Highly recommend catching the train from Centro to Santa Teresa if you're in RJ. On my last full…read moreday in Rio de Janeiro, my tour guide took me to the station, I bought a ticket for I think it was R$20? They do take reais or card. The line to wait your turn to hop onto a train was long the date and time I was there (around early to mid afternoon), but it moved along quick - so quick that there was a spot open for 1 more person to hop onto the current train that was waiting to take off and I me being a solo traveler, I was able to take that spot! I had a nice seat on the end where I was able to get pretty good views from the side I was sitting on. I felt like I was on a ride at Disneyland, haha. You'll pass by some really great sceneries, well-known buildings, get really close to plants, cars, motorists, and buildings sometimes. Be mindful of staying inside the car and be aware of your phone if you decide to film or take photos. The driver stopped a few times near scenic spots for everyone to enjoy and take fotos from the car before moving on. I went all the way up and then the train switches the driver side (basically the train can be controlled from either end - the conductor changes sides and so does the seating arrangement... the seat benches can switch from the guests sitting forward to forward again so we aren't sitting backwards going back downhill if that makes sense). I feel like I explained that poorly, haha. The ticket takes you for the entire way, but you are able to hop off at any stop. You won't regret riding on one of the most iconic trains in Santa Teresa. Similar to the ones you'd see in Portugal as a lot of the buildings and architecture have Portuguese influence.

futuristically designed subway station with nice artistic decorationread more

When we first came here to catch a bus to São Paulo, we had to transfer from a city bus and walk a…read morebit. We thought this area was super sketchy and felt uncomfortable even during the middle of the day. This time around we just took uber which was actually cheaper and faster. We got to the station way before our bus departure so we spent some time looking around. Breakfast at the Via Rio was ok. They serve casa da Pão de queijo products but their coffee was mediocre. The Forno Minas looked like they had real espresso machines. At least the cleaning ladies came around to wipe down the tables. Downstairs the air conditioning works, upstairs where the majority of the station is, does not and so they have heavy industrial fans to circulate the air. They have a new TIM shop, instead of just a kiosk and it looks like the kind you find at a mall that offers technical service. Bathrooms are pricy here. R$2 just to use the toilet. They used to have showers upstairs but I didn't see them this time. Platform loading was a bit of a mess, no order in the lines but at least we had assigned seats. Costa Verde didn't leave on time but I suppose that's to be expected.

This bus station is nicer than some airports! Plenty of options for food plus shops for goodies and…read morestuff to read during your trip. I've used this bus station a few times and it's easy to get to and out of. Usually I grab an Uber (25-30 to/from Copacabana) but also once after midnight a prepaid taxi.