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Rio de Janeiro · RJ Fair time to visit Summer High season

Rio de Janeiro in December

Short answer

In December, Rio de Janeiro averages highs of 29 °C (84 °F) and lows of 22 °C (72 °F), with about 137 mm of rain spread over roughly 13 days. December is one of the rainiest months of the year, so bring a rain jacket and keep some indoor activities in mind. Crowds tend to be high this month.

Climate · INMET (updated 2026)
Most reviewed activity in Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro Full-Day Tour + Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain by Minibus★ 8.6 · 338 reviews · from US$ 103 · via CivitatisSee dates and price →
Temperature
29 / 22 °C
high / low
Rain
137 mm
13 days
Daylight
13h32
sunset at 18:34
Crowds
High
1 public holiday

What to expect in Rio de Janeiro in December

Myllena Vieira, editor at Visite
Editor's tip

December finds Rio de Janeiro in the middle of summer. In Brazil the seasons are the reverse of those in the Northern Hemisphere. Temperatures are pleasant, with highs of 29 °C (84 °F) and nights that still call for a light jacket. It is one of the busiest times of the year: the destination fills up, rates go up and the best hotels sell out early. Book ahead or choose weekdays. It rains fairly often, so keep an indoor plan handy for gray days. If the dates line up, it is worth fitting New Year's Eve at Copacabana (Réveillon) into your itinerary: it is what livens up the destination at that time of year.

Myllena Vieira · Editor at Visite
Crowds
Crowd level: high

December is high season: the destination fills up, the most popular attractions have lines, and it pays to book ahead.

Prices
Rates: high · ~R$ 341

High season: higher rates and heavy demand. Book ahead. The average nightly rate for lodging in Rio de Janeiro is around R$ 341 (Brazilian reais), depending on the date.

Tours and tickets

Things to do in Rio de Janeiro in December

booking on Civitatis
Rio de Janeiro Full-Day Tour + Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain by Minibus
8.6· 338 reviews

Rio de Janeiro Full-Day Tour + Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain by Minibus

Discover Rio de Janeiro on this complete tour. See the world-famous Christ the Redeemer Statue, Sugarloaf Mountain and the Maracana stadium in real life!

10 h
from US$ 103
Book →
Rio de Janeiro Rocinha Favela Walking Tour
9.3· 187 reviews

Rio de Janeiro Rocinha Favela Walking Tour

Experience the other side of Rio de Janeiro with this guided tour of the Rocinha favela, during which you'll discover its lesser-known spots.

3 h
from US$ 50
Book →
Rio Sunset Sailing Tour
9.6· 158 reviews

Rio Sunset Sailing Tour

Experience a beautiful sunset over Rio de Janiero, sailing the bay as night falls on board a luxurious yacht - a unique experience in the 'Cidade Maravilhosa'.

3 h
from US$ 53
Book →
Dona Marta Viewpoint Sunrise & Christ the Redeemer
9.8· 51 reviews

Dona Marta Viewpoint Sunrise & Christ the Redeemer

On this tour in Rio de Janeiro, we'll see a spectacular sunrise at the Dona Marta viewpoint and the awe-inspiring statue of Christ the Redeemer.

3 h
from US$ 98
Book →
Christ the Redeemer and Tijuca National Park Tour
9.6· 39 reviews

Christ the Redeemer and Tijuca National Park Tour

Enjoy the majestic landscapes that surround Rio on this tour of the National Park of Tijuca and the neighbouring area. Amazing!

7 h
from US$ 55
Book →
Rio de Janeiro Sailboat Trip
9.8· 29 reviews

Rio de Janeiro Sailboat Trip

Admire the famous Sugar Loaf Mountain from a truly unique perspective with this unforgettable sailboat trip around Rio de Janeiro.

3 h
from US$ 54
Book →
See all activities in Rio de Janeiro
Where to stay

Hotels in Rio de Janeiro

December is high season in Rio de Janeiro: the best hotels fill up and rates rise as the date approaches. It is best to lock in your room as soon as the trip is decided.

