🛫 Terminal 2 — Carries It All

Airlines: LATAM Brasil (oneworld), Azul Linhas Aéreas, GOL, Avianca, Aerolíneas Argentinas, Air France, KLM, British Airways, TAP Air Portugal (LIS daily), Iberia (MAD daily), Air Europa, Lufthansa (FRA seasonal), Emirates (DXB daily), Qatar Airways (DOH daily), Latam Cargo. Plus US carriers American (MIA daily), Delta (ATL/JFK daily), United (IAH/EWR daily).

Layout: Two-storey concourse with three piers (A, B, C). Walk time check-in to furthest gate: 10–18 minutes. International departures concentrate in Pier C (south wing); domestic in Piers A and B. Same security checkpoint for both; segregation only at gate level. The Olympics-era refresh shows in the cleaner finishes than other Brazilian airports.

🏌️ Carnival + Olympics Legacy — Capacity Stretched

Rio Carnival is the world’s biggest, period — ~6 million people in the city for Carnival week. 2026 dates: Friday 13 to Tuesday 17 February. GIG processes 60–90% more passengers in Carnival week; international flights and hotels sell out 6–8 months ahead. International flights mid-February to early March 2026 are at peak capacity.

2016 Olympic Games legacy: the BRT TransCarioca (now connecting GIG to Barra da Tijuca via Curicica), the Linha Amarela (Yellow Line) bridge, and the renewed T2 are all Olympic-period investments still in service. The T2 itself has weathered the post-2016 funding squeeze but visibly aged in the 2020s.

EU + UK + NZ — 90 Days Visa-Free

EU, UK and New Zealand passport holders get up to 90 days visa-free on arrival, just a passport stamp. Up to 180 days per calendar year (90+90 maximum). Stays can be extended once for another 90 days at the Polícia Federal in Rio (Avenida Venezuela 2, Saúde). The officer at immigration enters the days granted on the stamp; politely ask for 90 if your itinerary needs them.

US, Canada, Australia — e-Visa Since April 2025

Brazil reinstated the e-Visa requirement for US, Canadian and Australian passports on 10 April 2025 after several years of mutual visa-waiver. US$80.90 fee, valid 5 years multi-entry, apply on the official VFS Global Brazil portal at least 5 working days before travel. Approval is typically 5–7 days; rejections are rare for tourism. Print the e-Visa confirmation; the airline checks it at boarding. EU/UK/NZ are not affected.

No EES, No ETIAS, No Tourist Refund

Brazil is not in any visa-waiver scheme requiring online pre-registration beyond the e-Visa. The EU’s EES and ETIAS apply only to the Schengen area — Brazil is not affected. There is no tourist VAT/ICMS refund at GIG. The 17–20% ICMS on goods (varies by Brazilian state, Rio is 20%) is included in the price and stays in Brazil. Cachaça, Brazilian rum, and Havaianas are duty-free standouts.

⭐ Cooperativa Taxi & Pre-Paid Taxi — Flat Zone Rate

GIG has licensed cooperativa taxi desks immediately past Customs (CooperaeSegus and Transcoopass). Pay at the desk, get a slip, dispatcher pairs you with a yellow taxi. The price is fixed by destination zone. Card or PIX accepted at most.

📱 Uber, 99, inDriver & Cabify — Cheaper, Fully Legal

Uber, 99 (Brazil’s domestic ride-hailing leader, owned by DiDi), inDriver and Cabify all operate at GIG. Pickups happen at a Level 1 designated app zone, signposted “Aplicativos”. All four are fully legal in Brazil. Apps are typically 30–50% cheaper than the official desk. Default to Uber or 99 if you have a working data SIM.

🚌 BRT TransCarioca — The Olympic Legacy Bus to Barra

The BRT TransCarioca — built for the 2016 Olympics — runs from GIG to Barra da Tijuca via Madureira and the West Zone for R$5. Frequency every 10–15 minutes, 05:00–23:30. The trip takes 60–75 minutes to Barra. If you’re staying in Barra (the Western luxury district where Olympic athletes lived), this is a viable budget option. For Copacabana/Ipanema/Centro, taxi or Uber wins on time.

✈️ Connecting to São Paulo or via SDU

GIG–GRU São Paulo: hourly LATAM, Azul, GOL services, ~50 min flight. GIG–SDU (across Rio): some ‘Ponte Aérea’ flights operate this internal route, but most travellers needing to switch airports take a 60–90 minute taxi/Uber across the city. SDU is the downtown shuttle airport for SP/BH/Vitória and serves Brazilian-internal traffic only. For international travellers connecting via SP, GRU São Paulo (Guarulhos) is the international hub; CGH São Paulo (Congonhas) is domestic. Allow 4 hours for Rio-to-São-Paulo international transfer if changing terminals across cities.

✨ Plaza Premium Lounge GIG (international airside, Priority Pass)

Feijoada is Brazil’s national dish — a slow-cooked black bean stew with various pork cuts (sausage, ribs, ear, tail), served with rice, sliced kale, orange wedge, and a side of farofa (toasted manioc flour). Brasileirinho at the GIG food court does it for ~R$45–65 a plate (smaller portion than the all-you-can-eat city versions, but a credible airport rendering). The McDonald’s and Starbucks are at the same food court — you can have those anywhere. Feijoada is the Brazil you came for.

