Flights to Rio de Janeiro
Which airport to land at, how far each is from the centre, and where the routes go. Live fares are booked here.
Rio de Janeiro is served by 2 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Santos Dumont Airport (SDU), 2 km (1 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 4,341 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft. The alternatives are Rio de Janeiro Galeão – Tom Jobim International Airport (GIG, 13 km).
| Airport | Code | From centre | Longest runway | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santos Dumont Airport | SDU | 2 km (1 mi) | 4,341 ft | 11 ft |
| Rio de Janeiro Galeão – Tom Jobim International Airport | GIG | 13 km (8 mi) | 13,123 ft | 28 ft |
Runway length is a practical tell: at 4,341 ft, SDU handles short and medium-haul aircraft, so a long-haul trip will connect somewhere else first. The airport sits at 11 ft; that is low enough that altitude never restricts departures.
Book a flight to Rio de Janeiro
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Routes to and from Rio de Janeiro
Straight-line distance and an estimated block time for the city pairs people search for most. Each opens a page with both ends’ airports, the time-zone shift and what changes on arrival.
| Route | Country | Distance | Estimated time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rio de Janeiro to São Paulo | Brazil | 360 km (224 mi) | about 1 h 13 min |
| Rio de Janeiro to Belo Horizonte | Brazil | 341 km (212 mi) | about 1 h 11 min |
| Rio de Janeiro to Salvador | Brazil | 1,210 km (752 mi) | about 2 h 18 min |
| Rio de Janeiro to Brasília | Brazil | 936 km (581 mi) | about 1 h 57 min |
| Rio de Janeiro to Curitiba | Brazil | 678 km (422 mi) | about 1 h 37 min |
| Rio de Janeiro to Goiânia | Brazil | 939 km (584 mi) | about 1 h 57 min |
| Rio de Janeiro to Porto Alegre | Brazil | 1,126 km (700 mi) | about 2 h 12 min |
| Rio de Janeiro to Asunción | Paraguay | 1,491 km (927 mi) | about 2 h 40 min |
| Rio de Janeiro to Guarulhos | Brazil | 348 km (216 mi) | about 1 h 12 min |
| Rio de Janeiro to Campinas | Brazil | 397 km (247 mi) | about 1 h 16 min |
| Rio de Janeiro to Campo Grande | Brazil | 1,215 km (755 mi) | about 2 h 18 min |
| Rio de Janeiro to São Bernardo do Campo | Brazil | 356 km (221 mi) | about 1 h 12 min |
| Rio de Janeiro to Sorocaba | Brazil | 442 km (275 mi) | about 1 h 19 min |
| Rio de Janeiro to Uberlândia | Brazil | 690 km (429 mi) | about 1 h 38 min |
| Rio de Janeiro to Osasco | Brazil | 375 km (233 mi) | about 1 h 14 min |
| Rio de Janeiro to São José dos Campos | Brazil | 278 km (173 mi) | about 1 h 6 min |
| Rio de Janeiro to Ribeirão Preto | Brazil | 514 km (320 mi) | about 1 h 25 min |
| Rio de Janeiro to Aracaju | Brazil | 1,483 km (922 mi) | about 2 h 39 min |
| Rio de Janeiro to Joinville | Brazil | 686 km (426 mi) | about 1 h 38 min |
| Rio de Janeiro to Santo André | Brazil | 353 km (219 mi) | about 1 h 12 min |
| Rio de Janeiro to Contagem | Brazil | 343 km (213 mi) | about 1 h 11 min |
| Rio de Janeiro to Feira de Santana | Brazil | 1,264 km (786 mi) | about 2 h 22 min |
| Rio de Janeiro to Johannesburg | South Africa | 7,120 km (4,424 mi) | about 9 h 53 min |
| Rio de Janeiro to Lima | Peru | 3,776 km (2,346 mi) | about 5 h 35 min |
| Rio de Janeiro to Sydney | Australia | 13,521 km (8,402 mi) | about 18 h 5 min |
| Rio de Janeiro to Santiago | Chile | 2,925 km (1,817 mi) | about 4 h 30 min |
| Rio de Janeiro to Cape Town | South Africa | 6,060 km (3,766 mi) | about 8 h 31 min |
| Rio de Janeiro to Durban | South Africa | 7,308 km (4,541 mi) | about 10 h 7 min |
| Rio de Janeiro to Buenos Aires | Argentina | 1,967 km (1,223 mi) | about 3 h 16 min |
| Rio de Janeiro to Brisbane | Australia | 14,149 km (8,792 mi) | about 18 h 53 min |
Distances are straight-line; road and rail routes run about 15–25% longer. Times are estimates from distance and typical speeds, not timetables.
Common questions
Which airport should I fly into for Rio de Janeiro?
Santos Dumont Airport (SDU) is the closest large airport at 2 km (1 mi). The others, GIG, are further out and worth it only when the fare or the airline makes them so.
How far is SDU from Rio de Janeiro city centre?
2 km (1 mi) in a straight line; the road or rail distance is somewhat longer.
Can I book flights to Rio de Janeiro on this site?
Very soon: our airline partner is switching live fares on for this site. Hotels can be booked now.
How are the journey times on this page worked out?
From straight-line distance and typical speeds for each mode, so they are estimates for planning, not timetables. Road and rail routes run 15–25% longer than the straight line.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.