Complete guide on the best airport in Rio de Janeiro
If you’re planning a trip to Rio de Janeiro, you’re probably asking yourself: “Which is the best airport to fly to?” As someone who grew up in Rio, I’ve got you covered.
This guide will provide a complete overview of the airports available, so you can make an informed decision when choosing the best airport in Rio for your trip.
How many airports are there in Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro is served by 2 international airports — Tom Jobim International Airport, also known as Rio Galeão (GIG), and Santos Dumont Airport (SDU).
Rio Galeão (GIG) is an international airport and the main global hub in Rio.
Santos Dumont Airport (SDU) is mostly a domestic airport, ideal for flight connections within Brazil and to some destinations in South America.
Below, we will cover in detail the most important information regarding each one of them.
Tom Jobim International Airport (Galeão)
Tom Jobim International Airport, commonly known as Rio Galeão, is located around 23km away from Copacabana. Rio Galeão is the main international airport in Rio de Janeiro and it is also the largest airport in the city.
Flights from Rio Galeão International Airport
Galeão offers nonstop flights to cities within Brazil, including São Paulo, Manaus, Brasília and Florianópolis. Nowadays, it is the main airport hub in Rio when flying to far-away destinations, while SDU mostly operates with flights to nearby regions.
Rio Galeão also provides direct international flight connections to major cities around the world such as Paris, London, Lisbon, Houston, Munich, and many more.
Here are the main international airlines that fly into and out of Rio Galeão Airport in Rio:
- Airfrance
- American Airlines
- British Airways
- Copa Airlines
- KLM
- Lufthansa
- TAP
- United Airlines
Infrastructure at Rio Galeão Airport
Rio Galeão International Airport has two terminals. The airport was expanded between the World Cup and the Rio Olympic Games, but it has since decreased a lot the volume of flights, especially after the pandemic.
As of 2023, only one terminal is in use, the other one is currently only functioning as a parking lot. All domestic and international flights are currently operating from Terminal 2.
As for infrastructure, Rio Galeão is very well served. They have a very large Duty Free section, money exchange stores, ATMs, and many different choices of bars/restaurants, shops & souvenirs. From this point of view, it is the best airport to fly into Rio in my opinion as you have everything available.
Rio Galeão also offers free Wifi, which is very convenient when arriving in town.
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How to go from Rio Galeão Airport to Copacabana
There are many possible options for getting from GIG International Airport to Copacabana: by car, Uber/taxi, public transport, or transfer.
By car
There is parking located right at Terminal 2 in Rio Galeão Airport, which is the best option for anyone coming and going by car. The parking can be paid for at the automatic machines or through the automated system (for cars with a speed pass).
By Uber/taxi
Ubers are allowed to operate in Rio Galeão, but they can only park in specific places. Once you land and order your Uber, you will have options of boarding places displayed on the app – select the one that better suits you and go to the agreed place before you place the order.
The Ubers usually stay just around the corner waiting for a trip, so they often arrive very fast.
Taxis are also available at Rio Galeão Airport. If you would like to get a taxi, I strongly advise using an official taxi company. There are many of them with booths inside the airport main hall at the arrivals area.
There are many people offering random taxis as you walk towards the exit door but I urge you not to take irregular taxi services. They do not have standard pricing systems, and you may end up being scammed just as you arrive.
Read also: Using Uber in Rio de Janeiro
By public transport
Rio Galeão has an official airport bus service called Real which operates 24/7. Real is a blue bus, it is very easy to spot it. This bus will take you all the way to Copacabana and it costs only 12 reais (3 USD).
Read also: Our guide to using the public transport in Rio
By transfer
If you want more comfort, you can also organize a private transfer service with a driver to pick you up at the airport and drive you to your hotel.
Where to stay next to Rio Galeão Airport?
I will be very honest here and say that the area around Rio Galeão Airport is not an area you will want to stay in. There is nothing of interest around – the airport is located quite far from every main attraction in Rio.
That being said, you may want to stay close to the Airport if you have an early or late flight. These are the best options for places to stay near Rio Galeão Airport:
1. Linx Hotel – This hotel is located only 500m away from the airport, and offers 24h pool, gym, and bar. It’s ideal for you if you are leaving from GIG early in the morning, or arriving late in the evening.
2. Ház – This hotel is located only a couple minutes’ drive away from the airport, still within Ilha do Governador.
Read also: Best areas and hotels to stay in Rio
Santos Dumont Airport in Rio
Santos Dumont Airport (SDU) is located in downtown Rio de Janeiro, which makes it very convenient to explore the city. SDU is much smaller than Galeão but it is the best airport option if you will be getting domestic flights within Brazil.
The best thing about Santos Dumont Airport is that it is very easily accessible and there are many hotel options nearby.
Pro tip: If flying to Santos Dumont from São Paulo, choose a window seat on the right side of the plane for the best views.
Flights to Santos Dumont Airport
Santos Dumont Airport is mostly used for domestic flights, but there are a few international flights too. Here’s a list of the main airlines that fly to Santos Dumont Airport:
- LATAM Airlines Brazil
- GOL Transportes Aéreos
- Azul Brazilian Airlines
Santos Dumont is the best airport option for quick connections, especially if you will be flying from Rio to São Paulo or vice versa.
Pro tip: A lot of travelers coming from abroad get a flight to São Paulo first and then a domestic connection to visit Rio. It is usually easier to find better prices for flights to São Paulo since Guarulhos Airport is larger. They have more flight options and better prices, and you can make a long connection to combine a visit to both cities using a domestic Brazilian airline.
We often do the same when flying to Rio from Europe.
