The international Airport of Rio, Antonio Carlos Jobim / Galeão, is located 15km from the city center.
The best option is to get Premium Auto Ônibus (R$14) that departs in every 30 minutes to the main touristic neighborhoods of Rio. There’s a carrel in the lower part of the vehicle where you can store larger luggages with no additional costs. The driver will help you to load in and off the bus when you disembark.
The blue bus departs from the arriving bay from Terminal 1 and covers Terminal 2 as well. It has the number 2018 written on the orange LED display. Make sure you’ll get the line the goes through Zona Sul (south zone). It goes to Centro (downtown), then makes a connection at the Santos Dumont Airport (domestic flights) and then goes to Glória, Catete, Flamengo, Botafogo, Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, São Conrado and Barra da Tijuca (until Alvorada Terminal).
Hours:
Mon-Fri, 5:30AM-Midnight;
Sat-Sun, 5:30AM-11:40PM
Regular taxi cabs are not recommended because not all drivers are trustable and many of them want to charge higher fares, mainly for tourists. Their regular amount stands between R$60 and R$90.
Radio taxis are offered inside the airport, but they are really expensive. The standard fare is around R$130 to Copacabana/Ipanema.
Unfortunately, Uber cars are not allowed to operate in the airport area yet.
Arriving at the Santos Dumont Airport
If you are coming from another brazilian city, there’s a chance you arrive at the Santos Dumont Airport. Not only the view is more pleasant during the landing time, but also you have more options to get to your final destination, since the airport is located in the city center and near by the main neighborhoods.
You can call Uber or get the Premium Auto Bus (R$14) mentioned above, or take a regular taxi cab (keep your eye on Waze) and even cross the footbridge over the street and get a regular city bus (R$3,80), if you don’t have many luggages, of course.
Check our Quick Tips about the transportation system in Rio de Janeiro.