Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide

Getting There By Air

Aeroporto Internacional do Rio de Janeiro/Galeão Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG)
Tel: (21) 3398 4526/7.
Website: www.infraero.gov.br

Rio International Airport is located on Ilha do Governador, in Guanabara Bay, some 20km (13 miles) north of the city center. It is the main air portal for Brazil and an important hub for flights from Europe and North America, as well as for major domestic flights, serving over 6 million passengers per year.

Airport facilities: Facilities in the main, older terminal include a 24-hour bank, several bureau de change, ATMs, shops, duty-free, a pharmacy, post office, 24-hour hospital, tourist information and car hire from Avis, Hertz and Localiza. Dining options are limited to a basic food hall with a few fast-food outlets. The newer, less-used terminal has a few shops and snack bars.

Business facilities: Guests at the airport’s Luxor Aeroporto Hotel (tel: (21) 2468 8998; website: www.luxor-hotels.com) may use the hotel’s 24-hour business center, which has Internet access, fax and phone lines. Diners Club cardholders have access to the Diners Club VIP Lounge (tel: (21) 2462 3380; website: www.dinersclub.com.br), which provides refreshments and business facilities. The lounge is open daily from 0600 to 2300 and is located on the second floor at the international voyages registration desk.

Transport to the city: Real/Reitur Turismo (tel: (21) 2564 2158; website: www.realautoonibus.com.br) operates air-conditioned buses from the first floor of the airport to Barra da Tijuca, via the city center, the Rodoviária Novo Rio bus terminal, Santos Dumont Airport (see below), Flamengo and along the seafront between Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon, where many hotels are situated. The bus runs approximately every 30 minutes daily (journey time - 45 minutes to 1 hour). Fixed-rate municipal taxis can be booked at the kiosk near the airport arrivals gate.

Aeroporto Santos Dumont (SDU)
Tel: (21) 3814 7070.
Website: www.infraero.gov.br

Built on landfill at the edge of Guanabara Bay, the domestic airport of Santos Dumont is minutes from the city center. Around three shuttles per hour leave for São Paulo (less on weekends) but cancellations are frequent. Aside from the shuttle, there are a few other domestic flights together with air taxis and private planes.

Airport facilities: Tourist information, left luggage, restaurants, bookshop, souvenir shop, Internet access, 24-hour banking and exchange facilities are available along with car hire from Avis and Hertz.

Business facilities: Diners Club cardholders have access to the Diners Club VIP Lounge (tel: (21) 2532 4271; website: www.dinersclub.com.br), which provides refreshments as well as business facilities, including a fax machine, photocopying, computers and Internet connection. The lounge is open daily from 0600 to 2200 and is located on the main floor in arrivals.

Transport to the city: The airport is served by the Real/Reitur Turismo (tel: (21) 2564 2158; website: www.realautoonibus.com.br) bus service into the city center (see above), with a journey time of 20 minutes. Taxis are plentiful and reasonable, but make sure the meter is used or agree a price beforehand. It is only a 15-minute walk to the Centro (central business district) from Santos Dumont airport.

Approximate flight times to Rio de Janeiro: From London is 11 hours; from New York is 10 hours; from Los Angeles is 14 hours; from Toronto is 12 hours and from Sydney is 20 hours.

Getting There By Road

Brazil's road system is extensive and diverse but driving through the world's fifth biggest country is still a daunting task. Road conditions are adequate although signage is poor. Traffic drives on the right and the minimum driving age is 18 years in Rio de Janeiro. The national speed limit on highways is 110kph (68mph). Drivers should carry a driving license from their country of origin at all times; technically an authorized Portuguese translation is required, although this is rarely asked for (an international permit is not necessary). Third-party liability insurance is required by law. Touring Club Do Brasil (tel: (21) 3824 0070; www.touring.com.br) provides information and assistance to foreign motorists in cities and on highways, providing the driver is a member of a similar organization in his/her own country.

Emergency breakdown services
Touring Club Do Brasil (tel: (21) 3824 0070).

Routes to the city
The BR-116 from Porto Alegre passes through Curatiba, where it picks up traffic from Foz do Iguaçu and continues on through São Paulo, all the way to Rio de Janeiro. Coastal highway BR-101 runs from Natal, through Salvador to Rio de Janeiro and beyond. However, there is a faster inland route from Salvador on BR-116, which connects with the BR-040 from Brasilia at Belo Horizonte. The BR-116 and BR-040 lead into Rio along Avenida Brasil. The main highway continues along the coast before emerging from Túnel Novo at Copacabana. From here, the Avenida Atlântica runs alongside the beach to Ipanema and Leblon.

