Quick answer. GIG has Bradesco, Itaú, and Santander ATMs plus shared Banco24Horas units in arrivals, open 24 hours and dispensing reais at the real Visa or Mastercard interbank rate. Use Bradesco: it is the most reliable for foreign cards and has the highest caps (up to ~R$2,500). Every withdrawal carries Brazil's federal IOF tax (~1.1% on debit) on top of your home-bank fees, and foreign cards are often capped low and disabled between roughly 10pm and 6am, so pull a modest amount and refill in the South Zone by day. Brazil has no Bank of America Global ATM Alliance partner, so BoA debit pays the 3% non-network fee here. Always decline DCC and choose reais. Skip the Confidence and Coturística exchange counters (6-15% markup). To Copacabana/Ipanema: Uber or 99 (card via app, cheapest and easiest), the official arrivals taxi rank (metered, ~R$90-140), or the premium BRT/executive bus (~R$25, daytime only).
Where to get Brazilian Real at GIG
GIG has the standard Brazilian airport money mix: Bradesco, Itaú, and Santander ATMs plus shared Banco24Horas units (Bradesco is the reliable choice for foreign cards), and the Confidence and Coturística currency-exchange counters. Note that every ATM withdrawal carries the federal IOF tax (~1.1% on debit), which no machine avoids. The cost math below assumes you withdraw the equivalent of $100 starting from a USD account.
| Option | Where | Markup | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bradesco ATM (GIG arrivals, most reliable + highest cap) | GIG arrivals hall landside | IOF ~1.1% + interbank rate, no bank fee | ~$100 + ~$1.10 IOF |
| Santander / Banco do Brasil ATM (GIG arrivals) | GIG arrivals hall landside | IOF ~1.1% + interbank rate (lower caps) | ~$100 + ~$1.10 IOF |
| Bradesco / Banco do Brasil branch ATM (South Zone, by day) | After taxi/Metrô to Copacabana, Ipanema, Botafogo | IOF ~1.1% + interbank rate | ~$100 + ~$1.10 IOF |
| Banco24Horas shared ATM (GIG arrivals) | GIG arrivals hall | ~R$20-24 fee + IOF + interbank rate | ~$100 + $5 + IOF |
| Confidence / Coturística exchange counter (GIG arrivals) | GIG arrivals hall | 6-15% over mid-market | ~$85-94 |
| 'Sem comissão' casa de câmbio (Copacabana Av. Atlântica, NOT at airport) | Tourist strips | 5-12% baked-in spread | ~$88-95 |
Where to find the Bradesco, Itaú, and Santander ATMs at Rio Galeão (GIG)
Rio de Janeiro/Galeão International Airport (GIG, named Antônio Carlos Jobim) sits on Governador Island in Guanabara Bay, about 20 kilometers north of the South Zone beaches, and is Rio's main international gateway. It has two terminals connected airside and landside, and the arrivals levels of both carry the standard Brazilian airport ATM mix: bank-branded Bradesco, Itaú, and Santander machines plus shared Banco24Horas units, all open 24 hours and dispensing reais at the real interbank rate. The one to use is Bradesco: it is the most consistently foreign-card-friendly Brazilian network and carries the highest withdrawal caps (up to ~R$2,500 versus ~R$500 at some Banco do Brasil units), with an English menu. Two GIG-specific things to know. First, every withdrawal carries the federal IOF tax (currently about 1.1 percent on a foreign debit withdrawal), which is set centrally and unavoidable, and many machines disable foreign-card withdrawals overnight, so pull a modest amount on arrival and do larger withdrawals at a South Zone bank branch by day. Second, walk past the Confidence and Coturística currency-exchange counters in arrivals: their rates run 6-15 percent off the interbank rate. Brazil has no Bank of America Global ATM Alliance partner, so a BoA debit card pays BoA's 3 percent non-network surcharge here on top of the IOF.
