For most first-time visitors, the clearest public transport route to Sugarloaf Mountain is to take the metro to Botafogo Station, use exit E – Mena Barreto, walk to the bus 513 stop on Rua Voluntários da Pátria, ride toward Urca, get off at UNIRIO, then walk about 260 meters to the cable car entrance. A taxi or ride-hailing car to Av. Pasteur, 520 is the simpler backup if you have luggage, children, or a late arrival.
Start with Botafogo, not the mountain itself
Sugarloaf Mountain is not directly beside a metro platform, so Botafogo Station is the practical metro anchor rather than the final stop. The important detail is the exit: official access guidance points visitors to exit E – Mena Barreto before continuing to bus 513.
This route is easier if you separate it into two parts. First, get yourself to Botafogo by metro. Second, use the local connection into Urca, where the cable car entrance is located.
That separation matters because the mountain is visually obvious from many parts of Rio, but visibility does not mean the walking route is simple. Do not try to improvise from a random nearby street just because the mountain looks close. For a first visit, the most readable public transport pattern is:
Botafogo Station
exit E – Mena Barreto
bus 513 from Rua Voluntários da Pátria
UNIRIO
short walk to Av. Pasteur, 520
Once you think of Botafogo as the handoff point, the trip becomes much easier to follow.
From Galeão International Airport to Sugarloaf Mountain
From Galeão International Airport, the public transport route is possible, but it is not a direct airport-to-Sugarloaf train route. The airport BRT connection can take you into the city transport network, with integration at Vicente de Carvalho for Metro Line 2, but you still need to continue through the metro system before reaching Botafogo.
A practical public transport route is:
Leave the arrivals area and follow signs for the BRT stations.
Use the airport BRT connection toward the city transport network.
Transfer through Vicente de Carvalho for the metro system.
Continue by metro toward Botafogo.
At Botafogo, use exit E – Mena Barreto.
Walk to the bus 513 stop on Rua Voluntários da Pátria.
Ride toward Urca and get off at UNIRIO.
Walk about 260 meters to Parque Bondinho.
This route is best if you are traveling light, arriving during active hours, and comfortable with transfers. It has several steps, but each step has a clear purpose: airport BRT, metro connection, Botafogo, bus 513, then the final walk.
If you are arriving after a long flight, carrying bags, or visiting with children, a taxi or ride-hailing car from the airport is often the better choice. It avoids the BRT-to-metro transfer and takes you straight to the entrance area at Av. Pasteur, 520.
The car option may not always be faster in Rio traffic, but it removes the most confusing parts of the journey. For many first-time visitors, that matters more than saving a small amount of time.
From Central do Brasil to Botafogo
Central do Brasil can feel busy when you first arrive, but you do not need to solve the whole city from there. The useful move is to get into the metro system and continue toward Botafogo.
From Central do Brasil, use this route:
Move from the rail area toward the metro connection.
Enter the metro network.
Ride toward Botafogo.
Leave at Botafogo Station.
Use exit E – Mena Barreto.
Continue to bus 513 on Rua Voluntários da Pátria.
Ride to UNIRIO, then walk to Parque Bondinho.
The main thing is to avoid leaving the station too early and trying to build a street-level route across Rio. Sugarloaf Mountain is not close enough to Central do Brasil for a calm first-visit walk. The metro handles the main distance; Botafogo handles the local handoff.
If Central feels overwhelming, focus only on the next fixed point: Botafogo Station. Once you reach Botafogo, the route becomes more local and easier to understand.
Using Botafogo Station correctly
Botafogo is the station that makes the public transport route practical. It is not the entrance to Sugarloaf Mountain, but it puts you in the right area to continue toward Urca.
The exit matters. Use exit E – Mena Barreto if you are following the official bus 513 route. From there, walk to Rua Voluntários da Pátria for the bus toward Urca.