Pão de queijo — small, dense, chewy Minas Gerais cheese-bread — is sold at every GIG kiosk for R$5–10 each. Pair with a cafezinho (small strong sweet espresso, the Brazilian default) for ~R$6–12. Café Mocellin and Cacau Show at the central food court do credible versions. Skip the airport Starbucks.

Cachaça — the export-gift default — Magnífica, Ypíoca, Sagatiba, plus rotating artesanal brands at duty-free for R$80–200/litre, ~30% cheaper than US import. Brazilian wine from Vale dos Vinhedos and São Joaquim (Casa Valduga, Miolo, Aurora) is a less-known gift category — Brazilian Cabernet and sparkling are quietly excellent at R$80–200 a bottle. Havaianas sandals at the airport store — R$60–160 a pair, half the US import price; the Galeão exclusives include limited-edition Rio designs. Whole-bean Brazilian arabica (Café Tres Corações, Café do Ponto), single-origin from São Joaquim or Mantiqueira at R$25–60 a bag. Avoid airport-priced Indigenous textiles — Lapa weekend market is 50% cheaper.

Caipirinha is Brazil’s national cocktail — lime, sugar, ice, cachaça, muddled. The Plaza Premium Lounge bar makes a credible airport rendering (free with your access). Order it made with cachaça artesanal, not the supermarket cachaça; the difference is real. There’s also a Caipiroska (vodka) and Caipi-Sakê variant — stick with the original. The Plaza Premium also has a free guava-and-cheese station (queijo Minas + goiabada) which is the Brazilian dessert default.

Rio Carnival is the world’s biggest, period — ~6 million people in the city Carnival week. 2026 dates: Friday 13 to Tuesday 17 February. The Sambódromo parades on Sunday and Monday nights are the iconic televised events; the street blocos (free, daytime) are the more authentic experience. GIG processes 60–90% more passengers Carnival week; international flights and hotels sell out 6–8 months ahead. Hotel prices in Copacabana/Ipanema 4–8x peak. Allow 4–5 hours for international departures Carnival week (vs the standard 3 hours).

Rio sits at 22°S latitude on the Atlantic coast: 27–33°C summer (Dec–Mar) including Carnival, 22–28°C winter (Jun–Aug), humidity 70–90% year-round. December–March is the hot wet season with thunderstorms most afternoons; June–August is dry and slightly cooler with chilly evenings. Carnival happens in the heat-wave season — bring breathable clothing. Schedule airport runs for 06:00–09:00 or after 19:00 if your luggage is heavy.

Rio tap water is not safe to drink, including airport washroom taps. Bottled water airside runs R$5–9 for 500 ml; supermarket prices are R$2–4. Plaza Premium and Air France/KLM lounges have free filtered water. Hot drinks (coffee, tea) are safe because boiling kills bacteria. Beach kiosks in Copacabana and Ipanema use bottled water for ice and drinks; the same in Centro and Santa Teresa. Outside Rio — Petrópolis, Búzios, Angíra dos Reis — bottled water is mandatory.

For Rio and tourist Brazil: Airalo, Holafly, GigSky and Saily all work fine — ~US$10–20 for 5–10 GB / 14 days. For travel beyond — Petrópolis, Paraíba do Sul, Ouro Preto, Bahia interior — buy a local SIM. Vivo has the best Brazilian rural coverage; TIM is second. The Vivo kiosk at GIG arrivals takes a passport and 10 minutes; ask for the “Plano Turista” bundle (~R$50–80 for 30 days unlimited domestic data). 5G coverage is strong in central Rio; weaker in the Zona Sul interior valleys.

Rio’s tourist core — Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, Centro (Lapa, Santa Teresa, Cinelandia), and Barra da Tijuca — is where tourist police and military presence concentrate. The Avenida Atlântica beachfront is well-policed during daylight; some beach kiosks operate well into evening with security. Avoid: all favelas without a local guide (regardless of which one), Centro at night east of Cinelândia, Ramos, Maré, Cidade de Deus. The single biggest rule: do not hail street taxis; use Uber, 99, inDriver or Cabify only. Linha Vermelha at night = no; stick with Linha Amarela. The GIG airport itself is well-policed and 100% safe. Don’t flash phones, jewellery or large amounts of cash in any public area — particularly important on buses and the Linha 2 Metro past 22:00.

Brazil’s payment system is among the world’s most modern thanks to PIX — the central-bank-run instant payment system. Most retailers, taxis, beach kiosks and food stalls accept PIX (a QR code or phone-number transfer); foreign cards work in tourist establishments. Withdraw R$300–500 at a Bradesco or Banco do Brasil ATM in arrivals — both have decent rates. The R$100 note is hard to break in markets; ask for R$50s and R$20s. Tipping: 10% is included on most restaurant bills as “serviço” — verify before adding more. Hotel porters: R$5–10 per bag. Beach kiosk waiters: round up to the nearest R$5.