By Air

Nearly three dozen airlines regularly serve Rio, but most flights (from North America) stop first in São Paulo. Several of the international carriers also offer Rio-São Paulo flights.

Airports

All international flights and most domestic flights arrive and depart from the Aeroporto Internacional Antônio Carlos Jobim, also known as Galeão (GIG). The airport is about 45 minutes northwest of the beach area and most of Rio's hotels. Aeroporto Santos Dumont (SDU), 20 minutes from the beaches and within walking distance of Centro, is served by the Rio-São Paulo air shuttle and a few air-taxi firms.

Airports

Aeroporto Internacional Antônio Carlos Jobim (21/3398-4526.)

Aeroporto Santos Dumont (Praça Senador Salgado Filho s/n°, Centro, Rio de Janeiro, 20021-340. 21/3814-7070.)

Ground Transportation

Special airport taxis have booths in the arrival areas of both airports. Fares to all parts of Rio are posted at the booths, and you pay in advance (about R$41-R$56). Also trustworthy are the white radio taxis parked in the same areas; these charge an average of 20% less. Three reliable special taxi firms are Transcoopass, Cootramo, and Coopertramo.

Buses run by Empresa Real park curbside outside customs at Galeão and outside the main door at Santos Dumont; for R$5 they make the hour-long trip from Galeão into the city, following the beachfront drives and stopping at all hotels along the way. If your hotel is inland, the driver will let you off at the nearest corner. Buses leave from the airport every half hour from 5:20 am to 11 pm. Two of the taxi firms have vans at the international airport: Cootramo has a van (with 11 seats) to downtown for R$57 and to Copacabana for R$78. Coopertramo does the same for R$70 and R$80, but the van has a capacity to transport 15.

Contacts

Coopertramo (21/2560-2022.)

Cootramo (21/2560-5442, 21/3976-9944, or 21/3976-9945.)

Empresa Real (21/2560-7041 or 0800/24-0850. www.realautoonibus.com.br.)

Transcoopass (21/2560-4888. www.transcoopass.com.br.)