The greatest symbol of Latin America

By plane: Rio Airports

Which one should I be choosing?

All tourists who go to Rio de Janeiro for leisure or business have two main airports to get in the city. If you are comming from abroad you must land at Rio de Janeiro International Airport – Galeão. Now, if you are comming from somewhere inside Brazil you can choose wich one it’s the best option for you.

A Day In Brazil bring for you some information about Rio de Janeiro’s airports to help you out in this question.

Rio de Janeiro International Airport (GIG) – Galeão –  Located on Governador Island, Rio de Janeiro International Airport is one of the main entry of foreigners in Brazil and is fundamental to the development of business and tourism in the city. Galeão airport as is also known has the largest airport runway an takeoff of Brazil.

The airport has two terminals that are served for the Brazilian airlines such as TAM, GOL, Avianca, AZUL, Passaredo, and Whitejets (charter). And international airlines LAN, KLM, Iberia, Delta, American, United/Continental, Air Canada, Air France, Britsh Airways, TAP, KLM, Air France, Lufthansa…. (listar todas as companhias aéreas e fazer post com voos de cada uma e linkar)

The urban transport system offers special lines of taxis and buses, which connect the Galeão to various parts of the city, in the South, North and West.

Real Auto Bus is a company which offers a shuttle bus from Galeão airport untill some parts of the city such as Alvorada Terminal Bus Station (2018 or 2918), Santos Dumont Domestic Airport (2101 or 2145). You will spend about R$ 10,00 one way trip. Those buses are called as “Frescão” which means “very fresh” because offer air conditioning.

1001 Auto Bus is a company which offers executive buses from Galeão to Buzios and Galeão to Niterói. You will spend about R$ 10,00 one way trip.

Cabin in Rio de Janeiro | photo credit

Access this website that helps you to choose which bus line takes to walk around in the city.

TAM and GOL also have free shuttle buses from Galeão International Airport to Santos Dumont Airport and Jacarepaguá Regional Airport to their passengers.

Santos Dumont Domestic Airport (SDU) – Landing at Santos Dumont provides a wonderful view to all tourists. Moreover, the airport is located in a very central region and it’s the easy way to get in downtown area. Nicknamed “Ponte Aérea”, the shuttle flights between Rio and São Paulo are the most busiest.

For the location Santos Dumont Airport is the preference of almost all the tourists who arrive in Rio. The airport is located in downtown and it’s very close to the beaches of Flamengo, Copacabana, and Ipanema, Guanabara Bay, “Sugar Loaf”, and Rio Niterói Bridge. All these facilities increase the value of the airfare to this airport.

There are plenty of alternative transports such as taxi and buses. But it’s not served by Metro network. The cheapest way to get to Santos Dumont airport is by taking a urban bus.

Access this website that helps you to choose which bus line takes to walk around in the city.

Jacarepaguá Regional Airport (JPA) – Located in the neighborhood of Barra da Tijuca, this small airport has only flights from air taxi companies and general aviation. Currently it’s highlighted by the off-shore transport in consequence of exploration and extraction of oil from the pre salt Santos Basin.

GOL offers a free bus transfer to connect its passengers from Jacarepaguá airport to Galeão International Airport.

By bus

Novo Rio Bus Terminal - Located at central region, the Rio de Janeiro Bus Terminal makes it easy to travel to different locations in the Rio province. From there you can take buses to over 48 intercity lines, 165 interstate (Southeast, Northeast, and part of the North, Midwest and South of Brazil), and six international lines to four countries (Chile, Argentina, Paraguai, and Bolivia).

Niterói Bus Terminal – Located in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, the terminal has over than 36 intercity buses lines, 24 interstate buses lines (Southeast Region, Part of the Northeast, Part of the Midwest and South), and some international lines to three countries (Chile, Argentina, and Paraguai).

Photo by M. Eduardo Ortiz