Air

Rio de Janeiro has two airports: Antônio Carlos Jobim International Airport (Galeão), 20 km from downtown; and Santos Dumont Airport, located downtown close to Zona Sul (South Zone area) by the sea. Galeão Airport handles flights from all over the world as well as other Brazilian states, while Santos Dumont mainly handles domestic flights.

Road

Departing from São Paulo, access is gained by the Presidente Dutra Highway, running 445 km, on a road that was built to connect both cities.

Metro

Rio’s metro system is an excellent way to get around. All lines are air-conditioned, clean, fast and safe. The main line goes from Ipanema-General Osório to Saens Peña, connecting with the secondary line to Estácio (which provides service to São Cristóvão, Maracanã and beyond). The main stops in Centro are Cinelândia and Carioca.

The new line (linha 4) connects Ipanema to Barra daTijuca. It runs from General Osório to Jardim Oceânico with stops in Ipanema, Leblon and São Conrado.

You can purchase a cartão pré-pago (prepaid card) from a kiosk in any metro station using cash (no change given) with a minimum of R$5 or more. You can then recharge it at any kiosk. Free subway maps are available from most ticket booths.

Taxi

Rio’s yellow taxis are prevalent throughout the city. They are generally a speedy way to zip around and are usually safe. However we would reccomend you download Uber and 99Taxis applications to use in place of hailng taxis on the street.

Booking.com

With over 1 million properties worldwide, Booking.com can be used to find, research and book your Rio accommodation needs. From budget hostels to 5* hotels, be sure to read up on the reviews from other travellers for an unbias view on the location, property and service.

Airbnb

For a different experience, Airbnb is a website enabling people rent short-term lodging in residential properties. Access unique homes, experiences, and places around the world. Whether an apartment for a night, a castle for a week, or a villa for a month, Airbnb connects people to unique travel experiences, at any price point, in more than 65,000 cities and 191 countries.

Popular Hotels in Zona Sul

The list provided below offers suggestions for the pre-conference Google Bootcamp as well as IPC/IEYC workshops, close to the Urca site (13th-14th April 2019):

• Yoo2 Rio de Janeiro
• Ibis Botafogo
• Hospedaria Rio
• Hotel Ibis Styles
• Mercure Rio de Janeiro Botafogo Mourisco Hotel
• Pousada Hotelinho Urca
• Novotel Leme

• Top things to do in Rio de Janeiro
• Tourism of Brasil
• City Guide
• Visit Rio

• Pao de Acucar / Sugar Loaf Mountain
• Train to Christ The Redeemer
• Learn Portuguese
• Learn to Surf

• Choose accommodation that is in a safer neighbourhood, e.g., in Zona Sul, and do not answer your hotel door until you have confirmed who is asking to gain entry. 
• Avoid wearing expensive jewellery and try to dress down.
• Travel, where possible, in groups.
• Stay in well-lit areas.
• When using yellow taxis, chooseonly those that display the red licence plate, the telephone number and taxi company information openly.
• Use taxis rather than buses at night.
• Carry limited amounts of cash and use a credit card instead, should you intend to use it.
• Make a copy of your passport to carry around with you (you will need this for entry in to clubs and restaurants, and the police require it if they stop you) but leave the original at your hotel.
• Be vigilant when withdrawing cash from ATMs and try to use those in safer locations, such as inside shopping centres and banks.

• Be aware of potential pickpockets on the beach, especially if you are alone, and keep cameras, jewellery and wallets concealed.
• Despite the police ‘pacification’ programme of shantytowns or favelas, mainly in and around Zona Sul, safety cannot be guaranteed, especially at night.
• Visit downtown or the Centro area during working hours only. It can be dangerous in the evening. When going to and from Lapa’s clubs and bars at night, take a taxi.
• Remain vigilant of your drinks so that thieves cannot slip debilitating drugs into them.
• Be aware that there have been incidents of manhole cover explosions in Rio de Janeiro in recent years, particularly in the areas of Copacabana and downtown (Centro). Report all incidents of crime to the Tourist Police in Rio de Janeiro. Tel: (21) 2332-2924

Medical services

There are many pharmacies in all of the main streets, a number of which stay open 24 hours, including two branches of Drogaria Pacheco, Av NS de Copacabana, 115; Av NS de Copacabana 534; Farmácia do Leme (Av Prado Júnior 231, Copacabana; 24hr). In Leblon, Farmácia Piauí (2274 8448; Av Ataulfo de Paiva 1283, Leblon; 24hr).

For medical emergencies, the following are available:

Hospital Ipanema (3111 2300; Rua Antônio Parreiras 67, Ipanema)

Miguel Couto Hospital (2274 2121; Av Bartolomeu Mitre 1108,