Brazil ☁️ 30°C · Now
★ Best Time Now Rio de Janeiro
Brazil
Rio de Janeiro at a glance
$80+
Budget tier · excl. flights
From major hubs
GIG
Visa-free 90 days
For most Western passports
$1 ≈ ¥150
JPY · ECB rate
Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov
Now is ideal!
Tropical
Now ☁️ 30°C
23:47
BRT (UTC-3)
Portuguese
English in tourism areas
Why visit Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro is Brazil's iconic coastal city — 6.7 million people. Christ the Redeemer (New 7 Wonders of the World, 1931, 38m statue), Sugarloaf Mountain cable car (1912), Copacabana + Ipanema beaches, Carnival (world's largest, February — 2 million daily attendees), and the canonical 'mountain meets ocean meets city' photo. UNESCO Cultural Landscape (2012). South America's most-visited city.
Iconic Brazilian dishes: Feijoada (national dish, black bean + meat stew, $15-25), Picanha (Brazilian steak, $20-40), Açaí bowl ($5-10), Pão de queijo (cheese bread, $1-3), Caipirinha (national cocktail, $5-10), Brazilian BBQ (rodízio all-you-can-eat $30-60).
Bottom line: Rio is South America's iconic city. 3-4 days hits the bucket list. Visit Carnival (February) for once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Things to do in Rio de Janeiro
Iconic Sights
Christ the Redeemer
38m statue 1931. Corcovado train + transfer.
Sugarloaf Mountain Cable Car
1912 cable car to 396m peak.
Copacabana + Ipanema Beaches
Iconic 4km Copacabana + Ipanema (Garota de Ipanema cafe).
Travel cost
Per person, per day (excludes flights)
Hostel + local food + public transport
$80
≈ ¥12,000 JPY
Per person / day (excl. flights)
📅 Total cost by trip duration (incl. flights)
3 days
$320
≈ ¥48,000
5 days
$480
≈ ¥72,000
7 days
$640
≈ ¥96,000
Flight estimate: $600-1,400 (GIG direct via LATAM + AA + BA) (round-trip estimate)
Monthly weather
Currently in Rio de Janeiro: ☁️ 30°C
Rio de Janeiro now (May)
High 25°C / Low 19°C· Pleasant★ Best Time
Jan 🔥
High 30°C / Low 23°C
Hot
Feb 🔥
High 30°C / Low 23°C
Hot
Mar ☀️
High 29°C / Low 23°C
Hot
Apr ☀️
High 27°C / Low 21°C
Pleasant
★ Best time to visit
May ☀️
High 25°C / Low 19°C
Pleasant
★ Best time to visit
Jun ☀️
High 25°C / Low 18°C
Pleasant
Jul 🌤️
High 24°C / Low 18°C
Pleasant
Aug ☀️
High 25°C / Low 18°C
Pleasant
Sep ☀️
High 25°C / Low 19°C
Pleasant
★ Best time to visit
Oct ☀️
High 26°C / Low 20°C
Pleasant
★ Best time to visit
Nov ☀️
High 28°C / Low 22°C
Hot
★ Best time to visit
Dec ☀️
High 29°C / Low 22°C
Hot
Jan
🔥
30°
23°
Hot
Feb
🔥
30°
23°
Hot
Mar
☀️
29°
23°
Hot
Apr
☀️
27°
21°
Pleasant
★Best
May
☀️
25°
19°
Pleasant
★Best
Jun
☀️
25°
18°
Pleasant
Jul
🌤️
24°
18°
Pleasant
Aug
☀️
25°
18°
Pleasant
Sep
☀️
25°
19°
Pleasant
★Best
Oct
☀️
26°
20°
Pleasant
★Best
Nov
☀️
28°
22°
Hot
★Best
Dec
☀️
29°
22°
Hot
Practical information
Getting there
Getting around
Money & payments
Language
Cultural tips
Money & payment
Currency
Brazilian Real (BRL, R$).
Card acceptance
Card-friendly tourism.
