Month guide · Rio de Janeiro · Brazil
Rio de Janeiro in January
What January is really like in Rio de Janeiro: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
January is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 30°C (86°F), lows of 23°C (73°F), about 12 rainy days and roughly 13.4 hours of daylight. Peak summer: hot, humid and busy with Brazilian holidaymakers, with packed weekend beaches and frequent afternoon thunderstorms.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 30°C (86°F) / 23°C (73°F)
- Rainy days
- About 12
- Daylight
- About 13.4 hours
- Sea temperature
- 25°C (77°F)
- Crowds
- Very busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in January
January is the warmest month in Rio de Janeiro: days average 30°C (86°F) against a yearly average high of 27°C (81°F), and nights fall to about 23°C (73°F). Rain falls on roughly 12 of its 31 days. Compared with December (29°C (84°F)), January is about as warm; by February highs stay near 30°C (86°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 05:20
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 18:43
- Daylight
- About 13.4 hours
- Sea
- 25°C (77°F)
Autumn (April–May). Warm, drier and less humid, with comfortable hiking weather, clear views and fewer visitors.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 5 for crowds (the peak is January at 5) and 5 for hotel prices (highest in January). Book accommodation early: January is one of the pricier months.
Events in January
- Saint Sebastian's Day — holiday for the city's patron saint (20 January)
- Pre-Carnival street parties (blocos) start at weekends (usually from mid-January)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Museum · Praça Mauá
Museum of Tomorrow
Pair it with the Museu de Arte do Rio across Praça Mauá and ride the VLT tram back to Centro.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Photo spot
Gallery · Praça Mauá
Museu de Arte do Rio (MAR)
MAR links an early 20th-century palace and a modernist building under a wave-shaped canopy, with rotating exhibitions on Rio's history, art and visual culture.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
- Views
Aquarium · Gamboa
AquaRio
Visit on a weekday morning; weekend afternoons and school holidays are crowded.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
Architecture · Centro
Real Gabinete Português de Leitura
Behind a Neo-Manueline façade on Rua Luís de Camões, this 1880s reading room rises through three tiers of carved wooden bookcases under a stained-glass skylight.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Free
- Rainy day
- Photo spot
The sea averages 25°C (77°F) — warm enough to swim. Best beaches near Rio de Janeiro.
What to pack
For highs near 30°C, lows near 23°C and 12 wet days: light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; a compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January a good time to visit Rio de Janeiro?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, April–June and August–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Rio de Janeiro in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is January a good time to visit Rio de Janeiro?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Peak summer: hot, humid and busy with Brazilian holidaymakers, with packed weekend beaches and frequent afternoon thunderstorms.
+How warm is Rio de Janeiro in January?
Average highs are around 30°C (86°F) and lows around 23°C (73°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Rio de Janeiro in January?
Expect rain on about 12 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.