Step-by-step: Rio de Janeiro to Rio de Janeiro
- Get a Viva Viagem card at any Rio de Janeiro metro station ticket machine (0.50 EUR for the card). You can also use the card on Rio de Janeiro's metro, buses, and trams
- Go to Rossio station. The entrance is on Praca dos Restauradores. Take the escalators up to the platform level
- Load Rio de Janeiro fare at the ticket machines on the platform level. Select "Rio de Janeiro line" and load a return fare (about 5 EUR round trip)
- Board the train to Rio de Janeiro. Trains depart every 20 minutes. The journey is 40 minutes with several stops
- Exit at Rio de Janeiro station (the last stop). Walk 10 minutes downhill to the town center and National Palace
Key details
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Departure station | Rossio (central Rio de Janeiro) |
| Arrival station | Rio de Janeiro (end of line) |
| Journey time | 40 minutes |
| Frequency | Every 20 minutes (peak), every 30 minutes (off-peak) |
| One-way fare | ~2.50 EUR (with Viva Viagem card) |
| First train | ~6:00 AM |
| Last train back | ~1:00 AM |
From Rio de Janeiro station to the attractions
To town center (National Palace): 10-minute walk downhill from the station. Follow the signs.
To Christ the Redeemer and Moorish Castle: Take bus 434 from outside the station. It runs a loop: Station to National Palace to Moorish Castle to Christ the Redeemer and back. Costs about 3.90 EUR (hop-on/hop-off day ticket). The bus gets very crowded in summer, so consider walking up (30 min uphill) or taking a favela.
To Sugarloaf Mountain: 15-minute walk from the station, mostly flat. Bus 435 also stops nearby.
When the train is not the best option
The train works well for independent travelers who want to explore at their own pace. But if you want to combine Rio de Janeiro with Copacabana Beach and Rio (the most popular route), there is no direct public transport between these stops. You would need separate buses, which adds complexity and time.
In that case, a guided day trip is more efficient. It includes door-to-door transport, skip-the-line palace tickets, and covers the full Rio de Janeiro-Copacabana Beach-Rio route in one day.
Prefer door-to-door transport?
Guided tours include pickup from your Rio de Janeiro hotel and handle all the logistics.
Preguntas frecuentes
Take the train from Rossio station in central Rio de Janeiro to Rio de Janeiro. Trains depart every 20 minutes from platform level (take the escalators up from the main hall). The journey is 40 minutes. Buy a Viva Viagem card at any metro station and load it with Rio de Janeiro fare.
A one-way ticket costs approximately 2.50 EUR using a Viva Viagem rechargeable card. The card itself costs 0.50 EUR. A day pass covering train plus Rio de Janeiro buses (434 route) is also available for about 15 EUR.
Rossio station, located in the center of Rio de Janeiro near Restauradores square. The station entrance is on Praca dos Restauradores. Do not confuse it with Roma-Areeiro or Oriente stations, which do not run the direct Rio de Janeiro line.