Overview
Rio de Janeiro's public transport system is built around the Metrô (Metro), a rapid transit network that opened in 1979 and now covers 58 kilometres across 41 stations. As a visitor, you'll use the metro as your backbone for getting around the South Zone, city centre, and western areas like Barra da Tijuca. The system is clean, air-conditioned, and safe, with women-only cars during peak hours (6–9 AM and 5–8 PM). You can also hop on the modern light rail (VLT), suburban trains (SuperVia), buses, ferries, and bus rapid transit (BRT) to reach outer neighbourhoods and islands. Most visitors buy a Rio Card smartcard at any metro or VLT station and load it with credit—you simply tap it at the turnstile to enter.
The network
Metro (Metrô)
The metro is nominally divided into three lines, but Lines 1 and 4 operate as one system. The network effectively runs as two main routes:
- Line 1/4: 32 kilometres long, running from Uruguai/Tijuca station in the north through the city centre to Jardim Oceânico/Barra da Tijuca in the west. This line serves Tijuca, downtown, the South Zone (including Copacabana, Ipanema, Botafogo), and is almost fully underground.
- Line 2: 30.2 kilometres long, running from Pavuna in the North Zone to Botafogo. This line serves working-class residential neighbourhoods in the north and the city centre; most of the line is above-ground (at-grade or elevated), except where it shares track with Line 1/4 between Central and Botafogo.
The two lines share approximately 5 km of underground track and 10 stations between Central and Botafogo. Key stations include Carioca (downtown), Central (main hub), Botafogo, and Cinelândia.
Light Rail (VLT Carioca)
The modern light rail, known as VLT (Veículo Leve sobre Trilhos), operates through the city centre and connects to Santos Dumont Airport. It runs from 6 AM to midnight daily (the Praia Formosa line closes at 8 PM).
Suburban Rail (SuperVia)
Eight commuter rail lines depart from Central Train Station (Estação Central do Brasil) in the city centre, serving the suburbs and Baixada Fluminense. Main lines include the Deodoro line (23 km, 40 minutes), Santa Cruz line (55 km, 75 minutes), Japeri line (62 km, 83 minutes), Belford Roxo line (28 km, 53 minutes), and Gramacho/Saracuruna line (34 km, 62 minutes). These trains are used mainly by commuters.
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
Rio has three BRT lines—Transoeste, Transcarioca, and Transolímpica—which run articulated buses in exclusive corridors. Some lines operate 24 hours; others have restricted hours. They connect outer neighbourhoods and feed into the metro system.
Regular Buses
Nearly 1,000 bus routes operated by multiple companies cover the city. Many run 24 hours; others reduce service after midnight. Buses are a practical way to reach neighbourhoods not served by the metro.
Ferries (Barcas Rio)
Ferries depart from Praça XV in the city centre and connect Rio to neighbouring Niterói and to islands like Paquetá, Governador, and Cocota. This is the main gateway to nearby destinations across Guanabara Bay.
Tickets & fares
The Rio Card is a reloadable smartcard that works across the metro, light rail, buses, BRT, trains, and ferries. You can buy it at any metro, VLT, or bus station. The GIRO card (a variant of the Rio Card) requires an initial charge of approximately R$11.90 (R$7.90 fare plus R$4.00 refundable deposit), with a maximum balance of R$500. The card can be registered on the MetrôRio website for protection against loss or theft.
Current fares (approximate and subject to change) are:
- Metro single fare: approximately R$7.90
- Light rail (VLT) single fare: approximately R$3.00–R$3.80 depending on payment method
- Bus single fare: approximately R$4.05–R$5.00
- BRT single fare: approximately R$4.05
- Train (SuperVia) single fare: approximately R$4.60
- Ferry fares from Praça XV: Rio to Niterói approximately R$5.00–R$7.70; Rio to Paquetá approximately R$5.00
- Integrated metro + ferry with Rio Card: approximately R$9.40
You can pay with the Rio Card (tap-to-ride at the turnstile), cash, or via NFC mobile payment at metro turnstiles. Buses accept cash payment to the driver or fare collector. Rio Card can be recharged at self-service machines at all stations. There are no day passes or weekly passes; you pay per trip. A two-hour transfer window applies to the MetrôRio multi-modal card, allowing a single journey combining metro and bus.
From the airport
Rio has two main airports. Galeão – Antônio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG), located 20 km north of the city centre, handles international and most domestic flights. Santos Dumont Airport (SDU), east of the city centre by Guanabara Bay, receives flights from São Paulo and major Brazilian cities.
From Galeão International Airport
Two air-conditioned bus lines operated by Real depart from the arrivals section roughly every 30 minutes from 5:30 AM to 10 PM:
- Bus line 2018 (Aeroporto Internacional do RJ/Alvorada, Via Orla da Zona Sul): Runs to Alvorada terminal near Barra Shopping, stopping at the main bus terminal, Botafogo, Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon. Full journey takes at least 60 minutes, often longer. Fare is approximately R$16.
- Bus line 2918 (Aeroporto Internacional do RJ/Alvorada, Via Linha Amarela): Reaches Alvorada terminal via Jacarapaguá in as little as 35 minutes. This route is faster but does not serve beach neighbourhoods.
A cheaper public transit option is to take the BRT (approximately R$4.70, Rio Card required) from the airport to Vicente de Carvalho station, then transfer to metro Line 2 to reach the city centre. Allow about 1.5 hours for this journey, especially on your first attempt. At the airport, board BRT bus #30 semi-direto from the middle doors of the 100 m bus stop at Terminal 2.
From Santos Dumont Airport
The light rail (VLT) connects directly to Santos Dumont Airport and runs to the city centre. This is a quick and convenient option.
Taxis
Taxi booths outside Customs offer pre-set fares (considerably more expensive than street taxis but with no negotiation needed). Standard yellow taxis from the rank around 100 metres from arrivals are cheaper but run on meters and may be affected by traffic delays. Many drivers prefer cash payment.
Etiquette & customs
- Queuing: Queue politely when boarding the metro, buses, and ferries. During rush hours, queues can be long at turnstiles.
- Escalators: Stand on the left side of escalators to allow others to walk past on the right. This is standard practice.
- Priority and women-only seating: Women-only cars operate during peak hours (6–9 AM and 5–8 PM) on the metro for safety. Seats near doors are often reserved for elderly passengers, people with disabilities, and pregnant women; give them up if occupied.
- Eating and drinking: Eating is generally discouraged on the metro, though a small snack may be tolerated. Avoid loud eating or drinking that disturbs other passengers.
- Bags and belongings: Keep your bag close and aware of your surroundings, especially during peak hours and late evening. Petty theft is a concern on crowded vehicles.
- Noise and behaviour: Keep noise to a minimum. Loud conversations, music, or phone calls are considered rude. Many passengers use headphones.
- Rush-hour behaviour: During morning (6–9 AM) and evening (5–8 PM) peaks, trains and buses are very crowded. Expect tight conditions and move toward the middle of the carriage to make space for boarding passengers.
Survival terms
- Metrô (meˈtɾo): Metro/subway
- Passagem (paˈsaʒẽ): Ticket/fare
- Linha (ˈlĩɲɐ): Line
- Entrada (ẽˈtɾadɐ): Entrance
- Saída (saˈidɐ): Exit
- Baldeação (baldɐsiˈõ): Transfer
- Passagem unitária (paˈsaʒẽ uniˈtaɾjɐ): Single fare
- Cartão (karˈtõ): Card (Rio Card)
Download the Metro Rio app before your trip for real-time navigation and trip planning to help you navigate the system with confidence.