How to Get to Maceió by Plane, Car or Bus

Maceió welcomes visitors by three routes: plane, car and bus. The choice depends on distance, the time you have and how many people are traveling. Below is what to consider in each case and where to head after you arrive.

By plane

The gateway for most tourists is Maceió Zumbi dos Palmares International Airport (IATA code MCZ). Despite its name, it’s in the neighboring municipality of Rio Largo. According to the operator AENA, the terminal is about 22 km from central Maceió.

The airport receives regular domestic flights from several state capitals and, in some seasons, international flights. Routes change with the season, so research in advance and compare nearby dates.

After landing, you have four ways to get into the city: taxi, the bus that leaves from in front of the terminal, a rental car or a ride-hailing app. The details are in the Maceió airport guide.

By car

Driving makes sense if you’re coming from nearby state capitals or want to explore the Alagoas coast freely.

Main highways

• BR-101: the north–south axis of the Northeastern coast. It links Alagoas to Pernambuco (to the north) and Sergipe (to the south). Drivers from Recife, João Pessoa, Natal, Aracaju or Salvador use this highway for most of the journey.
• BR-316: a federal highway linking Maceió to the interior of Alagoas and continuing toward the Sertão and other states.
• AL-101: a state highway that follows the coast. The northern stretch leads to the beaches north of the capital, and the southern stretch to beaches such as those of the Alagoas south coast.

Distances

We don’t publish exact distances because we didn’t find an up-to-date official table of distances between capitals. Use a maps app with your starting point and check the estimated time on the day you travel.

Road tips

• Plan to stop during the day and avoid driving tired at night on single-lane stretches.
• Check for roadworks or closures in bulletins from the highway concessionaires and traffic authorities.
• On arrival, traffic in the capital slows at morning and late-afternoon peak times.

With a car, you gain flexibility for day trips to beaches on the north coast and south coast. On the city waterfront, however, parking near the beach can be difficult at weekends.

By bus

Intercity and interstate buses arrive at the João Paulo II Bus Terminal, in the Feitosa neighborhood. The bus station isn’t on the waterfront: from there to Pajuçara, Ponta Verde or Jatiúca you need a city bus, taxi or ride-hailing app.

The bus is an option if you’re coming from towns in the interior of Alagoas or from neighboring capitals. For long journeys, compare the travel time with a flight, which may be worth it even if it costs a little more.

Coming from abroad

International visitors usually reach Maceió with a connection at a major Brazilian airport, such as São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, Recife or Salvador. In some seasons there are direct international flights to Maceió airport. When planning your itinerary, allow plenty of time for the connection, especially if your first entry into Brazil requires going through immigration and customs before the domestic flight.

How much time to allow for arrival

Whatever your means of transport, count your arrival day as half a day of travel. Between landing, baggage, the trip to the waterfront and check-in, time goes quickly. Plan something light for that day, such as a walk along the promenade, and leave the natural pools and long outings for the following days, always checking the tide.

Comparing the options

After you arrive

Once you’ve arrived, see getting around Maceió and choose where to stay in where to stay in Maceió. If you’re still at the start of your planning, go back to the step-by-step trip planner.