Rio de Janeiro
City in Brazil
Rio de Janeiro is a city in Brazil with a population of about 6.7 million in 2025. Located 931 km from Brasília, it draws visitors to sights such as Sugarloaf Mountain and Corcovado.
What to see
Travelers can explore iconic landmarks and sports venues across the city. Natural and architectural sights include Sugarloaf Mountain, Corcovado, Rio de Janeiro Cathedral, and Escadaria Selarón. For sports fans, the city features Maracanã Stadium and Estádio Olímpico Nilton Santos.
When to go
The city experiences warm temperatures throughout the year, with daily highs ranging from 24 °C in July to 30 °C in January and February, and lows between 17 °C and 24 °C. Rainfall varies significantly by month. July is the driest month with 54 mm of rain over about 4 days, while January sees the highest rainfall at 210 mm across about 21 days.
Getting there
The nearest airport is Santos Dumont Airport, located 4 km from the city in Brazil.
Top sights in Rio de Janeiro
Weather by month
The warmest month is February, with an average high of 30 °C. The wettest is January, with about 210 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 30 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 28 |
| Average low, °C | 23 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| Rainfall, mm | 210 | 138 | 168 | 118 | 74 | 60 | 54 | 47 | 85 | 106 | 149 | 206 |
| Rainy days | 21 | 21 | 19 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 18 | 20 | 22 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for Rio de Janeiro (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
Also worth a look
- Arpoador
- Candelária Church
- Carioca Aqueduct
- Carmen Miranda Museum
- Catete Palace
- Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil
- Flamengo Park
- Fort Copacabana
- Guanabara Palace
- Gustavo Capanema Palace
- Itamaraty Palace
- Jardim Botânico, Rio de Janeiro
- Museu Aeroespacial
- Museu Nacional de Belas Artes
- Museum of Modern Art, Rio de Janeiro
- National Historical Museum
- National Library of Brazil
- Old Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro
- Parque Lage
- Paço Imperial
- Pedra Branca State Park
- Quinta da Boa Vista
- Rio de Janeiro Stock Exchange
- Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí
- South Zone
- São Bento Monastery
- Theatro Municipal
- Tijuca National Park
- Tiradentes Palace
- Valongo Wharf