Back to all destinations Photo by Jonathan Borba · Unsplash

Brazil

Rio de Janeiro

Beach neighbourhoods, granite peaks and samba

Last reviewed: 14 September 2026

Recommended stay: 3–4 days
Best time to visit: April–June and September–October
Airports: GIG

Rio de Janeiro at a glance

Rio de Janeiro pairs Atlantic beaches with forested mountains, hillside neighbourhoods and a big-city cultural scene. Plan around weather, hills and the distances between Copacabana, Ipanema, Santa Teresa and the centre.

Quick information

Recommended stay3–4 days

Best time to visitApril–June and September–October

AirportsGIG

Budget travelBudgets depend mainly on accommodation and season, so treat this as a rough guide rather than a quote.

These months are usually more comfortable than high summer, though conditions may still be rainy or hot.

Plan your visit

Airport to centre

BRT TransCarioca (Galeão–Tom Jobim stations)

A direct BRT ride to Barra da Tijuca or Madureira; the South Zone needs connections

Standard BRT fareTransport

Must-see sights

Copacabana Beach

Ipanema Beach

Christ the Redeemer

Sights

One-day itinerary

Morning: Take the rack railway up Corcovado for Christ the Redeemer and sweeping views of the city, bay and Atlantic coast.
Lunch: Feijoada completa (black bean stew with pork) at a traditional restaurant in the bohemian hillside neighbourhood of Santa Teresa.
Afternoon: Walk the steep tiled streets of Santa Teresa and visit the Chácara do Céu Museum for its colonial art and city views.
Evening: Descend to the Selarón Steps (Escadaria Selarón) in Lapa and join the street life around the coloured tile stairway.

Itineraries

Best areas to stay

Copacabana
A practical beach base. Combine with Ipanema rather than with Christ the Redeemer the same breathless morning.
Best for
A beach stay with the fort nearby
Ipanema
Useful for dusk walks near Posto 9. Pair with Copacabana and the Botanical Garden, not with Corcovado the same morning.
Best for
Beach evenings and a calmer oceanfront stay
Santa Teresa
A hillside base of steep tiled streets. Pair it with Lapa rather than adding Sugarloaf the same hour.
Best for
Hillside streets and the walk to the Selarón Steps
Lapa / Centro
Lapa
Practical for the tiled steps and evening streets. Keep bags simple in crowds.
Best for
The Selarón Steps, the Lapa Arches and evening streets
Botafogo
Useful when Sugarloaf is the morning plan. The Aterro do Flamengo waterfront is nearby.
Best for
A base near Sugarloaf and the Flamengo waterfront

Approximate budget

Mid-range
Varies by season
per day, per person
Costs vary mainly with accommodation and dining choices.

Airports

Last reviewed: 14 September 2026

GIG
Rio de Janeiro/Galeão–Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport
25 km from city centre

Airport to city transport

Last reviewed: 14 September 2026

OptionTimePrice

GIG

BRT TransCarioca (Galeão–Tom Jobim stations)GIGServices serving the airport start from Terminal Alvorada in Barra da Tijuca and from Madureira station, and stop at the two airport BRT stations, Galeão–Tom Jobim 1 and 2. You can connect to Metrô Line 2 at Vicente de Carvalho and to SuperVia trains at Madureira.
A direct BRT ride to Barra da Tijuca or Madureira; the South Zone needs connections
Standard BRT fare
Details
Services serving the airport start from Terminal Alvorada in Barra da Tijuca and from Madureira station, and stop at the two airport BRT stations, Galeão–Tom Jobim 1 and 2. You can connect to Metrô Line 2 at Vicente de Carvalho and to SuperVia trains at Madureira.
Official airport taxiGIGCredentialled taxis wait on the ground floor near doors A (standard) and B (executive), with dedicated counters. Aerocoop and Coopatur are among the registered companies, and the airport advises using only official taxis.
A road journey to Centro or the South Zone, depending on traffic
Official tariff or taxi cooperative rate
Details
Credentialled taxis wait on the ground floor near doors A (standard) and B (executive), with dedicated counters. Aerocoop and Coopatur are among the registered companies, and the airport advises using only official taxis.
Ride-hailing appsGIGThe airport has a taxi and app pick-up section on its transport pages. Follow the airport signs and the app instructions to the designated pick-up area.
A road journey to Centro or the South Zone, depending on traffic
Fare shown in the app
Details
The airport has a taxi and app pick-up section on its transport pages. Follow the airport signs and the app instructions to the designated pick-up area.

