soccer) games. Pre-pandemic ridership was as high as NYC commuter rail lines.
Rapid Transit
MetroRio the rail-based rapid transit system was inaugurated in 1979 and continues expansion. Pre-pandemic MetroRio attracted nearly 700,000-weekday riders to its 41 stations and 36 miles of track. A number of its stations were as busy as those on the Washington Metro System.
There are MetroRio maps in the stations to help you navigate the system. All signs include English and Portuguese. With your ticket in hand, just go to one of the turnstiles to board. Getting to the platform, read the signs that indicate the direction of the trains and check which side you should be, on the right or left.
President Lula visiting Rio Metro Cantagalo Station; credit Government of Brasil
Do not rely on the PA system to let you know your train has arrived as it is difficult to hear in some stations.
MetroRio connects to Metronibus local buses, Metro na Superficie BRT lines, and VLT light rail trains. You must buy special MetroRio tickets to transfer to buses and VLT light rail. MetroRio is open Monday-Saturday 5:00-24:00 plus Sundays and holidays 7:00-23:00. One-way rare is R$3.50 (equals about US $1).
Metro Line 1 serves downtown Rio, South Zone tourist areas (Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon), and several neighborhoods in the North Zone. It is fully underground while running from Uruguai Station to Ipanema/General Osório Station. Metro Line 2 serves residential neighborhoods extending toward the north. It is a northwest-to-southeast line, and mostly at grade, but partly elevated.
Metro Line 4, connects Barra da Tijuca/Jardim Oceânico Station in the West Zone to Ipanema/General Osório Station on Metro Line 1. Passenger trains vary between four and six cabins, depending on commute hours and major events. To the delight of patrons, many new train cabins have been added.
Purchase your first MetroRio Prepaid Card at any MetroRio subway or Metro BRT station using VISA or MasterCard. The Prepaid Card is valid on MetroRio, and Metro na Superfície BRT, but is NOT valid on local buses. The card is free of charge, but a minimum prepayment of R$10 is required.
Transfers (locally called “Integrations”) are needed to reach several attractions between Maracana Stadium, Central Rio, and the South Tourist Zone, so we recommend putting R$50 (US$10) on your Prepaid Card to travel multiple times.
VLT Tram passing by Municipal Theatre in central Rio de Janeiro; (c) Fernando Frazão/Wiki Commons
VLT Carioca is a 3-line Light Rail system with stops at many attractions in Central Rio. Though they draw 80% of their electricity from underground. Don’t worry, it’s safe for pedestrians to walk over the rails. The remaining 20% of VLT electricity usage is from batteries.
VLT has eliminated 60% of buses and 15% of automobile traffic from Central Rio.
The city also has vintage streetcars that run from central Rio the great white arch of Lapa to Santa Teresa. They are not air-conditioned, often crowded but always an authentic Rio experience.
Trem do Corcovado (Corcovado Tram) goes 2000 feet of breathtaking views up the mountain to the iconic Christ The Redeemer Statue. The tram is reached from Central Rio to Humaita District by taxi, Uber, or vintage streetcar. The roundtrip ticket is inexpensive.
Tours & Experiences
We recommend contacting Afro Walking Tour for a guided visit to Afrocentric sites in Rio. They include a glossary to decode the confusing Race, Ethnicity, and Color definitions in Brazil. For example, Pele, the old dark-skinned football star has a complicated history when described as Black in Brazil.
The tour uses the pink-colored RioCard+Mais Prepaid Card accepted on all public transit systems. Available at MetroRio stations and VLT stations, a RioCard+Mais Prepaid Card initially costs R$4. Pay with Real cash or your debit/credit card.
Use these same fare machines to add more money to your card account as needed. To take the Afro Rio Walking Tour, you’ll need R$20 to buy the card for 2 MetroRio fares and 1 VLT fare.
Cruiseport
Ferry from Rio de Janeiro passing Sugarloaf Mountain in route to Niteroi; (c) Henrique Freire/Wiki Commons
Rio de Janeiro Cruise Port is located in Avenida Rodrigues Alves, 10 Praça Mauá and easily accessible by VLT light rail from Centro do Brasil.
Oceania Cruises, Holland America, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises have 18 to 21-day routes from Miami to Rio de Janeiro. Costa Serene Cruise ship serves the port from Italy.
The Cruiseport is close to the Museum of the Future, Museum of Fine Art, AquaRio Aquarium, Sao Bento Monastery, Cine Botequim, nightclubs, and many coffeehouses.