Rio's rail backbone is MetrôRio: Line 1 (Uruguai/Tijuca - Centro - Botafogo - Copacabana - General Osório/Ipanema), Line 2 (Pavuna - Maracanã - Centro - Botafogo, sharing track with Line 1 between Central and Botafogo) and Line 4 (Ipanema - Leblon - São Conrado - Jardim Oceânico/Barra da Tijuca), run as one line with Line 1 from Uruguai to Barra. The city runs the rest: municipal buses, the four BRT busway corridors (TransOeste, TransCarioca, TransOlímpica, TransBrasil, operated by the city company Mobi-Rio) and the VLT Carioca light rail in Centro and the port; all three cost BRL 5.00 since 4 January 2026 and are paid with the city's Jaé system, which replaced RioCard on them. The state runs the suburban trains (TrensRJ, the new brand that replaced SuperVia in 2026, operated by the Nova Via Mobilidade consortium), the Barcas ferries to Niterói, Paquetá and Ilha do Governador (state-run since 2025 through the Barcas Rio consortium) and the historic Bonde de Santa Teresa. The Corcovado rack railway and the Sugarloaf cable car are private tourist rides with their own tickets. Since 28 June 2026 buses take no cash on board.
Paying: Contactless bank card or phone (Visa, Mastercard, Elo) at the MetrôRio gates; Jaé card or Jaé app QR code for buses, BRT and VLT; Riocard and the MetrôRio Giro card still work on the metro
How to buy
Metro: tap a contactless Visa, Mastercard or Elo credit/debit card, phone, watch or wristband directly on the gate reader and pay the single fare; no ticket needed. You can also buy a single-trip QR code in the RecargaPay app or at partner shops in some stations (it works offline and has no expiry), or the rechargeable Giro card at station ticket offices and machines (BRL 11.50: BRL 4 refundable deposit plus BRL 7.50 first load). Buses, BRT, VLT: these use Jaé. A Jaé card can be bought at the self-service machines in VLT stations (all except Praia Formosa) and topped up there, on the Jaé website or in the Jaé app; the app (Android and iOS, no NFC needed) can also generate a QR code to pay at the validator, one QR per fare. Under SMTR Resolution 3,925 (June 2026) buses accept the Jaé card (registered or anonymous 'avulso'), the Jaé app QR code, Pix by QR code at enabled validators, and credit/debit cards where the validator has been fitted for them; cash is only accepted at ticket offices, machines and sales points to buy or top up cards. On the VLT you validate yourself at platform or on-board validators; riding without paying costs a BRL 170 fine. Trains (TrensRJ) take contactless cards and Pix, but did not yet accept Jaé in October 2026. Fare-integration discounts (Bilhete Único Carioca) only work with a registered Jaé card or a Jaé app QR code linked to a CPF (Brazilian tax number); anonymous cards and bank cards pay the full single fare each time.
Fares
2026 fares: metro BRL 7.90 per trip (the regulator approved BRL 8.20 in February 2026, but the state froze the fare at BRL 7.90 and covers the difference). City buses, BRT and VLT BRL 5.00 each (up from BRL 4.70 on 4 January 2026). With a registered Jaé: BRT + metro at Jardim Oceânico or Vicente de Carvalho BRL 9.70; certain bus lines + metro BRL 7.90 or 8.80 (e.g. 583/584 and 536 to Botafogo, 513 to Botafogo, 133 to Largo do Machado); VLT + city bus within 2 h 30 min; VLT line changes free within 1 hour. Trains BRL 7.60 (no increase in 2026; BRL 5.00 for holders of the state Bilhete Único Intermunicipal). Barcas ferries to Niterói (Praça Arariboia), Paquetá and Cocotá BRL 5.00 since 8 February 2026; the Praça XV - Charitas catamaran BRL 7.70. Bonde de Santa Teresa BRL 20 return with re-boarding the same day (2025 fare). Children under 7 (6 years 11 months) and people over 65 ride free on the metro. Bike Itaú single ride from BRL 7.90 (15 min on a mechanical bike).