Do not treat any Botafogo exit as equal. Botafogo is a busy neighborhood station with several access points, and choosing the wrong exit can add unnecessary confusion before you even reach the bus. If you come out at the wrong side, pause and reset toward Rua Voluntários da Pátria rather than continuing in a random direction.
This is the most important transfer in the journey. The metro brings you to Botafogo, but bus 513 is what turns the route toward Urca and the cable car entrance.
Using bus 513 from Botafogo to Urca
Bus 513 is the key local connection for visitors using the metro. The official route guidance says to get off the metro at Botafogo, use exit E – Mena Barreto, walk to the final stop of bus 513 on Rua Voluntários da Pátria, then get off at UNIRIO. From UNIRIO, the remaining walk to Parque Bondinho is about 260 meters.
This is why Botafogo is the best metro anchor. It is not the entrance station for Sugarloaf Mountain, but it gives you a clear handoff from metro to local bus. Once you are on bus 513 toward Urca, the route becomes much more specific.
Do not board a random Urca-bound bus just because the destination sounds close. For a first visit, stay with the official pattern: Botafogo exit E, bus 513, UNIRIO, then the final walk to Av. Pasteur, 520.
The bus section can feel uncertain at the beginning, especially if several local buses are nearby. Keep the route simple. Look for 513, confirm the direction toward Urca, and get off near UNIRIO.
Walking from UNIRIO to the cable car entrance
The final walk should usually begin from UNIRIO if you are using bus 513. From there, the official guidance gives the remaining distance as about 260 meters to Parque Bondinho. This is short, but it is still worth keeping Av. Pasteur, 520 visible on your map.
The approach should feel more visitor-focused as you get closer to Praia Vermelha and the cable car station. You are not looking for a hiking trail or a mountain path at this stage. You are looking for the official Parque Bondinho entrance area.
The most likely mistake is stopping too early or drifting toward nearby side streets because the mountain is visible. Stay with Av. Pasteur and the official entrance address. If the walking route starts pulling you away from the cable car entrance, stop and reset the destination as Parque Bondinho Pão de Açúcar, Av. Pasteur, 520.
The walk is not usually difficult, but it still deserves attention. The mountain is the landmark, but the entrance is the target.
Taxi and ride-hailing to Sugarloaf Mountain
A taxi or ride-hailing car is often the least confusing option, especially from the airport, from a hotel with luggage, or late in the day. Instead of managing BRT, metro, bus, and walking, you can go directly to the entrance area.
Use this destination:
Parque Bondinho Pão de Açúcar
Av. Pasteur, 520
Urca, Rio de Janeiro
Entering the official park name or the full address is better than entering only “Sugarloaf Mountain.” The mountain itself is large, while the visitor entrance is specific. You want to be dropped near the Parque Bondinho entrance area, not on a vague nearby road.
If the app route seems to circle back toward central Rio or stop far from Av. Pasteur, check the destination before continuing. For this attraction, a precise drop-off matters.
One important note: taxi and ride-hailing are different from self-driving. A car drop-off is useful, but driving yourself is less attractive because official park information does not present public parking as a simple visitor option. If you want a direct road route, a taxi or ride-hailing car is the cleaner choice.
Should you use a bus from somewhere else in Rio?
Bus can work from other parts of Rio, but it is less forgiving for a first visit. The useful bus detail in this route is not “take any bus toward Urca.” It is the specific connection from Botafogo to Urca using bus 513.
If your map shows a direct bus from your hotel or current location to the entrance area, it may be worth considering. But if you are unsure, use the easier structure:
metro to Botafogo
bus 513 to UNIRIO
walk to Av. Pasteur, 520
This reduces the number of local decisions. It also gives you a clear recovery point if something feels wrong.
What the final arrival should feel like
The final approach should feel different from the earlier city transport sections. You move from the normal rhythm of metro and bus travel into a more visitor-focused area near Praia Vermelha and Parque Bondinho.
Look for signs of a formal attraction entrance rather than a casual mountain path. The cable car visit starts through the official park entrance, so the route should begin to feel organized: visitors slowing down, people checking tickets, and movement narrowing toward the entrance area.
