Transportation in Rio de Janeiro can feel overwhelming — that's why we created this guide! With some help from Rio locals, here's what you need to know about using public transit, catching a taxi, or safely navigating on foot.

Rio has a variety of transportation options

Locals tell us that their city offers plenty of different forms of transportation. The key is to plan your route and choose the best type of transit based on where you’re going.

Overall, our trip planners say that you have a few options:

• Taxis/Ubers
• Private cars
• MetroRio, Rio’s metro system
• City buses
• SuperVia, Rio’s rail system
• Rental cars

Much of Rio can be explored on foot

Locals say that walking is easy and pleasant in the Santa Teresa, Centro, Lapa, and Zona Sul (South Zone) neighborhoods — which also happen to be home to beaches like Copacabana and Ipanema, some of Rio's coolest places to visit.

Aside from beaches, locals tell us that the area is packed with great art galleries, shops, restaurants, and museums.

Using taxi cabs or Uber in Rio

City taxis, or amarelinhos (yellow with a blue stripe), are abundant, easy to flag down, and have a standard meter rate regulated by the city.

Locals say you can also order a taxi using an app like 99Taxis. Make sure you check the route and fare before you agree to the ride.

Uber is alive and well in Rio

Yes, Uber exists in Rio! Uber will cost you a bit more than a taxi, but Uber cars and drivers have higher standards and are generally more reliable than yellow cabs.

The Rio Metro is cheap, clean, safe, and easy to navigate

Locals say that Rio’s subway system, MetroRio, is the most reliable public transportation method in Rio de Janeiro — especially during rush hour. It's a fantastic resource as you navigate between all the places to visit in Rio.

Even though the metro gets crowded, it can be much faster than taking regular buses or even a taxi at certain times. (Locals say traffic can get bad.)

City buses are really cheap — but don’t use them at night

Locals tell us that there are two types of city buses that run in Rio: Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and city buses.

BRT

These are buses that travel along dedicated corridors (for traffic purposes) and are an excellent alternative to other forms of public transit. The BRT system has limited route options, though, so you may have to transfer to the metro or take a taxi/Uber to get to popular spots in Zona Sul. The BRT runs 24/7.

City Bus

Rio's city buses are cheap, but locals say that, because of crime risks, you shouldn’t take a city bus at night. Here are the basics:

• Troncal 1, which you will see at the top of the buses, will take you around Copacabana, Ipanema, and up to Centro.
• Troncal 3 operates between Leblon and Centro and makes stops in Flamengo.
• The other buses run to the North Zone of the city, so it’s best not to use them.

The train a good option — except it doesn’t go to the popular beaches in the south

The SuperVia is Rio’s train system. Locals say that it connects downtown (Centro) with neighborhoods in the north, east, and west of the city.

However, the train has limited routes so you’ll have to get a taxi/Uber to Zona Sul — and you'll probably want to, as locals tell us you'll find many of Rio's coolest things to do in Zona Sul.

You could rent a car… but we wouldn’t recommend it

Rental cars are easy to reserve, but beware — locals tell us that driving in Rio is not for the faint of heart.

Road signs are sparse, traffic is congested, and drivers (especially taxi cab drivers) are quite aggressive. Parking may also be challenging — tough to find and costly.

Getting into town from Rio de Janeiro International Airport (GIG)

• Private Transfer: Book a private transfer in advance with one of our trusted providers using the transfers portal.
• City taxi: The yellow taxis are cheaper than the radio taxi and will take about the same time to get to your hotel — but the cost is only R$70 ($17 USD). There are taxi stands at the arrivals gate, or you can order a cab from 99Taxis.
• Uber: Uber is a safe way to get to the city hassle-free. (Like using taxis, the trip will take between 10 and 50 minutes depending on traffic.) There's a dedicated place in the airport now to meet your Uber driver — just follow the directions in the Uber app.
• BRT: If you’re staying in a major area like Ipanema or Copacabana, you’ll have to transfer to the metro.
• Shuttle Van Transfer: You can get a shuttle van through your travel agent, hotel, online, or arrange it at the airport when you land. It’s less expensive than a cab, but you’ll need to plan ahead. 
• Coach Bus: Taking a bus is the cheapest way to get to your destination from the Rio de Janeiro airport. The Real Auto Bus or Empresa Real counters are on the second floor of each terminal.