How to Use the Rio de Janeiro Metro and Transportation

Ubering everywhere in a new city isn’t the most fun way to explore, isn’t it?

But if we’re being real, a foreign public transport system can be stressful. You have no idea how things work. A line of waiting locals builds up as you fumble with the card vending machine.

That was me, by the way. The person fumbling with the card machine, and also the person staring dumbstruck at the hundred types of card inputs on the turnstile of a Rio de Janeiro metro station.

Let’s try and save you from those scenarios. I’ll demystify the Rio public transportation, from how to buy the transport card, use the metro turnstiles, get on the bus, the tram, and the ferries, too. I lived there for 3 months. I’m here for you!

Let’s make sure your Rio trip is smooth and stress-free, so you can fully focus on enjoying beachside açaí bowls and caipirinhas instead!

Transportation Tips From a Metro Girl

Not gonna lie; I’m a metro girl through and through. Whether I’m in Seoul, Bangkok, Mexico City, or anywhere else, the metro beats all.

So I’ll focus most on the metro system first, from how to buy tickets to the line introductions, and then I’ll talk a bit about the bus, the tram, and the ferry as well.

A Bit About Rio de Janeiro Before You Go

There is the state of Rio de Janeiro, and then there’s the city of Rio de Janeiro, which is the state capital. The city is also referred to as “Zona Sul” or the “South Zone.”

Whatever talks about the danger and violent crimes in Rio de Janeiro you might hear from people, they usually happen somewhere in the state outside of Zona Sul.

Of course, there are safer parts and sketchier parts inside Zona Sul itself. The best neighborhoods to stay in are Ipanema, Leme, and Leblon. Centro, Lapa, and Santa Teresa are areas to avoid, especially at night.

The Best Time to Visit

The weather in Rio de Janeiro leans toward warm and hot all year round, so you could visit in any month, depending on what you’re looking for.

Mainly, the weather gets hotter from November to March and then cools down from April to October. Carnaval happens in February. March through May is when local life settles back down before winter hits in June.

I visited in the winter, which lasts from June through August, and the weather has been perfect for beach days, with rainy days here and there to cool things down.

Quick Tips for Navigating Rio’s Transportation

Before diving deep into each mode of transportation, look at the quick tips below and keep them somewhere in your subconscious mind. They matter.

Get Yourself a “RioCard Mais” First Thing

As soon as you arrive in Rio, take a few minutes to buy a Riocard Mais, the rechargeable, pre-paid transport card. They are sold at all metro stations and will save you a lot of headaches.

It’s basically one card, usable on the metro, buses, and VLT trams.

You Can Tap Credit Cards at Turnstiles

Metro, buses, and ferries all accept contactless credit cards at the turnstile (Yes, there are turnstiles on buses).

If you haven’t gotten a chance to get a transport card, your own credit card is the safest bet to get through.

Avoid Buses During Rush Hour

Any mode of transportation, in any country, gets packed during rush hour, but nothing beats the Rio buses. I made the mistake of getting on at 4 PM once.

Until today, I still have no recollection of how I managed to get off at my stop.

The Metro in Rio de Janeiro

There are two main metro lines in Rio. But the two lines gets you to surprisingly a lot of places.

Metro Lines 1, 2, and 4

On the map below, you’ll see line 1 in orange and line 2 in green. At the south end of line 1, a newer line 4 has been added that’ll get you a few more stations west to Barra da Tijuca.

In this map above, line 4 is marked in yellow as “Barra Expresso.”

The Surface Metro

You’ll also see the light blue lines marked “Metrô Na Superficie” or the “Surface Metro.”

These are part of the metro system but are actually buses that depart from available transfer points and will take you to other areas without metro lines.

Confusing Turnstiles: Tap, Insert, or What?

There’s a reason why I’m talking about the turnstiles before I talk about buying tickets. You CAN get through the turnstiles in Rio with your credit card. That is the first option you have, no travel cards or tickets needed!

Look at the photo below; notice the card-reading machines that stick up from the turnstiles. If you have a refillable travel card, you will tap the card on that machine.

Meanwhile, flat on top of the turnstile machines, you’ll find 2 different types of card readers.

One is a black, flat card reader, which you’ll use for your credit card.

The other is a card terminal sticking up from the surface, which you’ll stick your single-ride card in, and it’ll take the card as you won’t need it afterward.

Ticket Options and How to Buy Them

There are multiple options for a metro ticket, but I’ll talk in detail about 2 of them. Both can be purchased at one of the vending machines at every metro station.

The machines are gathered in one corner. Some sell single-ride cards, some sell a Riocard Mais. All are clearly marked with a sign at the top of the machine.

The machines take both credit cards and cash. The downside is they don’t provide cash change, so credit cards are the best way to go.

Single-Ride Travel Card

These blue cards cost R$7.50 each way, no matter which station you’re going to. When you stick it into the card terminal at the turnstile, it will take it. You won’t need it to exit at your final station.

Riocard Mais

These cheerful pink cards are magic because they work with the metro, buses, and train lines from the city to the suburbs (SuperVia).

