Rio de Janeiro: How to Get There:
By Air
Galeão - Antônio Carlos Jobim International Airport, better known as
Galeão International Airport, is Rio's primary international
airport. This airport is served by several North American and
Central America air carriers, as well as European and African air
carriers. (IATA: GIG) (ICAO: SBGL). This airport is about an hour
drive from the Rio's city center and main hotels of Copacabana and
Ipanema.
Santos Dumont Airport
(IATA: SDU) (ICAO: SBRJ). This small city airport serves mainly
hourly flights to and from Sao Paulo and a limited number of other
domestic destinations. Santos Dumont Airport is located right in the
city center, by the Guanabara bay.
Air-conditioned bus service operated by Real departs every 20-30
minutes from 5am-10pm and runs between both airports, the main bus
terminal and further along the beachfront in Botafogo, Copacabana,
Ipanema, and Leblon. Its terminus is located at the Alvorada
terminal near Barra Shopping in Barra da Tijuca. The full ride takes
at least 60 minutes. Single ticket costs about R$6-10.
Taxis, though considerably more expensive (ex: Galeão - Copacaba R$
70), are also a convenient way to reach the tourist areas.
Flying to Rio de
Janeiro from the USA and in general from anywhere in the world is
somewhat expensive. American air carriers offer several non-stop
flights to Rio de Janeiro.
Rio is one of Brasil's major
transportation hubs. Distance from some capitals: Belo Horizonte -
450 km (280 mi); Brasília - 1160 km (725 mi); Porto Alegre - 1550 km
(970 mi); Recife - 2380 km (1480 mi); Salvador - 1730 km (1080 mi);
Sao Paulo - 430 km (270 mi)
Rio de Janeiro: How to Get There: By Rail
Rio's glorious Central Station, or Central do Brasil, made famous by
a movie of the same name, serves mostly local commuter lines, so
it's unlikely that you'll arrive through here. It's worth a visit
just to see it, though, you can get there either by bus or subway
(subway is better; get off on Central station, line 1).
Rio de Janeiro: How to Get There: By Bus
The long-distance bus depot, Rodoviária Novo Rio, is located in the
North Zone's Santo Cristo neighborhood. Taxis and coach buses can
get you to the South Zone in about fifteen minutes; local buses take
a bit longer. Frescão air-conditioned coaches can be caught just off
the bus station. The coaches connect the station to the city center
and main hotel areas of Copacabana and Ipanema. Bus companies
include: Itapemirim; Penha; Cometa; 1001; Expresso Brasileiro.
Rio de Janeiro: How to Get There: By Car
Rio is connected by many roads to neighboring cities and states, but
access can be confusing as there are insufficient traffic signs or
indications of how to get downtown.
The main interstate highways passing through Rio are:
BR-116, which connects the city to the southern region of Brazil.
BR-101, which leads to the north and northwest, and
BR-040, which will take you in the central and western areas.
Rio de Janeiro: How to Get There: By Boat
Ferries (barcas) connect neighboring Niteroi to Rio de Janeiro and
arrive at Praça XV, in the city center.
