Brazil is South America's largest country, offering stunning biodiversity from the Amazon rainforest to iconic beaches like Copacabana and Ipanema. Experience vibrant culture, world-class cuisine, spectacular waterfalls at Iguazu, and the rhythm of samba in Rio de Janeiro.
- Public
- São Paulo has Latin America's best metro with 6 lines and 96 stations. Rio has 3 metro lines supplemented by BRT. Outside these cities, buses dominate but quality varies greatly.
- Taxi
- Uber and 99 apps are safer and more price-transparent than street taxis. Always use apps in major cities rather than flagging street taxis.
- Rental
- Car rental most useful outside major cities - for coastal drives, visiting Pantanal, wine regions, or Chapada Diamantina. Localiza is the most reliable Brazilian chain.
- Walking
- Historic centers in Salvador, Ouro Preto, Paraty, and Olinda are pedestrian-friendly. Rio beach neighborhoods are walkable. São Paulo's vast scale makes walking impractical between neighborhoods.
Transport at a glance
Airport transfers
Getting from the airport to your accommodation.
- Taxi
- R$35-50 from GIG to Copacabana (30-45 min), fixed-rate radio taxis available
- Taxi Info
- Yellow regulated taxis use meters; insist on taxímetro. Cooperative radio taxis (Cootramo, TransCooper) offer fixed rates to neighborhoods.
- Shuttle
- Premium Auto Bus: R$25-30 to major neighborhoods every 30 minutes
- Shuttle Info
- Premium Auto Bus serves major hotels and neighborhoods. BRT TransCarioca connects GIG to metro for R$13.
- Bus
- R$13 via BRT TransCarioca to metro connections
- Bus Info
- BRT TransCarioca connects Galeão to metro Line 2 (Vicente de Carvalho station) with connections to city center and South Zone.
- Private
- R$200-350 for private transfer, can be pre-booked through hotel
- Private Info
- Pre-booked private transfers by licensed operators offer door-to-door service with meet-and-greet at arrivals hall.
Local transport
Getting around the city.
Bus
Comprehensive bus network serving all neighborhoods. Bilhete Único card gives discounts and free metro-bus transfers in São Paulo. Rio buses use contactless cards or cash.
Alternatives
Metro (São Paulo 6 lines, Rio 3 lines), BRT rapid bus, Uber/99 rideshare, Bike Itaú/Bike Sampa cycle-share
Taxis & rideshare
What to expect from taxis and apps.
- Regular
- Base fare R$6-8 plus R$2.50-3.00/km. Flag falls R$6 in Rio, R$5.50 in São Paulo. Metered fare only - always insist on meter.
- Apps
- Uber, 99
- App Names
- Uber, 99 (local Brazilian app, often 15-20% cheaper than Uber)
- Typical Fare
- R$25-40 for typical city ride (5-10 km)
Intercity travel
Getting between cities and regions.
Bus
Extensive long-distance bus network via rodoviárias (bus terminals). ClickBus and Buser apps for online booking. Leito sleeper buses for overnight routes from R$80-200.
Shared
Vans ('vans alternativas') serve popular routes between nearby cities at lower prices than regular buses (e.g., Rio-Angra dos Reis, São Paulo-Campinas).
Flights
LATAM, Gol, and Azul offer frequent domestic services. Azul often cheapest for Northeast routes. Book 6+ weeks ahead for best prices. Baggage fees extra.
Private
Car rental from Localiza, Movida, or Unidas from R$80-150/day. Full insurance recommended. Toll roads (pedágios) on major highways R$5-20 per toll.
Transportation details
Full breakdown of how to get around.
Airports
Rio de Janeiro-Galeão International Airport (GIG)
From centre: 20 km to Centro, 25 km to Copacabana
Options: Premium Auto bus to major hotels and neighborhoods - $8; BRT TransCarioca bus to metro stations - $4; Taxi to Copacabana/Ipanema - $35-50 (30-45 min); Uber/99 to Copacabana - $25-40; Metro connection via BRT (requires transfer) - $5
Santos Dumont Airport (SDU)
From centre: 2 km to Centro, 8 km to Copacabana
Options: Taxi to Copacabana - $20-30 (15-20 min); Uber/99 to Copacabana - $15-25; Bus to various neighborhoods - $4; Walking distance to Centro business district
São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU)
From centre: 25 km to Paulista Avenue
Options: Airport Bus Service to Paulista, República, Barra Funda - $8; Metro connection via CPTM train Line 13 - $6; Taxi to Paulista - $50-70 (45-60 min depending on traffic); Uber/99 to Paulista - $35-55; Executive bus to major hotels - $12
Congonhas Airport (CGH)
From centre: 8 km to Paulista Avenue
Options: Metro (walk to Vila Mariana station) - $4.50; Taxi to Paulista - $20-30 (15-25 min); Uber/99 to Paulista - $15-25; EMTU bus connections - $5
Brasília International Airport (BSB)
From centre: 11 km to Plano Piloto
Options: Executive bus to hotel sectors - $5; Taxi to hotel sectors - $25-35; Uber/99 to city center - $20-30; Regular bus to Rodoviária (bus terminal) - $3
Deputado Luís Eduardo Magalhães International Airport (SSA)
From centre: 28 km to Pelourinho
Options: Executive bus to beach neighborhoods - $6; Taxi to Pelourinho/Barra - $45-60; Uber/99 to Pelourinho - $35-50; Regular bus connections - $4
Useful apps
Download before you arrive.
99
Brazil's main local ride-hailing app, often cheaper than Uber, works nationwide
Uber
Widely available in all major Brazilian cities with international payment support
ClickBus
Brazil's main intercity bus booking app for all long-distance routes and companies
Moovit
Best app for public transport navigation in São Paulo and Rio including metro and bus routes
Waze
Essential for driving in Brazil, with real-time traffic and police/pothole alerts from community
Transport tips
Travel smarter, not harder.
Download both Uber and 99 apps before arriving - 99 is often 15-20% cheaper than Uber for the same ride and works where Uber doesn't
São Paulo's Bilhete Único card allows free metro-bus transfers within 2 hours - buy at metro stations for R$4.50 per trip
Rio's Premium Auto Bus is the best airport shuttle option: modern, air-conditioned, serves major hotel areas for R$25-30
Avoid peak-hour driving in São Paulo (7-9 AM, 5-8 PM) - the city has some of the world's worst traffic. Metro or Uber are better options during these times.
For Iguazu Falls, book direct flights to Foz do Iguaçu (IGU) - bus from São Paulo takes 16 hours vs. 2-hour flight