Rio de Janeiro flights and travel guide

Cidade Maravilhosa or "Marvellous City" is what cariocas call their beloved Rio and visitors coming off their Rio flights will quickly agree. Its recognisable landmarks: Sugar Loaf mountain, Christ the Redeemer and the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema provide the dramatic backdrop to the world’s most decadent city.

Nestled between 56 miles of beach and two lush green rainforests, Rio’s natural beauty is spellbinding and cariocas take full advantage of it. On any given day, come rain or shine, the locals are out jogging along Ipanema, skydiving close to Sugar Loaf or climbing a tree in Tijuca. But apart from its aesthetic beauty Rio’s cultural and historical sights are just as fascinating. The Museu de Arte Moderna (MAM) and Museu Histórico Nacional are well worth a visit while the port of Paraty, a Unesco World Heritage Site, provides a glimpse into Rio’s colonial past.

Most visitors book flights to Rio during Carnaval, but this is also the busiest time, when thousands of people from all over the world fly in especially for the event, making it difficult to get around the city and finding a hotel room can be a challenge. However if you think a visit to Rio isn't complete without attending at least one Samba show, samba schools conduct pre-Carnaval rehearsals year-round.

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Rio de Janeiro Climate

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When to Fly to Rio de Janeiro

Peak Season:

Carnaval, usually in February, is “the” time to come to Rio. To take in some sights and museums, you will need to arrive a few days before the party starts and linger a few days after. Flights to Rio and hotel prices are higher during Carnaval. Book your hotel and Rio de Janeiro flight at least a year in advance.

Another grand party is New Year’s Eve, called Reveillon. Millions pack the beach for the all-night celebration, music, and fireworks.

Off Season:

The city is less crowded and prices are a bit lower in winter, from May to October, with the exception of Reveillon.

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Getting Downtown Rio de Janeiro

An airport bus leaves regularly for the major hotels along the beach road. Taxis are available outside the terminal; visitors are advised to buy prepaid taxi vouchers at the Rio Tourism Authority desk; they are usually a little bit more expensive but give you peace of mind. Public buses are also available.

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Getting Around Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro’s subway system is air conditioned, faster, and cheaper than buses, but the subway’s coverage is limited. The bus network is comprehensive and can take you any where. However, the drivers do not speak English, so you need to speak enough Portuguese to ask for directions. Buses are also the scene of many robberies and are not safe at night.

The privately run Fresco buses run between the beaches, downtown, and Rio's airports. These buses stop at regular bus stops and can be flagged down wherever you see them. There is also minivan service along the beach front avenues.

When travelling at night, take a taxi. Taxis are plentiful and you can usually flag one down. Radio taxis and cab companies that serve hotels charge more but are reliable and usually air-conditioned. Most carioca cabbies are pleasant, but either negotiate a fare with the driver or make sure the meter is running. Few cab drivers speak English.

If you decide to drive, keep the car doors locked and stay alert. Rio has frequent traffic jams, streets are not well marked, red lights are often ignored at night, and parking is problem.

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Rio de Janeiro Insider Information

• Take a cable-car ride up Sugarloaf Mountain. The journey to the top is done in two stages. The first cable car climbs more than 700 feet up Urca Hill. Then, on another cable car, tourists travel 1300 feet to the summit from which there are wonderful views of Copacabana beach and over the city.
• The world-famous statue of Christ the Redeemer is 125 feet high and stands at the peak of the mountain in the Tijuca Forest National Park.
• The botanical gardens are home to about 2,600 species of plant life. The gardens were created by the Prince Regent of Portugal in 1808 as a temporary home for imported plants while they were being acclimatized. There are animals too such as toucans, tanagers, marmoset monkeys and exotic butterflies.
• World-famous beaches include Copacabana, where Rio's New Year's celebrations take place, and Ipanema, famous in the song The Girl from Ipanema.
• For retail therapy, check out the upmarket Rua Garcia D'Avila or for budget-conscious travelers, the hippie fair at Praça General Osorio is a good place to pick up souvenirs such as wooden sculptures, leather goods and artworks.
• The Museu Nacional de Belas Artes was inspired by the Louvre. It dates from 1908 and is Rio de Janeiro’s main fine arts museum. It displays artifacts from the 19th century to today from several famous Brazilian artists including Victor Meirelles, Pedro Americo and Candido Portinari as well as foreign and contemporary artists.

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Rio de Janeiro Airports

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