Rio de Janeiro/Practical advice
How to get to Rio de Janeiro
Flights reach Rio from three continents. Where the nonstop flights come from, why the São Paulo shuttle matters, and which of the city's two airports to look for on your ticket.
At a glance
- FROM NEW YORK
- About 9 h 30 min nonstop
- SÃO PAULO
- About 103 flights a day
- TO COPACABANA
- 40 min to 1 hour
Rio has two airports. Galeão, on Ilha do Governador, takes the international flights. Santos Dumont sits on the bay beside the center and handles flights within Brazil. Most trips from abroad land at Galeão, and around 248 direct flights land there each week, by KAYAK's count.
Galeão had a record year in 2025, with about 17.8 million passengers, 22.8 percent more than in 2024, as reported by CNN Brasil. Part of the growth since 2024 came from flights that moved over from Santos Dumont after limits were placed on the city airport, according to Reuters.
From the United States
Nonstop flights reach Galeão from New York, Miami, and Atlanta, with American, Delta, and United among the airlines, according to KAYAK. From New York the flight takes about nine and a half hours. Other US cities connect through these, or through São Paulo.
Citizens of the United States, Canada, and Australia need an eVisa for Brazil, and Brazil's official eVisa service advises applying two months before travel. Other passports have their own rules. We checked this on October 20, 2026.
From Europe
As of February 2026, nonstop flights linked Galeão with Lisbon on TAP Air Portugal, Paris on Air France, and Madrid on Iberia, according to Estado de Minas. Routes and frequencies change by season, so check the airline for your dates.
From South America
From São Paulo, the connection is constant. The shuttle between São Paulo's Congonhas and Rio's Santos Dumont averaged 103 flights a day in 2025, eighth among the world's busiest routes in OAG's ranking. Long-haul flights into São Paulo connect onward to Rio.
From Peru, Sky starts a daily nonstop flight between Lima and Rio on December 28, 2026, for the southern summer season. And from March 2027, when LATAM opens its São Paulo route to Cusco, a single change in São Paulo will link Rio and Cusco.
The flight is the easy part. The drive from Galeão is the one to plan.
From the airport to the beach
From Galeão, the drive to Copacabana or Ipanema takes 40 minutes to an hour outside rush hours, and nearly twice as long in them. We wrote it all out, taxis, apps, and the BRT, in How to get from Rio airport to Copacabana and Ipanema.
Once you land, the question becomes time. Read How many days in Rio de Janeiro? and The best time to visit Rio de Janeiro.
Worth knowing
- The shuttle between São Paulo and Rio averaged 103 flights a day in 2025, eighth among the world's busiest routes in OAG's ranking.
- Check which of Rio's two airports your ticket names: Galeão takes the international flights, and Santos Dumont the flights within Brazil.
- Cash is still king. Cards are widely accepted. Keep small cash for beach kiosks, markets, and tips.