Tips on transportation from airport to hotel, from hotel to wedding venue.

We recommend using ride-share apps as the most convenient, comfortable, and safe way to get around Rio—especially if you’re unfamiliar with the city or traveling with luggage.

Please download and practice using Uber if this is not a regular practice for you. It works the same in Brazil as it does in the USA

Most of you will be arriving at Galeão International Airport (GIG) or Santos Dumont Airport (SDU). From either airport, the easiest way to get to Ipanema is by ride-share.

In Rio, the most commonly used ride-share apps are:

Uber – widely available and reliable.

99 (pronounced "nove nove") – a local app similar to Uber, often a bit cheaper.

A ride from GIG Airport to Ipanema typically takes 25 to 45 minutes, depending on traffic. From SDU Airport, it’s even shorter—usually around 20 to 30 minutes.

As for cost, expect to pay around R$80 to R$130 (which is approximately $15 to $25 USD) from GIG, and around R$40 to R$80 (about $8 to $15 USD) from SDU. Pricing is reasonable compared to US cities.

Mansão Alvite, our wedding venue, is located in Santa Teresa, a beautiful hillside neighborhood about 20 to 30 minutes from Ipanema by car.

The easiest way to get to the venue is also by ride-share.

Just open Uber or 99, type in "Mansão Alvite" (or use the address we’ll provide), and your driver will take you straight there.

Expect the ride to cost around R$40 to R$60 (about $8 to $12 USD) one-way. Again, this depends on the time of day and current demand.

Santa Teresa has narrow, winding streets, as it was built during the Portuguese colonial era - so there are multiple routes to reach the venue.

Pro Tips:

Share your ride status with a friend so they can follow your trip.

Use the app’s chat or call feature if you need to confirm pickup points.

If you speak a little Portuguese, that helps—but most drivers are used to tourists, and many use translation apps if needed.