I’ve passed through Rio more times than I planned. Once in July rain. Once right before Carnaval, with drums still in my head. And I’ve used both airports: Galeão (GIG) and Santos Dumont (SDU). Same city. Very different feel.
You know what? I kind of like both. But for different reasons. For an even deeper dive into the quirks of both hubs, my extended review on Brazzil Magazine, My Honest Take on Rio’s Airports (GIG and SDU), breaks down everything from check-in flow to late-night snack spots.
Getting There: The Commute Game
GIG sits far out on Ilha do Governador. The drive from Copacabana took me 45 minutes at noon. It took me 90 minutes at rush hour. Linha Vermelha can crawl. My Uber driver used Waze and stayed calm. I tried to do the same. There’s a toll, and yes, the driver asked me first. That felt fair.
SDU is a whole other story. It hugs the bay, right by downtown. From Lapa, I just hopped on the VLT tram with my RioCard. Ten minutes. Easy. If you’ve got a carry-on, it’s smooth. With a giant suitcase? Less fun, but still fine. For a full rundown of every bus, tram, taxi, and rideshare option, check out this concise SDU transportation guide.
Check-In and Security: Night vs. Day
At GIG, I flew LATAM to Santiago and later to São Paulo. Self bag drop worked, but the line snaked. Late-night waves before the Europe flights make it busy. Staff were kind, even when people got antsy. The security line moved in bursts. The priority lane helped when I had status. Without it, plan time.
SDU felt lighter. Quick check-in for GOL. Security was fast and calm. I kept my laptop in its sleeve at first—oops—had to run it alone. No big deal. The agents were patient, and I was grateful.
Inside GIG: Big, Bright, and a Little Chilly
Terminal 2 is the main stage now. High ceilings. Big windows. The air-con ran strong, so bring a light layer. Free Wi-Fi worked fine for messages and maps. Not blazing, but steady.
Food? Classic airport mix:
- Casa do Pão de Queijo for cheese bread. Warm. Comfort in a bag.
- Rei do Mate for a matte leão and a coxinha. Simple. Good.
- Burger King and Starbucks when you just need familiar.
- Duty-free by Dufry with the usual perfume wall and chocolate towers.
Seating near the 30s gates felt tight when my flight got delayed. People camped by outlets like it was a sport. I joined them and charged my phone under a column. Gate agents handled boarding groups with a mic that cracked. Still, it worked.
Inside SDU: Small, Sunny, and Very Rio
SDU feels personal. Big glass, runway right there, water past that. I grabbed a pão de queijo and watched little jets come and go. If you like plane views, this is your spot. Details on lounges, amenities, and practical tips live in this thorough overview of Santos Dumont Airport.
The bathrooms here were cleaner on my visits. At GIG, they ranged from fine to “no soap again.” Not awful, but I noticed.
Arriving at GIG: Lines, Bags, and That First Breath
My early morning landing hit a 40-minute line at passport control. Not chaos, just a slow shuffle. Brazilian passports had eGates. Everyone else waited with me. Baggage took about 20 minutes once I reached the carousel. Customs was a quick walk-through.
Cash? The exchange desk had rough rates. I skipped it and used card. If you need cash, grab a small amount and wait for a better ATM in the city. That’s what I did the second time.
Rides, Taxis, and “No, Thanks”
At GIG arrivals, a few guys tried to steer me to “special taxis.” I smiled and said no, thanks. I used the Uber app and met my driver on the departures level upstairs. That felt safer and smoother. There’s an official taxi booth if you prefer set fares. Pay at the counter, not to a random person.
At SDU, rideshare pickup was simple. Quick pickup zone, lots of cars, and the driver even pointed out Sugarloaf as we turned. Little moments like that stick.
Lounges: A Calm Bubble (Mostly)
I used the Plaza Premium lounge at GIG before a night flight. Priority Pass got me in. Showers were clean. They had pão de queijo, fruit, and a hot dish that tasted like home food—rice, beans, and chicken. Not fancy, but honest. It filled me up and kept me even.
On a Sunday evening in the GOL lounge (domestic), seats were tight. Still got a coffee and a snack while waiting on a delayed hop to Belo Horizonte. Staff did rounds and picked up plates fast. I appreciate that.
Safety and Vibes
Inside both airports, I felt fine. The moment you exit, use common sense. Keep your phone in your front pocket. Order rides from inside the building. Don’t flash big bills. Normal city stuff, but it matters more when you’re tired. And if late-night invitations around the airport leave you wondering what’s legal and what’s not, take a look at Is Prostitution in Brazil Legal? My Field Notes, Straight Up for clear, on-the-ground insight. If you prefer to arrange your nightlife in advance rather than fend off random curbside offers, you can browse InstaFuck for discreet, no-strings connections with locals and fellow travelers—handy when you want to line up a consensual meet-up safely and on your own terms. If your itinerary later loops you through the United States—say, a connection that lands you in Tennessee—you’ll find that the companion scene is more regulated; in Knoxville, the well-curated directory at Eros Knoxville escorts lists independently verified companions, complete with photos, screening details, and transparent rates so you can plan an encounter confidently and legally before you even leave the airport lounge.
For more Brazilian travel insights, I recommend this article over at Brazzil Magazine to round out your pre-flight reading.
Best Part? The Views
The SDU landing has movie energy. We dipped over the water, swooped by Sugarloaf, and kissed the runway. My seatmate gasped, then laughed. I did too. On one morning at GIG, sunrise lit the hangars gold. I stood by a window near C gates and just breathed. Travel can be hard. But those small scenes help.
Odds and Ends I Wish I Knew
- Peak times: GIG gets crowded late night before Europe flights.
- Water: Bring a bottle and refill after security. Fountains exist, but not on every corner.
- SIM: I bought a Claro eSIM in the app store and skipped kiosks.
- Language: Most agents spoke some English. A few didn’t. A smile and “obrigado” goes far.
- Wrapping: There’s luggage wrap near check-in at GIG. I used it once for a soft duffel. It held up.
Got a long layover? You could even squeeze in a roll at a local academy—this first-person piece on Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil explains how welcoming most gyms are to travelers dropping in.
So… Would I Use Them Again?
Yep. For domestic trips, SDU wins for speed and that view. For long hauls, GIG does the job—big, busy, and a bit cold, but it works. Neither is perfect. Both are very Rio. A little music in the air. A little chaos. And if you land near sunset, you might forget the lines and just stare at the water. I did. Twice.