Rio de Janeiro travel guide
Money, safety, parties, beaches, getting around, living in Rio and Portuguese. Practical guides written by locals, updated with real prices and dates.
Visas, weather, SIM cards, health and first-timer essentials.
Plan your tripEverything worth knowing before your first trip to Rio de Janeiro: how many days, neighborhoods, money, safety, transportation and language, with links to each in-depth guide.
Plan your tripBrazil entry requirements by country, the e-Visa for US, Canadian and Australian citizens (US$80.90), traveling with minors and yellow fever.
Plan your tripThe best time to visit Rio de Janeiro depending on what you want: beach, hiking, Carnival or lower prices. Month-by-month weather, packing tips and rainy-day ideas.
Reais, Pix, cards, exchange and what Rio costs.
Money & paymentsCash or card? Can you use Pix as a tourist? We compare costs, where to exchange money in Copacabana, ATM fees, the DCC trap, tipping and how to avoid the card-machine scam.
Money & paymentsIs Rio expensive? It depends on how you travel. Budget calculator (backpacker, mid-range, comfort), typical prices in reais, high vs. low season and money-saving tips.
Money & paymentsPix is Brazil's favorite way to pay, and you can use it as a tourist through apps like WanderWallet, Nomad or Inter Global. How it works, myths vs. facts, and how to pay safely.
Stay safe and avoid common scams.
SafetyMillions of visitors enjoy Rio every year without trouble. Area map, habit checklist, getting around at night, emergency numbers and tips for solo women and LGBTQ+ travelers.
SafetyA R$20 corn on the cob charged R$20,000: the card-machine scam is real. The most common scams in Rio, how to spot them and what to do. Quiz included.
Airport transfers, metro, Uber and more.
Getting aroundHow to get from Rio's airports to Copacabana or Ipanema: Uber (R$80–130), prepaid taxi, executive bus (R$18.85), BRT + subway or a private transfer, with times and safety tips.
Getting aroundA practical guide to Rio transportation: subway (R$7.90), buses, BRT and light rail (R$5), Uber and 99, Itaú bike share and walking, with a station map and night safety tips.
Carnival, New Year's Eve, samba and nightlife.
Parties & eventsPick your travel dates knowing what's on in Rio: big parties, sports, culture and the holidays that close banks and push prices up.
Parties & eventsEverything for Carnival 2027: who parades each night, ticket prices, which sector to pick and the street parties you can't miss.
Parties & eventsTwo million people in white, fireworks over the sea and free concerts: how to enjoy New Year's Eve 2026/27 in Copacabana stress-free.
Christ, Sugarloaf, beaches, hikes, football and food.
Things to doBuying a Maracanã ticket with a foreign card is nearly impossible. Here's why, how to solve it and how to experience a match like a local.
Things to doEverything you need to visit Rio's two icons in 2026: how to get up Corcovado, what the Sugarloaf cable car costs, when to go to beat lines and clouds, and what you'll see from the top.
Things to doMap and comparison of Rio's beaches, Sept 2026 prices for chairs, umbrellas and caipirinhas, the newer beach rules, water quality and phrases to order like a local.
Búzios, Arraial, Ilha Grande, Angra and Paraty.
Find the right neighborhood for your style.
Visas, CPF, renting and digital nomad life.
Living in RioHow to move to Rio step by step: which visa fits you, getting your CPF, renting without a guarantor, monthly costs and where to live.
Living in RioEverything for working from Rio: VITEM XIV visa requirements, coworking from R$600, neighborhoods with good internet, meetups and a monthly budget.
Portuguese for travelers.
Language“Embaraçada” isn't pregnant and “propina” is a bribe. Key false friends, survival phrases and where to learn Portuguese in Rio.
LanguageThe Portuguese you actually need in Rio: greetings, restaurants, rides, the beach and emergencies—with pronunciation, audio and local slang.
