Best time to visit Rio de Janeiro: month-by-month weather (2026)
The highest-scoring months in Rio de Janeiro are Apr, May, Jun and Sep.
Best months
Apr, May, Jun and Sep
Peak season
Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug and Sep
Off season
Jan, Mar and Dec
Monthly Temperatures (°C)
Monthly Rainfall (mm)
Month-by-Month Guide
Temperature, rainfall and sunshine are measured. The visit score below is derived from those three (design spec §5.3)estimate.
Jan
Temp: 23.6°C – 29.7°C
Rain: 149mm
Sunshine: 10.2h/day
Visit score: 6.7/10
Feb
Temp: 24.5°C – 31.3°C
Rain: 66mm
Sunshine: 11h/day
Visit score: 7.6/10
Mar
Temp: 23.6°C – 29.4°C
Rain: 127mm
Sunshine: 10.5h/day
Visit score: 6.7/10
Apr
BestTemp: 21.7°C – 27.4°C
Rain: 72mm
Sunshine: 9.8h/day
Visit score: 9.1/10
May
BestTemp: 20.4°C – 26.5°C
Rain: 40mm
Sunshine: 9.4h/day
Visit score: 9.1/10
Jun
BestTemp: 19°C – 26°C
Rain: 22mm
Sunshine: 9.5h/day
Visit score: 10/10
Jul
Temp: 18.1°C – 24.3°C
Rain: 51mm
Sunshine: 8.9h/day
Visit score: 9.1/10
Aug
Temp: 18.3°C – 25.4°C
Rain: 70mm
Sunshine: 9.3h/day
Visit score: 9.1/10
Sep
BestTemp: 19.9°C – 27.6°C
Rain: 27mm
Sunshine: 10.2h/day
Visit score: 10/10
Oct
Temp: 20.5°C – 26.7°C
Rain: 86mm
Sunshine: 9.3h/day
Visit score: 8.2/10
Nov
Temp: 21.4°C – 27.9°C
Rain: 81mm
Sunshine: 10.2h/day
Visit score: 8.2/10
Dec
Temp: 22.9°C – 29.7°C
Rain: 110mm
Sunshine: 11.1h/day
Visit score: 6.7/10
When to go, and when not to
April, May, June, and September stand out as the best months to visit Rio de Janeiro. April brings a high near 27.4C and a low near 21.7C with about 72mm of rain, May cools further to a high of 26.5C with just 40mm of rain, June is the driest of the group at 22mm of rain with highs around 26.0C, and September offers a high of 27.6C with only 27mm of rain and 10.2 hours of sunshine a day.
These months fall within the broader peak season of April through September, so popular sites and beaches tend to be busier and travel costs can rise. The off-season months of January, March, and December are hotter and wetter, with January averaging a high of 29.7C and 149mm of rain, and March close behind at 127mm of rain, making midday sun and sudden downpours more likely.
Season Guide
Spring
September – November
Warming temperatures as the southern hemisphere heads into spring.
Packing tips
- · Light layers
- · Rain jacket
- · Comfortable walking shoes
Summer
December – February
Warmest months with long days. Peak holiday season.
Packing tips
- · Sunscreen
- · Hat
- · Light clothing
- · Refillable water bottle
Autumn
March – May
Cooling temperatures and shoulder season. Fewer crowds and better prices.
Packing tips
- · Medium layers
- · Sweater
- · Waterproof jacket
Winter
June – August
Coolest months. Some destinations offer unique winter experiences.
Packing tips
- · Warm coat
- · Scarf and gloves
- · Thermal layers
Keep reading
Sources
- GeoNames city database — CC BY 4.0, fetched September 14, 2026
- Open-Meteo climate archive — CC BY 4.0, fetched September 21, 2026
AI-written interpretation reviewed against the data above — claude-sonnet-5, generated September 21, 2026. Every number on this page comes from a dataset named here; the formulas are public.