Transport

Rio Metro: The Complete Guide

The Rio Metro is the unsung hero of getting around the South Zone. Air-conditioned, straightforward and fast, at R$7.90 per ride it avoids the road traffic between Ipanema, Copacabana, Botafogo and Centro.

This is the working 2026 guide — lines, prices, where each station actually drops you, and the tourist mistakes to avoid.

Quick answer

Lines: 3 main — Linha 1 (orange), Linha 2 (green), Linha 4 (yellow)
Standard fare: R$7.90 per journey on Lines 1, 2 and 4
Hours: Mon–Sat 5am–midnight · Sun 7am–11pm
Safety: very high — safer than Uber for Centro trips at rush hour
Pay with: cash at unitário window, contactless card at the gate

The three lines explained

Linha 1 (Orange) — your main line

The tourist line. Connects General Osório (Ipanema) → Cantagalo (Ipanema/Copa border) → Siqueira Campos (Copacabana) → Cardeal Arcoverde → Botafogo → Flamengo → Largo do Machado → Catete → Glória → Cinelândia (Centro) → Carioca → Uruguaiana → Presidente Vargas → Central → Estácio → Saens Peña (Tijuca).

Linha 2 (Green) — the suburbs & Maracanã

Estácio → Maracanã (the stadium) → São Cristóvão → Engenho da Rainha → Pavuna. Useful for football matches and reaching the BRT to GIG airport via Vicente de Carvalho.

Linha 4 (Yellow) — Barra extension

Opened 2016 for the Olympics. General Osório → Nossa Senhora da Paz → Jardim de Alah → Antero de Quental → São Conrado → Jardim Oceânico (Barra da Tijuca). Game-changer for reaching the Olympic Park, Pedra da Gávea trailhead area, and Barra.

Which station for which place

Ipanema beach (Posto 9): General Osório (Linha 1/4)
Copacabana beach: Cantagalo (south end) or Siqueira Campos (middle)
Sugarloaf cable car: Botafogo, then walk 25 min or Uber R$15
Christ the Redeemer (train): Largo do Machado, then walk 15 min to Cosme Velho
Maracanã Stadium: Maracanã (Linha 2)
Lapa (samba clubs): Cinelândia (10-min walk through Passeio Público)
Centro (Centro Histórico): Carioca or Uruguaiana
Santa Teresa tram: Cinelândia, then walk 8 min to VLT or tram
Jardim Botânico: Cantagalo + bus, OR Jardim de Alah on Linha 4 + 15-min walk

How to buy a ticket

Use a marked contactless gate with an accepted card or device, or ask at the ticket machine or window for “um unitário” (R$7.90). MetrôRio also accepts Giro, QR Code, Jaé and Riocard options. Keep the card you are tapping separate from the rest of your wallet so the reader does not detect two at once.

For longer stays (7+ days), buy a Giro card (R$5 deposit + credit) at the bilheteria. It also works on BRT, VLT (downtown light rail), and integrated buses.

Metro vs Uber: when to choose what

Use the metro: rush hour from Copa/Ipanema to Centro or Maracanã, Friday/Saturday daytime when streets gridlock.
Use Uber: after 10pm, with luggage, going to neighborhoods not on the line (Santa Teresa, Jardim Botânico), or when traveling solo at night.
Use both: metro for the long leg + 5-min Uber for the last mile is the Carioca formula.

Safety, tips & etiquette

Backpacks on the front, like locals. Pickpocketing is rare but possible at rush hour.
The pink-marked women-only car (front of train) runs Mon–Fri 6–9am and 5–8pm.
Don't eat or drink on the train — it's enforced with fines.
Stand right, walk left on escalators — Brazilian norm.
Wifi is available on platforms (free "MetroRio") but spotty inside trains.
During Carnaval, the metro runs 24/7 and becomes the ONLY sensible way to reach the Sambódromo.

Connections worth knowing

Metro + BRT: Vicente de Carvalho station connects to BRT Transcarioca for GIG airport (R$13 combined). Metro + VLT: Cinelândia is steps from the VLT light-rail that loops Centro, Lapa and the Porto Maravilha (Museu do Amanhã). Metro + ferry: Carioca → walk 8 min to Praça XV ferries for Niterói.

Before you ride

Data for maps & ride apps

MetroRio's app, live station maps and the last-mile Uber all need mobile data from the moment you land.

Get an eSIM

GIG airport transfer

The metro doesn't reach GIG — a pre-booked door-to-door transfer skips the BRT change with luggage.

Book GIG transfer

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Related guides

FAQ

How much does the Rio metro cost?

A standard ride costs R$7.90 in 2026. Pay at a marked gate with an accepted contactless card or device, or buy a Unitário, Giro or QR Code ticket. Tourists making only a few journeys usually find contactless payment or Unitário tickets simplest.

What are the operating hours of the Rio Metro?

Monday–Saturday: 5am–midnight. Sunday & holidays: 7am–11pm. During Carnaval and Réveillon: 24/7 operation. Last train from Copacabana to Centro: around 11:40pm weekdays.

Is the Rio Metro safe?

Yes — Rio's metro is one of the safest in Latin America. Heavy police presence, CCTV, clean stations and air-conditioned cars. Avoid rush hour 7–9am and 5–7pm if you have luggage. The women-only car (front of the train) runs Mon–Fri 6–9am and 5–8pm, marked pink.

Does the Rio Metro go to the airport?

No — neither GIG (Galeão international) nor SDU (Santos Dumont domestic) is directly on the metro. For GIG: take the metro to Vicente de Carvalho (Linha 2), then the BRT Transcarioca to GIG (60 min total, R$13). For SDU: metro to Cinelândia, then 10-min walk or quick Uber.

Which metro line goes to Copacabana and Ipanema?

Linha 1 (orange) runs through Cantagalo (Copacabana/Ipanema border), Siqueira Campos (Copacabana center), Cardeal Arcoverde (Copa north), and onwards through Botafogo, Flamengo, Centro. From Cantagalo it's a 5-min walk to Posto 9 Ipanema. Linha 4 (yellow) extends west to General Osório and the Olympic Park area.

First time in Rio?

The metro card is your second-best Carioca purchase, after sunscreen. Use it daily for icons and you'll cut R$200+ from your transport budget.

→ Rio for First Timers

Best use	South Zone, Centro and Barra connections by day
Before boarding	Load the correct payment method and map the final walk
Crowds	Keep bags closed and phones away near doors