Driving times to the city
From São Paulo - 6 hours; Brasilia - 20 hours; Foz do Iguaçu - 21 hours; Porto Alegre - 26 hours; Salvador - 28 hours.

Coach services
International and interstate buses operate from the Terminal Rodoviária Novo Rio, Avenida Francisco Bicalho, in Santo Cristo. International services go to Asuncion (Paraguay), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Montevideo (Uruguay) and Santiago (Chile). Pluma (tel: 0800 646 0300; www.pluma.com.br) serves international and national routes. Interstate buses travel to major Brazilian cities and tourist centers. There are many service providers, including Pluma (see above), Real Expresso (tel: (61) 2106 7100; www.realexpresso.com.br), Auto Viação 1001 (tel: (21) 4004 5001; www.autoviacao1001.com.br) and Expresso Brasileiro (tel: (21) 2263 9824; www.expressobrasileiro.com), which operate regular service to São Paulo.

Getting There By Rail

Rail Services
Unfortunately, the Brazilian railway system is limited and precarious, and crossing the country from side to side remains a distant desire. There is no single national rail company and any passenger services are few and far between. Most train services from Rio are for cargo. Trains that do run are often slower than the buses. There is only one terminal in Rio, located in the city center area - Estação Dom Pedro II, Central do Brasil, Praça Cristiano Ottoni. Linking the inner city with the suburbs, it is mainly used by work commuters. On 2 December, National Samba Day, staggering inside a crowded train becomes synonymous of partying. At regular intervals, surrounded by hundreds of musicians, numerous trains leave from Central Station towards Osvaldo Cruz, transforming an otherwise dreadful journey into a picturesque samba reunion.

Rail Operators
SuperVia (tel: 0800 726 9494; www.supervia.com.br) operates the urban service from Rio's Central do Brasil station, which connects the inner city with the suburbs.

Getting Around in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Public Transport

The underground service provided by Metrô Rio (tel: (21) 3982 3600; www.metrorio.com.br) is efficient although limited in the area it covers. Metrô tickets are only available at the stations - for a single journey or a carnet of 10 tickets. Buses are cheap, regular and run to all parts of the city. Many different companies operate including Real (tel: (21) 2263 7689) and Novo Horizonte (tel: (21) 2233 7210). Tickets are sold on the bus. An integrated Metrô and bus ticket (one-way combined fare), called Metrô/Ônibus, is available at Metrô stations.

Taxis

Yellow taxis operate with a meter and can be hailed on the street in Rio. Travelers should check that the meter is reset and indicates the correct tariff. There is a minimum fare, plus a charge per kilometer. Tipping is not necessary. Radio taxis are safe and reliable but 30% more expensive than yellow taxis. Providers include Central de Táxi (tel: (21) 2195 1000), Coopertramo (tel: (21) 2209 9292) and Transcoopass (tel: (21) 2560 4888).

Driving in the City

Rio traffic is quite chaotic and the efficient public transport system is a faster and cheaper way to enjoy the city. However, driving can be a good option for local excursions and reaching some of the further beaches. For visitors making a day trip to Rio by car, the best option is to park in a secure car park, leaving the car with an attendant. Parking in Rio is very cheap.

Car Hire

The minimum age to hire a car in Rio de Janeiro is 21 years. A credit card is usually required as security but also for payment. An International Driving Permit is not normally required - just a driving license. Rates include basic, third-party cover and collision waiver and personal accident insurance are extra. Some major companies with car hire offices in the city include Avis (tel: (21) 2543 8481; www.avis.com.br), Hertz (tel: (21) 2275 7440; www.hertz.com.br) and Localiza (tel: (21) 2275 3340; www.localiza.com.br). These companies also have offices at both airports.

Bicycle Hire

Cycling in Rio is considered a sport rather than an alternative way of transportation, so it is not recommended to ride outside of the cycle paths, which mostly run alongside the beachfront and around the Lagoa. Bicycle hire is available from Bike&Lazer, Rua Visconde de Pirajá, 135B, Ipanema (tel: (21) 2285 7941; www.bikeelazer.com.br) and Mobilicidade at Copacabana and Ipanema Metrô stations (tel: (21) 2221 7460; www.mobilicidade.com.br).