Rio de Janeiro, and Brazil in general, will be a completely new destination for many visitors. Therefore, we’d like to provide some information on how to get there, transportation, and accommodation.

Rio de Janeiro has two airports:

• GIG – RIOgaleão International

• SDU – Santos Dumont

International flights only land at GIG, with many direct flights from European airlines. The only direct flight from Germany usually departs from Frankfurt (Lufthansa). From the airport, the best way to reach your accommodation is by Uber or taxi. We don’t recommend using public transportation, as the airport is relatively far from the city center and there are no direct bus lines to the airport!

For those flying with the Brazilian airline LATAM, for example, you can choose SDU as your destination airport. Long-haul flights typically land in São Paulo first, requiring a connecting flight. SDU is much closer to downtown Rio, and offers a stunning first view of Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer right from the plane!

IMPORTANT: Passengers flying via São Paulo will need to collect and recheck their luggage there. Customs control in Brazil always happens at the first point of arrival.

Rio de Janeiro is a large city with frequently congested streets and heavy traffic. The main reason for this is the relatively underdeveloped public transportation system. Although there is a subway with 4 lines, its network is limited, though it covers most tourist areas and attractions. 

The simplest transportation options remain taxis and Uber, and we definitely recommend using Uber. The prices are significantly lower than those of taxis and often more economical than the subway, especially for larger groups. 

Additionally, you can enter your destination directly into the international Uber app, avoiding any communication issues. The price is shown immediately, and you can pay with European payment methods (PayPal, credit card, etc.). If the price seems unexpectedly high, it's worth waiting 2-3 minutes and trying again. A short 10-minute ride shouldn’t cost more than 15 Reais, while longer trips (such as to the airport) generally won’t exceed 60-70 Reais.

There are as many accommodations in Rio as there are grains of sand, especially in the neighborhoods of Copacabana and Ipanema, which offer a wide variety of hotels for every budget. The coastline is lined with hotels from all the major international chains, although rooms with ocean views tend to be expensive. However, many of the larger hotels are somewhat outdated.

In addition to hotels, there is a wide range of vacation apartments available on platforms like Airbnb, providing the security of a trusted international portal.

Location:
We highly recommend staying in the South Zone (Zona Sul) of Rio. This area is more international and expensive, but it’s also the heart of the city’s tourist life. Here you'll find the famous beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, as well as iconic landmarks like Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain.

We especially recommend the neighborhoods of Ipanema, Leblon, and Copacabana. These areas feature the most beautiful beaches and an abundance of restaurants and shops.

On the other hand, we do not recommend the Centro and Lapa neighborhoods as places to stay. Centro is best visited during the day, especially on weekdays, while Lapa comes to life at night with vibrant nightlife, but is quite quiet during the day.