Terminal 2 (main international arrivals)
LATAM, GOL, Azul, American, United, Delta, Air France, KLM, TAP Air Portugal, Iberia, Lufthansa, Copa, Avianca, and the main international long-haul carriers into Rio. Terminal 2 is the larger, modern terminal handling most international arrivals at Galeão
After immigration and baggage claim, the Bradesco, Itaú, and Santander ATMs and the shared Banco24Horas units are in the arrivals hall landside near the exit. Use the Bradesco machine (most reliable for foreign cards, highest cap). The Confidence and Coturística currency-exchange counters are also in arrivals: walk past them, their rate is 6-15 percent worse than the ATM. Pull a modest amount here, then refill at a South Zone bank branch by day. Decline DCC and choose reais.
Terminal 1 (domestic and some international)
Primarily domestic GOL, LATAM, and Azul services plus some regional international flights. Connected to Terminal 2 landside; check your terminal as it varies by airline and season
Terminal 1 arrivals also has bank-branded ATMs and Banco24Horas units near the baggage exit. Useful for domestic-to-international transfers and for travelers arriving on internal Brazilian flights from São Paulo, Brasília, or the Northeast.
Do you actually need cash at Rio Galeão GIG Airport?
Mostly no. Uber and 99 (card via app) and many official taxis get you to the South Zone without cash, and Rio is card-heavy once you arrive. But the premium bus and some taxis want cash, and the beach kiosks and feiras are cash-only, so a small reais pull on landing is prudent. Here is what works on a card on the way into the city, and where you will still need cash:
Uber / 99 (app-booked) (~R$60-100 to the South Zone): The easiest and usually cheapest option, charged to your card in-app, with designated pickup points at the terminals. 30-50 min to Copacabana/Ipanema depending on traffic. The safe choice for a late-night arrival.
Official metered taxi (arrivals rank) (~R$90-140 to Copacabana/Ipanema): From the official rank in arrivals, metered (starts ~R$6). Many accept card but confirm before you set off. Reliable and regulated.
Premium executive bus / BRT connection (~R$25 to the South Zone): The air-conditioned executive bus and BRT link to the South Zone, daytime only (roughly 5am-11pm), with a transfer. Cheaper but slower and not ideal with heavy luggage.
Local city bus (NOT recommended from GIG) (~R$4-5 with a RioCard): Cheap municipal buses serve the airport but are slow, crowded, and not luggage- or safety-friendly for arriving tourists. Use Uber, the taxi rank, or the executive bus instead.
⚠ DCC trap. When the ATM or terminal asks if you want to be charged in your home currency instead of the local currency, always decline and choose the local currency. Accepting locks in a 3-13 percent markup that your no-FX-fee card cannot undo. Full DCC explainer →
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need cash to get from Rio Galeão GIG Airport to Rio de Janeiro?
No. Uber / 99 (app-booked) accepts contactless. Most taxis accept cards. Uber and other apps are card-only.
Can I order Brazilian Real before flying?
Yes. CEI Currency Exchange ships physical Brazilian Real to your US address in 2-5 days at rates well below airport counters. Order 50-100 Brazilian Real for taxis and tips on day one.
Which ATM at GIG is best for foreign cards?
Bradesco. Foreign-card acceptance is genuinely inconsistent at Brazilian ATMs, and Bradesco is the most reliable major network for foreign Visa and Mastercard, with the highest reported withdrawal caps (up to ~R$2,500 versus ~R$500 at some Banco do Brasil machines) and an English menu. Santander is a reasonable fallback. Avoid relying on Itaú or Caixa, which frequently reject foreign cards. The shared Banco24Horas red units in arrivals also accept most foreign cards but charge a ~R$20-24 convenience fee on top of the IOF tax. Whichever you use, decline DCC and choose reais, and remember the federal IOF tax (~1.1% on debit) applies to every withdrawal.
Is there a Bank of America Global ATM Alliance partner at GIG or in Brazil?
