Are you coming to Rio de Janeiro and want to use public transportation? In this post, you will find all the main information for you to get around Rio de Janeiro in an uncomplicated and safe way, plus without spending too much!
Rio de Janeiro is a large city with approximately 6,718,903 inhabitants spread over an area of 1,200,255 km², not to mention its metropolitan area. At first, this may scare the visitors. However, the main areas for tourists are the South Zone and Central (downtown). Therefore, it is totally possible and easy to use public transport in the city. Keep reading to find out how.
Types of public transportation
The city of Rio de Janeiro has extensive public transport. And it includes the subway, bus, light rail (a modern tram), BRT (express bus), vans, train, and ferry.
For those wishing to visit the city for a few days, the most interesting are the subway, the bus, and the VLT. After all, these are the ones that circulate in the most tourist neighborhoods. BRT, vans, and trains are mostly used to access more distant districts from downtown. The ferry is used to access regions located on islands (like Paquetá island) or the city of Niterói.
-> See also Rio beyond Rio: 6 cities nearby you must visit.
Carioca Tip:
Moovit and GMaps are two apps that work very well in the city and can be used to map your routes by public transit.
Getting around: the best transport for your trip
Subway
The best way to get around Rio de Janeiro is by using the subway. Its stations are available in the main points of interest of the city, including the well-known neighborhoods of Ipanema, Leblon, Copacabana, as well as Downtown (Centro) and Barra da Tijuca.
–> See a map with all the stations from MetroRio here.
The metro system is fast, safe, and easy to use. But for all these reasons, it is widely used by the Cariocas themselves. Therefore, avoid traveling by subway on weekdays, between 7 and 8 in the morning and between 17 and 19 at night. It gets really crowded!
Carioca Tip:
The stations with significant tourist interest points are located on line 1. Search for accommodation near one of them and optimize your travel time! Choose your accommodation here.
-> See also Where to stay in Rio de Janeiro.
UBER and Cabify
Although they are not a kind of public transportation, it’s worth checking the estimated fare of apps like Uber and Cabify. Both are regularized in Rio and work very well in the city with cost-effective rates. So if you’re not traveling alone and, depending on the time and distance you need to go, they both can be better options.
-> We also recommend Uber and Cabify when you arrive at the Galeão International Airport which has no subway station. But if you prefer to get to your hotel even more comfortable, hire our transfer service through our contact form.
Carioca Tip:
We don`t recommend that you rent a car during your visit to Rio. Traffic in the city is quite complicated, signage is not the best, gasoline and parking are expensive, and the GPS does not always send you to the best and safest route, so it`s not worth it.
RioCard: the city's transportation card
If you are really willing to use public transportation (not just the subway), it is worth buying a RioCard: the city’s integrated transport card.
It is quite easy to get one. Go to an official store (you usually find one at subway, BRT, or VLT stations – access the map here). At the machine, choose the option to purchase a new card. It will cost 3 reais, but you can use it on any public transport in the city, as long as it has credits. You can top it up with the amount you want on the same machine.
Additionally, whenever you use two different types of transportation in the same direction and at an interim of less than 2 hours, you will receive discounts on the fare, which varies according to the transport.
At the end of your trip or when you no longer want to use the card, simply hand it over to a Riocard store or to the bus driver for a refund.
Remember that the RioCard is required to use the VLT (transportation that connects Santos Dumont airport to the city center and Porto Maravilha to Cinelândia) and the BRT.
However, to use the bus, you can pay directly to the driver, and to use the subway, you can buy a MetroRio card.
We hope that with these tips you feel safer to use the public transportation in Rio de Janeiro. But if you need help with your trip, keep in mind that we offer consulting services. Also, we can create a fully customized itinerary to make sure your experience is the best possible.
Check out our Local Experiences too. Get to see the real Rio with a friendly Carioca guide and enjoy the best things that the city has to offer.
Have a nice trip!
Co-founder, web designer, and content producer of Rio by Cariocas. A Historian by education and Digital Nomad by vocation. However, Rio de Janeiro is her “Safe Harbor.” She writes about the historical and cultural attractions of Rio, besides guides and practical information.
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