Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek International Airport

Brasília International Airport "Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek" (BSB) serves Brasília, Brazil's planned capital city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The airport is located 11 km from the city center and is Brazil's third-busiest airport.

The airport has two terminals:

• Terminal 1: Domestic flights (LATAM, Gol, Azul)
• Terminal 2: Mix of domestic and limited international

Both terminals are connected and offer modern facilities following recent renovations.

Key airlines: LATAM (largest), Gol, Azul, Copa, TAP Portugal, and various domestic carriers.

BSB is close to the planned city center:

• To Plano Piloto (city center): 11 km, 15-25 minutes
• To Asa Sul/Asa Norte: 10-15 km, 15-30 minutes
• To Lake Paranoá: 15 km, 20-30 minutes

Traffic is generally manageable compared to other Brazilian cities.

Uber and 99 (local rideshare) operate at BSB.

• To city center: BRL 35-50 (~$7-10 USD)
• To Asa Sul hotels: BRL 30-45
• To Congress/Esplanade: BRL 35-50

Taxis available from the rank outside arrivals:

• Typically 30-50% more expensive than rideshare
• Fixed rates posted at taxi stand

Rideshare pickup is at the ground level designated area.

Executive Bus (Airport Bus Service)

Route: Airport → Rodoviária (Central Bus Station)

• Journey time: 30-40 minutes
• Cost: BRL 12 (~$2.50)
• Frequency: Every 30 minutes (less frequent evenings)
• Hours: 06:00-23:00

Metro Connection

Brasília's metro does not directly serve the airport. However, from the Rodoviária, you can connect to the metro system to reach other parts of the city.

1. Take airport bus to Rodoviária
2. Connect to metro (Green or Orange line)
3. Metro runs 06:00-23:30 (closed Sundays)

Type	Daily Rate	Notes
Express	BRL 40/day	Terminal adjacent
Covered	BRL 30/day	Short walk
Uncovered	BRL 20/day	Shuttle available

Book online at bsb.aero for discounts.

BSB has good dining options for a Brazilian airport:

Terminal 1 (Airside):

• Arábia: Middle Eastern food (good quality)
• Viena: Brazilian snacks and meals
• Spoleto: Made-to-order pasta
• Starbucks
• Various fast-food options

Try: Pão de queijo (cheese bread)—a Brasília/Minas Gerais specialty available throughout the airport.

Network: BSB Free WiFi

• Cost: Free (registration required)
• Speed: Good for browsing and video calls
• Connect via SMS verification

SIM cards available from:

• Vivo, Claro, and TIM stores in arrivals
• Prices: BRL 30-50 (~$6-10) for prepaid with data

CPF (Brazilian tax ID) may be requested; tourists can usually purchase with passport.

ATMs throughout both terminals:

• Banco do Brasil
• Bradesco
• Itaú
• 24-hour ATMs available

Currency: Brazilian Real (BRL). Approximate rate: 5 BRL = 1 USD.

Currency exchange: Available in arrivals but with poor rates. ATMs offer better exchange rates.

Tip: Brazilian ATMs often have daily withdrawal limits (BRL 1,000-1,500).

Airside shops include:

• Duty-free (limited selection)
• Havaianas: Iconic Brazilian flip-flops
• Local handicrafts
• Brazilian coffee and cachaça

LATAM VIP Lounge

• Location: Terminal 1, domestic departures
• Access: LATAM Business, LATAM Pass Black/Platinum
• Amenities: Food, drinks, WiFi, showers

GOL Premium Lounge

• Location: Terminal 1
• Access: Gol Smiles Diamond, business class

Plaza Premium Lounge

• Location: International area
• Access: Priority Pass, various cards, or ~BRL 180 walk-in
• Amenities: Hot food, drinks, WiFi

Hotels near BSB airport are limited. Most visitors stay in Asa Norte, Asa Sul, or the hotel sectors of Plano Piloto.

Brasília is a modernist architectural marvel, purpose-built as Brazil's capital in the 1960s:

Top attractions (with travel time from airport):

• Congress National & Esplanade of Ministries: 20 min—Oscar Niemeyer's iconic government buildings
• Cathedral of Brasília: 20 min—striking crown-shaped structure with stunning stained glass
• Palácio da Alvorada: 25 min—Presidential residence (exterior only)
• Memorial JK: 20 min—museum honoring the president who built Brasília
• TV Tower: 15 min—observation deck with panoramic city views
• Pontão do Lago Sul: 25 min—lakeside dining and nightlife

Architectural tour must-sees:

• The city's famous airplane-shaped layout is visible from above
• Superquadras (residential blocks) showcase Niemeyer's urban planning
• Itamaraty Palace (Foreign Ministry) has beautiful reflecting pools

Food & drink:

• Brasília has excellent restaurants due to its political/diplomatic community
• Feira da Torre: Sunday market near TV Tower with local food
• Pontão do Lago Sul: Best area for waterfront dining
• Try regional dishes from all over Brazil—Brasília attracts migrants from every state

Local tips:

• The city was designed for cars, not pedestrians—rent a car or use rideshare
• Everything closes for lunch (12:00-14:00), including government buildings
• Weekend: Many locals leave the city; it can feel quiet Friday-Sunday
• Best weather is May-September (dry season); rainy season is October-March
• Brasília is notably egalitarian—less of the extreme wealth disparity visible in other Brazilian cities
• The city is very safe by Brazilian standards, especially in the Plano Piloto