Rio de Janeiro from the UK: what a trip really costs
What a day costs in Rio de Janeiro, when to go, the visa for British travellers and the sights not to miss. Every figure comes from Trip720's checked data, with its source. Updated 21 Oct 2026.
Plan my Rio de Janeiro tripDay to day in Rio de Janeiro, per person
| Style | Food | With transport |
|---|---|---|
| Street food and markets | £12 | £17 |
| A balanced mix | £23 | £28 |
| Mostly restaurants | £30 | £34 |
- Local transport: about £5 a day. Taxi: £1 to start, then £0.55 a km.
- Cooking for yourself: about £6 a day for food.
- Tipping: about 10% where service is good.
Your stay, flights and activities come on top: the planner prices them for your dates. Sources: livingcost.org, diariodotransporte.com.br, en.wikivoyage.org; in GBP at today's rate.
When to go
28°F
28°M
28°A
27°M
25°J
24°J
24°A
25°S
25°O
26°N
26°D
27°
The most pleasant months are April to October. August is the driest month (42 mm of rain) and December the wettest (232 mm).
Bars: rain each month; green: the most pleasant months. Numbers: average daytime high. Source: NASA POWER climatology.
Visa for British travellers
No visa needed for a holiday
Official source: gov.uk, checked 2026-10-01. Rules change: your plan checks your own passport when you build it.
Not to miss in Rio de Janeiro
- Museum of Tomorrowmuseum · a couple of hours
10:00-18:00, closed Mondays; on the revitalised Praça Mauá waterfront, next to the Rio Art Museum
Escadaria Selarónlandmark · a couple of hours215 tiled steps between Lapa and Santa Teresa; go in the morning before tour groups
Christ the Redeemer on Corcovadomonument · half a dayOpen 08:00-19:00; book the cog train from Cosme Velho in advance and go early or on a clear afternoon
Sugarloaf Mountain cable carmountain · a couple of hoursTwo-stage cable car from Praia Vermelha, 08:00-21:00; time it for sunset and stay for the city lights
Copacabana Beachbeach · half a dayRent a chair and umbrella from a kiosk, swim near the lifeguard postos, and walk the wave-pattern promenade at dusk
Ipanema Beach and Arpoador sunsetbeach · half a dayPosto 9 is the lively stretch; climb the Arpoador rock at the Copacabana end for sunset applause
Santa Teresa and the heritage tramneighbourhood · half a dayRide the yellow bonde over the Lapa Arches from Centro, then wander the galleries and bars around Largo do Guimarães
Jardim Botânicogarden · a couple of hoursDaily 08:00-17:00; imperial palm avenue, orchid house and toucans. Combine with neighbouring Parque Lage
Morro Dois Irmãos hikemountain · half a dayAbout 1.5 hours up from Vidigal; moto-taxi to the trailhead. Views over Ipanema, Leblon and Rocinha
Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitaslake · a couple of hoursHire a bike or pedal boat; lakeside kiosks for a sunset drink with Corcovado behind
From our research of travel guides; ticket prices from Tiqets when we found them. Photos: Wikimedia Commons, free licences.
Questions travellers ask
How much does a day in Rio de Janeiro cost?
Food and getting around come to about £17 a person a day eating street food, £28 with a balanced mix and £34 eating mostly in restaurants, before your stay and activities.
When is the best time to visit Rio de Janeiro?
The most pleasant months are April to October. August is the driest month (42 mm of rain) and December the wettest (232 mm); daytime highs run from 24 to 28 °C over the year.
Do British travellers need a visa for Brazil?
No visa needed for a holiday. Checked on gov.uk on 2026-10-01; rules change, so check again before you book.
What should I not miss in Rio de Janeiro?
Museum of Tomorrow, Escadaria Selarón, Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado, Sugarloaf Mountain cable car, Copacabana Beach.
Your whole Rio de Janeiro trip, priced from your door
Trip720 adds the flights from the UK, the stays, transfers, food, activities and the visa for your dates and budget, home to home.
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