Before you go · Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro essentials
The practical things worth knowing before you arrive, checked against official sources on 28 October 2026. Entry rules change: always check the official sources before you travel.
Updated October 2026
Entry to Brazil
Since 10 April 2025, citizens of the United States, Canada and Australia need an electronic visitor visa (e-visa) for tourism and business visits to Brazil. The Brazilian foreign ministry’s pages on gov.br name the official application portal and the fee; never pay any other site.
Other visitors should check the foreign ministry’s visa table on gov.br/mre before they travel: the rules depend on your passport.
From the airports
RIOgaleão – Tom Jobim International Airport (riogaleao.com) lists the BRT, buses, taxis and car hire into the city. Santos Dumont Airport, for domestic flights, is on the bay beside Centro and served by the VLT (aena.com.br).
Metro, VLT and ferries
MetrôRio runs Lines 1, 2 and 4 under the Zona Sul and Centro (metrorio.com.br). The VLT light rail runs through Centro and the port. The Barcas cross from the Praça XV to Niterói and Paquetá, and the bonde climbs to Santa Teresa. Licensed taxis are yellow with a blue stripe.
Money
The currency is the Brazilian real (R$). Cards are widely accepted; carry only what you need on the beach.
The seasons and the Carnival
Rio is in the southern hemisphere: December to March is summer, hot and humid, with short tropical downpours; June to August is the mild winter. In 2027 the Carnival’s Special Group parades are on 7, 8 and 9 February (liesa.org.br), and the city fills in the days around them; book early.
Customs and etiquette
Beach life is organised by posto, the numbered lifeguard stations; swim where the lifeguards are and respect the flags. Dress respectfully in churches and monasteries. Dinner is late: few Cariocas sit down before nine.
Safety and emergencies
Use common sense, as in any big city: keep phones and valuables out of sight on the beach and in crowds, use licensed taxis or booked cars at night, and follow the Tijuca National Park’s own advice on its trails. Call 192 for the SAMU ambulance service, 193 for the fire brigade and 190 for the police. Travel with insurance that covers medical costs.
Questions and answers
Do I need a visa to visit Rio de Janeiro?
Citizens of the United States, Canada and Australia need an e-visa (since 10 April 2025). Other visitors should check the Brazilian foreign ministry’s visa table on gov.br/mre.
How do I get from Galeão to the city?
By the BRT, bus or taxi; see riogaleao.com for the options.
When is the Rio Carnival in 2027?
The Special Group parades at the Sambódromo are on 7, 8 and 9 February 2027, according to LIESA.
What is the emergency number in Brazil?
192 for an ambulance (SAMU), 193 for the fire brigade and 190 for the police.
Entry rules and transport change, sometimes at short notice. Check gov.br/mre, riogaleao.com, metrorio.com.br and your government’s travel advice before you travel.