Best Time to Visit Rio de Janeiro

May to September: the comfortable months

May to September is the best time to visit, and it's the stretch we'd pick for most trips. Days sit around 25°C, nights cool off, and the air feels lighter than in summer. July is the driest month, with only 31 mm of rain, and August is close behind. That gives you the best odds of a clear morning on Sugarloaf (Pão de Açúcar) or a ride up the train to Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado.

It's also a good time for hiking. Trails like Pedra da Gávea or the Dois Irmãos climb in the Vidigal area are far less of a slog when it isn't sticky. The sea is cooler, but you can still sit on Ipanema or Arpoador for sunset. July is the coldest month, with lows of 18°C. Locals wrap up on those evenings, which is funny, but it does feel fresh. July is also school-holiday time in Brazil, so beaches and attractions get busier then.

November to March: hot, wet and lively

If you'd rather have the energy than the calm, summer is the high season, and it's honestly a lot. February is the hottest month at 29°C, humidity sits around 83%, and it rains on 16 to 20 days a month. December is the wettest at 232 mm, with January close behind at 220 mm. The rain often comes as a big afternoon downpour, then the sun returns.

So why come? The crowds and the party. Réveillon (New Year's Eve) draws huge numbers in white to Copacabana beach. Then Carnival arrives, usually in February or early March, with samba school parades at the Sambódromo and street parties called blocos all over the city. Beaches are packed with locals on school break. Hotels fill up and costs rise, so book early for Carnival. If heat bothers you, plan your sightseeing for the morning and swim in the afternoon.

April and October: the in-betweens

If summer sounds like too much, the shoulder months are a fair compromise, though neither is as good as May to September. April is still warm at 27°C, but rain drops to 104 mm and the crowds thin once Easter is over. October is similar, though it's cloudier, with only 3.7 hours of sun a day.

November is the one to be careful with, as it belongs with the rainy season. It's wet, grey and humid, with 215 mm of rain, and it's not yet the party season. The upside is fewer visitors. If you're on a budget and don't mind a damp day, it can work. Keep museum stops in mind, like the Museu do Amanhã in the port area, or the Selarón Steps nearby in Lapa for a short, dry-ish wander.