Best: Feb, Jun-Jul · Great: May, Sep · Feb for Rio Carnival
It stays hot year-round here, but swings between a heavy monsoon centered on January and a markedly drier stretch around July. In July, expect highs around 24°C with rain on roughly 5 days of the month.
Rio Carnival (February) — The world's largest carnival — samba parades, street parties, and block parties fill the city for several days before Lent (dates shift with Easter, usually Feb–Mar).
Ride the cable car up Sugarloaf Mountain at sunset and the cog train to Christ the Redeemer for the classic skyline views over Guanabara Bay. Ipanema and Copacabana are the famous beaches, but Prainha and Grumari further out are quieter, wilder alternatives popular with locals. Santa Teresa's cobbled streets, colonial mansions, and samba bars reward a slower evening, and the Escadaria Selarón steps are worth the short walk from Lapa. If you're here for Carnival, book accommodation many months ahead — prices multiply and central options sell out first.
Try feijoada and fresh açaí bowls, Rio staples, alongside a caipirinha — Brazil's national cocktail, made with cachaça (sugarcane spirit), lime, and sugar.
Daylight, sunrise, and sunset are calculated exactly from this region's latitude. Temperature and rainfall are modeled from its general climate type, not measured station data. Month summaries are generated from those modeled figures.
Expect warm days around 30°/24°C, with very wet conditions (~20 rainy days).
Expect warm days around 30°/23°C, with very wet conditions (~17 rainy days).
Expect warm days around 29°/23°C, with frequent rain (~14 rainy days).
Expect warm days around 28°/22°C, with frequent rain (~10 rainy days).
Expect warm days around 26°/20°C, with occasional rain (~8 rainy days).
Expect warm days around 25°/19°C, with occasional rain (~6 rainy days).
Expect warm days around 24°/18°C, with occasional rain (~5 rainy days).
Expect warm days around 25°/18°C, with occasional rain (~9 rainy days).
Expect warm days around 25°/19°C, with occasional rain (~8 rainy days).
Expect warm days around 26°/20°C, with occasional rain (~9 rainy days).
Expect warm days around 27°/21°C, with frequent rain (~11 rainy days).
Expect warm days around 29°/23°C, with very wet conditions (~16 rainy days).