Most people visiting Rio may merely glance over the bay to Niteroi from Sugar loaf or the Corcovado, unaware they are missing out on a great (cheap) way to see the full beauty of Rio from one viewpoint. Niteroi is Rio’s sister city and has grown with Rio as a fashionable place to live. Connected via a 15KM long Bridge – Ponte Presidente Costa da Silva – Niteroi is home to many of Rio’s wealthy office workers who commute into Rio’s polluted downtown area before heading off over the bridge to watch the sunset over Sugar loaf and Christ the Redeemer. Apart from the awesome views of Rio, Niteroi does have a few attractions worth visiting including Oscar Niemeyer’s Museum of Contemporary Art, Theatre and Convention centre, Forteleza da Santa Cruz and several colonial churches. Niteroi also has several beaches however none are worth visitng for anything other than to marvel at quite how disgusting man can be. The water is speckled multicoloured by pieces of plastic bobbing up and down amoungst the brown effluent.
How to travel Rio to Niteroi
By far the easiest way to travel from Rio to Niteroi is via the Niteroi ferry. This takes 30 minutes, costs only 2.85Rs (around £1) and gives you stunning views of Rio. The ferry leaves from Praca quinze do Novembro in Centro, about 10 minutes walk from the Metro station Carioca or Urugaiana – The ferry port is pretty much equidistant between the two. You could also travel there by Bus across the Ponte Niteroi, however this is a long way around and no-where near as scenic.
Niteroi ferry to Museum of Contemporary Art
When you arrive at the Ferry terminal in Niteroi, there is a tourist booth on your left hand side. They speak (a little) english here and hand out really nice maps free of charge. The bus to the Museum of Contemporary art is number 47B. To catch this bus, walk down the street to the right as you leave the ferry terminal, cross over the road at the first set of lights, then continue walking right and you’ll see a series of bus stops. The 47B to the MAC stops at the last one.