Getting Around Brazil: Your Complete Transport Guide

Uber and 99: Rideshare Is the Default in Cities

Uber operates in Salvador, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Fortaleza, Recife, and more than 100 other Brazilian cities. The app works exactly as you expect. You do not need a Brazilian phone number to create an account or request rides. Your existing account from any country works without changes.

Costs are reasonable by international standards. A 20-minute ride in Salvador typically runs R$20-35. Rio and Sao Paulo run slightly higher, especially during peak hours. Surge pricing is real during Carnival, New Year's, and bad weather.

99 is the Brazilian alternative to Uber. Prices on short rides are often 10-20% lower, and the driver pool is larger in smaller cities where Uber has thinner coverage. Download both apps. In practice, use whichever has a shorter wait time or better price at that moment. 99 also has a taxi mode, which is useful at airports where Uber pickups are restricted.

Taxis in Brazil: When to Use Them

Taxis in Brazil are licensed and regulated. Drivers know city streets well, and in most cities they are reliable. The problem is the meter. Some drivers use tampered meters or take unnecessarily long routes with tourists who don't know the area. It's not universal, but it happens enough to be a consistent complaint.

Uber creates a price estimate before you confirm, shows the route, and leaves a digital record of the trip. For most situations, this makes it the safer and usually cheaper option.

Taxis make practical sense at airports. Some Brazilian airports do not allow Uber to pick up passengers at the arrivals terminal. Salvador International (SSA) and Galeao in Rio (GIG) both have areas where Uber pickups are restricted. In these cases, the official taxi queue at arrivals is the most straightforward option. Confirm the price before getting in, or insist on the meter.

Renting a Car: When It Makes Sense

Renting a car makes sense for specific situations: a day trip from Salvador to Praia do Forte, driving the Bahia coast north toward Mangue Seco, or exploring the Chapada Diamantina if you want full flexibility. Foreign licenses are valid for up to six months in Brazil, and the rental process is straightforward.

Always take full coverage insurance. The standard included coverage has significant gaps, and the added cost is low relative to the risk. Read the contract before signing.

Two things to check at pickup: fuel type and existing damage. Many Brazilian cars run on ethanol (flex fuel), and misfueling a gasoline-only vehicle causes real damage. Ask explicitly at the counter. Photograph every scratch before leaving the lot and get written confirmation if anything isn't documented.

Do not rent a car to drive inside Salvador's historic center or Rio's South Zone neighborhoods. Traffic is chaotic, parking is nearly impossible, and Uber is almost always faster. Rentals are for day trips and regional exploration, not urban navigation.

Intercity Buses: The Budget Backbone

Brazil's long-distance bus network is genuinely good. The major companies run modern fleets with air conditioning, reclining seats, and onboard bathrooms. The premium tier, called leito (sleeper bus), has fully reclining seats and is comfortable enough for overnight routes.

A few practical examples: Salvador to Porto Seguro runs about 7 hours and costs R$80-140 depending on class. Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo is roughly 6 hours and runs multiple times daily. For routes under 8 hours, an overnight bus saves you a night's accommodation cost and travel time simultaneously.

Domestic Flights: When It's Worth It

LATAM, Gol, and Azul cover the main domestic routes. Competition between them keeps prices reasonable when you book ahead. For flights 3-4 weeks out, Salvador to Rio de Janeiro regularly runs R$250-450 round trip. Last-minute prices are unpredictable.

The comparison to consider: Salvador to Rio is a 2-hour flight. The same trip by bus takes approximately 28 hours. For routes over 10 hours, the flight is almost always the right call.

Book directly through airline websites or use Google Flights for price comparison. Azul has an advantage on secondary routes and smaller cities that LATAM and Gol don't serve as frequently. Baggage fees are significant on budget carriers; read the fare rules before confirming.

Private Transfers: The Stress-Free Option

A pre-booked private transfer is worth the price in specific situations: arriving late at night in an unfamiliar city, traveling with children or significant luggage, or when you simply don't want the friction of navigating a new airport after a long flight.

The practical advantage over Uber is reliability. Uber surge pricing at airport arrivals, especially late at night or during events, can push prices significantly above normal. A fixed-price transfer eliminates that variable. The driver is confirmed before you land, and someone is waiting for you at arrivals.

For more on what to expect at Brazilian airports before your transfer, see the getting to Brazil guide.

Public Transit: Moovit and City Buses

City buses and metro lines run in Salvador, Rio, Sao Paulo, and other major cities. Moovit works well for finding routes and is free. Payment is usually cash or a rechargeable transit card (cartao de transporte), which you can buy at metro stations.

Public transit is a practical option for daytime use on well-traveled routes, particularly metro lines. Rio's metro (Lines 1 and 2) covers the main tourist corridor from Ipanema through the city center. Salvador has a metro line that connects the suburbs to the center but limited coverage overall.

Paying for Transport: Cash, Card, or App

Rideshare is card or Pix. Long-distance buses accept cards at most terminals, though smaller routes sometimes require cash. Domestic flights work fine with any international Visa or Mastercard.

ATM fees for foreign cards add up. Banco do Brasil and Bradesco have more favorable fee structures than smaller networks. Avoid ATMs inside small shops. Use ATMs inside bank branches or shopping malls during business hours.

Dynamic currency conversion (DCC) will appear as an offer at many ATMs and card terminals: "Would you like to pay in your home currency?" Always decline. The exchange rate is significantly worse than your bank's rate. Pay in Brazilian reais every time.

The most practical solution for avoiding international fees entirely is a Wise card. It converts at the mid-market rate with low flat fees, works at ATMs and card terminals across Brazil, and you can top it up from your home bank account before your trip.

Getting Around Salvador

Uber dominates in Salvador. The app is reliable in the main tourist areas, including the historic center (Pelourinho), Barra, Ondina, and Itapua. Local buses exist but routes are not tourist-friendly, especially for first-time visitors.

The Pelourinho itself is best explored on foot. The streets are steep, cobblestoned, and dense enough that walking is faster than any vehicle for navigating between churches, squares, and viewpoints.

For a day trip to Ilha de Itaparica, the ferry from the Sao Joaquim terminal in Comercio runs regularly and is the most scenic option. The crossing takes about 45 minutes. For the full picture on getting around Salvador, including tours and transfers, see the destination guide.

Getting Around Rio de Janeiro

Rio's metro covers the main tourist corridor efficiently. Line 4 connects Ipanema to Barra da Tijuca, and Line 1 runs through the city center to the north zone. For most beach-to-center trips during the day, the metro is faster than any surface transport.

Uber covers everything the metro doesn't, particularly trips to Santa Teresa, Lapa, and neighborhoods off the metro line. Avoid city buses at night.

The VLT (tram) connects the port area to the central train station and is useful if you're based near Lapa or the historic center. For the complete picture on transport, neighborhoods, and what to do, see the Rio de Janeiro guide.