Lines and services
- MetroMetrôRio Line 1
Uruguai/Tijuca - Saens Peña - Estácio - Praça Onze - Central do Brasil - Saara/Presidente Vargas - Uruguaiana - Carioca - Cinelândia - Glória - Catete - Largo do Machado - Flamengo - Botafogo - Cardeal Arcoverde - Siqueira Campos - Cantagalo (all Copacabana) - General Osório/Ipanema, then runs straight on as Line 4 to Barra. The tourist line: Centro, Lapa (Cinelândia/Carioca), Catete, Flamengo, Copacabana and Ipanema. Pink women-only carriages on weekdays 06:00-09:00 and 17:00-20:00 (state law 4,733/2006).
- MetroMetrôRio Line 2
Pavuna - Vicente de Carvalho (BRT TransCarioca to the airport) - Del Castilho - Triagem - Rei Pelé - Maracanã - São Cristóvão - Cidade Nova - Central do Brasil, then shares Line 1's stations to Botafogo. 30 km in about 52 minutes end to end. Change between Lines 1 and 2 at any shared station from Central to Botafogo. Use it for the Maracanã and the Feira de São Cristóvão (São Cristóvão station).
- MetroMetrôRio Line 4
General Osório/Ipanema - Nossa Senhora da Paz/Ipanema - Jardim de Alah/Leblon - Antero de Quental/Leblon - São Conrado - Jardim Oceânico/Barra da Tijuca; Ipanema to Barra in about 15 minutes. At Jardim Oceânico change to the BRT TransOeste for the rest of Barra and Recreio (BRT + metro BRL 9.70 with Jaé).
- BusMetrô na Superfície (MetrôRio feeder buses)
MetrôRio's own buses from the exits of Botafogo and Antero de Quental/Leblon stations. One fare is charged for bus + metro within 2 hours when you tap the same contactless Visa or Elo card (or Giro/Riocard) on both; cash pays but gets no integration.
- TramVLT Carioca (light rail)
Four lines in Centro and the port: Line 1 (blue) Santos Dumont airport - Cinelândia - Carioca - Candelária - São Bento - Parada dos Museus (Museu do Amanhã, MAR) - Parada dos Navios/Valongo - Rodoviária (bus station) - Terminal Gentileza; Line 2 (green) Praça XV (ferries) - Tiradentes - Saara - Central - Gamboa - Rodoviária - Praia Formosa; Line 3 (yellow) Santos Dumont - Cinelândia - Carioca - Candelária - Santa Rita/Pretos Novos - Central; Line 4 (orange) Praça XV - Central - Rodoviária - Terminal Gentileza. Metro connections at Cinelândia, Carioca and Central. BRL 5.00 with Jaé (card or app QR); validate at the stop or on board, inspectors fine non-payers BRL 170.
- BusBRT (Mobi-Rio busways)
Articulated buses on four segregated corridors, about 150 km and 133 stations: TransOeste (Jardim Oceânico/Barra - Terminal Alvorada - Santa Cruz, 56 km), TransCarioca (Terminal Alvorada in Barra - Madureira - Vicente de Carvalho - Galeão airport, 39 km), TransOlímpica (Recreio - Deodoro, 23 km) and TransBrasil (Deodoro - Terminal Gentileza in São Cristóvão along Avenida Brasil, 26 km, opened February 2024). Run by the city company Mobi-Rio since the old concession was revoked in 2022. Pay BRL 5.00 with Jaé; metro integration only at Jardim Oceânico and Vicente de Carvalho. Robberies on buses are common in Brazilian cities (FCDO): keep phones out of sight.
- BusMunicipal buses (ônibus)
Dense network; the BRS lanes along the Zona Sul and Centro avenues carry the main lines. Useful lines from official pages: 583 and 584 (Leblon/Copacabana/Jardim Botânico to the Corcovado train in Cosme Velho), 422 (Centro - Cosme Velho), 107 (Central - Urca, via Praia do Flamengo), 513 (Botafogo metro - Urca), 518 and 519 (Copacabana/Botafogo - Urca). BRL 5.00 since 4 January 2026. No cash on board since 28 June 2026: pay with a Jaé card, Jaé app QR, Pix QR at the validator or a bank card where accepted.
