Porto Alegre Getting There & Away

Getting There & Away

By plane Porto Alegre's international airport is Salgado Filho (POA), located 4.3 miles (7km) from downtown. It's served by all major brazilian airlines (VARIG, TAM, GOL, BRA, Webjet) and some foreign ones (AEROLINEAS ARGENTINAS, OCEANAIR, PLUNA, UAIR). There is a train station (known as trensurb by locals) and bus stops near the airport. However, it is recommended to take a cab ("taxi" for locals) in order to leave the airport, because the nearby trensurb station is not exactly close to the airport facility and the available buses don't take you downtown and the cab rides are not very expensive. The airport facility is somewhat modern (it has been built near 2001) and it has a shopping-like structure, with restaurants, shops and even movie theaters. Aeroporto de Porto Alegre (in portuguese). By car Porto Alegre is served by two major highways: BR-116, crossing it North-South and BR-290, crossing it East-West. The first can be used to visit destinations like Gramado and Canela (both North); the latter gives access to/from Rio Grande do Sul's litoral (East) and to/from Argentina (West). Be advised that some of these roads are dangerous, for they have poor signaling/conditions and lots of trucks. Keep your travels by car on these roads to the duplicated ones and, if possible, during the day. By bus The long distance bus station ("rodoviária") is located downtown and is served by several national and international lines (UNESUL, TTL, EGA, PLUMA, FLECHABUS, CHILEBUS). It is also connected to a trensurb station and several municipal bus lines.