Best time to visit Rio de Janeiro
April to May and September to October. Month by month below, with the weather, what's on and what it costs to fly there from your city.
April to May and September to October
Rio's shoulder seasons, April and May and September and October, get the most votes: warm, less humid, cheaper and quieter than summer.
- “So, go for April/May (Fall) or September/October (Spring).” caminhoslanguages.com
- “Best weather: September and October, also April and May.” esim4.com
- “Spring (October to November): The best time for those who want it all” c2rio.travel
6 of the 10 travel guides we read name these months.
Rio de Janeiro month by month
Average high and low in Rio de Janeiro, and days with rain
FebruaryChecking fares…Carnival often falls in February (or early March), with high hotel prices and crowds.Carnival happens around 40 days before Easter, usually February, sometimes March.Rio carnival
MarchChecking fares…Carnival can fall in March, depending on the lunar calendar.
Best timeAprilChecking fares…The tourists from New Year and Carnival leave and the beach is no longer packed.Autumn is cooler yet often still sunny, though several days of rain are possible.
Best timeMayChecking fares…April and May are autumn, with low humidity.March to May blends warmth with a gradual drop in humidity.
JuneChecking fares…Winter starts: cooler and drier with blue skies, highs between 20 and 26C.
JulyChecking fares…Winter is the best-value window: cooler, fewer visitors, lower hotel prices.Cold spells of a few days can bring rain, cloud and cooler temperatures.
AugustChecking fares…Winter is the dry season, with clearer views of Corcovado and Sugar Loaf.
Best timeSeptemberChecking fares…Spring brings lower accommodation and flight prices, one source says.Temperatures hover around 25C in September and October.
Best timeOctoberChecking fares…Best all-around month in one source: long beach days, calm seas, lighter crowds.Rock in Rio is held in Rio every two years.
NovemberChecking fares…By November Rio reaches summer, with high 20s temperatures and sudden tropical rainstorms.The Brazilian Grand Prix and Film Festival Rio are in November.
DecemberChecking fares…New Year's Eve on Copacabana is the headline event.Over 2.5 million people gather on Copacabana for New Year's Eve.Réveillon at Copacabana
Weather: Rio de Janeiro averages from Brazilian National Institute of Meteorology (1961 to 1990 averages), as listed in its climate table on Wikipedia.
Every date to Rio de Janeiro from your city
Live fares from your airport. Watch them and we alert you when they drop.
What's on in Rio de Janeiro
Festivals and seasons through the year
Busy, quiet and what to watch for
Busiest
- December to MarchPeak summer with heat, crowds, Carnival and New Year's Eve; accommodation books out and prices rise.
- December to MarchBeach.com also calls this the high season.
Quietest
- June to AugustWinter is cooler, drier and has way fewer tourists.
- April and MayQuieter after Carnival, with cooler weather.
Watch for
- December to MarchRio's wet season, with afternoon storms and temperatures that can top 40C.
- SummerHeat and humidity over 38 to 40C can be too extreme for walking tours.
- October and JanuaryOne source names October and January as the wettest months.
- Carnival and New YearReserve months ahead; oceanfront rooms may need a year of notice.
Questions people ask
- What is the weather like in Brazil in October?
- Temperatures run 70 to 80F, with more humidity and rain as the month goes on; October ends the dry season.
- What is the cheapest month to visit Brazil?
- For Rio, one source says June to August is the best value; another says September and October are cheaper.
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