Rio de Janeiro
Brazil
Beaches, samba, and Christ the Redeemer
Find stays in Rio de Janeiro9/10Tourist score
3/5Safety level
Best time to visit
May to September (dry, mild winter)
Monthly temperatures
32°24°Jan
33°24°Feb
31°23°Mar
29°22°Apr
27°20°May
26°19°Jun
26°18°Jul
26°19°Aug
27°19°Sep
28°20°Oct
29°22°Nov
31°23°Dec
Currency
CurrencyBrazilian Real (BRL)
Exchange rate1 USD = 5.0 BRL / 1 EUR = 5.4 BRL
Exchange at casas de câmbio in Centro or Copacabana. Airport rates are poor. Cards are widely accepted, even at beach vendors (Pix is universal in Brazil).
ATMs & cards
Banco do Brasil and Bradesco ATMs in airports and malls are most reliable for foreign cards. Withdraw during banking hours in well-lit areas. Limit: R$1,000-1,500 per transaction.
Getting around
- Metro — clean, safe, connects Copacabana/Ipanema to Centro. R$6.50 per ride
- Uber/99 — very cheap and widely used, safer than taxis
- Bus — extensive but confusing for visitors. Use Google Maps for routes
- Walking — great along the beach promenades (Copacabana, Ipanema)
- Airport: Uber from GIG to Copacabana ∼R$80-120 (40 min)
Must-see
Food tip
Try açaí bowls (the real thing, not tourist smoothies), feijoada on Saturdays, and churrasco at a rodizio restaurant.
Safety
Don’t take expensive phones to the beach. Use Uber instead of walking in unfamiliar areas at night. Stay in Copacabana, Ipanema, or Leblon.
Things to do
- Visit Christ the Redeemer
- Take the cable car to Sugarloaf
- Relax on Copacabana and Ipanema
- Hike Tijuca Forest
- Explore Santa Teresa neighborhood
- Watch sunset from Arpoador