Rio by metro, tram and ferry

About Rio by metro, tram and ferry

By the ULTIMATE Rio de Janeiro Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

Rio’s metro runs under the Zona Sul from Ipanema and Leblon through Copacabana and Botafogo to Centro, with a line north to the Maracanã. In Centro, the VLT light rail links Santos Dumont airport, the Praça XV, the port and the Rodoviária. The Barcas cross the bay from the Praça XV to Niterói, and the bonde climbs from Centro to Santa Teresa.

The metro

MetrôRio runs Lines 1, 2 and 4: Line 4 from Barra da Tijuca through São Conrado to Leblon and Ipanema, Line 1 on through Copacabana, Botafogo and Centro, and Line 2 north (metrorio.com.br).

The VLT

The VLT Carioca light rail runs through Centro and the port, linking Santos Dumont airport, the Praça XV, the Praça Mauá and the Rodoviária Novo Rio (trilhos.motiva.com.br/vltrio).

For the beaches, the metro is the fastest way across the Zona Sul.

The ferries and the tram

The Barcas cross the bay from the Praça XV to Niterói and the island of Paquetá. The bonde leaves its station near the Largo da Carioca for Santa Teresa.

Our advice: ride the ferry to Niterói for the best view of Rio, then walk to Niemeyer’s MAC.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Rio by metro, tram and ferry before you go.