How to get from Rio airport to Copacabana and Ipanema

Rio has two airports, and which one you land in decides the first hour. International flights arrive at Galeão, on Ilha do Governador north of the center, about 20 to 25 kilometers from Copacabana by road. Santos Dumont sits on the bay beside the old center, much closer to the beaches, and handles domestic flights only. Here is how each works, and which ride to choose.

Galeão: one terminal, a long road

Galeão, officially Tom Jobim International Airport, is the one our catalog lists as Rio's main airport. Aena, the Spanish airport operator, completed its purchase of the concession on October 6, 2026, and now runs it. All passenger flights use Terminal 2.

The road to the south zone usually runs along the Linha Vermelha. Outside the rush hours, a car takes roughly 40 minutes to an hour to Copacabana, and at peak times, from about 7 to 10 in the morning and 5 to 8 in the evening, the ride can take nearly twice as long. Ipanema and Leblon are a little farther on.

Official taxis

Our catalog's advice is to use an official taxi, a pre-booked transfer, or a ride-hailing app, all of which pick up at the airport. Official taxis are sold at cooperative counters in the domestic and international arrivals areas. You can ride on the meter, or prepay a fixed fare at the counter and hand the voucher to the driver.

A regular Rio taxi is yellow with a blue stripe along the side, and the driver's photo ID should be on display. In October 2026, the airport's operator told passengers to use the official counters, and the city's transport department told them to check the vehicle's identification. The same month, police acted against rigged taxi meters. Drivers who approach you in the arrivals hall are not the official service. Later in the week, Táxi.Rio, the city's official taxi app, calls registered taxis and takes card payment.

Take the taxi from the counter, not the one that finds you.

Uber and 99

Both apps work across Rio and pick up at Galeão. Uber has a dedicated pickup area outside the terminal, signposted from arrivals. For 99, follow the pickup point shown in the app. Before you get in, check that the plate and the driver match the app, which is our catalog's rule for every app ride in Rio.

Buses and the BRT

The public routes are slower and best kept for light luggage. An express BRT bus leaves from Terminal 2 arrivals for the Terminal Gentileza in the center, where it connects to the VLT tram. Another BRT line runs to Madureira, with a change to the metro at Vicente de Carvalho, and the trip to Copacabana involves two changes. No official journey time is published for the whole route, so allow plenty of time.

An executive bus line, LECD71, has connected the airport with Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon through the center, but its current service and timetable could not be confirmed for this guide. Check it on arrival. City buses, the BRT, and the VLT run on the Jaé card, and the metro also takes contactless bank cards.

The metro does not reach either airport, but once you are in the south zone it is the easiest way to move. Cardeal Arcoverde, Siqueira Campos, and Cantagalo serve Copacabana, and General Osório and Nossa Senhora da Paz serve Ipanema.

Santos Dumont: the short ride

Santos Dumont is run by Infraero and takes domestic flights only. It sits about two kilometers from the historic center, on the edge of Guanabara Bay. The VLT tram stops at the airport, and a change at Cinelândia puts you on the metro to Copacabana.

Taxis wait at the arrivals exit, and app rides pick up outside, past the Bossa Nova Mall. From here the beach districts are a short drive, which is why it is worth checking which airport your domestic flight uses before you book a hotel transfer.

In Rio, the airport on your ticket matters as much as the hotel.

Before you land

Save an offline map of the south zone before you fly, as our catalog suggests, and activate an eSIM with Vivo, Claro, or TIM, then test the data on arrival. WhatsApp handles hotel, transfer, tour, and restaurant confirmations in Rio. Keep a little cash for tips and kiosks, though cards are widely accepted.

The flights are in How to get to Rio de Janeiro. We wrote about the first days in Is Rio de Janeiro safe? and Copacabana, Ipanema, or Leblon? Where to stay in Rio, and about why a short distance in Rio can take an hour in Rio is farther than it looks. Our free routes for 3 days, 5 days, and 7 days in Rio begin the day after you land.