Key information about Rio de Janeiro

Population

6,718,903

Country

Brazil

Money

Currency	BRL - Brazilian Real (R$)
Exchange rate	1 USD = 5.33 BRL
ATM fees	0 - 8 BRL per withdrawal (plus your own bank's fees)
Credit cards	Accepted everywhere
Tipping	10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common

Airport

Main airport

Galeão International Airport

Airport to city center

Taxi (~30 BRL), Bus (4-8 BRL). Metro (Line 2 or 5) to Vicente de Carvalho or Jardim Oceanico and then BRT (5 BRL), Uber (~30 BRL).

Other options

Santos Dumont Domestic Airport (SDU) - home to domestic flights only

Transportation

Taxi apps

Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber

Public transportation

Metro: 5 BRL per journey and combined with a Bus journey from 7-8 BRL total
Rapid Bus Transit (BRT): 4.05 BRL per journey, use your Giro card
Bus: 4.05 BRL per journey, use your Giro card or pay cash to the driver

Getting around

You can buy a Giro card at any Metro station for 8 BRL (3 BRL deposit and 5BRL minimum charge). These can be used for all public transportation.

SIM card

Best options

Tim, Claro, Vivo

Expected cost

~40 BRL for 5GB of data valid for 1 month

How to buy

At any authorized retailer. Expect to pay around 10 BRL for the SIM card and bring your passport.

Language

Official language(s)

Portuguese

Level of English

Low

Food

Tap water	Not drinkable
Overall cuisine	Emphasis on rice, beans, pork and beef with a variety of root vegetables and fresh fruits. Fresh seafood is also very common.
Local food specialities	Feijoada, bolinho de bacalhau, fried sardines, caldo verde, pao de queijo and brigadeiros.
Eat like a local	The "snack capital" of Brazil, Rio is a perfect place to try street food as well as the wide varieties of small, traditional eateries and churrascarias easily found across the city.
Vegetarian / vegan options	54 options on Happy Cow
Food delivery apps	iFood, Rappi, Uber Eats
Supermarkets	Zona Sul: Rio's most popular supermarket. At moderate prices you can find a wide range of local and imported goods at one of its many branches across the city. Delivery available. Pão de Açúcar: Found in more upscale neighborhoods, this supermarket offers a rich variety of goods at higher prices. Pharmacies often found in-store. Delivery available. Mundial: Cheaper supermarkets offering mostly local and some imported goods. Expect long lines to pay. Hortifrut: Offers fresh vegetable and fruit options across the city at moderate prices. Best for buying fresh produce. Super Market: Chain of medium-sized convenience stores across the city. Most basic goods founds for higher convenience prices.