Your guide to transport and accommodation for Web Summit Rio

To help you prepare for Web Summit Rio in May, here’s a guide about travelling to Rio de Janeiro for our event, securing accommodation in the city, and getting to the Web Summit Rio venue.

Web Summit Rio will soon take over beautiful Rio de Janeiro, with 100-plus hours of talks, masterclasses and networking sessions for attendees from all over the world to enjoy.

The three-day event gives attendees the chance to mix with tech giants, leading entrepreneurs and cultural icons, and to learn from the people at the forefront of the tech industry and of society at large.

Want to have the best experience possible? Here’s everything you need to know about getting to Rio de Janeiro and to the event.

When and where is Web Summit Rio?

Web Summit Rio takes place from May 1-4, 2023, at Riocentro in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Travelling to Brazil for Web Summit Rio

Which airport should I fly to?

Most flights to Rio de Janeiro from outside of Brazil arrive at RIOgaleão – Tom Jobim International Airport, which is roughly 20 kilometers from the city center.

Flights from budget and domestic airlines within Brazil will likely arrive at Santos Dumont Airport, located just two kilometers from the center of Rio.

I need a visa to enter Brazil. Can you issue a letter confirming my attendance at Web Summit Rio?

If you need a visa to enter Brazil, we can support your application by issuing an invitation letter that confirms your planned attendance at this May’s event. This letter outlines the basic details about Web Summit Rio, and is signed by a representative of the company.

You can request a letter by signing into your Web Summit Rio attendee profile using your ticket reference. This can be found in the confirmation email sent to the address linked to your ticket.

Once you’ve signed into your profile, click on your profile picture in the top right corner. Click ‘Request invitation letter’ from the drop-down menu. You will be prompted to fill in your information, including your passport number and date of birth. Click ‘Apply’ to save your details. It’s that simple.

The invitation letter will then be sent to the email address associated with your ticket.

You can only apply for your invitation letter once and we are unable to make any corrections, so please ensure that all personal details are correct before clicking ‘Apply’.

You can only apply for your own invitation letter. If you have multiple tickets under one booking, or are managing a group booking, each ticket holder must request their own letter.

Please note: It is your sole responsibility to take care of visa requirements. If you require an entry visa to attend, volunteer or exhibit at Web Summit Rio, you must allow sufficient time for the visa application procedure. Visa processing times can be lengthy, so we advise starting your visa application well in advance of your travel date.

Securing accommodation for Web Summit Rio

Can I book accommodation with Web Summit Rio?

You are responsible for organizing your own accommodation for the duration of the event.

To help attendees find the best place to stay – at the best rates – Web Summit Rio has partnered with bnetwork. You can use bnetwork to explore accommodation all over the city, filtering options by traveller rating, frequently booked options, and more.

Getting to the Web Summit Rio venue

We recommend that attendees using public transport remain vigilant against pickpockets at all times.

How do I get to Riocentro by metro?

The metro service is a good way to navigate Rio de Janeiro. You can buy a RIOCARD upon arrival at either of the city’s airports, or you can get one from any metro or tram (VLT) station in the city’s transport network.

You can get to Riocentro from downtown Rio de Janeiro on the L1/L4 Metro line, stopping at Jardim Oceânico station. Once there, take the BRT 50 bus to Terminal Olímpico, cross the tunnel to Morro do Outeiro station and take the BRT 51 bus to Riocentro.

Travelling to Riocentro on the Metro can take more than 90 minutes, depending on transit times.

You can use the Metro Rio website to plan your route to Riocentro or the city’s tourist spots.

How do I get to Riocentro by bus?

We advise attendees travelling by bus to use the BRT system where possible. There is a BRT stop at the venue, which connects attendees to Rio de Janeiro city center, the Metro system, and on to RIOgaleão – Tom Jobim Airport.

How do I get to Riocentro by taxi?

You can book and hail taxis using the city’s official Taxi.Rio app.

A number of other ride-hailing apps are also in operation in the city, and you can always flag down one of the many registered taxis on the streets.

Can I drive to Web Summit Rio?

Yes. There is a parking facility at Riocentro that Web Summit Rio attendees can use. This facility is operated by Riocentro and is not affiliated with or operated by the Web Summit Rio team. Attendees must pay a fee to use the parking facility. For more information, visit the Riocentro website.

How do I get to Night Summit using public transport?

We would not recommend using public transport to travel to Night Summit events, as travel times from Riocentro are typically between 90 minutes and two hours. A taxi trip should take only 30 or 40 minutes.

However, if you would prefer to travel using public transport, you can follow these routes.

May 1: Riocentro

You can get to Riocentro from downtown Rio de Janeiro on the L1/L4 Metro line, stopping at Jardim Oceânico station. Once there, take the BRT 50 bus to Terminal Olímpico, cross the tunnel to Morro do Outeiro station and take the BRT 51 bus to Riocentro.

Travelling to Riocentro this way can take more than 90 minutes, depending on transit times.

May 2: The Rock Bar @ ExC

You can get from Riocentro to Night Summit at the Rock Bar @ ExC by taking a taxi to Morro do Outeiro, then catching the BRT 50 (Terminal Olímpico) bus as far as Jardim Oceânico’s Metro station. From there, take the L1/L4 line as far as Antero de Quental.

If you’re travelling to the Rock Bar @ ExC from downtown Rio de Janeiro, take the L1/L4 line as far as Antero de Quental.

From Antero de Quental, it’s 1.6 kilometers to the Rock Bar, so we recommend ordering a city taxi to take you the rest of the way.

Travelling to the Rock Bar @ ExC this way can take more than 90 minutes, depending on transit times.

May 3: Rio Scenarium

You can get from Riocentro to Rio Scenarium by taking a taxi to Morro do Outeiro, then catching the BRT 50 (Terminal Olímpico) bus as far as Jardim Oceânico’s Metro station. From there, take the L1/L4 line as far as Carioca / Centro. From the station, it’s 650 meters to Rio Scenarium.

Travelling to Rio Scenarium this way can take up to two hours, depending on transit times.

If you are travelling to Rio Scenarium for Night Summit from downtown Rio de Janeiro, the venue is easily accessible from most central locations by walking or in a city taxi.

Make sure that you download the event mobile app before May 1, 2023. The more prepared you are, the better your Web Summit Rio experience will be – and the less you’ll miss!

Main image of two trams passing through the Santa Teresa district of Rio de Janeiro: SvetlanaTestova/Shutterstock