No. Brazil has no Bank of America Global ATM Alliance partner, and despite a common misconception, Banco do Brasil is not and has never been a member. So a BoA debit card at any Brazilian ATM, including the GIG machines, pays BoA's 3 percent non-network surcharge plus the federal IOF tax (~1.1% on debit). The cleanest setup for Brazil is a Charles Schwab Investor Checking card (zero FX fee, refunds operator fees, though the IOF tax still applies as it is a government tax, not a bank fee) or a Wise card (zero FX markup). Because of the fees and the low overnight-disabled caps, pre-ordering a small amount of reais before you fly is more worthwhile for Brazil than for most countries.
What is the IOF tax on ATM withdrawals in Brazil?
The IOF (Imposto sobre Operações Financeiras) is a federal tax Brazil levies on foreign-currency and international card transactions. For a foreign debit-card ATM withdrawal it is currently around 1.1 percent, and for a credit-card cash advance it is higher (around 3.5 percent). It is set by the central government, applies on top of whatever your home bank charges, and cannot be avoided at any bank or ATM, so it is not worth shopping around for. The practical implication is to minimize the number of withdrawals: use a high-cap Bradesco machine, pull a reasonable amount in one transaction by day, and rely on a contactless card (which also incurs IOF on purchases, but saves the per-withdrawal fees) for most spending.
How do I get from GIG to Copacabana or Ipanema?
Three main options. Uber or 99 (the local rideshare app) is the easiest and usually cheapest, charged to your card in-app, with designated pickup points at the terminals; figure roughly R$60-100 to the South Zone depending on traffic and surge, about 30-50 minutes. The official metered taxi rank in arrivals runs about R$90-140 to Copacabana or Ipanema (the meter starts around R$6). The premium executive bus and BRT connection to the South Zone costs about R$25 but runs only roughly 5am to 11pm and involves a transfer. GIG sits on Governador Island about 20 km out, so light traffic is 30-40 minutes and rush hour can push it past an hour. For a late-night arrival, Uber or the official taxi rank is the safe choice.
Do I need cash to get from GIG to the city?
Not if you use Uber or 99 (card via app) or the official taxi rank (many accept card, but confirm). The premium bus and some independent taxis want cash, so a small amount of reais keeps every option open. Pull R$100-200 at the Bradesco ATM in arrivals: enough for a taxi, the first day's beach kiosk and feira spending, and tips, before you do a larger withdrawal at a South Zone bank branch by day. Remember most ATMs disable foreign cards overnight, so on a late arrival the airport machine (which stays on) plus a pre-ordered cushion is the reliable combination.
Can I order Brazilian reais before flying to Rio?
Yes, and for Brazil it is genuinely worth it rather than optional. CEI Currency Exchange ships physical Brazilian reais to your US address in 2-5 days at a rate well below the airport exchange counters. Arriving at GIG late at night with a foreign card and finding the only working machine is a Banco24Horas with a low cap and a DCC pitch is a common first-night experience, so having R$200-400 in hand for the taxi, the first day, and tips removes that friction. Pair it with a no-FX-fee contactless card (Wise or Schwab) for everything else, since Brazil is so card-heavy that you will not need large amounts of cash.
What about GRU (São Paulo) instead of GIG?
São Paulo/Guarulhos (GRU) is Brazil's and South America's busiest airport and the most common international gateway, so many travelers connect through it. The money setup is identical to GIG: Bradesco, Itaú, Santander, and Banco24Horas ATMs in arrivals (use Bradesco), the same IOF tax and overnight-disabled low caps, the same no-Bank-of-America-Alliance situation, and the same Confidence and Coturística exchange counters to walk past. The only difference is the city: GRU is about 25-30 km from central São Paulo, with the Airport Bus Service and the CPTM train (line 13) to the city, plus Uber and 99. The decline-DCC, choose-Bradesco, pull-by-day rules are the same.