Inaugurated on 5 March 1979, the Rio de Janeiro Metro is the second busiest metro system in Brazil, carrying more than 780,000 passengers daily and more than 280 million passengers annually. It consists of 41 stations and 2 lines, covering an impressive length of 57 km.
The Rio de Janeiro Metro is a public transport system in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The metro system serves approximately 780,000 passengers per day.
The Rio de Janeiro Metro does not operate 24 hours a day. It provides air conditioning for its passengers. However, it does not have the ability to walk between platforms, driverless trains or platform screen doors.
The system is run by Rio Trilhos. The fare for a journey is R$ 4,10.
Rio de Janeiro Metro Map
Map of Rio de Janeiro Metro showing different lines. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the Rio de Janeiro Metro map in PDF format.
About Rio de Janeiro
Famous for its enchanting beaches, breathtaking scenery and vibrant atmosphere (especially during Carnival), Rio de Janeiro is Brazil’s most famous city. Located in the southeastern region, the city is a magnet for tourists from all over the world.
Despite being one of the smallest states in Brazil, Rio de Janeiro has one of the highest populations, accounting for approximately 8.4% of the total Brazilian population. As a result, it has the highest population density in the country.
To accommodate such a large population and the influx of tourists throughout the year, the city of Rio de Janeiro has implemented an efficient transport system.
A Brief History
In March 1979, Rio de Janeiro’s metro opened with a modest 4.3km of track and five stations close to the city centre. In just ten days of operation, it had carried more than half a million passengers.
Managed by MetrôRio, Rio de Janeiro’s metro system underwent its first expansion in 1980 with the introduction of Uruguaiana and Estácio stations. This addition broadened the passenger base and subsequently necessitated an increase in the number of cars in service.
The expansion continued in 1981 with the addition of Carioca, Catete, Morro Azul (now renamed Flamengo) and Botafogo stations. The same year saw the inauguration of Metro Line 2, with Maracanã and São Cristóvão stations, and the extension of Line 1 in its Sul section, with Largo do Machado station.
New stations inaugurated in 1982 included Afonso Pena, São Francisco Xavier and Saes Pena. During this period, trains on this section operated from 6:00 to 14:00.
The stations that were under construction at the time, namely Maria da Graça, Del Castilho, Inhaúma and Irajá, were successfully completed and commissioned. These stations were served by “pre-metro” trains, which lacked certain features of the current metro system.
In 1984, Line 2 began running five trains every six minutes on weekdays. In 1988, the Triagem station was opened, and between 1991 and 1996, three more stations were added: Engenho Rainha, Thomaz Coelho and Vicente de Carvalho. Subsequently, the lines began to accommodate an increasing number of trains.
Guide to Traveling via the Rio De Janeiro Metro
Airport Transfers
Rio de Janeiro has two airports: Galeao Airport and Santos Dumont Airport. To get to Galeao, take metro line 2 to Vicente de Carvalho station. From there you can take one of the BRT (Rapid Transport Bus) lines, either the Transcarioca line with stops or the Transcarioca Express line.
It is also possible to get to Santos Dumont Airport by metro. You need to go to Cinelândia station and take the VLT (Light Rail Vehicle) to the airport (a 7 minute ride). Note: The VLT requires a prepaid Bilhete Único Carioca card for payment. These cards can be purchased at Santos Dumont Airport, other RioCard outlets or from vending machines. These machines accept cash but do not give change.
Languages
Announcements in the Rio de Janeiro metro are in Portuguese and English.
Operating Hours and Frequency
The Rio de Janeiro Metro operates daily from 5:00 am to 00:00 pm, Monday to Saturday, and from 7:00 am to 23:00 pm on Sundays and holidays.
Trains run every 4-7 minutes on Line 1 and every 5-10 minutes on Line 2.
Metro Lines
The metro of Rio de Janeiro has two main lines:
Line 1 – Orange (General Osório – Uruguai)
Stations on Line 1 include: General Osório, Cantagalo, Siqueira Campos, Cardeal Arcoverde (Leme Integration), Botafogo, Flamengo, Largo do Machado, Catete, Glória, Cinelândia, Carioca, Uruguaiana, Presidente Vargas, Central, Praça Onze, Estácio, Afonso Pena, São Francisco Xavier – Sáenz Peña, Uruguai. Under construction: Rio Sul Shopping Centre, Barão de Mesquita, Méier.
