Photo: Acediscovery, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

A city defined by its beaches and mountains, and South America's most recognizable skyline.

Main airport: Galeao - Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG)

Local Time

—

Current Weather

24°C

Light drizzle 1 km/h

Coordinates

-22.8100, -43.2506

28 m elevation

Nearby Airports

Loading map…

Rio de Janeiro's setting — Sugarloaf Mountain, Christ the Redeemer, and beaches like Copacabana and Ipanema all within the city itself — makes it one of the most visually striking major cities anywhere. It's a common long-haul gateway into South America from Europe and North America.

Best time to visit

April–June and September–October offer warm weather without the peak-season crowds of Southern Hemisphere summer (December–February).

Top attractions

•Christ the Redeemer atop Corcovado Mountain
•Sugarloaf Mountain by cable car
•Copacabana and Ipanema beaches
•Santa Teresa's hillside streets and tram
•The Selarón Steps, covered in mosaic tiles

Practical tips

•Galeão Airport (GIG) connects to the city primarily by taxi, rideshare, or airport bus.
•Stick to well-trafficked areas, particularly at night, and ask locally about which neighborhoods to avoid on a given trip.
•Portuguese, not Spanish, is the local language — a few basic phrases go further than assumed Spanish.

Frequently asked questions

What airport serves Rio de Janeiro?

Rio de Janeiro's main airport is Galeao - Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG).

When is the best time to visit Rio de Janeiro?

April–June and September–October offer warm weather without the peak-season crowds of Southern Hemisphere summer (December–February).

Is Rio de Janeiro a good place to meet someone flying from a different city?

A city defined by its beaches and mountains, and South America's most recognizable skyline.

Meet halfway from Rio de Janeiro

Meeting someone in Rio de Janeiro?

Compare real arrival times from two origins and find the airport where you’ll land closest together.

Find a meeting city