Ferry to Niterói and Paquetá

The ferries (barcas) that leave from Praça XV, downtown, cross Guanabara Bay to Niterói and to Paquetá Island. As well as transport, the crossing is a sightseeing trip in itself, with views of the bay, its islands and Sugarloaf Mountain in the distance.

Who runs it

Since February 12, 2025, waterborne transport in the state of Rio has been operated by the Barcas Rio consortium, which replaced CCR Barcas, according to Wikipedia. In its first year, the consortium carried 13.5 million passengers.

Niterói: Niemeyer’s MAC

Across the bay, the Niterói Contemporary Art Museum (MAC), designed by Oscar Niemeyer and opened on September 2, 1996, is the city’s postcard image, according to Wikipedia. It stands on the Boa Viagem lookout, with panoramic views of the bay and Rio. Its collection holds 1,217 works from the João Sattamini Collection.

Paquetá: the car-free island

Paquetá Island is a neighborhood of Rio itself, with no car traffic, old mansions, baobab trees and Moreninha beach. A regular ferry line to the island has run since 1838, according to Wikipedia.

Before boarding

The station is on Praça XV, next to the Paço Imperial. From the square you can also see Ilha Fiscal.