Line 2 – Green (Botafogo – Pavuna)
Stations on this line are: Botafogo, Flamengo, Largo do Machado, Catete, Glória, Cinelândia, Carioca, Uruguaiana, Presidente Vargas, Central, Cidade Nova, São Cristóvão, Triagem, Maria da Graça, Nova América – Del Castilho, Inhaúma, Engenho da Rainha, Thomaz Coelho, Vicente de Carvalho, Irajá, Colégio, Coelho Neto, Acari – Fazenda Botafogo, Eng. Rubens Paiva, Pavuna. Note: On weekends, line 2 only runs to Estacio station.
Line 4 – Yellow
In operation since September 2016, this line was initially opened exclusively to ticket holders of the 2016 Olympic Games. It was opened to the general public in September.
Stations: Jardim Oceânico, São Conrado, Gávea, Antero de Quental, Jardim de Alah, Nossa Senhora da Paz.
Interconnections
The orange and green lines cross at the following stations Central, Presidente Vargas, Uruguaiana, Carioca, Cinelândia, Glória, Catete, Largo do Machado, Flamengo, Botafogo.
Transfers to the SuperVia train service of Rio de Janeiro can be made at the following stations of Line 2 Central, São Cristóvão, Maracanã, Triagem, Pavuna.
Fares
Standard user rate: R $ 4.10
Combined Metro + Bus fare: R $ 4.10
The following people can travel for free:
- Rio de Janeiro public school students
- Persons over 65 years of age
- Persons with disabilities, accompanied by an authorised person
- Persons with chronic illnesses.
- Children up to 6 years old (when accompanied by a responsible adult).
Types of Cards
MetrôRio Prepaid Card. This card is convenient for travellers who want to use Rio de Janeiro’s metro system to explore the city. It can be purchased at metro stations or vending machines and can be used on both buses and metros, avoiding long queues. It also offers discounts for theatre visits. The minimum loaded value is R$5.00.
Unitary Card. The Unitary Card is a single-use card for metro travel only. It does not offer any additional services. If it is not used, you can request a refund at any metro station. IMPORTANT: This is the only card that can be used for integration with other public transport services in Rio de Janeiro, such as Supervia and Intermunicipal Integration.
“Metrô na Superfície” card. This card is valid for the “Metrô na Superfície” bus line extensions that complement the Rio de Janeiro Metro system.
Payment Methods
Cards can be purchased at any station of the Rio de Janeiro subway, and payment is only accepted in cash.
Special Information
- The first metro car is pink and is reserved for women and children during peak hours.
- Bicycles are allowed on the metro after 21:00 on weekdays and at weekends. They must be placed in the last carriage.
- Surfboards, as long as they are covered and less than 2 metres long, are allowed on weekends and public holidays.
- Some stations of Rio de Janeiro Metro are equipped with lifts and ramps, among other accessibility options such as Vertical
- Platform, Flat Touch, Braille information, etc. You can view all subway accessibility options here.
Special Services at Stations
All stations of the Rio de Janeiro Metro system offer the following services:
- Free Wi-Fi access.
- A network of shops in different areas of the metro stations.
- Vending machines to buy or recharge cards.
- 24-hour electronic safes for quick banking transactions (this service is not available in all stations).
- Public toilets are available at Acari Fazenda Botafogo, Botafogo, Cantagalo, Carioca, Cidade Nova, Coelho Neto, Del Castilho,
- Estacio, General Osório, Pavuna and Siqueira Campos stations.
What Interesting Places Can I Visit in Rio de Janeiro from the Metro?
- Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer): One of the Seven Wonders of the World, this iconic statue is a must see. Directions: From Largo do Machado station, take the bus to Cosme Velho, which stops in front of the São Judas Tadeu church. From there, take the Corcovado train to Christ the Redeemer. A truly unforgettable trip!
- Pão de Açúcar (Sugar Loaf Mountain): A trip to Sugar Loaf Mountain on the Travia, a large cable car, offers an amazing view of the city. Directions: From Botafogo train station, take bus 513 – Botafogo Urca to Pão de Açúcar.
- Sambódromo (Sambadrome): Especially during Carnival, the Sambadrome becomes a place of celebration and magic for tourists and locals. Directions: From Praça Onze train station, walk towards Avenida Marques de Sapucai.
- Ipanema Beach: One of the most popular beaches in Rio de Janeiro, it was the inspiration for the famous song “Girl from Ipanema” by Tom Jobim and also covered by Frank Sinatra. Directions: From General Osório Station, walk towards Vieira Souto Avenue.
- Copacabana Beach: This famous beach attracts both tourists and Cariocas (locals). Directions: The beach is located near Cardeal Arcoverde, Siqueira Campos and Cantagalo subway stations. You can get to Copacabana from any of these stations.