What is the cheapest way from Galeão Airport to central Rio de Janeiro?

The Expresso Galeão BRT bus. It costs R$15, paid with a Jaé card or the Jaé app (no cash), and takes about 20–25 minutes on its own busway to Terminal Gentileza in Centro, roughly 35 minutes door-to-door.

Do I need a special card to ride the airport bus?

Yes — municipal buses, the BRT and the VLT only take the Jaé card or app; the older RioCard was phased out in 2025 and cash isn't accepted on the Expresso Galeão.

How do I get to Copacabana or Ipanema from the airport?

Take the 'Real' frescão bus, line LECD71, for about R$24.85 — it runs direct along the coast to Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon in 50–60 minutes with no transfer, boarding at the curbside stop outside Terminal 2.

How much does a taxi or Uber cost from Galeão to the city?

Expect about R$50–90 to Centro or R$60–80 to Copacabana on Uber/99, and somewhat more (from R$80) for an official metered or fixed-rate taxi — versus R$15 on the Expresso Galeão BRT bus. Ignore anyone offering a ride inside the arrivals hall.

Is Galeão's Terminal 1 still used?

No — Terminal 1 has been closed to the public since 2016, so every flight arrives at Terminal 2, where both airport buses depart.

What is the best way from GIG to downtown Rio de Janeiro?

For budget travellers the best way is the cheapest one: the Expresso Galeão BRT bus, R$15 with a Jaé card or the Jaé app and roughly 35 minutes door-to-door to Terminal Gentileza in Centro.

How do you get from Rio de Janeiro/Galeão Airport (GIG) to downtown Rio de Janeiro — the cheapest way?

The cheapest way from Galeão Airport (GIG) into central Rio is the Expresso Galeão BRT bus: pay the R$15 fare with a Jaé card or the Jaé app (cash isn't accepted), and ride its dedicated busway about 20–25 minutes to Terminal Gentileza in Centro, the city centre, roughly 35 minutes door-to-door. If you're headed straight to Copacabana, Ipanema or Leblon, the 'Real' frescão bus (line LECD71, about R$24.85) runs direct along the coast in 50–60 minutes with no transfer. Skip the touts and 'discount voucher' taxi counters in arrivals — a metered taxi or Uber runs about R$50–90 to Centro.

How to find it

AIRPORTRio de Janeiro/Galeão – Antônio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG)
01From Terminal 2 arrivals (Galeão has only one public terminal — Terminal 1 has been closed since 2016), follow signs for 'Expresso Galeão / BRT' to Gate A on the ground floor and step outside to the dedicated bus platform.
02Buy or top up a Jaé card at the platform's self-service machine, or open the Jaé app and generate its QR code — cash and the old RioCard are not accepted. Tap in for the R$15 fare.
03Board the next Expresso Galeão bus; they run every 20 minutes from 06:00 to 23:40 daily on the segregated TransBrasil busway, so it skips the notorious Avenida Brasil traffic.
04Ride about 20–25 minutes to Terminal Gentileza, the transport hub in Centro next to Praça Mauá and the Museu do Amanhã. You're already in central Rio; for Cinelândia, Praça XV or Central do Brasil, continue on the connecting VLT tram (about R$4.30, paid separately).
CITY CENTRERio de Janeiro

Ticket

Expresso Galeão BRT fare (Jaé card or app), to Terminal Gentileza

Where to buy: At the Expresso Galeão platform outside Terminal 2 arrivals (Gate A) — buy or top up a physical Jaé card at the self-service machines there, or just use the Jaé app on your phone (no NFC needed, it shows a QR code).

How to pay: Tap the Jaé card or scan the app's QR code at the turnstile; credit tops up instantly via Pix, bank card or boleto. Cash is not accepted on this line, and RioCard no longer works — it was phased out in 2025.

Local's trick: Skip the ticket line by using the Jaé app instead of a physical card — it generates a QR code that scans at the turnstile even without NFC, and you can top it up by Pix in seconds. The bus uses its own busway, so it reaches Centro in about 20 minutes flat regardless of traffic on Avenida Brasil, something no taxi can promise at rush hour.

Trap to avoid: Ignore anyone in the arrivals hall offering rides, 'discount' taxi vouchers or a 'faster shuttle' — legitimate drivers never solicit inside the terminal. Skip the Aerotáxi/Aerocoop counters' return-voucher upsell (regular metered or app rides run about R$50–90 to Centro, R$60–80 to Copacabana); if you land after midnight when the bus has stopped for the night, use an official Cootramo taxi counter or order an Uber/99 from the app instead of a driver who approaches you.

All ways to downtown, compared

Option	Price	Time	Ticket
BusCheapest route	R$15.00	35 min	Expresso Galeão BRT fare (Jaé card or app), to Terminal Gentileza
Bus	R$24.85	1 h	'Real'/frescão executive bus fare, Linha LECD71 (Galeão–Leblon)

Frequently asked

What is the cheapest way from Galeão Airport to central Rio de Janeiro?: The Expresso Galeão BRT bus. It costs R$15, paid with a Jaé card or the Jaé app (no cash), and takes about 20–25 minutes on its own busway to Terminal Gentileza in Centro, roughly 35 minutes door-to-door.
Do I need a special card to ride the airport bus?: Yes — municipal buses, the BRT and the VLT only take the Jaé card or app; the older RioCard was phased out in 2025 and cash isn't accepted on the Expresso Galeão.
How do I get to Copacabana or Ipanema from the airport?: Take the 'Real' frescão bus, line LECD71, for about R$24.85 — it runs direct along the coast to Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon in 50–60 minutes with no transfer, boarding at the curbside stop outside Terminal 2.
How much does a taxi or Uber cost from Galeão to the city?: Expect about R$50–90 to Centro or R$60–80 to Copacabana on Uber/99, and somewhat more (from R$80) for an official metered or fixed-rate taxi — versus R$15 on the Expresso Galeão BRT bus. Ignore anyone offering a ride inside the arrivals hall.
Is Galeão's Terminal 1 still used?: No — Terminal 1 has been closed to the public since 2016, so every flight arrives at Terminal 2, where both airport buses depart.
What is the best way from GIG to downtown Rio de Janeiro?: For budget travellers the best way is the cheapest one: the Expresso Galeão BRT bus, R$15 with a Jaé card or the Jaé app and roughly 35 minutes door-to-door to Terminal Gentileza in Centro.

Last verified: Jul 2, 2026. Prices and timetables change — confirm at the official transport source.