When to book a flight to Rio
The summer season plays host to one of Rio’s biggest celebrations, Carnival. This 5-day festival gives visitors the chance to learn about Brazilian culture through parties which last all day and night. The atmosphere is euphoric across the city, with people singing, dancing and having lots of fun. Rio de Janeiro is considered the Carnival Capital of the World, so it’s no wonder this is “the” time to come. This is clearly reflected through accommodation and flight prices becoming more expensive, therefore, it is advised to book your hotel and flights to Rio de Janeiro at least a year in advance. To take in some sights and museums, you should aim to arrive a few days before the party starts and linger a few days after.
Another grand party is New Year’s Eve, called Reveillon. Millions pack the beach for the all-night celebration, music, and fireworks. Bear in mind this event can also affect hotel rates and makes it harder to find any cheap flights to Rio de Janeiro.
When planning your trip, it should be taken into consideration that businesses are usually closed from just before Christmas through to the beginning of January.
The city is less crowded and prices are a bit lower during winter, from July to September. This is still a great time to visit and chances of getting a cheap flight to Rio de Janeiro are high, weather-wise, as there is very little rainfall and there are still sunny days, although the nights and some cloudy days can be a little chilly.
City overview
Cidade Maravilhosa or "Marvellous City" is what the locals call their beloved Rio and visitors coming off their Rio flights will quickly agree. Its recognisable landmarks: Sugar Loaf mountain, Christ the Redeemer and the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema provide the dramatic backdrop to the world’s most decadent city.
Nestled between 56 miles of beach and two lush green rainforests, Rio’s natural beauty is spellbinding and cariocas take full advantage of it. On any given day, come rain or shine, the locals are out jogging along Ipanema, skydiving close to Sugar Loaf or climbing a tree in Tijuca. But apart from its aesthetic beauty Rio’s cultural and historical sights are just as fascinating. The Museu de Arte Moderna (MAM) and Museu Histórico Nacional are well worth a visit while the port of Paraty, a Unesco World Heritage Site, provides a glimpse into Rio’s colonial past.
Most visitors book flights to Rio during Carnaval, but this is also the busiest time, when thousands of people from all over the world fly in especially for the event, making it difficult to get around the city and finding a hotel room can be a challenge. However if you think a visit to Rio isn't complete without attending at least one Samba show, samba schools conduct pre-Carnaval rehearsals year-round.
The statue of Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor) on Corcovado Mountain, the stadium of Maracanã, and the Sugar Loaf Mountain are among its many landmarks. Two cable cars take you 396 metres up the mountain, above Rio’s harbour, where breathtaking views of the city will be indelibly etched into your mind. Sun worshippers should make a beeline for Copacabana beach, while much of the historic architecture can be found in Rio’s financial and business centre.
The Municipal Theatre, National Library and National Museum of Fine Arts are must-sees. If you think you’re a party animal at home, think again. Once in Rio de Janeiro you’ll discover that Brazilians don’t hold back when they let their hair down, putting many other nations to shame whether it’s Carnival time or not.