Getting around · Rio de Janeiro · Brazil
Getting around Rio de Janeiro
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Rio stretches along the coast between mountains, so most visitors move between the Zona Sul beaches, Centro and Santa Teresa by Metrô, ride-hailing and on foot along the seafront. Road traffic is heavy at rush hour, and the Metrô is usually the fastest link between Ipanema, Copacabana, Botafogo and Centro. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Metro
- Airports
- GIG, SDU
- Need a car?
- No
Ways to get around
Metro
MetrôRio Line 1 runs from Ipanema (General Osório) through Copacabana, Botafogo and Centro to Tijuca; Line 4 continues west to Leblon, São Conrado and Barra da Tijuca, and Line 2 serves the Maracanã.
On weekdays at rush hour, carriages marked in pink are reserved for women.
Tram
The VLT light rail links Santos Dumont Airport, Praça XV, Praça Mauá and the Museum of Tomorrow, the Novo Rio bus station and Central do Brasil.
Walking
The seafront promenade runs continuously from Leme through Copacabana and Arpoador to Ipanema and Leblon, about 8 km, and is the most pleasant way to move between the beach neighbourhoods.
Ride-hailing
Uber and 99 are widely used and inexpensive by international standards, and they are the sensible choice after dark.
Wait for your car inside a shop or hotel lobby rather than on the pavement with your phone out.
Taxi
Yellow taxis are metered and can be hailed or found at ranks; at the airports use the official prepaid or rank taxis.
Cycling
Bike-share docks line the beachfront and the Lagoa, and a cycle path follows the whole Zona Sul shoreline from Leme to Leblon.
Ferry
Ferries from Praça XV cross Guanabara Bay to Niterói in about 20 minutes and also serve car-free Paquetá Island.
From the airport
Galeão (GIG), about 20 km north of Centro, handles most international flights; ride-hailing or taxis take about 45–75 minutes to Copacabana and Ipanema depending on traffic, and executive buses run to the Zona Sul beachfront. Santos Dumont (SDU), beside Centro and served by the VLT, mainly handles domestic flights such as the São Paulo shuttle.
Do you need a car?
No. Traffic and parking are difficult, and the Metrô, ride-hailing and walking cover the main sights. Hire a car or a driver only for coastal trips to Búzios, Paraty or Ilha Grande.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Petrópolis | About 1.5 hours by bus | Bus from Rodoviária Novo Rio, or a tour |
| Niterói and the MAC | About 20 minutes by ferry, then a short ride | Ferry from Praça XV, then bus or taxi |
| Búzios | About 2.5–3 hours by bus or transfer | Bus from Rodoviária Novo Rio or private transfer |
| Arraial do Cabo | About 2.5–3 hours by bus or transfer | Bus or organised tour |
| Ilha Grande | About 3 hours by road and boat | Transfer to Conceição de Jacareí or Angra dos Reis, then boat |
| Paraty | About 4–5 hours by bus | Bus from Rodoviária Novo Rio or transfer |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Rio de Janeiro?
No. Traffic and parking are difficult, and the Metrô, ride-hailing and walking cover the main sights. Hire a car or a driver only for coastal trips to Búzios, Paraty or Ilha Grande.
+How do you get from the airport to Rio de Janeiro?
Galeão (GIG), about 20 km north of Centro, handles most international flights; ride-hailing or taxis take about 45–75 minutes to Copacabana and Ipanema depending on traffic, and executive buses run to the Zona Sul beachfront. Santos Dumont (SDU), beside Centro and served by the VLT, mainly handles domestic flights such as the São Paulo shuttle.
+What is the best way to get around Rio de Janeiro?
Metro: MetrôRio Line 1 runs from Ipanema (General Osório) through Copacabana, Botafogo and Centro to Tijuca; Line 4 continues west to Leblon, São Conrado and Barra da Tijuca, and Line 2 serves the Maracanã.