Rio de Janeiro weather,
live right now

April-May and September-October. Warm (22-28°C), less rain than peak summer, sea still 23-25°C, beaches less packed. December-March is hot (28-35°C+), humid, thunderstorm-prone, and busiest. Carnival (Feb-March) triples prices but is unmissable if it's your goal. June-August is Rio winter: 18-25°C, drier, beaches quieter but still swimmable. Locals' favourite is October — warming, longer days, fewer crowds, before the December heat begins.

Beach-first. Swimwear, light cotton t-shirts, shorts, flip-flops, walking shoes for Sugar Loaf or Tijuca hikes. UV is brutal year-round (index 10-12 in summer) — high SPF sunscreen, sun hat, proper sunglasses, light long-sleeve UPF shirt for beach hours. Evenings in summer stay warm; light layers fine. June-August evenings cool to 17°C — bring a sweater. Avoid flashy jewelry and expensive watches in tourist areas; theft is the local sport.

Tropical rain is brief and dramatic — usually 30-60 minute storms then sunshine. Museums to absorb a wet afternoon: Museum of Tomorrow (architecture alone is worth it), Museu Nacional de Belas Artes, AfroBrazilian Museum, Inhotim (further afield). Lapa's covered samba bars come alive when it rains. Take refuge at a botequim (local bar) over a chopp (draft beer) and feijoada. The forecast clears fast — wait 30 minutes, your beach plan is back on.

Year-round swimmable. Peak warmth is February (26°C), coolest is August (21°C — still warm by European standards). The water in Ipanema and Copacabana is generally clean and lifeguarded; check the flag system (green = safe, red = currents). Strong undertow at the eastern ends of Copacabana — swim in the middle. After heavy rain, water quality drops for 24-48 hours due to drainage; the city posts warnings. Watch for jellyfish in February-March.