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 5 days in order to fully appreciate everything Rio de Janeiro has to offer.
Activities & attractions in Rio de Janeiro
When to visit Rio de Janeiro
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Rio de Janeiro in February, when the average temperature is 28 °C, and the highest can go up to 33 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is June, when it can get as cold as 18 °C, with an average temperature of 21 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in January, when precipitation is around 130 mm. In contrast, July is usually the driest month of the year in Rio de Janeiro, with an average rainfall of 40 mm.
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 the city centre of Rio de Janeiro is Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont, which is located 2 km from the city centre. Further away is Rio de Janeiro-Galeao Airport, 13 km from the centre of Rio de Janeiro. The shortest flight to Rio de Janeiro from the United Kingdom departs from London and takes around 17h.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Rio de Janeiro, including Viação Penha, Expresso Adamantina and Primar Turismo. From Juiz de Fora, the bus ride to Rio de Janeiro takes 306 km and will cost you around £15. From São José dos Campos, the ticket costs about £17 for a journey of 325 miles. The most popular bus station is Rio de Janeiro Rodoviária Novo Rio, located 1.7 miles from the city centre of Rio de Janeiro. Rio de Janeiro Afonso Pena is also a commonly used station, and is 2 miles from the city centre.
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 Nacional Inn Rio Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around £41 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £123 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 holiday rental options in Rio de Janeiro, with prices from £10 to £454 per night. Zona Sul is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Rio de Janeiro are about 38% cheaper than a hotel room in the city.
Copacabana - In Rio de Janeiro’s most popular neighbourhood to stay, recommended hotels include Selina Copacabana, Rio Design Copacabana Hotel and Hotel Canadá.
Ipanema - Here you’ll find travellers’ favourites 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 £13.
Barra da Tijuca - Novotel Rio de Janeiro Barra da Tijuca, Windsor Oceanico and Américas Gaivota Hotel have some of the best reviews among hotels in this area. A 3-star room in Barra da Tijuca will cost you about £14 per night.
Where to stay in popular areas of Rio de Janeiro
Most booked hotels in Rio de Janeiro
Hiring a car in Rio de Janeiro
Hiring a car in Rio de Janeiro costs £26 per day, on average, or £129 if you want to hire it for 5 days. Alamo, Hertz and MOVIDA are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to hire 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 centre.
Expect to pay £0.86 per litre in Rio de Janeiro (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between £10.28 and £13.71. The most frequently booked car type in Rio de Janeiro is Intermediate (Class Intermediate SUV or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Renault Kwid or similar) is, on average, 60% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.