The Metro Rio is safe, quick, clean, comfortable, air-conditioned and has much better signage than most transportation in Rio, making the lives of foreign tourists easier.

Hours of operation:
05:00 to 24:00 Mondays to Saturdays
07:00 to 23:00 Sundays
Open 24 hours during Carnival

There are two lines, Line 1 (Orange) and Line 2 (Green). Between the stations Central and Botafogo they share the same route. On weekends and holidays, transfer between the two lines is only at Estacio station as Line 2 only runs from Pavuna to Estacio.

A one-way subway-only `unitario`ticket is approximately R$4.30 (about $1.50 USD). You can purchase a single, multiple trip, or transfer pass. Also, you can purchase Rechargeable IC cards if you are in town for several days. The minimum charge is R$5 and no deposit is required.

Since 2003, the Metro company operates bus lines from some metro stations to nearby neighborhoods which are not served by the subway system. This can be helpful for places uphill such as Gavea, Laranjeiras, Grajau and Usina. These minibuses are officially called Metronibus and Metro na Superficie. You must purchase tickets for these buses at your metro departure station. Just ask for the expresso, prices are approximately R$3.50 to R$4.55 (about $1.25 to $1.50 USD).

For your safety and security, we do not recommend using buses to navigate Rio. The U.S. Department of State Bureau of Diplomatic Security recommends that bus systems are used as little as possible, especially in northern Rio, in order to reduce the possibility of being a victim of a crime.

One of the best ways to get around Rio is by taxi. Be aware there are times when traffic jams can be horrible. Make sure you leave plenty of time if you can`t afford to be late. Rio taxis are not too expensive, however, distances between destinations can be quite considerable as the city is spread out. A journey from the International Airport to Ipanema, for example, costs approximately R$35 (about $11.25 USD) and takes about 16 minutes; from the International Airport to Copacabana is approximately R$44 (about $14 USD).

Rio’s taxis come in different colors and services: Yellow taxis, Special service cars, Radio taxis, and Illegal taxis.

Yellow taxis have a blue stripe painted on the sides and there are plenty of yellow taxis available to wave down in the primary tourist areas. There are numerous taxi stands where taxis line to await passengers. We suggest you use a taxi from one of the official taxi stands as they are a bit more reliable as they are associated to that stand. These stands are available near most of the major hotels. Fare fees are approximately R$2.35 (about 75 cents USD) per kilometer, with a minimum of about R$4.90 (about $1.75 USD).

Special service cars are private cars without identifying markings nor a light on top. They are associated with hotels. They are generally more comfortable and safer than other taxis. Special service cars do not operate on a meter so make sure you negotiate or request a price before leaving. A good deal would be approximately R$5 more than a yellow taxi would cost by kilometer.

The Radio Taxis are usually blue, green or white. Radio taxis are arranged by calling your hotel staff or by calling Radio taxi directly; the operator will give a non-negotiable price which is not related to time of day or traffic so you needn`t worry about being overcharged. Radio taxis are highly reliable and the safest form of transportation, especially at night. However, Radio taxis are the most expensive form of transportation. Illegal Taxis Illegal taxis are not registered with the city of Rio de Janeiro and may not be insured. For your safety and security we suggest you use only Yellow taxis, Special service cars, or Radio taxis.

Illegal taxis are not registered with the city of Rio de Janeiro and may not be insured. For your safety and security we suggest you use only Yellow taxis, Special service cars, or Radio taxis.

Rio de Janeiro is the perfect city to discover by bike. In the last five years, the city improved its bike lane infrastructure from 62 to almost 250 miles. The bike lanes are well maintained and extensive, you can bike all the way from Leblon to Centro on dedicated bike lanes along the coast.

There is a public system called Bike Rio which costs R$10 per month or R$5 per day. You can use their mobile app to find stations and withdraw bikes. However, you can only use the mobile app or call phone number to reserve a bike.

There are quite a few places to rent bikes in Rio. There are rentals along the beach in Copacabana and also bicycle stores along the main streets. It is advisable to compare since prices may vary. Bike robberies (even armed assaults) are not uncommon in Rio. You shouldn’t leave a bike unattended as thieves are cunning and fast.

There are many sights in Rio de Janeiro that can be reached by foot. Centro features rolling hills, sweeping beaches and numerous historical sites within a mile of each other. To the south and east, you can tour Lapa, Cinelandia, Largo da Carioca and other sites that are located within 0.7 miles of each other.