- TrainTrensRJ suburban trains (formerly SuperVia)
Suburban lines (ramais) from Central do Brasil to Deodoro, Santa Cruz, Japeri, Belford Roxo and Saracuruna, with metro connections at Central, São Cristóvão, Maracanã, Triagem and Pavuna. The Nova Via Mobilidade consortium signed the operating permit on 12 March 2026 and the SuperVia brand was replaced by TrensRJ. Visitors mainly use it for football: Maracanã station, and Engenho de Dentro (Estádio Nilton Santos, Botafogo's ground). Fare BRL 7.60; contactless cards and Pix accepted, Jaé not accepted (October 2026). The FCDO notes thefts and robberies on rail networks: avoid showing phones and jewellery.
- FerryBarcas (Barcas Rio ferries)
From the Praça XV terminal in Centro: to Praça Arariboia in central Niterói (the main line, frequent), to Charitas in Niterói (catamaran, weekdays only; no service Saturdays, Sundays and holidays), to Paquetá island and to Cocotá (Ilha do Governador). The state took the service back from CCR Barcas in 2025; the Barcas Rio consortium operates it under contract until December 2029. Fares BRL 5.00 (Arariboia, Paquetá, Cocotá) since 8 February 2026; Charitas BRL 7.70. Paquetá is car-free: bicycles and walking only on the island.
- TramBonde de Santa Teresa (historic tram)
The yellow open tram from Estação Carioca in Centro over the Arcos da Lapa into Santa Teresa. Routes: Carioca - Dois Irmãos (every 15-20 minutes), the Paula Mattos branch to Largo das Neves (reopened March 2025, hourly), and the Silvestre branch, reopened in June 2026 after more than 20 years: on weekdays it leaves Carioca at 10:00, 11:00, 14:00 and 15:00. Fare BRL 20 return with re-boarding the same day (2025 report); free for registered residents, uniformed state-school pupils and over-65s. It is run by the state transport secretariat (Setram).
- TrainTrem do Corcovado (rack railway to Christ the Redeemer)
Opened in 1884, a 3.8 km rack railway from Cosme Velho station (Rua Cosme Velho 513) through the Tijuca National Park to the statue. The ticket includes the return train and entry to the monument: adult BRL 134 (price shown for 'today' on the official site in October 2026; prices can vary by date), child 7-11 BRL 107, under-7s free on a lap. Senior and student discounts are for Brazilians only. Check in at the ticket office at least 40 minutes before your booked slot or lose it. Buses 583/584 (Copacabana, Leblon, Jardim Botânico) and 422 (Centro, Largo do Machado) stop outside.
- FunicularBondinho Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf cable car)
Brazil's first cable car, in two stages: Praia Vermelha (Av. Pasteur 520, Urca) - Morro da Urca - Pão de Açúcar. Tickets from BRL 205 on the official site. No car park; buy online for a BRL 20 deal at the Rio Sul mall car park. By public transport: metro to Botafogo (exit E, Mena Barreto) then bus 513 to the UNIRIO stop, or buses 107, 518, 519.
- BikeBike Itaú (Tembici bike share, the 'laranjinhas')
Orange shared bikes unlocked in the Bike Itaú app. Single ride from BRL 7.90 (15 min on a mechanical bike, then BRL 0.50 a minute); 'Lazer' pass from BRL 32.90 for 48 hours (up to 4 rides a day, 60 min each on weekdays and up to 2 h at weekends); monthly plans from BRL 43.90. A temporary BRL 20 hold is placed on your credit card.
- TaxiYellow taxis (táxi convencional) and executive taxis
Yellow cars with a blue stripe, metered. 2026 tariffs (SMTR Resolution 3,893, from 2 January 2026): flag fall BRL 6.30; Tarifa 1 BRL 3.85/km Mon-Sat 06:00-21:00; Tarifa 2 BRL 4.62/km Mon-Sat 21:00-06:00, all day Sundays and holidays, and on steep hill roads at any hour; waiting BRL 48.51/hour; BRL 3.85 per bag over 60 x 30 cm handled by the driver. Executive (cooperative) taxis: flag fall BRL 8.50, BRL 6.55/km. After each annual increase, a printed conversion table applies until the meter has been recalibrated by IPEM-RJ. The city's TAXI.RIO app lists official taxis and drivers may offer 10-40% discounts there. The FCDO advises not hailing taxis on the street: use airport booths, ranks or an app.