Linx Galeao by Wish in Rio de Janeiro 8.8 ★★★ · 399 reviews Linx Galeao by Wish See on Booking → Americas Granada Hotel in Rio de Janeiro 8.5 ★★★★ · 589 reviews Americas Granada Hotel See on Booking → ibis budget RJ Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro 8.2 ★★ · 71 reviews ibis budget RJ Copacabana See on Booking → ibis Rio de Janeiro Nova America in Rio de Janeiro 8.1 ★★★ · 36 reviews ibis Rio de Janeiro Nova America See on Booking →
See all hotels in Rio de Janeiro

Rates change with the dates: confirm the price on Booking.com.

What happens in December

New Year's Eve at Copacabana (Réveillon)
More than two million people dressed in white gather on the beach for the midnight fireworks, with concerts along the waterfront.
Public holidays in December: Christmas (25/12). Expect more people and higher prices around these dates.

What to pack in December

Light clothing for the day · highs of 29 °C (84 °F) Rain jacket or umbrella · 13 days of rain in the month Sunscreen and sunglasses · strong sun on the tours Comfortable walking shoes · you will be on foot much of the day
Looking for better weather?

Where the weather is good in December

These destinations have the best weather comfort for December, scored with the same calculation of rain, heat and humidity. Tap to see what the month is like in each one.

Fernando de Noronha 75
Fernando de Noronha
Pernambuco · see December →
 Jericoacoara 72
Jericoacoara
Ceará · see December →
 João Pessoa 70
João Pessoa
Paraíba · see December →
 Natal 69
Natal
Rio Grande do Norte · see December →
See all destinations by month

Torn between Rio de Janeiro and another destination?

See Rio de Janeiro next to the destinations that usually compete for the same trip: month-by-month weather, driving cost, ideal length of stay and travel style, side by side.

Rio de Janeiro or Arraial do Cabo? Rio de Janeiro or Búzios? Rio de Janeiro or Paraty?
see all comparisons →

Questions about Rio de Janeiro in December

What is the weather like in Rio de Janeiro in December?
In December, Rio de Janeiro averages highs of 29 °C (84 °F) and lows of 22 °C (72 °F), with about 137 mm of rain spread over roughly 13 days. December is one of the rainiest months of the year, so bring a rain jacket and keep some indoor activities in mind. Crowds tend to be high this month.
Does it rain a lot in Rio de Janeiro in December?
In December, Rio de Janeiro gets about 137 mm of rain spread over around 13 rainy days, wetter than the average for the year. Bring a rain jacket and have an indoor backup plan.
Is December high season in Rio de Janeiro?
Crowds in December tend to be high. High season: higher rates and heavy demand. Book ahead.
What is happening in Rio de Janeiro in December?
December brings New Year's Eve at Copacabana (Réveillon). Confirm the dates and book early if they overlap with your trip.
Does it usually rain all day in Rio de Janeiro in December?
INMET's climate normals record the number of rainy days and the total millimeters, not the hours of each day, so they do not say how long the rain lasts. What they show for Rio de Janeiro in December: 13 rainy days in a month of 31 days (about 42% of the days) and 137 mm over the month, which works out to an average of about 11 mm per rainy day. Compared with the rest of the year, December is wetter than the destination's average. Bring a rain jacket and have an indoor backup plan for the rainy days.
What is the temperature in Rio de Janeiro in December, and what should you pack?
According to INMET's climate normals, the average high in Rio de Janeiro in December is 29 °C and the average low is 22 °C, with air humidity of around 79%. Compared with the rest of the year, the temperature in December is typical for the destination. For your suitcase, here is what those numbers call for: light clothing for the day; rain jacket or umbrella; sunscreen and sunglasses.
Is Rio de Janeiro worth visiting in December?
Fair time to visit. On our weather comfort index, which weighs rain, heat and humidity from INMET's climate normals, December scores 42 out of 100 and ranks No. 11 among the 12 months. The most comfortable month is July (74) and the least comfortable is January (40). As for crowds, in December they tend to be high.
November see the full year January