If you arrive by taxi or ride-hailing, the same idea applies. Do not get out simply because the mountain is visible. Stay with the official destination and step out close to Av. Pasteur, 520.
The final arrival is not about finding the mountain. It is about finding the cable car entrance.
If the route starts to feel wrong
If you are still in the city transport part of the trip, reset to Botafogo Station rather than Carioca. Botafogo is the useful handoff point for Sugarloaf because it connects you to bus 513 toward Urca.
If you are already in Urca, do not go back across the city just to reset. Use UNIRIO, Av. Pasteur, 520, or Parque Bondinho Pão de Açúcar as your map target. If you are tired, carrying bags, or arriving late, take a short taxi or ride-hailing trip directly to the entrance.
If you accidentally get off the bus too early, do not keep walking just because the mountain looks close. Check whether you are still moving toward Av. Pasteur, 520. A short correction is easy; a guessed walking route through the wrong side streets can waste time.
Which route should you choose?
Choose metro plus bus 513 if you want a public transport route with clear anchors. This is the best balance for many first-time visitors already in the city.
Choose taxi or ride-hailing if you want the least confusing route. This is especially sensible from Galeão Airport, after a long flight, in poor weather, late in the day, or with luggage.
Choose the airport BRT and metro route if you are comfortable with transfers and want to avoid relying entirely on road traffic. It can work, but it is not the simplest version of the trip.
Avoid trying to walk from central Rio. The route is too long and too complicated for a calm first visit. Let the metro and bus do the work, then save your energy for the actual visit.
FAQ
What is the best metro station for Sugarloaf Mountain?
Botafogo is the best metro anchor for most first-time visitors. From there, official access guidance sends visitors through exit E – Mena Barreto, then to bus 513 toward Urca.
Can I take the metro directly to the cable car entrance?
No. The metro gets you to Botafogo, but the cable car entrance is in Urca at Av. Pasteur, 520. You still need bus 513, taxi, ride-hailing, or another local connection.
Where should I get off the bus?
Get off at UNIRIO if you are following the official bus 513 route. From there, the remaining walk to Parque Bondinho is about 260 meters.
Is a taxi better from Galeão Airport?
Often, yes. The public transport route from GIG requires BRT and metro transfers before the Botafogo-to-Urca section. A taxi or ride-hailing car is simpler if you have luggage, children, or low energy after the flight.
Can I drive to Sugarloaf Mountain?
Self-driving is not the best first-choice plan. Taxi or ride-hailing is easier because you can be dropped near the entrance without worrying about parking.
Is the final walk difficult?
Usually not. The official final walk from UNIRIO is about 260 meters. The important point is to keep Av. Pasteur, 520 as your target rather than walking toward the mountain in a general way.
Sources checked
Parque Bondinho Pão de Açúcar – confirmed Av. Pasteur, 520 address, Botafogo exit E – Mena Barreto, bus 513 from Rua Voluntários da Pátria, UNIRIO drop-off, and 260m final walk – https://bondinho.com.br/en/todos-os-ingressos
Parque Bondinho Pão de Açúcar – confirmed official address Av. Pasteur, 520 – Urca and general ticket/visitor information – https://bondinho.com.br/en/comprar-ingresso
MetrôRio – confirmed Botafogo station access points including exit E – Mena Barreto and exit F – Voluntários da Pátria – https://www.metrorio.com.br/Estacoes?p_ponto=73
RIOgaleão – confirmed airport BRT route, Galeão Tom Jobim Station 1 and 2, Vicente de Carvalho integration with Metro Line 2, and BRT operating information – https://www.riogaleao.com/en/passengers/how-to-get-and-go/brt/
RIOgaleão – confirmed airport subway guidance, BRT + subway fare information, and Galeão Tom Jobim 2 reference – https://www.riogaleao.com/en/passengers/how-to-get-and-go/subway/
Last updated: June 2026
