Rio de Janeiro/Galeão – Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport
Also known as: Galeão Airport, Rio de Janeiro Airport, Rio Galeão Airport, Tom Jobim Airport, RIOgaleão, GIG Airport. Formerly Galeão International Airport.
Private transfer from GIGSee pricesSee pricesAbout Rio de Janeiro/Galeão – Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport
Rio de Janeiro/Galeão – Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG), usually called Galeão or Tom Jobim, serves Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is the city's international airport and a major domestic hub, and it is a different airport from Santos Dumont (SDU), the smaller downtown airport that handles mostly domestic flights.
GOL, LATAM Airlines and Azul fly from Galeão to cities across Brazil, including São Paulo, Brasília, Salvador, Recife and Porto Alegre. International carriers link Rio with Lisbon, Madrid, Paris, London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Rome and Dubai, with Miami, Atlanta and Houston in the United States, and with Buenos Aires, Santiago, Lima, Bogotá and Panama City.
The airport has two terminals. Terminal 2 handles check-in, arrivals and baggage claim for nearly all flights, while Terminal 1 has been mostly closed to passengers since 2016.
Galeão sits on Ilha do Governador in Rio's north zone, about 20 km north of downtown. The beach districts of Copacabana and Ipanema are about 25 km away, a drive of 30 to 45 minutes outside rush hour.
From the airport, most travelers head to Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, Centro and Barra da Tijuca, or onward to Niterói, Búzios, Arraial do Cabo, Paraty and Angra dos Reis.
Airport operator, runways and traffic
- Operator
Aena, since October 2026 (previously RIOgaleão)
- Passengers per year
About 17.9 million in 2025
- Runways
Two: 4,000 m and 3,180 m
- Location
Ilha do Governador, about 20 km north of downtown Rio
- Opened
1952
Arrival tips for Rio de Janeiro/Galeão – Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport
Arriving on an international flight, you clear Brazilian immigration and then customs in Terminal 2; citizens of the United States, Canada and Australia have needed an e-visa since April 10, 2025, so check your status before you fly.
Baggage claim sits just before the customs exit. After customs you come out into the arrivals hall on the ground floor (floor 0) of Terminal 2, where domestic and international arrivals share the same building.
Licensed taxi companies have desks in the arrivals hall: regular taxis leave from door A and executive taxis from door B. Pre-booked drivers usually wait in the arrivals hall holding a name sign. Uber pickups for international arrivals are on the departures floor at door D, and domestic arrivals use marked zones to the left of the exit. Decline offers of rides from people approaching you inside the hall and use the official desks or your app instead.
Rio is on Brasília Time (UTC−3) all year, with no daylight saving time. The currency is the Brazilian real (BRL), and the climate is hot and humid, especially from December to March.
Ground transportation
A taxi from the official desks or a pre-booked transfer suits most travelers heading to Copacabana, Ipanema or Barra da Tijuca with luggage.
Compare providers for your exact address
Enter your hotel to see the price and every provider serving it.
Book a transfer from GIGTaxi from Galeão airport
Regular (yellow) and executive (blue) taxi companies have desks in the Terminal 2 arrivals hall and run around the clock. Fares follow the meter or a city-regulated table, and traffic on the Linha Vermelha and Linha Amarela can stretch the trip at rush hour.
Private transfer
A pre-booked driver meets you in the Terminal 2 arrivals hall and takes you directly to your hotel. It needs planning ahead, but avoids taxi queues and works well for groups or late arrivals.
Rideshare
Uber and other apps pick up at signed zones: departures-floor door D for international arrivals and marked sectors near domestic arrivals. Pickup points can be a walk from where you exit.
BRT TransCarioca
The BRT stops at both terminals and runs 24 hours on an all-stop route to Madureira, with connections onward; an express BRT service runs to the Gentileza Intermodal Terminal. It is not designed for large suitcases, and reaching the beach districts takes transfers.
Bus to Niterói and Búzios
Auto Viação 1001 runs buses from the airport to Niterói (Charitas) and coach services to Búzios and Macaé. Departures are limited, so check timetables before you land.
Moving between terminals
- 1
Through Terminal 2
Check-in and baggage claim are in Terminal 2, so you rarely need to move between terminals as an arriving or departing passenger.
- 2
BRT stops at both terminals
The BRT TransCarioca and several city bus lines stop at Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, which links the two buildings by road.
Terminals
Terminal 2
The main passenger terminal, with check-in, arrivals halls, baggage claim and taxi desks for domestic and international flights. Its piers hold most of the airport's boarding gates.
