Transport in Rio

One of the first things people ask us is how to get around in Rio. The city is very large, so there are a lot of transport options available. The best one will depend on where you will be staying and the places you will want to visit.

Public transport in Rio

Public transport in Rio is a great option for getting around the main neighborhoods. In Rio, we have:

• Bus and BRT (single-lane bus)

• Subway

• Tram (called the VLT)

• Vans

• City bikes

The subway is the most practical transport option if you will be staying in the South Zone of Rio, which includes Leblon, Ipanema, Copacabana, and Botafogo. The subway is also the safest option in most cases.

You can read all about how public transport works here.

Uber or taxi in Rio

The next option to get around Rio is to use Uber or Taxis. I use Uber all the time and it is a safe transport option, especially if you will be going around at night.

I only recommend you be aware of your surroundings when ordering the Uber and waiting for the driver. Don't be in the middle of an empty street with your phone outside if you are not feeling safe.

You can read all about Uber in Rio here.

Renting a car in Rio

If you will be exploring only the city of Rio de Janeiro, I don't recommend renting a car. It will be more of a hassle to find parking everywhere and learn to navigate the traffic.

Speaking of traffic, it can get quite chaotic in Rio if you are used to European standards. Driving rules get a bit blurry and you will need to get used to having motorcycles passing by every second.

However, a car can come in handy if you will be doing trips outside of the city. I prepared two guides that can be very useful for you:

• How to drive in Brazil as a foreigner

• Renting a car in Brazil