How to Get Around in Brazil: Uber, 99, Taxis, Buses and the Apps You Need
Which transport apps work in Brazil for tourists: Uber vs 99, paying with a foreign card, phone numbers and eSIMs, taxis, metro, buses between cities and domestic flights.
Short version: in Brazilian cities, you'll move around mostly with Uber or 99, the two ride-hailing apps that locals use every day. They're cheap, tracked, and the safest way to get anywhere at night. Below is everything else: which app to pick, how to pay with a foreign card, what to do about phone numbers, and how to travel between cities.
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The apps to download before you fly
| App | What for | Works with a foreign card? |
|---|---|---|
| Uber | Rides in every big city | Yes, usually without problems |
| 99 | Rides, often a little cheaper than Uber | Often, but foreign cards are declined more often |
| Google Maps / Moovit | Metro and bus routes | Not needed |
| Aviasales | Domestic flights | Yes |
| Talking to hosts, drivers, restaurants and tour guides | Not needed |
Install them and log in at home, while you still receive SMS codes on your usual number. It's much easier than doing it on airport Wi-Fi.
Uber or 99?
Both work the same way and both are safe to use. The differences:
- Uber is the easiest for visitors: you probably already have an account, your foreign card is already saved, and the app is in your language. If you only install one app, make it this one.
- 99 is a Brazilian app (owned by the Chinese company DiDi). It's often a bit cheaper and sometimes finds a car faster outside the big centers. Travellers report that foreign cards are declined more often on 99 than on Uber, so add your card and test it before you need a ride.
Our tip: have both. When one shows surge pricing or no cars nearby, check the other.
Paying: cards, cash and Pix
- Foreign card: the normal way for tourists on Uber. Use a card without foreign transaction fees, and if the app offers to charge you in your home currency, refuse: that conversion is always worse.
- Pix: Brazil's instant payment system. Locals use it everywhere, but it needs a Brazilian bank account and a CPF. Not an option for most tourists.
- Cash: some cities let you pay the driver in reais, but many drivers turn cash rides off. Don't count on it.
A multi-currency card like Wise works well here: you load it in your currency, it pays in reais at the real exchange rate, and you can freeze it from the app if your phone or wallet goes missing. See our guide to money in Brazil.
Phone numbers, eSIMs and verification codes
This is the part that catches people out. Ride apps need two things: mobile data to call a car, and sometimes an SMS code to log in or verify your account.
- Data: a travel eSIM gives you internet the moment you land. You install it before the trip, and it switches on when you arrive.
- SMS codes: most travel eSIMs are data-only and have no phone number, so they can't receive codes. The solution is simple: keep your home SIM active in your phone alongside the eSIM (most phones take both), with data roaming off. Codes arrive on your home number and the eSIM handles the internet.
- Brazilian number: you don't need one for Uber or 99. You only need one for a few Brazilian apps like iFood (more in our food delivery guide).
On a budget? Saily is a cheaper Brazil eSIM from the team behind NordVPN. We compare the options in the best eSIM for Brazil.
Staying safe in a ride app
- Check the plate and car model before getting in. Ask "who are you picking up?" instead of saying your name.
- Wait for the car inside a shop, hotel or restaurant, not on the curb with your phone in your hand.
- Sit in the back and share your trip with someone using the app's share button.
- Keep windows up and your phone out of sight at traffic lights.
- If the driver asks you to cancel and pay cash "off the app", say no.
Motorbike rides: Uber Moto and 99Moto
Both apps offer motorbike taxis in many cities. They're very cheap and fast in traffic, and you'll see locals using them all the time. For visitors we don't recommend them: accident risk is much higher, many travel insurance policies exclude motorbike accidents, and you're riding in traffic you don't know. Pick "UberX" or "99Pop" instead.
Taxis
Yellow taxis (in Rio) and white taxis (in São Paulo and many other cities) are legal, metered and safe. They're usually more expensive than apps, but they can use bus lanes, which helps at rush hour. At airports, use the official taxi desks or the rank, never someone who approaches you inside the terminal. Arriving in Rio? See how to get from the airport to Copacabana.
Metro, buses and trains
Rio and São Paulo have clean, safe metro systems that are great by day. In São Paulo you can pay by tapping a contactless card at the turnstile on most lines; in Rio, check the current options at the station, as payment methods have been changing. City buses are cheap but confusing for visitors and best avoided at night. Google Maps and Moovit show routes and times in real time.
Travelling between cities
- Plane: Brazil is huge. For anything more than 6 to 8 hours by road, fly. LATAM, GOL and Azul cover the whole country, and booking a few weeks ahead makes a big difference to the price.
- Long-distance bus: comfortable and safe, with semi-bed (semi-leito) and bed (leito) seats on night routes. Rio–São Paulo takes about 6 hours. Book on the bus company's site or on apps like ClickBus.
- Car rental: good for the coast between Rio and São Paulo (Paraty, Ilhabela) or the South. You need your licence and passport, and an International Driving Permit is recommended. Avoid driving at night on rural roads.
Flight delayed or cancelled on the way to or from Brazil? Depending on the airline and route (for example flights to or from the EU), you may be owed compensation. AirHelp checks your flight for free and only charges if you get paid.
FAQ
Does Uber work in Brazil with a foreign account?
Yes. Your existing Uber account and foreign card work in Brazil like at home, and the app switches to reais automatically.
Is Uber safe in Brazil?
It's the way most locals get around at night and is considered safer than walking or hailing cars on the street. Check the plate, wait indoors and share your trip.
Is 99 cheaper than Uber?
Often a little, but it depends on the time and place. Compare both when prices are high.
Do I need a Brazilian phone number to use Uber or 99?
No. You can use your home number for verification codes and a travel eSIM for data.
Last checked October 2026, based on the apps' own help pages and recent reports from travellers. App features and payment rules change, so check in the app before you rely on them.