Airlines commonly assigned here: Aerolíneas Argentinas, Air France, American Airlines, Avianca, Azul, Boliviana de Aviación, British Airways, Copa Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, Flybondi, GOL, Iberia, ITA Airways, JetSMART, KLM, LATAM Airlines, Lufthansa, Sky Airline, TAP Air Portugal, United Airlines
Terminal 1
The older terminal, opened in 1977. Its check-in and baggage claim areas have been closed since 2016, and passengers reach any gates still used there through Terminal 2.
Airlines and destinations
Frequently asked questions
How far is Galeão airport from Rio de Janeiro city center?
Galeão International Airport is about 20 km north of downtown Rio de Janeiro, on Ilha do Governador in the city's north zone. The drive to Centro follows the Linha Vermelha expressway, and the trip can take much longer during weekday rush hours, so allow extra time if you land in the morning or late afternoon.
How far is Galeão airport from Copacabana and Ipanema?
Copacabana and Ipanema are about 25 km from Galeão airport. By car the trip usually takes 30 to 45 minutes outside rush hour, and it can take 60 to 90 minutes during the morning and evening peaks. Taxis, rideshare apps and pre-booked transfers are the most direct ways to reach the beach districts with luggage.
What is the difference between Galeão (GIG) and Santos Dumont (SDU) airports?
Galeão (GIG) is Rio de Janeiro's international airport, about 20 km north of downtown, and it handles almost all international flights plus many domestic routes. Santos Dumont (SDU) is a smaller airport in downtown Rio on Guanabara Bay that mainly serves domestic flights, such as the shuttle to São Paulo. Check your ticket carefully, because the two airports are far apart.
How many terminals does Rio de Janeiro Galeão airport have?
Galeão airport has two terminals, but Terminal 2 handles check-in, arrivals and baggage claim for nearly all flights. Terminal 1's check-in and baggage claim areas have been closed since 2016, and passengers reach any gates still in use there through Terminal 2. In practice, most travelers only see Terminal 2.
Which airlines fly to Rio de Janeiro Galeão airport?
GOL, LATAM Airlines and Azul operate most domestic flights at Galeão. International airlines include American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, Air France, KLM, British Airways, Lufthansa, Iberia, ITA Airways, Emirates, Copa Airlines, Avianca, Aerolíneas Argentinas, JetSMART, Flybondi and Sky Airline, linking Rio with North America, Europe, the Middle East and South America.
How do I get a taxi at Galeão airport?
Licensed taxi companies have desks in the Terminal 2 arrivals hall on the ground floor. Regular yellow taxis leave from door A and executive blue taxis from door B, and several companies operate 24 hours. Fares follow the meter or a table regulated by the city, so ask how the fare is calculated before you set off.
Is there public transport from Galeão airport to the city?
Yes. The BRT TransCarioca stops at both terminals and runs 24 hours to Madureira, where you can connect onward, and an express BRT runs to the Gentileza Intermodal Terminal. City buses serve Ilha do Governador and Bonsucesso. There is no metro or train station at the airport, so public transport to the beaches involves transfers.
Can I use Uber at Galeão airport?
Yes, Uber and other ride-hailing apps operate at Galeão. Passengers arriving on international flights are picked up on the departures floor at door D of Terminal 2. Domestic arrivals exit, turn left and use the marked app pickup sectors. Follow the airport signs to the designated zone rather than accepting rides from people in the hall.
Do I need a visa to enter Brazil through Rio de Janeiro airport?
It depends on your nationality. Since April 10, 2025, citizens of the United States, Canada and Australia have needed a Brazil e-visa for tourism and business visits, ending a waiver in place since 2019. Many European and South American citizens can enter without a visa. Check the official Brazilian government guidance for your passport before you travel.
How do I get from Galeão airport to Niterói or Búzios?
Auto Viação 1001 runs buses from Galeão to Niterói, including the Charitas route, and coach services to Armação dos Búzios and Macaé from the Terminal 2 arrivals level. Departures to Búzios are limited to a few each day, so check timetables in advance. Taxis and private transfers also cover these trips by road.
What time zone is Rio de Janeiro in and what currency is used?
Rio de Janeiro uses Brasília Time (UTC−3) all year, since Brazil stopped observing daylight saving time in 2019. The currency is the Brazilian real (BRL), and you will find ATMs and exchange counters at the airport. The climate is tropical, with hot, humid summers from December to March and milder weather in the middle of the year.
Who operates Galeão airport and how busy is it?
Spanish airport group Aena took over management of Galeão in October 2026 after winning the concession auction in March 2026; the previous concessionaire was RIOgaleão. The airport handled about 17.9 million passengers in 2025, up from about 14.5 million in 2024, as traffic shifted from Santos Dumont after limits were placed on that downtown airport.