Rio de Janeiro Holidays
Rio de Janeiro
Holidays
The most beautiful city on earth — Carnival, Copacabana, Christ the Redeemer and the extraordinary meeting of jungle, mountain and sea that makes Rio unlike anywhere else in the world
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Flight Time
11–12h direct from London to Rio de Janeiro (GIG) or São Paulo (GRU) then 1h domestic
Best Time
April to October (dry season, cooler, less humidity — best for sightseeing); February/March for Carnival (wet season but unmissable)
Country
Brazil
Suppliers
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Rio de Janeiro Holiday Guide
Rio de Janeiro is best explored over 4–5 nights — enough time to see the main sights (Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf, the beaches), explore the neighbourhoods (Santa Teresa, Lapa, Ipanema, Botafogo) and experience the city's extraordinary energy at night. For Carnival, book at least 6 months in advance — accommodation prices triple and Sambadrome tickets sell out quickly.
Getting there: Direct flights from London Heathrow to Rio de Janeiro (GIG — Galeão International Airport) with LATAM and British Airways (approximately 11–12 hours). Alternatively, fly to São Paulo (GRU) and take a domestic flight to Rio (1 hour, from approximately £40 one way).
Getting around: Uber is the safest and most convenient way to get around Rio — widely available, cheap and much safer than street taxis. The metro covers the main tourist areas (Ipanema, Copacabana, Botafogo, the city centre). Walking is fine in the tourist areas during the day but take care at night.
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Popular Areas in Rio de Janeiro
Average Temperatures
Jan
30°C
Feb
31°C
Mar
30°C
Apr
27°C
May
25°C
Jun
24°C
Jul
23°C
Aug
24°C
Sep
24°C
Oct
26°C
Nov
27°C
Dec
29°C
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Call 01282 960 460Top 8 Things To Do in Rio de Janeiro
The beaches, the carnival, the mountains, the forest and the extraordinary energy of the world's most beautiful city.
Rio Carnival — The World's Greatest Party
Rio Carnival is the most spectacular celebration on earth — a five-day explosion of samba, colour, music and energy that takes over the entire city every February or March (the dates change each year, tied to the Catholic calendar). The centrepiece is the Sambadrome parade — a 700m purpose-built parade ground where the city's samba schools (each with 3,000–5,000 members) compete in elaborate costumes with floats, drummers and dancers in a competition judged on samba, costumes, floats, theme and performance. The parade runs over two nights (Sunday and Monday of Carnival week) and is one of the most extraordinary spectacles in the world. But Carnival is not just the Sambadrome — the street parties (blocos) that take over the neighbourhoods of Rio for the entire week are equally extraordinary, with hundreds of thousands of people dancing in the streets to live samba bands.
Copacabana & Ipanema — The World's Most Famous Beaches
Copacabana and Ipanema are the most famous beaches in the world — 7km of golden sand along the South Atlantic seafront, backed by the apartment blocks and hotels of Rio's Zona Sul. Copacabana (4km long) is the more democratic beach — packed, lively and accessible to everyone, with beach vendors selling coconut water, mate tea and cheese on skewers, and the famous black-and-white wave-pattern mosaic promenade designed by Roberto Burle Marx. Ipanema (3km long) is slightly more upmarket and the beach of choice for Rio's fashionable set — the Girl from Ipanema was written about a woman who walked past the Garota de Ipanema bar every day. Both beaches are safe for swimming (the waves can be strong — look for the flags indicating safe swimming areas) and are at their most beautiful in the late afternoon when the light turns golden on the mountains behind the city.
Christ the Redeemer & Corcovado Mountain
Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor) is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World — a 30m Art Deco statue of Jesus Christ with arms outstretched, standing on the 710m summit of Corcovado mountain in the Tijuca Forest, with a panoramic view over the entire city, the bay, the beaches and the surrounding mountains. The statue was completed in 1931 and has become the defining symbol of Rio and of Brazil. Access is by cog railway (the Trem do Corcovado, running through the Tijuca Forest — a beautiful journey in itself) or by van from the Cosme Velho neighbourhood. The view from the summit — on a clear day — is one of the most extraordinary urban panoramas in the world. Visit early in the morning (the site opens at 8am) to avoid the crowds and the afternoon cloud that often obscures the summit.