Getting around

Last reviewed: 14 September 2026

OptionTimePrice

Metro, bus and tramUse official transport information and validate tickets where required. Leave extra time for hills to Santa Teresa, Corcovado and Sugarloaf.
Times vary by route and traffic
Local fare
Details
Use official transport information and validate tickets where required. Leave extra time for hills to Santa Teresa, Corcovado and Sugarloaf.

Places to visit near Rio de Janeiro

Travel times are approximate and depend on traffic and timetables.

Culture
Niterói
Distance
Approximately 20 km
Travel time
Approximately 30–60 min
Best transport
ferry or taxi
Allow extra time for traffic and weather when travelling to Niterói.
Niterói is a half- or full-day outing from Rio de Janeiro, best reached by ferry or taxi.
Culture and history, approximately 20 km away
Half or full day
- History and culture
- Reached by ferry or taxi
Culture
Petrópolis
Distance
Approximately 70 km
Travel time
Approximately 1.5–2.5 h
Best transport
bus
Allow extra time for traffic and weather when travelling to Petrópolis.
Petrópolis is a half- or full-day outing from Rio de Janeiro, best reached by bus.
Culture and history, approximately 70 km away
Half or full day
- History and culture
- Reached by bus
Nature
Ilha Grande
Distance
Approximately 150 km
Travel time
Approximately 3–5 h
Best transport
bus and boat
Allow extra time for traffic and weather when travelling to Ilha Grande.
Ilha Grande is a half- or full-day outing from Rio de Janeiro, best reached by bus and boat.
Nature and scenery, approximately 150 km away
Half or full day
- Natural scenery
- Reached by bus and boat
Nature
Tijuca Forest
Distance
Approximately 15 km
Travel time
Approximately 30–60 min
Best transport
official shuttle or taxi
Allow extra time for traffic and weather when travelling to Tijuca Forest.
Tijuca Forest is a half- or full-day outing from Rio de Janeiro, best reached by official shuttle or taxi.
Nature and scenery, approximately 15 km away
Half or full day
- Natural scenery
- Reached by official shuttle or taxi
Day trip
Paraty
Distance
Approximately 250 km
Travel time
Approximately 4–5 h
Best transport
coach or car
Allow extra time for traffic and weather when travelling to Paraty.
Paraty is a half- or full-day outing from Rio de Janeiro, best reached by coach or car.
A trip out of the city, approximately 250 km away
Half or full day
- A trip out of the city
- Reached by coach or car

More ideas

Niterói
Niterói is another excursion from Rio de Janeiro, reached by ferry or taxi.
Distance
Approximately 20 km
Travel time
Approximately 30–60 min
Best transport
ferry or taxi
Petrópolis
Petrópolis is another excursion from Rio de Janeiro, reached by bus.
Distance
Approximately 70 km
Travel time
Approximately 1.5–2.5 h
Best transport
bus
Ilha Grande
Ilha Grande is another excursion from Rio de Janeiro, reached by bus and boat.
Distance
Approximately 150 km
Travel time
Approximately 3–5 h
Best transport
bus and boat

Found this guide helpful? Buy us a coffee and help us keep our travel information independent and up to date.

☕ Buy us a coffee

Rio de Janeiro at a glance

Quick information

Plan your visit

Airport to centre

Must-see sights

One-day itinerary

Best areas to stay

Copacabana

Ipanema

Santa Teresa

Lapa / Centro

Botafogo

Approximate budget