The best time to visit Rio de Janeiro

There is no cold season in Rio. In our climate data the warmest month averages about 30 °C by day and the coolest about 25 °C, and the sea stays at 22 °C or warmer. The difference between seasons is humidity, afternoon rain, and how warm the night stays.

So the choice is between a hot, wet summer with the sea at its warmest, and a mild, dry winter with cooler nights.

Summer, December to March

These are the hot months. Days run from about 29 to 30 °C, nights stay near 22 to 24 °C, and each month brings around 130 to 135 millimeters of rain, most of it in afternoon storms that build through the day. February is the hottest month, and the sea reaches 26 °C.

In summer, the morning is for the beach and the afternoon is for the rain.

Plan the beach and the summits early, and keep an indoor afternoon in reserve. The sand is at its fullest, and the city with it.

Carnival and New Year

Carnival falls in February in most years, its date set by Easter. In 2027 it ends on February 9. The samba schools spend most of the year building for it, and their warehouses by the port are fullest in the weeks before Lent. We wrote about the rest of the city in What to do in Rio de Janeiro.

New Year's Eve gathers a crowd on Copacabana, and the avenue along the beach closes to traffic for it. Both dates fill the city, so book early if your trip falls on either.

Winter, June to August

These are the dry months. Rain drops to 40 or 45 millimeters a month, days hold near 25 °C, and the nights fall to about 18 or 19 °C, the coolest of the year. The sea is at its coolest too, at 22 to 23 °C.

In winter, the light is clearer and the evenings ask for a layer.

It is a good season for the trails and the viewpoints, which bake in the summer sun. Bring a light jacket for the evening.

The months between

April and May soften the heat, and May turns noticeably drier. September is still cool by day, at about 25 °C, and the humidity begins its slow return. October warms week by week, and by November the afternoon showers are back and the sea is warm enough for long swims.

These months sit between the two patterns, and they are often the easiest balance of warm water and bearable heat.

Whatever the month

Sunscreen and a hat belong in the bag in every season, because the sun is strong all year. Light clothing and swimwear cover most days. Add a rain jacket from November to April, and a light layer for the evenings from May to August.

Whichever beach you choose, the sea answers to the same seasons. We compared the beaches in Copacabana or Ipanema?, and you can see a week in Rio laid out by day in our free routes for 3 days, 5 days, and 7 days.