Sugarloaf Mountain — Cable Car & Bay Views
Sugarloaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar) is the other great Rio landmark — a 396m granite monolith rising from the tip of the Urca peninsula at the entrance to Guanabara Bay, accessible by a two-stage cable car from the Urca neighbourhood. The first cable car goes to Morro da Urca (232m), where there is a restaurant, a small amphitheatre and views over Botafogo Bay and the city. The second cable car continues to the summit of Sugarloaf, where the view — over the bay, the beaches, the city, Corcovado and the surrounding mountains — is extraordinary. The best time to visit is late afternoon, when the light is golden and the sunset over the city is spectacular. The cable car runs until 9pm, and the night view of Rio from the summit — the city lights reflected in the bay — is one of the most beautiful sights in South America.
Tijuca Forest — The World's Largest Urban Forest
The Tijuca Forest is the world's largest urban forest — 32 sq km of Atlantic rainforest covering the mountains behind Rio de Janeiro, within the city limits. The forest was almost entirely cleared for coffee plantations in the 19th century and was then replanted — one of the first large-scale reforestation projects in history. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to over 200 bird species, monkeys, sloths, toucans and a wide variety of tropical plants. The forest contains several waterfalls (the Cascatinha Taunay is the most accessible), hiking trails, the Vista Chinesa (a Chinese-style pavilion with views over the city) and the Mesa do Imperador (a viewpoint used by the Brazilian imperial family). The forest is best explored with a guide — several companies offer hiking tours from the city.
Santa Teresa & Lapa — Rio's Bohemian Heart
Santa Teresa is Rio's most atmospheric neighbourhood — a hillside village of colonial houses, cobbled streets, street art and bohemian cafes perched above the city centre, accessible by the famous yellow tram (bonde) that climbs the hill from Lapa. The neighbourhood is home to artists, musicians and intellectuals, and has some of the best restaurants and bars in Rio. Lapa, at the foot of the Santa Teresa hill, is the heart of Rio's nightlife — the Arcos da Lapa (the 18th-century aqueduct that now carries the Santa Teresa tram) are the backdrop for the Friday night street party (Lapa Folia) where thousands of people dance to live samba, forró and pagode bands in the streets around the arches. The combination of Santa Teresa and Lapa is the best evening in Rio.
Favela Tours — Understanding Rio's Other Side
Rio's favelas (informal settlements on the hillsides above the city) are home to approximately 1.5 million people — about 22% of Rio's population — and are an integral part of the city's culture, music and identity. Guided favela tours (operated by community-based organisations and social enterprises) offer a respectful and informative introduction to life in the favelas — the community organisations, the street art, the music, the food and the extraordinary views over the city from the hillside settlements. The most visited favelas for tours are Rocinha (the largest favela in South America) and Vidigal (a more relaxed community with extraordinary views over Ipanema and the sea). Favela tours are controversial — some argue they are exploitative, others that they provide income for the community and challenge stereotypes. Choose a tour operator that employs local guides and reinvests in the community.
Rio's Food Scene — Churrasco, Açaí & Caipirinhas
Rio's food scene is one of the great pleasures of the city — from the churrascarias (Brazilian barbecue restaurants where waiters bring an endless succession of grilled meats to your table on skewers) to the açaí bowls on the beach (frozen açaí berry purée topped with granola, banana and honey — the classic Rio beach breakfast), the fresh seafood of the Zona Sul restaurants and the street food of the city centre. The caipirinha (Brazil's national cocktail — cachaça, lime and sugar) is best drunk at a boteco (a casual neighbourhood bar) in Ipanema or Santa Teresa. The Sunday feijoada (a slow-cooked stew of black beans and pork, served with rice, farofa and orange slices) at a traditional Rio restaurant is one of the great Brazilian culinary experiences.
Explore Rio de Janeiro on the Map
Key areas, beaches and attractions across the island.
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