Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Not far from here, the “world's most beautiful street” is a stretch, but the
Rua Gonçalo
de Carvalho
is pleasant nonetheless, shaded by giant
tipuana tipu
trees.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
9
PORTO ALEGRE
of most of the
centro histórico
. After dark it's safer, and easier,
to ride the metro to the Mercado Público or take a taxi (around
R$7;
T
51 3221 9371). Local buses also stop constantly just
outside the bus station, most going to the Mercado Público
(#429, #436, #491, #493 and #495 for example). Inside the
rodoviária are plenty of cheap places to eat and even a couple
of ATMs, though English-speakers are rare at the tourist
information centre here. Left luggage is R$5/day.
Destinations
Canela (hourly; 2hr); Curitiba (8 daily; 11hr);
Buenos Aires (1 daily; 18hr); Florianópolis (14 daily;
7-8hr); Foz do Iguaçu (8 daily; 14-16hr); Gramado (hourly;
2hr); Laguna (5 daily; 7hr); Montevideo (1 daily; 11hr);
Pelotas (hourly; 3hr); Rio de Janeiro (1-2 daily; 24-25hr);
Rio Grande (hourly; 4.5hr); Santo Ângelo (13 daily; 6-7hr);
São Paulo (4 daily; 18hr).
BY PLANE
The
Aeroporto Internacional Salgado Filho (
T
51 3358
2000) is just 6km northeast of downtown Porto Alegre on
Av Severo Dulius. The terminal contains several car rental
desks, ATMs that may work and a fairly helpful tourist
information desk (daily 8am-10pm;
T
0800 517 686).
By taxi/metro to the city centre
Taxis (meter starts at
R$4.22) cost around R$20 to Moinhos de Ventos and around
R$25 into the old centre; you can also take the metro from
the Estação Aeroporto into the city (5am-11.20pm; R$1.70)
in just 10min (the Mercado station).
BY BUS
The rodoviária (
T
51 3210 0101) is northeast of the centre at
Largo Vespasiano Júlio Veppo 11, but within walking distance
GETTING AROUND
By metro (Trensurb)
Links the Mercado Público all the
way to Novo Hamburgo (daily 5am-11.20pm; R$1.70;
W
trensurb.gov.br), but its use for visitors is limited to the
connection between the bus station, airport and Mercado
Público. Buy tickets at the counter at any station.
By bus
Public buses are more useful, with most of
them charging a flat R$2.80; you pay the ticket collector
when you get on the bus (correct change is appreciated
but not required).
By taxi
Taxi meters begin at R$4.22, drivers are honest
and taxis easy to flag down in the centre (
T
51 3342 5000).
By boat
There is a CatSul commuter ferry across to
Guaíba town and back (20min one-way; R$7.30;
W
travessiapoaguaiba.com.br) from the terminal near the
Mercado (Armazém B3, Av Mauá). Ferries run hourly
(Mon-Fri 7am-8pm; Sat 8am-8pm; Sun 9am-8pm).
By bicycle
Porto Alegre has a rental bike scheme dubbed
Bike POA (6am-10pm;
T
51 4063 6299,
W
movesamba
.com). Paying an upfront fee of R$5 allows you to ride bikes
for up to 1hr free within a 24hr period; over 1hr you'll be
charged an additional R$5 per hour. Automated rental
stations (you'll need a credit card) are spread all over the city.
INFORMATION AND TOURS
Tourist information
The local Secretaria Municipal de
Turismo
(
W
portoalegre.travel) has very helpful branches
at the airport (see above), rodoviária (7am-10pm), the
Centro Cultural Usina do Gasômetro (Tues-Sun 9am-6pm;
T
0800 517 686) and at the Mercado Público (Store 99,
Ground Floor; Mon-Sat 9am-6pm; also
T
0800 517 686).
The main municipal o
ce is in the city centre at Travessa do
Carmo 84, Cidade Baixa (Mon 8am-noon & 1.30-6pm,
Tues-Sun 8am-6pm;
T
51 3289 0176).
Boat tours
Excursions (1hr 30min) on the Rio Guaíba with
Barco Cisne Branco leave from the tour-boat berth (Cais do
Porto) on Av Mauá 1050, near the metro station (Tues-Fri
10.30am, 3pm & 4.30pm, Sat & Sun also 6pm; R$25;
T
51 3224 5222,
W
barcocisnebranco.com.br). There are
FUTEBOL PORTO ALEGRE
Porto Alegre is home to two fiercely competitive football teams in Série A (Brazil's premier
league):
Grêmio
(
W
gremio.net),
who play at Arena do Grêmio (
W
arenapoa.com.br) north of
the centre; and
Sport Club Internacional
, who play at the Estadio Beira-Rio, south of the
city - this latter stadium is where World Cup 2014 matches took place. Both teams have been
the launching pad for world-class players such as
Ronaldinho
(who was born in Porto
Alegre),
Alexandre Pato
,
Falcão
and
Luiz Felipe Scolari
, who managed Grêmio in the
1990s. The annual derby between the two teams - dubbed the “Gre-Nal” - is one of the
biggest games in Brazil. Taxis to the Estadio Beira-Rio should be around R$20 from the bus
station, and R$40 from airport. Tickets usually cost from R$30-120; buy tickets at the stadium
box o
ce on the day, or ask your hotel.
