✈ Getting from Rio de Janeiro Airport to Copacabana

Copacabana is located around 23 km south of the Rio de Janeiro-Galeão International Airport (GIG) and can take 25 minutes to an hour to reach by car depending on traffic. To reach Copacabana from the airport, you may choose from four transportation options; taxi, private transfer, bus and train.

Taxis are readily available at the airport, or you can pre-book a transfer with a knowledgeable and professional Welcome Pickups driver. Public transportation is also available – the 2016 and 2017 bus lines run from the airport to Copacabana, or the cheapest option is to take a BRT (bus rapid transit system) bus to the Vicente de Carvalho metro station where you can then take the metro to Copacabana.

Welcome Pickups offers meet and greet services and a friendly introduction to Rio de Janeiro at the same price as a regular taxi. Click here to see the cost.

Comparison of the options

PRICE FOR 2PASSENGERS

OPTION	PRICE	DURATION	AVAILABILITY
Welcome Pickups	€23	25min	24/7	Book
Book
Taxi	€16	25min	24/7
Bus	€7	60min	06:00–23:00
Metro	€4.10	80min	05:00–00:00

How to get from RIo de Janeiro Airport to Copacabana by taxi

There are different ways to get a taxi from Rio de Janeiro Airport to Copacabana; you can book a taxi inside the airport for a flat rate or take a metered taxi from the ranks outside the airport.

For the flat rate option, head inside the Arrivals halls of Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 and locate the taxi services where you can book with a trusted company.

Outside of the Arrival Hall, metered taxis are also available. With a metered taxi, reaching Copacabana from the airport costs around €13-€20 (BRL 85.50). The time it takes to reach Copacabana by taxi from the airport is largely dependent on traffic – without traffic, the trip will take around 25 minutes, and with, it may take up to an hour.

Price of a taxi from Rio de Janeiro Airport to Copacabana

Flat rates from the airport to Copacabana start from around €25 (BRL 134).

Metered taxis available outside the airport are usually cheaper as the the fares are determined by time and distance to your destination. The average cost of a metred taxi ride will be approximately €16 (BRL 85.50).

Cost

€16 (BRL 85.50)

Trip Duration

25 Min

*Rates may vary unless you book your taxi in advance.

Convenience

Safety

Value for Money

Taxis are available 24/7 at the Rio de Janeiro Airport.

Where do I get it from?

Taxis can be booked for a fixed fare at the taxi companies’ counters located inside the Arrivals Halls of Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. After paying, they will direct you to your driver. Metered taxis can be found just outside of either Arrival Hall.

Convenience

Taking a taxi is the fastest, easiest way to reach Copacabana from the Rio de Janeiro Airport as a taxi will take you directly from the airport to your final destination. Though more expensive, booking a taxi for a flat rate inside the airport rather than a metered taxi will likely be easier if you aren’t familiar with Portuguese nor where the destination is precisely located.

Editor’s Note

If taking a metered taxi from outside the airport, check that the meter is turned on.

Useful Tips

You may also want to double check the route to your destination via GPS to ensure your driver does not run up the fare.

Not all Rio de Janeiro Airport taxi drivers speak English. Be sure to have your accommodation address clearly written down.

How to get from Rio de Janeiro Airport to Copacabana by bus

Taking the bus from Rio Airport to Copacabana is a solid budget-friendly option. Expresso Recreio runs the Frescão bus lines 2016 and 2017 which dock at the Rio de Janeiro-Galeão International Airport and pass through Copacabana. Bus fares for both 2016 and 2017 cost €3.50 (BRL 18.85).

The 2016 bus line runs from the airport to Leblon every hour from 06:00 to 23:00, stopping at the Grand Mercure in Copacabana. The 2017 bus line runs from the airport to Ipanema, also stopping at the Grand Mercure in Copacabana every 1 hr 20 min to 1 hr 40 min. The time it takes to reach Copacabana is dependent on traffic and generally takes anywhere from 1 hour to 2 hours.

How much is the bus from Rio de Janeiro Airport to Copacabana?

Both the Frescão bus lines 2016 and 2017 cost €3.50 (BRL 18.85) to reach Copacabana. The bus driver accepts payment in cash upon boarding the bus.

Cost

€3.50 (BRL 18.85)

Trip Duration

1-2 hours

There’s a waiting time of 1 hour.

Convenience

Safety

Value for Money

The bus is available from 06:00 to 23:00.

Where do I get it from?

The Frescão bus stops at both terminals of the Rio de Janeiro Airport. At Terminal 1, the bus stops at gate F on the second level, and at Terminal 2, it stops at gate D on the second level.

Convenience

The Frescão bus lines are the slowest means of transportation from the Rio de Janeiro Airport to Copacabana, and you may have to wait up to an hour for the bus to pick up at the airport.

Timetables

2016 bus line

2017 bus line

Editor’s Note

If you choose to take public transportation from the Rio de Janeiro Airport to Copacabana, take a look at the different bus routes and their stops in comparison to your destination before your journey to find the best possible route.

Useful Tips

You can make use of the luggage storage compartments on the bus to help make your journey more comfortable.

Tell the driver the name of your hotel or the location of your accommodation when boarding so that he can drop you off as close as possible to your destination.

The Frescão buses are known for their air-conditioning – even in the summer, you may want to wear a sweater while on the bus.

How to get from Rio de Janeiro Airport to Copacabana by BRT bus and metro

The cheapest method of reaching Copacabana from Rio de Janeiro Airport is to take a combination of the BRT bus system and the metro. This method is a bit trickier for travellers new to the region as it requires a couple of transfers, though depending on traffic, it may be faster than taking one of the Frescão buses.

