Why visit
Rio is Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado, Sugarloaf cable car, Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, Santa Teresa's hillside streets, and Lapa's nightlife.
Rio de Janeiro at a glance
City population
6.2 million
Metro: 13.5 million
Elevation
2 m
7 ft
Time zone
UTC-3
America/Sao_Paulo
Airport
GIG
Galeão International
Founded
1565
Getting around
Metro (3 lines), VLT light rail, buses, BRT
Signature dish
Feijoada (Saturday ritual), açaí, brigadeiro, caipirinha
Neighborhoods for travelers
CopacabanaIpanemaLapaSanta TeresaLeblon
Brazil at a glance
Country center
-10.0°, -55.0°
Coast
Has coastline
Country area
8,515,767 km²
3,287,955 mi²
Country population
216.4 million
25/km²
Subregion
South America
Currency
Brazilian real (R$)
BRL
Dial
+55
Language
Portuguese
Demonym
Brazilian
Internet
.br
UN
Member state
ISO code
BR / BRA
Where in the world
-10.0° · -55.0°
Brazil
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Did you know
- Rio Carnival is the world's largest carnival, with 2+ million people per day.
- Christ the Redeemer is 30 m tall and sits on a 700 m peak: visible from most of the city.
- The city's favelas cover about 6% of Rio's area but house 20%+ of its residents.
- Brazil shares a border with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador.
- The Amazon rainforest produces ~6% of the world's oxygen: and 60% of the Amazon is in Brazil.
Bordering Brazil
Traveler notes
- Sugarloaf at sunset, Corcovado in the morning
- Hike Pedra da Gávea for the unofficial view
- Samba school rehearsals year-round
Plan checks
- Build a three-day plan before extending. Most travel cities are easy to undersell to yourself.
- Check seasonal timing: high season can triple costs on some coastal destinations.
- Verify swim safety, ocean conditions, and water-quality reports by month.
- Bring layered clothing and verify trail/park access before arrival.
Explore more
Frequently asked about Rio de Janeiro
What currency is used in Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro uses the Brazilian real (R$), ISO code BRL.
What languages are spoken in Brazil?
The primary language is Portuguese.
What is the international calling code for Brazil?
The calling code is +55.
What airport serves Rio de Janeiro?
Galeão International (IATA: GIG).
Other South America destinations
Ecuador
Ecuador is Quito's old town at altitude, Otavalo markets, the Galápagos Islands, Amazon basin lodges, and Cuenca's colonial streets. All compact enough for one trip.
Guyana
Guyana is a destination in South America where the landscape is the point. National parks, coastlines, forests, or mountain travel anchor most itineraries.
Paraguay
Paraguay is a destination in South America where the landscape is the point. National parks, coastlines, forests, or mountain travel anchor most itineraries.
Peru
Peru is Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley, Cusco's Inca + colonial layers, Amazon jungle at Puerto Maldonado, Lima's Michelin-listed food, and the Nazca Lines.
Suriname
Suriname is a destination in South America where the landscape is the point. National parks, coastlines, forests, or mountain travel anchor most itineraries.
Uruguay
Uruguay is a destination in South America with coastlines and warm-water travel at its core. Plan around season, swim conditions, and regional island or coastal routes.