Getting There
Rio de Janeiro is served by two airports. Galeão International Airport (GIG) is your arrival point for all international flights and most long-distance domestic flights. Santos Dumont Airport (SDU) is exclusively for domestic flights, particularly the high-frequency shuttle services to São Paulo, Belo Horizonte, and Brasília. Coming from the US, you're landing at GIG — full stop.
Galeão International is located about 12 miles north of the city. From there, take a taxi or app-based rideshare (Uber works and is reliable) directly to your hotel. Traffic on the main highway linking the airport to the city can be brutal, especially in rush hour — budget 45 to 90 minutes depending on time of day.
For game day, the metro is your best friend. The Maracanã metro station on Line 2 (the Green Line toward Pavuna) is right next to the stadium — exit Access A and follow the pedestrian overpass straight to the gates. If you're staying in the Ipanema/Copacabana area, hop on Line 1 (Orange Line) at Ipanema/General Osório or Copacabana and transfer at Estácio to Line 2 — the whole ride is under 30 minutes. São Cristóvão station (one stop south on Line 2) is an alternative if you're approaching from the south side of the stadium. Skip driving. Parking around Maracanã on event days is a chaos tax you don't need.
Where to Stay
Don't book near the stadium. The Maracanã sits in the northern zone — historically the residential interior of Rio, far from the beaches and most of the city's restaurant and nightlife energy. You'll spend your whole trip commuting to fun. Instead, stay in the Zona Sul.
Ipanema is the sweet spot. It's cosmopolitan, walkable, and sits a stone's throw from some of the best restaurants in the city. Mid-range hotels run $120–$200/night; boutique options can climb toward $300. If you want a beach view without Copacabana's tourist-trap density, Ipanema is your answer.
Copacabana is louder, more touristy, and slightly cheaper — think $90–$160/night for solid 3-star hotels along the Avenida Atlântica strip. It's still great if you want that classic Rio postcard experience and don't mind the hustle. Both neighborhoods put you on Line 1 of the metro, making the stadium straightforward to reach.
Flamengo (the neighborhood, not just the football club) is a middle-ground option — central, quieter than the beach neighborhoods, and often $30–$40 cheaper per night with very convenient metro access.
Before the Game
The blocks immediately around Maracanã are not lined with great restaurants. The real pre-game energy happens in the streets around the stadium, not inside polished dining rooms. Go local.
Bar do Serafim — Right next to the stadium and beloved for exactly one reason: this is where you drink before a match. It's always crowded on match days, before and after. Traditional bar snacks like provolone milanese and frango à passarinho (crispy chicken pieces) are the stars, served with bottled beer and cold draft. Unpretentious, loud, quintessentially Rio. This is where NFL fans in jerseys will collide with passionate Brazilian football supporters.
Bar dos Chico's — This bar/restaurant is quite close to the Maracanã stadium and a popular stop prior to a match. On match days, there's often an active street party going on outside with supporters partying, singing, and waving flags. Cold beer, warm chaos — exactly what you want.
Bar do Bode Cheiroso — Nestled in the heart of Maracanã, it offers a vibrant atmosphere perfect for tourists looking to enjoy local flavors and a lively bar scene, and is known for its welcoming vibe and delicious snacks. Good for groups who want a table rather than just a sidewalk spot.
Cerveja Social Clube (Vila Isabel neighborhood) — If you want to upgrade before the walk to the metro, this craft beer spot in the adjacent Vila Isabel neighborhood draws a hipper crowd and has a solid selection of Brazilian microbrews. About a 10-minute Uber from the stadium.
Game Day Tips
The NFL will have its own event operations overlay here, but you should know how this stadium operates on a normal Brazilian event day, because most rules will carry over.
One of the most important things to know before going to Maracanã is that facial biometric registration is required for entry. The NFL will likely handle this through its ticketing system, but don't show up expecting to flash a paper ticket from a scalper outside and waltz in.
Seats at Maracanã are not fixed. When you buy a ticket, you are usually purchasing access to a specific sector of the stadium, not an individually assigned seat. Once inside that sector, you can choose your seat from the available places. Arriving earlier can help you find better spots within your section, especially for high-demand matches. The NFL may change this for their event — check your ticket carefully — but don't assume assigned seating works the way it does in the US.
Arrive at least an hour before kickoff to fully enjoy the atmosphere and avoid the last-minute rush. This gives you enough time to go through entry procedures calmly.
Alcohol is sold inside the stadium at Brazilian football matches (this differs from many international stadiums), and the beer flows freely. Cash and card are generally both accepted, but carry some Brazilian reais (BRL) for street vendors and bars outside. The NFL may implement a different payment system inside the gates — check official event communications closer to game day.
The heat is not optional. Rio in most months is genuinely hot and humid. Bring a small, clear bag (standard security requirement at large events), sunscreen, and water. The upper tier gets sun exposure on one side.
Exploring the City
Cristo Redentor and Corcovado Mountain — Yes, everyone goes. Go anyway. Book the cogwheel train from Cosme Velho station in advance, not the van tours. The view from the top is legitimately one of the great panoramas on Earth, and you'll have the vantage point of the entire city including Maracanã, the bay, and the coast all at once.
Ipanema and Leblon Beach — Don't just walk past. Rent a beach chair, order a mate tea from the passing vendor, and understand why Cariocas don't feel the need to leave. The stretch between Posto 9 and Posto 10 in Ipanema is the social heart of the beach. Sunday afternoons here are genuinely magical.
Santa Teresa and Lapa — Santa Teresa is a hilltop bohemian neighborhood with cobblestone streets, colonial houses converted into bars and art galleries, and the best night views of the city. Below it, Lapa is Rio's gritty samba district — the arches are iconic, the nightlife around Rua do Lavradio and the live samba clubs gets going after midnight. Not for early bedtimes.
Quinta da Boa Vista and the São Cristóvão neighborhood — If you're heading to the stadium early, this imperial park right next to the northern zone is worth a detour. The former imperial palace now houses the Natural History Museum, and the sprawling park on a weekend morning is pure Rio neighborhood life — families, food vendors, kids on bikes. Nothing curated for tourists.