7 of the best · Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Galeão and Santos Dumont, the metro along the beaches, the VLT through Centro and the port, the Barcas across the bay, the bonde to Santa Teresa and the coaches from the Rodoviária.
Our 7 favourites, listed A–Z · Updated October 2026
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Three Rio addresses we would send a friend to first, chosen from this list.
The back story
The metro along the beaches, the VLT light rail through Centro and the port, the ferries across the bay to Niterói and the old tram to Santa Teresa.
GIG
Rio’s international airport, on the Ilha do Governador, linked to the city by the BRT, buses and taxis.
Lines 1, 2 and 4
Rio’s metro: Line 4 from Barra to Ipanema, Line 1 through Copacabana to Centro, Line 2 north.
The metro under the beaches, the VLT through the port and the ferry across the bay.
The back story
The metro along the beaches, the VLT light rail through Centro and the port, the ferries across the bay to Niterói and the old tram to Santa Teresa.
Arriving in Rio.
GIG
Rio’s international airport, on the Ilha do Governador, linked to the city by the BRT, buses and taxis.
SDU
The city airport on the bay beside Centro, for domestic flights, linked to the VLT.
Metro, VLT and ferries.
Lines 1, 2 and 4
Rio’s metro: Line 4 from Barra to Ipanema, Line 1 through Copacabana to Centro, Line 2 north.
Across the bay
The ferries across Guanabara Bay from the Praça XV to Niterói and Paquetá.
Centro and the port
The light rail through Centro and the port, from Santos Dumont to the Rodoviária.
Out of Rio by road.
Buses out of Rio
The main bus station, for coaches to Petrópolis, Búzios, Paraty and Angra dos Reis.
