Travel Tips

Rio de Janeiro

In this section you find some practical information about the City of Rio de Janeiro, how to move around and some hints to get to tourist attractions as locals do.

Planning your Trip

When to come?

Best time to come to Rio: Summer (December to March), New Year's Eve, Carnival... In any case, one can visit Rio all year long.

Where to stay?

Best places to stay: Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon. For business: downtown.

What to see?

The Christ the Redeemer, Sugar Loaf, Copacabana... more: Best of Rio, Attractions.

What to do?

First, visit some of the places above. Second, according to your interests: shopping (beachwear, jewels, gems), tour in the Botanic Garden, Museu do Amanhã (Tomorrow's Museum), visit the São Bento Monastery (XVII Century).

How much to spend?

Rio isn't a cheap city, even for Brazilians. Hotels are expensive. However, you can find some budget accommodation. Better book in advance...

Travel safe

Best tip: Do not go out with valuables (jewelry, watches) or appear to be a tourist in places with a lot of public. Typical examples: beach sidewalks, streets near the beach in Copacabana. Thieves act mostly on weekends, but take care in these places.

Arrival

GIG

The International Galeão Airport (GIG) is the city's major airport. There are two terminals. Terminal One is for domestic flights. International flights land at Terminal Two. In any way it is possible to go by foot from one terminal to the other. It takes about 10 minutes. Brazilian banks agencies are on Terminal One.

Exchange

At the airport, change only the minimum (about $ 50) necessary to arrive to your accommodation. Exchange rates are very low to customers there.

Getting to the Hotel

Better take a taxi (or Uber) at fixed prices in the airport. Taxis at fixed prices to Copacabana, for instance, cost about R$ 130,00 ($ 33) and can take maximum 4 people.

Cheapest way to go downtown and Copacabana or Ipanema: there are air conditioning buses outside the arrival hall. Tickets cost about R$ 16,00 ($ 4).