From the airport, you can take the BRT Express TransCarioca line to the Vincente de Carvalho metro station in around 34 minutes, where you will then need to transfer to the L2 metro. The L2 metro will take you to Central Station in 26 minutes, where you will then transfer to L1 or L4. These metro lines make several stops in Copacabana. The journey costs a total of €2.05 (BRL 11). The BRT bus stops at the airport every 15 minutes and the metro lines stop every 2-5 minutes.

How much is the BRT bus and metro from the Rio de Janeiro Airport to Copacabana?

Taking the BRT bus and metro to Copacabana from the Rio de Janeiro Airport costs a total of €2.05 (BRL 11). The BRT bus fare is €0.75 (BRL 4), and the metro fare costs €0.75 (BRL 4). You’ll also have to purchase a Rio Card for €0.55 (BRL 3) to use the metro system and the BRT bus.

*Tickets may be purchased with cash from a BRT box office inside the airport, and there are also box offices and ticket machines at the metro stations.

Cost

€2.05 (BRL 11)

Trip Duration

80 Min

There’s a waiting time of 15 minutes.

Convenience

Safety

Value for Money

The BRT bus is available 24/7, however, the metro runs from 5 am to midnight Monday-Saturday and from 07:00 to 23:00 on Sundays and holidays.

Where do I get it from?

The BRT bus stops at both terminals of the Rio de Janeiro Airport. At Terminal 1, the bus stops at exit H, and at Terminal 2, it stops at exit D. You will make your transfer from the BRT bus to the L2 metro at the Vincente de Carvalho metro station. At the Central metro station, you will change from the L2 metro to the L1 or L4 metro.

Convenience

Taking the BRT bus and metro is the cheapest way to reach Copacabana from the Rio de Janeiro Airport. However, it is also the least convenient option as you will have to make a couple of transfers and the public transportation system is known to be somewhat difficult to navigate. Also, the metro can be quite crowded, making it difficult to travel with luggage.

Timetables

Metro

Editor’s Note

The are many combinations of buses and metros that will take you to your destination in Copacabana – take a look at all your options to find the best route depending on when you arrive and where your destination is.

Useful Tips

If you will be using the BRT bus or metro frequently during your stay, consider purchasing a rechargeable card.

Welcome Pickups transfer

Book a trained, English-speaking taxi driver to pick you up at the same price as a regular cab from the line

If you feel more relaxed knowing that somebody is waiting for you, you may as well book a Welcome Pickups transfer. As soon as you arrive at the airport you will be greeted by your driver. He will be waiting for you at the terminal of your arrival with a sign that has your name on it. Your driver will help you out with your luggage and together you will make your way to the vehicle. While he is driving you to your accommodation, the driver can give you some tips and recommendations on what to do during your holidays in Rio de janeiro. Our drivers are hand-picked and speak fluent English. No need to worry about miscommunication issues that you may face with the local taxi drivers regarding your destination. Relax and enjoy your ride.

Best drivers

Hand-picked english-speaking drivers

Flight monitoring

Drivers are always on time

Quality support

24/7 email & phone support

Cancel up to 24 hours before the pickup and get an 80% refund

Edit or cancel transfers

Frequently asked questions

Does Uber operates from Rio de Janeiro Airport?

Yes, Uber does service the Rio de Janeiro Airport and surrounding areas.

What is the best way to reach Copacabana from Rio de Janeiro Airport?

As public transportation can be difficult to navigate and takes a relatively long time to reach Copacabana from the airport, taking a local taxi or pre-booking a private transfer with Welcome Pickups is the easiest and fastest way to get to Copacabana. For cheaper options you can either catch the airport bus or use a combination of the bus and the metro.

What is the cheapest way to get to Copacabana from Rio de Janeiro Airport?

Taking the BRT bus from the airport and transferring to the metro to reach Copacabana is the cheapest way, as it costs just €2.05 (BRL 11). However the journey can take up to 80 minutes, making it the slowest option.

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How to get from RIo de Janeiro Airport to Copacabana by taxi

Price of a taxi from Rio de Janeiro Airport to Copacabana

Cost

€16 (BRL 85.50)

Trip Duration

25 Min

Convenience

Safety

Value for Money

Taxis are available 24/7 at the Rio de Janeiro Airport.

Where do I get it from?

Convenience

Editor’s Note

Useful Tips

How to get from Rio de Janeiro Airport to Copacabana by bus

How much is the bus from Rio de Janeiro Airport to Copacabana?

Cost

€3.50 (BRL 18.85)

Trip Duration

1-2 hours

Convenience

Safety

Value for Money

The bus is available from 06:00 to 23:00.

Where do I get it from?

Convenience

Timetables

2016 bus line

2017 bus line

Editor’s Note

Useful Tips

How to get from Rio de Janeiro Airport to Copacabana by BRT bus and metro

How much is the BRT bus and metro from the Rio de Janeiro Airport to Copacabana?

Cost

€2.05 (BRL 11)

Trip Duration

80 Min

Convenience

Safety

Value for Money

The BRT bus is available 24/7, however, the metro runs from 5 am to midnight Monday-Saturday and from 07:00 to 23:00 on Sundays and holidays.

Where do I get it from?

Convenience

Timetables

Metro

Editor’s Note

Useful Tips

Welcome Pickups transfer

Best drivers

Flight monitoring

Quality support

Cancel up to 24 hours before the pickup and get an 80% refund

Frequently asked questions

Does Uber operates from Rio de Janeiro Airport?

What is the best way to reach Copacabana from Rio de Janeiro Airport?

What is the cheapest way to get to Copacabana from Rio de Janeiro Airport?

Was this helpful?

The best way to arrive in Rio de Janeiro

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