Rio de Janeiro/Galeão – Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport

Galeão International Airport is about 20 km north of downtown Rio de Janeiro, on Ilha do Governador in the city's north zone. The drive to Centro follows the Linha Vermelha expressway, and the trip can take much longer during weekday rush hours, so allow extra time if you land in the morning or late afternoon.

Copacabana and Ipanema are about 25 km from Galeão airport. By car the trip usually takes 30 to 45 minutes outside rush hour, and it can take 60 to 90 minutes during the morning and evening peaks. Taxis, rideshare apps and pre-booked transfers are the most direct ways to reach the beach districts with luggage.

Galeão (GIG) is Rio de Janeiro's international airport, about 20 km north of downtown, and it handles almost all international flights plus many domestic routes. Santos Dumont (SDU) is a smaller airport in downtown Rio on Guanabara Bay that mainly serves domestic flights, such as the shuttle to São Paulo. Check your ticket carefully, because the two airports are far apart.

Galeão airport has two terminals, but Terminal 2 handles check-in, arrivals and baggage claim for nearly all flights. Terminal 1's check-in and baggage claim areas have been closed since 2016, and passengers reach any gates still in use there through Terminal 2. In practice, most travelers only see Terminal 2.

GOL, LATAM Airlines and Azul operate most domestic flights at Galeão. International airlines include American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, Air France, KLM, British Airways, Lufthansa, Iberia, ITA Airways, Emirates, Copa Airlines, Avianca, Aerolíneas Argentinas, JetSMART, Flybondi and Sky Airline, linking Rio with North America, Europe, the Middle East and South America.

Licensed taxi companies have desks in the Terminal 2 arrivals hall on the ground floor. Regular yellow taxis leave from door A and executive blue taxis from door B, and several companies operate 24 hours. Fares follow the meter or a table regulated by the city, so ask how the fare is calculated before you set off.

Yes. The BRT TransCarioca stops at both terminals and runs 24 hours to Madureira, where you can connect onward, and an express BRT runs to the Gentileza Intermodal Terminal. City buses serve Ilha do Governador and Bonsucesso. There is no metro or train station at the airport, so public transport to the beaches involves transfers.

Yes, Uber and other ride-hailing apps operate at Galeão. Passengers arriving on international flights are picked up on the departures floor at door D of Terminal 2. Domestic arrivals exit, turn left and use the marked app pickup sectors. Follow the airport signs to the designated zone rather than accepting rides from people in the hall.

It depends on your nationality. Since April 10, 2025, citizens of the United States, Canada and Australia have needed a Brazil e-visa for tourism and business visits, ending a waiver in place since 2019. Many European and South American citizens can enter without a visa. Check the official Brazilian government guidance for your passport before you travel.

Auto Viação 1001 runs buses from Galeão to Niterói, including the Charitas route, and coach services to Armação dos Búzios and Macaé from the Terminal 2 arrivals level. Departures to Búzios are limited to a few each day, so check timetables in advance. Taxis and private transfers also cover these trips by road.

Rio de Janeiro uses Brasília Time (UTC−3) all year, since Brazil stopped observing daylight saving time in 2019. The currency is the Brazilian real (BRL), and you will find ATMs and exchange counters at the airport. The climate is tropical, with hot, humid summers from December to March and milder weather in the middle of the year.

Spanish airport group Aena took over management of Galeão in October 2026 after winning the concession auction in March 2026; the previous concessionaire was RIOgaleão. The airport handled about 17.9 million passengers in 2025, up from about 14.5 million in 2024, as traffic shifted from Santos Dumont after limits were placed on that downtown airport.

We provide private transportation from any airport to any hotel at the best price, and we are licensed with complete insurance liability.

Airport Transportation provides private transportation only, in vans, luxury SUVs, or semi-buses.

Prices on our website are per vehicle, not per person, based on a range of passengers.

Regular vans carry up to 9 passengers, semi-buses up to 16, and luxury SUVs up to 6 passengers.

Walk all the way out of the airport. You'll see representatives holding boards. Look for the Airport Transportation logo or your name.

Commonly Toyota Hiace, Volkswagen Transporter, Mercedes Sprinter, Volkswagen Crafter, Chevrolet Tahoe, and Chevrolet Suburban.

Yes. We carry insurance with complete liability for all passengers while using our services.

Baby seats are provided with prior notice, subject to availability, one seat maximum per vehicle.

You can book any time in advance; we suggest one week to one day ahead. Same-day reservations are available.

PayPal is our main payment method; a cash option is also available when booking through our website. Credit cards are accepted through PayPal.

Yes. For your comfort all our units have air conditioning.

During booking we ask for your airline and flight number so we can track delays and wait for you.

Yes, you can add an extra stop to your service during the booking process.

No. Prices are set per passenger range or per vehicle, not per age.

Yes. Cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before your pick-up and you are refunded in full. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before service are not refundable.

Yes. While their English may not be native-level, drivers have the skills to communicate with passengers.

Tips are not mandatory but are highly recommended; drivers earn them through service quality.

All prices are in USD. Via PayPal you can pay in almost any currency; cash payments accept USD only.

We can transport domestic pets kept in cages that fit in a normal vehicle.

Yes. There is plenty of room for one suitcase and one carry-on per person.

Every private transfer includes a professional, licensed driver; an insured, well-maintained vehicle; real-time flight monitoring; meet-and-greet service at arrivals; and door-to-door service with no hidden fees added after booking. Your fixed price covers the full route to your destination.