Last Updated on 7 July, 2021 by Veronica
Rio de Janeiro has become one of my favorite cities to visit from around the world. In this post, I will tell you the Must Visit Places in Rio and give you useful recommendations for your trip.
How many days you need to visit the city, internet access, visa questions, and documentation and security tips.
Best travel tips for your journey in Rio de Janeiro
What’s the best time for your trip to Rio?
Well…it depends, lovely answer, right? It depends on how much you like the heat and how crowded you like it to beat a certain time and place.
For me, the best time to travel to Rio de Janeiro is in (their) winter, between May to October.
Why? Because the temperatures are more pleasant and there is less rainfall. In these months, there are also fewer people, and the beaches are not crowded. Nevertheless, it’s still hot, although it cools down at night for a little bit, enough for a sweatshirt.
If you want to go during the carnival season or summer (December to February), forget everything I told you, hehehe. During this time, it is boiling, very humid, and it is bursting with people.
For me, personally, this is the worst time to travel to Rio, except to experience the tastes and colors of the city. 😉
Short summary of the seasons in Rio de Janeiro:
High season: from December to March. During these months there are more people, it’s hotter, and everything is more expensive.
If you can only travel to Rio de Janeiro in the high season, make your reservations in advance.
Mid-low season from May to October. Temperatures hover around 18-20 degrees Celsius (64-68 degrees Fahrenheit) in the day and 10-12 (50-54 degrees Fahrenheit) at night.
How many days you need to get to know Rio
To get to know Rio, you’re going to need a few days. But the minimum, if you will be on the road through Brazil, is 4 or 5 days.
Keep in mind that Rio de Janeiro is a huge city and has a lot to see.
It is best to see it calmly, enjoying the beaches, the attractions, and the atmosphere. It seems as if life passes by slower here.
How to get there?
You’ll most likely arrive in Rio de Janeiro by plane. It has two airports.
Galeao International Airport: This is where most international flights and major European airlines arrive.
It is located 20 kilometers from the center of Rio de Janeiro. To get to the center, you have different Uber, transfer, taxis, etc. We were advised to use Uber for all transfers due to safety reasons.
Santos Dumont Airport This is a smaller airport. From here, domestic flights depart and arrive. It is located at the northern end of Park do Flamengo.
You can also reach Rio by land or sea. By land, buses arrive at Rodoviária Novo Rio station. The station is large and has all kinds of services.
From here to your accommodation it is recommended to take a taxi or Uber. It is not recommended to go with your luggage on the public buses.
By sea come some cruises, I am not very keen on this mode of travel. But if you leave, Argentina or Uruguay is an option to get to Brazil.
Documentation to travel to Brazil
Depending on your nationality, you can travel to Rio with an ID, passport, or visa.
Travel with DNI
With a valid ID, you can enter for 90 days as tourists from the Mercosur countries:
- Argentina
- Bolivia
- Chile
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Uruguay
- Venezuela (60-day permit)
Travel with Passport: allowed countries from the European Union and other parts of the world
- A: Albania, Germany, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia and Austria
- B: Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Belarus and Bulgaria
- C: Czech Republic, Cyprus, Costa Rica and Croatia
- D: Denmark and Dominica
- E: El Salvador and Estonia
- F: Finland and France
- G: Georgia, Grenada, Greece, Guatemala and Guyana
- H: Honduras, Hong Kong and Hungary
- I: Ireland, Iceland, Seychelles, Israel and Italy
- J: Jamaica
- K: Kazakhstan
- L: Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania and Luxembourg
- M: Macao, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Morocco, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia and Montenegro
- N: Namibia, Netherlands, Norway and New Zealand
- P: Philippines, Panama, Poland and Portugal
- R: Romania and Russia
- S: Saint Kitts and Nevis, San Marino, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Serbia, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland and Suriname, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Seychelles, South Korea,
- T: Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia and Turkey
- U: Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States
- V: Vatican City,
Travel with a Visa
The other countries, including Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Panama, do need a visa to go on vacation to Brazil.
The visa is requested at the embassy in your country of residence.
“Documentation” source: traveljet
Do you need Vaccines?
No vaccine is required to visit Brazil. But the yellow fever vaccine is recommended if you are going to visit the Amazon and other places.
How to have Internet in Rio
Now when we travel, we like to be connected to the Internet. So we can share our experiences with family, friends, and on social media.
Roaming in Brazil is not exactly cheap. So it is advisable to hire a local SIM that allows you to have the internet in Brazil on your mobile.
This way, you can always be connected and upload your photos on Instagram.
How to get around Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro is a city that is very well connected. It has a well-organized public transport network in which you can travel to get to know the city.
Although it is advisable to move on foot, you can use the subway, Uber, taxis, rent a car, etc.
The metro is very useful, especially to reach the monuments that are located in the historic center. Moreover, it’s a fast and safe option.
The car, I think, is the worst option, because the traffic is like hell. Also, if you don’t know where you are going, the GPS can lead you into and through unsafe areas.
The bike is another good option, especially for exploring the coast. Rio de Janeiro has many kilometers of bike paths. It is a safe, healthy, and ecological way to visit the city.
- Rent a bike in Rio (or a bike tour)
Security tips in Rio de Janeiro
- Imitate carioca clothing type. Leave the heels at home, the expensive watch, the gold necklaces, and the earrings.
- Carry the money just for the day. If you’re carrying a lot of money, hide it in your bra or underpants. Leave 20 or 50 reais in your pocket in case someone tries to steal you, you give them that money.
- Avoid neighborhoods when they are empty. For example, the historic center on weekends is a ghost town.
- If you travel by public transport it is better not to take out your mobile.
- Pay attention to the beach, don’t neglect your stuff. It is better to bring only the necessary items, nothing more.
- If you visit the favelas do it with a local.
- If they steal you, don’t resist, it’s best to give it all up. That said, make the corresponding complaint. And take out travel insurance before you leave home.
- It’s best to use common sense!
Travel Insurance for your trip to Rio
Do you know Rio de Janeiro? Let us know what your recommendations are for getting to know the Wonderful City.
Prepare your trip to Rio de Janeiro
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Book Your Trip
Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner.
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel, hotel, or apartments on Booking.com.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance.
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s your protection in case anything goes wrong. You never go on a trip without it.
Best companies for activities
Check out Civitatis.com and find the best tours in English (French, Spanish and Italian)
Are you looking for the best companies to save money with?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel – and I think will help you too! (Is in Spanish yet)
Disclosure: Some of the links on this post are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.
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