Infrastructure at Santos Dumont Airport in Rio
Santos Dumont Airport is much smaller than Rio Galeão. The good thing about this is that you don’t need to arrive too much time before your flight if you do not have checked luggage to drop off.
Even though it is smaller in size, Santos Dumont is still very complete when it comes to all it has to offer. You will still find places for snacks, stores & souvenirs, ATMs, exchange shops, etc. The main difference is that you have fewer options for each.
Santos Dumont Airport also offers free Wifi.
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How to get from Santos Dumont Airport to Copacabana?
There are four main options on how to get from Santos Dumont Airport to your hotel in Copacabana: by car, by taxi/Uber, by public transport, and with a transfer service.
By car:
Santos Dumont has a parking lot located right outside, in front of the departure gate. There is also the option of parking at the shopping mall located next door to the airport, but I would recommend this only as a second alternative in case the airport’s main parking is full.
By taxi/Uber:
Similar to GIG, one of the most practical ways of getting from Santos Dumont Airport to Copacabana is by grabbing a taxi or Uber. The ride is quite short, it will take you only 15 minutes without traffic.
If you opt for an Uber, you will have to select your preferred boarding point on the app. The Ubers have designated places where they can park around the airport.
If you opt for a regular taxi, make sure you use an official company by getting a car at one of the official booths inside the airport. It is a good idea to align on a price upfront and use the pricing meter if possible.
By public transport:
The good news is that Santos Dumont is very well served when it comes to public transport! The VLT (tram) has a station right outside the airport, which will take you to Cinelandia in only 5 minutes. From there, you have access to the subway and can go almost anywhere in town.
There are also bus options that come straight to Santos Dumont if you prefer. Real Buses (the same company as the blue buses) also operates from Santos Dumont, with a connection to Copacabana and several other neighborhoods in town.
By transfer
If you prefer, you can also book a private car transfer to go from Santos Dumont Airport to Copacabana or anywhere in Rio. Check availability on the tool below:
Where to stay near Santos Dumont Airport?
If you want to stay really close to the airport because you have an early or late flight, we recommend Prodigy Hotel. It is located in the shopping mall right next to Santos Dumont, with an amazing view of the Sugar Loaf. You can literally go by foot from inside the airport to this hotel.
Other great options of places to stay that are only a short car ride away from Santos Dumont Airport are:
- Hotel Yoo2: Located in Botafogo, it is one of the coolest hotels in Rio and has an incredible rooftop bar (that I recommend even if you will not be staying at the hotel).
- Selina Lapa: This is one of the most famous hostels in the whole city. It’s located close to the airport, but it’s also only 200 meters away from Santa Teresa, where you can find the famous Selaron steps.
Read also:
Which is the best airport to fly into Rio: Galeão or Santos Dumont?
- Rio Galeão is the best airport to fly into Rio if you will be coming with a direct flight from abroad. It is the main international airport in Rio and it is the main arrival point for global destinations.
- Santos Dumond is the best airport to fly into Rio if you will be making a connection within another city in Brazil, especially São Paulo.
FAQ – Popular questions about Rio’s international airports
What is the main airport in Rio de Janeiro?
Rio Galeão is considered the main airport in Rio de Janeiro because it is the main international hub for global flights.
What is the busiest airport in Rio de Janeiro?
Santos Dumont is the busiest airport in Rio. It nowadays has a much higher number of flights because it is the main airport for domestic connections within Brazil.
Every major Brazilian airline has at least one flight per hour from Santos Dumont to São Paulo.
What is the closest international airport to Copacabana?
Santos Dumont is the closest airport to Copacabana, but it has a limited selection of international flights available. It operates mostly with domestic flight routes.
For international direct flights to Rio, the best airport is Rio Galeão.
How early should you get to the airport in Rio?
The standard recommendation is that you arrive at the airport at least two hours in advance.
That being said, if you do not have checked luggage to drop off, Santos Dumont is small enough that I believe two hours is quite a long waiting time. I often plan my schedule to arrive with a maximum of 1h 30m before the time of the flight.
How to go from one Rio airport to the other?
The best way to go from one airport to the other is by using the Real bus, which makes a direct connection between both airports. If you are in a hurry, you can also take a taxi or Uber.
Is Uber a good option to go to the airports in Rio?
Yes, I often use Uber to get to the airport in Rio. You can read all about how Uber works in Rio here.
But I will give you a special tip: before you arrive in Rio, download the app called 99 Taxi. They are Uber’s main competitor in Brazil and a very trustworthy local company.
The best thing is that they often have better prices than Uber so what I always do is get a quote in both apps and choose the one with the best offer.
Which airport is bigger: Rio or São Paulo?
São Paulo’s main airport Guarulhos is the largest one in Brazil, and it is also bigger than Rio’s International Airport called Galeão.
We hope this blog post has covered all your doubts about which airport to fly to Rio. If you need any additional information that we didn’t cover, feel free to send us a message!
Other guides about traveling to Rio de Janeiro
Organizing your trip
To help you plan your trip to Brazil, we have put together our favorite planning resources:
- Flights: Get affordable flights to Brazil on Skyscanner.com.
- Travel insurance: Make sure you are protected during your trip. We use SafetyWing whenever we are traveling abroad.
- Renting a car: We always use Discover Cars to get the best car deals.
- Accommodation: Find the best hotels and apartments on Booking.com.
- Activities: Get fun ideas of what to do and buy unique activities with Get Your Guide.
- SIM Card: Stay connected during your trip with Airalo.
- Personalized itinerary: We can create a travel plan tailored to your wishes!
- Rio de Janeiro map: All of our favorite places on one map.
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