SDU to Rio de Janeiro City Center
Brazil
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Destination
Centro (CinelĂ¢ndia / Carioca area)
Rio de Janeiro city center
Fastest route
VLT Carioca Line 1 (Santos Dumont – Centro)
tram/light rail · every 5-10min
Updated
Nov 2025
Verified info
Quick verdict
VLT Carioca Line 1 (Santos Dumont – Centro)
Low-floor light rail from Santos Dumont stop to central stops including CinelĂ¢ndia and Carioca in about 3–5 minutes, continuing toward Terminal Intermodal Gentileza and Novo Rio Bus Station. Operates roughly 06:00–23:00/24:00 with frequent service; ideal for quick access to Centro and metro connections for Copacabana and Ipanema.
Transport matrix
VLT Carioca Line 1 (Santos Dumont – Centro)
5-10mLow-floor light rail from Santos Dumont stop to central stops including CinelĂ¢ndia and Carioca in about 3–5 minutes, continuing toward Terminal Intermodal Gentileza and Novo Rio Bus Station. Operates roughly 06:00–23:00/24:00 with frequent service; ideal for quick access to Centro and metro connections for Copacabana and Ipanema.
VLT Carioca Line 3 (Santos Dumont – Central)
10-15mLight rail from Santos Dumont to Central do Brasil railway complex in about 10–15 minutes, serving key central stops. Useful for reaching main suburban rail hub and adjacent downtown area; runs throughout the day with regular intervals similar to Line 1.
MetrĂ´Rio Line 1 via CinelĂ¢ndia / Centro
5-10mConnect by VLT from Santos Dumont to CinelĂ¢ndia / Centro station, then Line 1 metro toward Tijuca or Zona Sul. Provides fast links from the airport-adjacent Centro to areas like Botafogo, Copacabana and Ipanema; metro runs from early morning to late night with frequent trains.
City bus 342 (Centro)
15-30mUrban bus line serving Santos Dumont Airport and central Rio (Centro) with stops near major downtown avenues. Slower than VLT but a low-cost option; frequencies vary by time of day and traffic can significantly affect travel time.
Official Airport Taxis (Santos Dumont–Centro)
on-demandmMetered and fixed-fare taxis wait outside Arrivals and Departures, offering direct 10–20 minute rides to Centro depending on traffic. Available most of the day and evening; follow airport signage to the official taxi ranks to avoid unlicensed drivers.
VLT Carioca Line 1 (Santos Dumont – Centro)
Low-floor light rail from Santos Dumont stop to central stops including CinelĂ¢ndia and Carioca in about 3–5 minutes, continuing toward Terminal Intermodal Gentileza and Novo Rio Bus Station. Operates roughly 06:00–23:00/24:00 with frequent service; ideal for quick access to Centro and metro connections for Copacabana and Ipanema.
VLT Carioca Line 3 (Santos Dumont – Central)
Light rail from Santos Dumont to Central do Brasil railway complex in about 10–15 minutes, serving key central stops. Useful for reaching main suburban rail hub and adjacent downtown area; runs throughout the day with regular intervals similar to Line 1.
MetrĂ´Rio Line 1 via CinelĂ¢ndia / Centro
Connect by VLT from Santos Dumont to CinelĂ¢ndia / Centro station, then Line 1 metro toward Tijuca or Zona Sul. Provides fast links from the airport-adjacent Centro to areas like Botafogo, Copacabana and Ipanema; metro runs from early morning to late night with frequent trains.
City bus 342 (Centro)
Urban bus line serving Santos Dumont Airport and central Rio (Centro) with stops near major downtown avenues. Slower than VLT but a low-cost option; frequencies vary by time of day and traffic can significantly affect travel time.
Official Airport Taxis (Santos Dumont–Centro)
Metered and fixed-fare taxis wait outside Arrivals and Departures, offering direct 10–20 minute rides to Centro depending on traffic. Available most of the day and evening; follow airport signage to the official taxi ranks to avoid unlicensed drivers.
Strikes · Night arrivals · Big luggage
bus
Urban bus line serving Santos Dumont Airport and central Rio (Centro) with stops near major downtown avenues. Slower than VLT but a low-cost option; frequencies vary by time of day and traffic can significantly affect travel time.
15-30m
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