Month guide · Rio de Janeiro · Brazil
Rio de Janeiro in May
What May is really like in Rio de Janeiro: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: J. P. Engelbrecht, CC BY 3.0
Quick answer
May is one of the best months to visit Rio de Janeiro. Expect average highs of 26°C (79°F), lows of 20°C (68°F), about 7 rainy days and roughly 11 hours of daylight. One of the most comfortable months: warm, mostly dry days, clearer views from Corcovado and fewer visitors.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 26°C (79°F) / 20°C (68°F)
- Rainy days
- About 7
- Daylight
- About 11 hours
- Sea temperature
- 24°C (75°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in May
May is the 7th-warmest month in Rio de Janeiro: days average 26°C (79°F) against a yearly average high of 27°C (81°F), and nights fall to about 20°C (68°F). Rain falls on roughly 7 of its 31 days. Compared with April (28°C (82°F)), May is cooler; by June highs stay near 25°C (77°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 06:18
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 17:19
- Daylight
- About 11 hours
- Sea
- 24°C (75°F)
Winter (June–August). Mild days around 25°C, cooler evenings and the clearest skies; the sea is cooler but locals still fill the beaches on sunny weekends.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 2 for crowds (the peak is January at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in January). That makes May one of the better-value months to book.
Events in May
May has no major recurring festival in Rio de Janeiro, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in May
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Landmark · Corcovado
Christ the Redeemer
Take one of the first trains on a clear morning; cloud often settles over the summit later in the day, so look at the sky before you set off.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours including the train
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- Kids
- Photo spot
Landmark · Urca
Sugarloaf Mountain
Two cable cars lift you from Praia Vermelha in Urca first to Morro da Urca and then to the 396-metre summit of Sugarloaf, which rises straight out of the entrance to Guanabara Bay.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- Couples
- Kids
- After dark
![[www.flickr.com/photos/26912057@N02/ bisonlux]](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Praia_de_Copacabana_-_Rio_de_Janeiro,_Brasil.jpg){kind=link}
Beach · Copacabana
Copacabana Beach
Walk the promenade early in the morning when locals jog and play footvolley, and leave valuables at your hotel.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Beach · Ipanema
Ipanema Beach
Ipanema's beach is divided by numbered lifeguard posts, each with its own crowd: surfers near Arpoador, a young scene around Posto 9 and the rainbow flags of the LGBTQ+ stretch facing Rua Farme de Amoedo.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Outdoors
- Couples
- Photo spot
The sea averages 24°C (75°F) — warm enough to swim. Best beaches near Rio de Janeiro.
What to pack
For highs near 26°C, lows near 20°C and 7 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Rio de Janeiro?
One of the best months to visit Rio de Janeiro. The other best months are April, June and August–October. Compare every month.
Rio de Janeiro in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Rio de Janeiro?
It is one of the best months to visit Rio de Janeiro. One of the most comfortable months: warm, mostly dry days, clearer views from Corcovado and fewer visitors.
+How warm is Rio de Janeiro in May?
Average highs are around 26°C (79°F) and lows around 20°C (68°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Rio de Janeiro in May?
Expect rain on about 7 days of the month.