International Airport Rio de Janeiro / Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG)

After baggage claim and customs check, you reach the arrivals (desembarque) on ground level. There is a shopping area on first floor. The departures (embarque) are on second floor.

Going to the left on ground level:
On left hand side, you first find the “American Express Foreign Exchange” counter. Don’t exchange more than you need. Exchange rates are better in Rio downtown. There, you come along a tourist information, where you may find a free city map and first tips. All you book there is quite expensive.

Going straight on ground level:
Straight on, you find a taxi information stand. They will certainly try to push you to hire one of their taxis. These are official taxi companies of the Airport. However, their rates are a bit higher than the rates from regular taxis around the city. 

Near the taxi stands you also find phone booths.

Going to the right on ground level:
Going to the right, you are leaving the airport building to either take a taxi or a bus.

The mostly yellow taxis should show a badge with the drivers name and photo on the windshield. Don’t get on a taxi without this identification. Check if the driver activates the taximeter.

When you leave the airport building you see the bus stop. Buses run from 5:30 am to 11:00 pm every 30 minutes to Copacabana , Ipanema, Leblon , Barra. It may take quite long to Copacabana, as the bus has many stops along the way. 

The bus to the airport drives about every 30 minutes along Avenida Atlantica. Nowadays the Bus Company responsible for this way is the Real Auto Ônibus. It is a blue bus, line 2018. There is no declared bus stop. The bus stops if you sign with the hand. Watch out that you don’t miss it. The ride goes along the national airport (Santos Dumont Airport) and Rio downtown among others.