The most enjoyable way to reach Niterói from Rio is by ferry from Praça XV in central Rio. Barcas ferries run every fifteen minutes and take about twenty minutes, with excellent views of the bay and the city skyline behind you. The fare is a few reals. Catamarans (barcas rápidas) make the crossing in ten minutes but offer less deck space.
By car, the Presidente Costa e Silva Bridge — known to everyone as the Ponte Rio-Niterói — carries over 150,000 vehicles a day across 13 km of open water. The drive takes under twenty minutes in light traffic; rush hours can triple that. The toll is charged entering Niterói.