- Ride-hailingUber and 99
Ride-hailing apps are widely used in Rio. The FCDO warns of robberies by unregulated drivers posing as app drivers, especially at airports: book only in the official app, wait in a safe place (at airports, the designated pick-up area), check that plate and driver match, watch for route changes, keep your phone out of sight, and use trip sharing. At Galeão, Uber has its own pick-up point on the arrivals level (turn left as you exit).
Common trips
CopacabanaCentro (Carioca / Cinelândia)
Metro Line 1 from Cardeal Arcoverde, Siqueira Campos or Cantagalo towards Uruguai
- City bus along the Aterro (BRL 5.00, Jaé)
- Taxi or Uber
IpanemaCorcovado (Christ the Redeemer)
Bus 583 or 584 to the Trem do Corcovado station in Cosme Velho, then the rack railway
- Metro Line 1 to Largo do Machado, then bus 422 or 583 to Cosme Velho
- Taxi or Uber to Cosme Velho station
Centro (Largo da Carioca)Santa Teresa (Largo dos Guimarães)
Bonde de Santa Teresa from Estação Carioca over the Arcos da Lapa (BRL 20 return)
- Taxi or Uber (Tarifa 2 can apply on the steep roads)
- Walk up the Escadaria Selarón from Lapa (steep)
BotafogoSugarloaf cable car (Praia Vermelha, Urca)
Metro to Botafogo, exit E (Mena Barreto), then bus 513 to the UNIRIO stop
- Bus 107 from Central via Praia do Flamengo
- Buses 518 or 519 from Copacabana
CopacabanaMaracanã (match day)
Metro Line 1 towards Centro, change to Line 2 at a shared station (Botafogo to Central), get off at Rei Pelé - Maracanã
- TrensRJ train from Central do Brasil to Maracanã station
- Taxi or Uber (heavy traffic near the stadium)
Centro (Praça XV)Niterói (MAC museum)
Barcas ferry Praça XV - Praça Arariboia (BRL 5.00), then walk along the Caminho Niemeyer waterfront or take a taxi or app car (see the Niterói walking route)
- Weekday catamaran Praça XV - Charitas (BRL 7.70)
- Uber over the Rio-Niterói bridge
Praça XVPaquetá island
Barcas ferry Praça XV - Paquetá (BRL 5.00); check the day's departures
IpanemaBarra da Tijuca15 min
Metro Line 4 from General Osório or Nossa Senhora da Paz to Jardim Oceânico/Barra (about 15 min)
- BRT TransOeste from Jardim Oceânico along Avenida das Américas (BRL 9.70 metro + BRT with Jaé)
- Taxi or Uber along Avenida Niemeyer
Galeão airport (GIG)Copacabana
Official yellow or executive taxi from the counters at Terminal 2, level 0
- Uber from the exclusive pick-up point at arrivals
- BRT TransCarioca to Vicente de Carvalho + metro Line 2/Line 1 (BRL 9.70 with Jaé)
Santos Dumont airport (SDU)Ipanema
VLT Line 1 or 3 to Cinelândia or Carioca, then metro Line 1 to General Osório
- Taxi from the rank
- Uber or 99
LeblonJardim Botânico
Bus 584 (circular via Jardim Botânico)
- Walk or ride a Bike Itaú bike around the Lagoa cycle path
- Taxi or Uber
CentroFeira de São Cristóvão
Metro Line 2 to São Cristóvão
- Taxi or Uber
CopacabanaPedra do Sal (Saúde), at night
Uber, 99 or a taxi from a rank or the TAXI.RIO app, door to door
- Metro Line 1 to Uruguaiana (Mon-Sat until midnight) plus a short app ride
LapaSanta Teresa, at night
Uber, 99 or a taxi booked in an app (the bonde stops running in the late afternoon)
- Bonde de Santa Teresa from Estação Carioca by day only
Centro (Praça XV)Museu do Amanhã / Praça Mauá
VLT Line 1 from Sete de Setembro or Carioca to Parada dos Museus
- Walk via Rua Primeiro de Março and Avenida Rio Branco (see the Centro walking route)
Ipanema / CopacabanaMaracanã or Engenho de Dentro (Botafogo games)
Metro to Central do Brasil, then TrensRJ (direct trains to Engenho de Dentro on match days)
- Taxi or Uber
To and from the airport
GIG (Galeão - Tom Jobim International)
- BusBRL 9.70 BRT + metro with a registered Jaé; otherwise BRL 5.00 (BRT) + BRL 7.90 (metro)
BRT TransCarioca 'Parador' from the Galeão Tom Jobim 1 and Tom Jobim 2 stations (Terminal 2 arrivals, door D) to Vicente de Carvalho, then metro Line 2 towards Botafogo (change to Line 1 at any shared station for Copacabana and Ipanema). BRT runs daily 04:00-00:00; metro Mon-Sat 05:00-00:00, Sun 07:00-23:00. The cheapest route but long, with luggage on busy articulated buses; the FCDO notes that robberies are common on buses. The Mobi-Rio special bus Galeão - Terminal Gentileza (BRL 15, from Terminal 2 arrivals) connects with the VLT.
