Rio de Janeiro travel guide
Rio de Janeiro Tourism | Rio de Janeiro Guide
You're Going to Love Rio de Janeiro
With a population of 6.02 million, Rio de Janeiro is the largest city in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil by the number of inhabitants. It is the most popular tourist destination in the country. We recommend you stay at least 4 days in order to fully appreciate everything Rio de Janeiro has to offer.
Activities & attractions in Rio de Janeiro
Tours
Food, Drinks, & Nightlife
Other activities
When to visit Rio de Janeiro
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Rio de Janeiro in February, when the average temperature is 82.4 °F, and the highest can go up to 91.4 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is June, when it can get as cold as 64.4 °F, with an average temperature of 69.8 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in January, when precipitation is around 5.1″. In contrast, July is usually the driest month of the year in Rio de Janeiro, with an average rainfall of 1.6″.
How to Get to Rio de Janeiro
Plane
Rio de Janeiro is served by 2 airports: Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont (SDU) and Rio de Janeiro-Galeao Airport (GIG). The closest to downtown Rio de Janeiro is Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont, which is located 1 mile from the city center. Further away is Rio de Janeiro-Galeao Airport, 8 miles from the center of Rio de Janeiro. The shortest flight to Rio de Janeiro from the United States departs from Orlando and takes around 11h 36m.
Car
Another option to get to Rio de Janeiro is to pick up a car rental from São José dos Campos, which is about 174 miles from Rio de Janeiro. You’ll find branches of Unidas and Localiza, among others, in São José dos Campos.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Rio de Janeiro, including Viação Penha, Expresso Adamantina and Águia Flex. From São José dos Campos, the bus ride to Rio de Janeiro takes 330 miles and will cost you around $18. From Sao Paulo, the ticket costs about $24 for a journey of 345 miles. The most popular bus station is Rio de Janeiro Rodoviária Novo Rio, located 1.7 miles from downtown Rio de Janeiro. Rio de Janeiro Afonso Pena is also a commonly used station, and is 2 miles from the city center.
Airlines serving Rio de Janeiro
Where to stay in Rio de Janeiro
From 5-star hotels such as the Santa Teresa Hotel RJ - MGallery to great affordable options like the Hotel Nacional Inn Rio Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $53 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $159 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Ibis Budget Rio de Janeiro Centro and Pousada Estrelas da Babilonia. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Rio de Janeiro, with prices from $13 to $564 per night. Zona Sul is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Rio de Janeiro are about 36% cheaper than a hotel room in the city.
Copacabana - In Rio de Janeiro’s most popular neighborhood to stay, recommended hotels include Selina Copacabana, Rio Design Copacabana Hotel and Hotel Canadá.
Ipanema - Here you’ll find travelers’ favorites such as Hotel Fasano Rio De Janeiro, Mar Ipanema Hotel and Atlantis Copacabana Hotel. The average nightly price for a double room in Ipanema is $18.
Where to stay in popular areas of Rio de Janeiro
Most booked hotels in Rio de Janeiro
Renting a car in Rio de Janeiro
Renting a car in Rio de Janeiro costs $25 per day, on average, or $101 if you want to rent if for 4 days. Alamo, Hertz and MOVIDA are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Rio de Janeiro is the FOCO branch at Rua Luís Belart, 100, Jardim Guanabara - Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, which is 7 miles from the city center.
Expect to pay $4.20 per gallon in Rio de Janeiro (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $50.42 and $67.23. The most frequently booked car type in Rio de Janeiro is Economy (Fiat Mobi or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Chevrolet Prisma or similar) are, on average, 73% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.
Best car rental deals in Rio de Janeiro
Economy
2 Adults, 2 Bags
$12/day
Standard
5 Adults, 3 Bags
$19/day