Tipping
10% restaurants. Service often included.
ATM
Brazilian banks free for foreign cards.
Recommended itinerary
Rio de Janeiro 3-day route
Day 1 Christ the Redeemer + Beach
08:00
Christ the Redeemer (Corcovado Train)
38m statue 1931; train + transfer; pre-book mandatory $35
🎫 12% off — Book lowest price11:30
Lunch at Confeitaria Colombo (Centro)
Iconic 1894 Belle Époque cafe + brunch
14:00
Copacabana Beach + Posto 6
Iconic 4km beach; caipirinha at beach kiosk
17:30
Sugarloaf Mountain cable car (sunset)
1912 cable car to 396m peak
🎫 16% off — Book lowest price20:00
Dinner at Aprazível (Santa Teresa)
Bohemian hilltop restaurant with city view $40-60
Day 2 Ipanema + Lapa
10:00
Ipanema Beach + Garota de Ipanema cafe
Beach + cafe where 'Girl from Ipanema' was written
13:00
Lunch at Cervantes (Copacabana)
Iconic 24-hour sandwich shop + draft beer
15:00
Selarón Steps + Lapa Arches
Iconic mosaic-tile staircase by Jorge Selarón; free
17:00
Santa Teresa tram + Bohemian district
Cobblestone streets + art galleries
21:00
Samba night at Rio Scenarium (Lapa)
Iconic samba club; live music + dancing
Day 3 Maracanã + Day Trip
10:00
Maracanã Stadium tour
World's largest stadium 1950 World Cup final; $20
13:00
Lunch at Aconchego Carioca (Tijuca)
Brazilian comfort food + craft beer
15:00
Tijuca National Park + Vista Chinesa
World's largest urban forest + Chinese-roofed lookout
20:00
Final dinner at Aprazível or Mocoto
Brazilian fine dining
Where to stay
Click each district to compare hotel deals
Copacabana
Iconic 4km beach + hotel district. Most touristy + central.
See hotels in this area
Ipanema
Trendier beach with sophisticated restaurants + boutiques.
See hotels in this area
Leblon
Upmarket residential west of Ipanema. Quieter beach.
See hotels in this area
Santa Teresa
Bohemian hilltop district with cobblestone streets + tram.
See hotels in this area
Lapa
Nightlife + samba music district. Lapa Arches + Selarón Steps.
See hotels in this area
Centro (Downtown)
Business district + colonial architecture. Daytime visit only.
See hotels in this area
Rio de Janeiro hotel price comparison
Compare Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com prices in one place
* Centered on Copacabana — the most hotel-dense area in Rio de Janeiro
Top tours & activities in Rio de Janeiro
Top-rated by travelers
Frequently asked questions
Most common questions from travelers to Rio de Janeiro
Q How much per day?
Budget $80, mid $180, luxury $480+.
Q How many days?
3-4 days. Christ Redeemer + Sugarloaf + beaches + Lapa nightlife.
Q Best time?
Apr-May + Sep-Nov (comfortable + uncrowded). February Carnival for once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Q Visa?
Visa-free 90 days for US/UK/EU/JP/KR/AU/NZ.
Q Safety?
Tourist core (Copacabana + Ipanema + Leblon) safe day. Use Uber after dark. Avoid favelas independently.
Q English?
In tourism areas. Outside, Portuguese only.
Q Famous food?
Feijoada, Picanha, Açaí, Pão de queijo, Caipirinha, Brazilian BBQ rodízio.
Q Carnival?
World's largest party. February. 2 million daily attendees. Hotels triple price; book 6+ months ahead.
TripPick
Data-driven travel guide
Weather and exchange rates on this page are fetched live from external APIs; cost and itinerary data are verified periodically against local sources.
Weather
Open-Meteo API
Exchange
ECB rates
Costs
Local price data
Itineraries
Traveler reviews
Book your Rio de Janeiro trip
Compare flights, hotels, and tours all in one place
Prices via Skyscanner, Booking.com, GetYourGuide