- TaxiMetered or fixed by the airport's regulated table (table not verified)
Yellow taxis: from Terminal 2, level 0, door A, near domestic arrivals (Aerotáxi and Aerocoop counters, Aerocoop 24 h). Executive taxis (Transcoopass, Coopertramo, Transcootur, Coopatur): level 0, door B. Fares follow the meter or the table regulated by the city; prebooking online is possible on the RIOgaleão site. Take only taxis from these counters (FCDO).
- Ride-hailingVaries with traffic and demand
Uber has an exclusive pick-up point on the arrivals level: turn left after leaving arrivals. Book only in the app and wait at the designated area; the FCDO warns of fake app drivers at airports.
SDU (Santos Dumont, domestic, run by Infraero)
- TramBRL 5.00 with Jaé (VLT); BRL 7.90 for the metro
The VLT stop Santos Dumont is at the terminal: Lines 1 and 3 run to Cinelândia and Carioca (metro Line 1/2 for Copacabana and Ipanema), Candelária, and on to the port (Line 1) or Central (Line 3). The metro itself does not reach the airport. VLT 05:00-23:00 daily.
- TaxiMetered (2026: flag fall BRL 6.30, BRL 3.85/km by day)
Metered yellow taxis; Tarifa 2 applies after 21:00, on Sundays and holidays. The FCDO advises not hailing taxis on the street.
- Ride-hailingVaries
Uber and 99 operate; follow the FCDO advice on checking plate and driver.
Good to know
- For the metro you need no card at all: tap a contactless Visa, Mastercard or Elo card or phone at the gate (BRL 7.90). For buses, BRT and VLT get a Jaé card from a VLT station machine or use the Jaé app QR code; buses no longer take cash (since 28 June 2026).
- Pink women-only metro carriages operate on weekdays 06:00-09:00 and 17:00-20:00; men must not board them at those times.
- On Sundays and public holidays the Aterro do Flamengo's roads are closed to cars and become a leisure area (área de lazer), and the beach-side lanes of Avenida Atlântica, Vieira Souto and Delfim Moreira also have leisure areas closed to traffic (they are suspended only for special events): good for walking and Bike Itaú rides.
- Taxis switch to Tarifa 2 (BRL 4.62/km instead of 3.85) after 21:00, all day on Sundays and holidays, and on steep hill roads such as those to Santa Teresa.
- FCDO advice: do not hail taxis on the street; use airport counters, ranks or apps, check the plate and driver of app cars, and keep phones out of sight on buses, trains and the street, especially between 16:00 and 21:00 when phone thefts peak. Do not go onto city beaches after dark.
- FCDO advice: when using GPS navigation, make sure the suggested route does not take you into a favela.
- Book the Corcovado train online for a set time and arrive 40 minutes early to check in; the Sugarloaf cable car runs until 21:00 (last boarding 19:30), so it works for sunset.
- Heavy rain (mostly November-March) causes flash floods and landslides in Rio; follow city alerts and avoid travelling by road during storms (FCDO).
- The MetrôRio runs 24 hours on Rock in Rio festival days and trains add extra services after big football games; check the operators' news pages on event days.
Useful apps
- Moovit
- MetrôRio
- Jaé
- TAXI.RIO
- Uber
- 99
- Bike Itaú
- TrensRJ
- RecargaPay (metro QR tickets)