Getting Around Rio de Janeiro
The best way to get around Rio is by foot or taxi. Major attractions, such as Lapa and Santa Teresa, can easily be reached on foot from. Other popular sites and beaches are easy to reach by taxi, and fortunately taxis are easy to hail on the city's main streets. For a hassle-free means of transportation from Rio de Janeiro International Airport (GIG), you'll want to catch a taxi. The subway is another efficient and affordable way to get around, but routes are limited. City buses are also convenient, but unfamiliar riders can be thrown off by the non-English-speaking bus drivers. Keep in mind many bus routes branch into Brazil's notoriously unsafe favelas, which you'll want to avoid. Renting a car probably isn't the best mode of transportation, as traffic is heavy and the roads are packed with disorienting street signs and pedestrians.
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On Foot |
You'll find walking is easy and pleasant in the Santa Teresa, Centro, Lapa, and Zona Sul neighborhoods. You'll have to rely on a taxi, a bus, or a subway train to reach Santa Teresa and Centro, but once there, definitely peruse the art galleries, shops, and museums on foot. Other areas, unfortunately, are less dense. For more adventurous expeditions to difficult to reach places like Corcovado and Sugar Loaf Mountain, plan on taking a cab. |
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Subway |
The Rio subway system is cheap, clean, and easy to navigate. Single train tickets are priced at $3.10 BRL (about $1.75 USD) and expire two days after purchase. A variety of metro-bus combination ticket options are also available. Combination tickets are particularly useful when visiting far away attractions, like the Jardim Botânico, that require a bus-metro transfer. Subway stations offer rechargeable prepaid fare cards instead of tickets. If you prefer public transportation, you may want to consider this option, which costs an initial $10 BRL (about $5.75 USD) and will help save you time. Another appealing alternative is a RioCard Transportation Pass, a permanent electronic card accepted at all bus and metro stations that can be used up to eight times per day. Trains operate from 5 a.m. until 12 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 7 a.m. until 11 p.m. Sundays and holidays. Overall, the subway is an affordable transportation option; however, it has a limited reach throughout the city. |
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Taxi |
At night, it's best to travel by taxi. Yellow taxis are easy to flag down and have a standard meter rate. The meter should read "1" Monday through Saturday between the hours of 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., and "2," after 8 p.m. and on Sundays. Standard meter rates fluctuate throughout the year. The popular taxi ride along Avenida Atlântica from Copacabana Beach to Centro (roughly seven miles) costs about 22 BRL (around $12.50 USD). Keep in mind most Brazilian taxi drivers do not speak English. We recommend that you write down your destination's address to prevent confusion. There are also plenty of reliable radio cab companies available, but they charge about 30 percent more than standard taxicabs. Centro de Taxis, Cooparioca, and Coopatur are all trustworthy Brazilian taxi services. To schedule a pick-up, call Centro de Taxis at +21 (2195-1000). |
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Bus |
Riding Rio's city buses can be dangerous, particularly at night. Apart from serving as a hot spot for pickpockets, city buses run throughout the city, including favelas (slums). So, stay alert and only take the bus if you know the exact route to your destination. Also, tourists can be taken aback by the non-English speaking bus drivers. We recommend acquiring a route map to avoid confusion. Local bus fares vary depending on your starting location. Prices start at $2.50 BRL (about $1.50 USD). The official Rio Onibus website is in Portuguese; however, English speakers can plan their bus route with Va de Onibus. If you're planning to rely on public transportation, an appealing alternative is a RioCard Transportation Pass, a rechargeable card accepted at all bus and metro stations that can be used up to eight times per day. Air-conditioned buses, known as Frescão buses, are another viable transportation option. These buses are easy to flag down and run between Centro and the beaches in Zona Sul. Fares cost approximately $5 BRL (about $3 USD). |
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Van |
In addition to Frescão buses, minivans run along Ipanema Beach and Copacabana Beach daily. Ideal for travelers residing in the Zona Sul district, these public vans are affordable, quick, and easy to identify from the beach. Van fares start at approximately $1.40 BRL (roughly $0.75 USD). |
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Car |
Rental cars are easy to reserve, but driving throughout the city is not recommended. The main roads have confusing street signs, weaving cars, and traffic jams. Rental rates are also fairly steep, with prices ranging from 110 BRL to 250 BRL (about $50 to $150 USD) per day. Turismo Classico Travel, a car service that charges a flat fee of $30 USD per hour, is an expensive alternative. |
Entry & Exit Requirements
United States citizens must bring a valid passport and obtain a visa from the Brazilian Embassy or closest Consulate before entering Brazil. A standard visa enables visitors to stay in Brazil for 90 days. For more information on entry and exit requirements, visit the U.S. Department of State's website.
