Holidays to Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro highlights
World famous landmark
The Christ the Redeemer statue presides over Rio’s skyline. To get up close to the landmark during your holiday to Rio de Janeiro, hop on the Corcovado Train for a 20-minute ride up the mountain (book online in advance to avoid queues). Or take a two-and-a-half-hour hike to the top through the Tijuca Forest National Park. Arrive early for fewer crowds, or time your visit with spectacular sunsets.
Beach culture
When booking flights and hotels to Rio de Janeiro, many choose to stay at the popular all-inclusive resorts lining Copacabana and Ipanema beaches. But be sure to stroll outside these tourist zones to feel the true spirit of the city by the sea. Join surfers catching dawn waves at Arpoador, and see kids balancing footballs in the air with games of ‘altinha’ at Leme Beach.
Outdoor adventures
Whether you ride the cable car to Sugarloaf Mountain or find serenity on forest hiking trails, holidays to Rio de Janeiro offer outdoor thrills to suit everyone. Paraglide over the city, or set sail at sunset for incredible views of the skyline. It’s fun to take the kids to Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, with its paddle boats on the lake and wide cycling paths. Pack your binoculars for birdwatching.
Watch our Rio de Janeiro travel guide
Discover what makes Rio de Janeiro special with our ultimate video guide. Find the best things to do, places to visit and local experiences for your next Rio de Janeiro vacation.
Rio de Janeiro: Know before you go
| Language | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Currency | Brazilian real (R$) |
| Time zone | UTC-3 (BRT) |
| High season | December – March |
| Low season | June – August |
Find the best time to go to Rio de Janeiro
Weather in Rio de Janeiro
March – May: Autumn is temperate and relatively relaxed in Rio,plusit’s a lovely time to explore Lage Park and the Botanical Garden. You’ll rarely need more than a T-shirt and shorts.
June – August: The start of the dry season brings cooler temperatures, though it hardly ever dips below 15°C. And even in winter, the water is balmy.
September – November: Spring temperatures rarely drop below 26°C. It can be humid, but it’s still a great time to hit the beaches or visit Tijuca National Park.
December – February: Summer peaks in February, averaging 30°C, but afternoon rains ease the heat. Be prepared for Carnival crowds and higher prices.
Events in Rio de Janeiro
Rio Carnival (February or March): Mardi Gras is about partying before you fast for Lent. And no city does it better than Rio. Join two million revellers as the streets fill with spectacle and samba music.
Festa Junina (June): Second in size to Carnival, this harvest festival has been celebrated since the 17th century. Locals indulge in their traditions, wearing rustic clothing and dancing to forró music.
Réveillon (December): New Year’s Eve celebrations are focused on Copacabana. Huge crowds gather at the beach for live performances, DJ sets and fireworks. Dress in white to invite peace and prosperity for the year to come.
The best neighbourhoods in Rio de Janeiro
Santa Teresa
If you’re deciding where to stay in Rio de Janeiro for cultural activities, look no further than bohemian Santa Teresa. The hilltop neighbourhood features art studios in the old mansions that line cobbled streets. Check the schedule for live concerts in Parque das Ruinas, or find boho cocktail bars near Largo dos Guimaraes square. This is also where you’ll catch the historic tram down to Centro.
Good for: Art galleries, bars, hillside views
Lapa
This former red-light district is the best neighbourhood to stay in Rio de Janeiro to be near samba bars and nightclubs. By day, discover the colourful street art that decorates heritage buildings, and take selfies on the tiled Selaron Steps. The 18th-century Carioca Aqueduct’s white arches are a popular meet-up point for bar-hopping.
Good for: Nightlife, samba, historical landmarks
Copacabana
World-famous Copacabana is a beach lover’s neighbourhood. You don’t even have to change out of your swimwear to dine at many of the local restaurants. Hire a Bike Rio share bike to cycle along the mosaic-tiled promenade. Visit the art deco Copacabana Palace hotel and take photos from the impressive Copacabana Fort.
Good for: Beach restaurants, biking, seaside promenade
Things to do in Rio de Janeiro
Family friendly things to do
Find great things to do with family in Rio de Janeiro in Ipanema and Leblon, where it’s easy to walk along the beachfront for shops and restaurants. Watch or join a capoeira class on family-friendly Leblon Beach. Take a ride on the VLT light rail to the Utopia Aquario stop to visit AquaRio. Wander wide-eyed through the aquarium’s tunnel with sharks and rays swimming overhead.
Shopping
Shopping in Rio de Janeiro is as easy as buying handmade jewellery and ornaments from vendors while you’re at the beach. Splurge on designer Brazilian brands in Ipanema along Rua Visconde de Piraja, or escape the heat in the air-conditioned Rio Design Leblon centre. Looking for bargains? Shop with the locals in Centro around Rua Buenos Aires and Rua Uruguaiana.
Take in the culture
Combine a stroll through the waterfront gardens of Flamengo Park with a visit to the Museum of Modern Art (MAM). See imperial coaches and a model of a colonial pharmacy at the National History Museum. Many museums in Rio de Janeiro offer free entry days. Check with venues before visiting as days can change.
Nightlife
Nightlife in Rio de Janeiro starts with spectacular sunsets at beachfront bars around Ipanema and Copacabana. Move on to bar-hopping in Lapa, where local favourite Casa da Cachaca has served sweet and spicy cachaca shots since the 1960s. Then it’s time to put your dancing shoes on for samba at Lapa 40 Graus or Rio Scenarium. For street parties, especially on big football game nights, join the student crowds in Baixo Gavea.
Places to eat
Eat ‘salgados’ (fried finger food) and chat with the locals at classic Rio eateries such as Copacabana’s Pavao Azul bar. Avant-garde Brazilian cuisine is on the menu at Michelin-starred Oro in Leblon. And if you can’t decide which restaurants in Rio de Janeiro to try first, Ipanema offers a little bit of everything. Choose between beach clubs, health food cafes and family-friendly restaurants where you can sample Brazil’s bean stew speciality, ‘feijoada’.
Beaches
The beaches in Rio de Janeiro are divided by 12 lifeguard stations called ‘postos’ and are often used as meeting places. Get panoramic shots of the coastline from the Fisherman’s Path near posto 1. At posto 12 is Baixo Bebe, a sandy playground with slides for children in Leblon. The beach bars and prime tourist zones extend from Copacabana at posto 2 to glamorous Ipanema at postos 8 and 9.
Get ready for Rio de Janeiro
Budget
For a cheap holiday in Rio de Janeiro, check out the neighbourhood restaurants. You can usually find a good dinner for as little as 40 Brazilian reais (R$) and a beer or a coffee for R$10. A short taxi ride costs R$20, but the metro and buses offer cheaper options. And be prepared to hear plenty of free music wherever you go.
Day Trips from Rio de Janeiro
Famed for its fish market and art museum, Rio’s sister city of Niterói is just a short bus ride over the bridge crossing Guanabara Bay. Enjoy the island life at car-free Ilha de Paquetá, whose peaceful, golden sands are an hour away by ferry. Surfers can hop a bus to Prainha, a tropical beach an hour west, renowned for its reef break.
Getting Around Rio de Janeiro
If you’re staying in Copacabana or Santa Teresa, it’s easy to walk or cycle to most attractions. Buy a prepaid card from stations to use the excellent transport system, including the VLT light rail. On the metro, the Orange Line services most of the tourist stops. Hail taxis on the street, or download apps including 99Taxis or Uber for more convenience.