The card itself costs R$4.30 when you purchase from the machine, then it’ll ask you how much money you’d like to add to the card to start.

To top up the card, you’ll use the same vending machines. Insert the card into the black card terminal to the left of the keypad and follow the instructions on the screen. The minimum refill must be R$5.

Taking the Buses in Rio de Janeiro

The buses, just like the metro, will take either your credit card or the Riocard Mais. The Rio bus honestly was the most secure bus system I’ve ever seen in my travels.

When you enter, you’ll see a turnstile (or two). You’ll need to tap your card and get approved before you can get through the turnstile into the bus in the first place.

Everything else is as you’ve seen anywhere else. Press the buttons on the poles when you want to exit at the upcoming stop, then exit through the back door.

The buses get absolutely packed during rush hour. So try to avoid them at 8-9 AM and 4-6 PM. I honestly have no recollection of how I even made it from my seat to the bus door in time for my stop. It was absolutely wild.

To find which buses you need to take, use the transit option when searching for directions on Google Maps.

VLT Carioca Light Rail

Excluding the fact that it only runs around the downtown area, which is far from me, VLT Carioca is my favorite public transportation in Rio de Janeiro.

The trains are new and very clean. It runs super smoothly, and you can still use your Riocard Mais to get on. One ride costs R$4.30, the same price as the bus.

Take a look at the route map below. The “Carioca” and “Cinelândia” stops toward the bottom right of the photo are the two connections to Metro Line 1 (orange on the metro map).

“Parada dos Museus,” closer to the top right, is very close to both the Museum of Art and Museu do Amahã, both of which I recommend visiting.

Station “Praça XV” at the end of line 2, toward the right of the map, is the ferry terminal, which brings me to the next mode of transportation available in Rio.

Boarding the Bay Ferries

Enveloped in bodies of water from the ocean to Guanabara Bay, boats and ferries are another usual means of transportation for the locals.

Because there are beautiful beaches across the bay in Niterói, you may want to explore using the ferry as well.

Know Which Line You’re Taking

There are 6 lines of service, 2 of which are most used by tourists between Rio and Niterói- Praça XV to Charitas (R$21) and Praça XV to Praça Araribóia (R$7.70).

The ferries run every 20-30 minutes from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM on weekdays.

Ferry Schedule and Weekend Tips

Some lines don’t operate on weekends at all, while some do but with a less regular schedule.

The most frequented Centro Rio to Centro Niterói line operates at a 30-minute interval on Saturdays and an hourly interval on Sundays. Check their schedules before planning your day.

Entering the Terminal and Waiting Areas

The terminal has waiting areas specific to each line of ferries, all marked very clearly with a massive sign above the entrance.

You’ll need to tap or insert your pass to enter the waiting areas. At the turnstile, if you’ve bought single-passage tickets, insert the card into the terminal instead of tapping.

Using Uber and Motorbikes in Rio

While Uber is comparably more affordable here than in the US, I prefer to keep Uber as the very last resort. One 10-minute ride will cost you between R$20-30 (US$ 4-8). That adds up quickly if all you use is Uber.

There is also the cheaper motorcycle option on Uber here, but unless you’re used to motorbike taxis from somewhere else (ahem… Bangkok), it can feel a little scary.

While I trust that they know what they’re doing, I can’t be on here recommending you take these motorcycles unless you absolutely have to. Go with your own gut!

Follow My Itinerary for Rio de Janeiro!

Got several days in Rio de Janeiro? Why not follow my 4-day itinerary and get a mix of must-visit places and some more local experiences I found during my 3 months there?

Included on the itinerary are Christ the Redeemer, a visit to Ilha da Gigóia, Parque Lage, a meal at Garota de Ipanema (where the song was written), and more!

Otherwise, you can browse through affordable things to do in the city and decide as you go.

Visit my Brazil Immersive Travel page for more guides in Rio, São Paulo, Paraty, and Iguazu!

Staying Safe in Rio de Janeiro

I hate how “famously dangerous” Brazil is when I never felt that terrible throughout three months of my stay there. Was the danger real? Yes. But you just have to know how things work.

Learn what to do to navigate the risks and stay safe before you go, and for extra bonus with the locals, read up on some of their cultural points.

Here are some basics to get you started on safety.

• Have a copy of your important documents (passport and any travel documents) saved on your phone and other devices, just in case they get stolen.
• Dress down. This city is not for showing off your riches on the street.
• Avoid taking long walks alone. Even in the safest countries in the world, it takes crossing ONE street to feel the difference between a safe neighborhood and a less safe one in the city.
• If you get robbed, do NOT fight the assailant, as you don’t know whether or not they have a weapon. Give them what they want and immediately report the incident to the police.

Other Helpful Travel Resources for Brazil

• Make sure you protect your trip with a travel insurance.
• Get this eSIM for local data without giving up your number.
• Must-have Apps: Google Maps, Uber, WhatsApp

As a bonus, grab a copy below of the template I created and personally use to plan my own trips. It’s completely free for you!

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