Best Time to Visit Rio de Janeiro

May to October

Months to avoid: December to March (peak heat and summer crowds; Carnival spikes prices)

Recommended stay: 4-5 days

Plan Rio de Janeiro for May to October. Give it 4-5 days. The window to avoid is December to March (peak heat and summer crowds; Carnival spikes prices).

What the season gets you

• Few city views on earth rival Sugarloaf at sunset
• Copacabana and Ipanema are genuine social institutions, not just beaches
• Tijuca, the world's largest urban rainforest, is right in the city