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Sugarloaf mountain in Rio de Janeiro

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Brazil

Travel to Rio De Janeiro

Flying to Rio De Janeiro

Airlines offering flights to Rio de Janeiro from the UK include British Airways, TAM Linhas Aéreas, Air France and Lufthansa. Flights to Rio take approximately 12 hours from London. Rio is a popular destination all year round, especially during the Brazilian summer (December to March). You can find cheap flights to Rio outside those months but if you are planning to travel in February, close to carnival time, book well in advance.

Flight times: 

From London - 12 hours; New York - 10 hours; Los Angeles - 13 hours; Toronto - 10 hours 30 minutes; Sydney - 18 hours.

Travel by road

Summary:

Brazil’s road system is extensive and diverse but driving through the world’s fifth biggest country is still a daunting task. Road conditions are adequate although signage is poor. Traffic drives on the right and the minimum driving age is 18 years in Rio de Janeiro. The national speed limit on highways is 110kph (68mph).

Drivers should carry a driving licence from their country of origin at all times; technically an authorised Portuguese translation is required, although this is rarely asked for (an international permit is not necessary). Third-party liability insurance is required by law.

Touring Club Do Brasil (tel: (21) 3824 0070; www.touring.com.br) provides information and assistance to foreign motorists in cities and on highways, providing the driver is a member of a similar organisation in his/her own country.

Emergency breakdown service:

Touring Club Do Brasil (tel: (21) 3824 0070).

Routes:

The BR-116 from Porto Alegre passes through Curatiba, where it picks up traffic from Foz do Iguaçu and continues on through São Paulo, all the way to Rio de Janeiro. Coastal highway BR-101 runs from Natal, through Salvador to Rio de Janeiro and beyond. However, there is a faster inland route from Salvador on BR-116, which connects with the BR-040 from Brasilia at Belo Horizonte. The BR-116 and BR-040 lead into Rio along Avenida Brasil. The main highway continues along the coast before emerging from Túnel Novo at Copacabana. From here, the Avenida Atlântica runs alongside the beach to Ipanema and Leblon.

Driving times:

From São Paulo - 6 hours; Brasilia - 20 hours; Foz do Iguaçu - 21 hours; Porto Alegre - 26 hours; Salvador - 28 hours.

Coaches:

International and interstate buses operate from the Terminal Rodoviária Novo Rio, Avenida Francisco Bicalho, in Santo Cristo. International services go to Asuncion (Paraguay), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Montevideo (Uruguay) and Santiago (Chile). Pluma (tel: 0800 646 0300; www.pluma.com.br) serves international and national routes.

Interstate buses travel to major Brazilian cities and tourist centres. There are many service providers, including Pluma (see above), Real Expresso (tel: (61) 2106 7100; www.realexpresso.com.br), Auto Viação 1001 (tel: (21) 4004 5001; www.autoviacao1001.com.br) and Expresso Brasileiro (tel: (21) 2263 9824; www.expressobrasileiro.com), which operate regular service to São Paulo.

Travel by rail

Services:

Unfortunately, the Brazilian railway system is limited and precarious, and crossing the country from side to side remains a distant desire. There is no single national rail company and any passenger services are few and far between. Most train services from Rio are for cargo. Trains that do run are often slower than the buses.

There is only one terminal in Rio, located in the city centre area - Estação Dom Pedro II, Central do Brasil, Praça Cristiano Ottoni. Linking the inner city with the suburbs, it is mainly used by work commuters. On 2 December, National Samba Day, staggering inside a crowded train becomes synonymous of partying. At regular intervals, surrounded by hundreds of musicians, numerous trains leave from Central Station towards Osvaldo Cruz, transforming an otherwise dreadful journey into a picturesque samba reunion.

Operators:

SuperVia (tel: 0800 726 9494; www.supervia.com.br) operates the urban service from Rio's Central do Brasil station, which connects the inner city with the suburbs.

Travel over water

Summary:

The calm waters of Guanabara Bay are an inviting gate to the marvellous city of Rio de Janeiro. The Docas do Rio de Janeiro Autoridade Portuária (Rio Docks Port Authority), Avenida Rodrigues Alves, 20 Praça Mauá (tel: (21) 2219 9542; www.portosrio.gov.br), regulates all water traffic in the bay. Ferries, hydrofoils and catamarans depart from Estação das Barcas, beside the Praça XV de Novembro in the Centro, and link Rio to Niteroi, a small city on the opposite side of the bay. Sailing boats can use the facilities of Marina da Gloria, Avenida Infante Dom Henrique (tel: (21) 2555 2208; www.marinadagloria.com.br).

Ferry services:

The only ferry routes from Rio are local. Rio is an extremely popular destination for cruise ships and many thousands of passengers disembark at the city each year. Costa Cruzeiros (tel: (21) 2220 0505; www.costacruzeiros.com.br) operates cruises to and from Rio and the city is also a popular stop for international cruise liners.

Nearest port:

Rio de Janeiro.

Transport to the city:

Regular public buses run to the Centro, Copacabana and Ipanema. Taxis are also readily available. The Centro is a short and pleasant walk from the Estação das Barcas.

Transfer distance:

In centre.

Transfer time:

2 minutes - harbour runs along Rio.

Recommended Sites:

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