Current Time in Rio de Janeiro
About Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro is located in Brazil, in the Southern Hemisphere, and is one of the most populous cities in the world with a population of around 6,747,815. It runs on America/Sao_Paulo time, currently UTC-3:00 relative to UTC. Rio de Janeiro does not observe Daylight Saving Time, so this offset stays fixed year-round.
- CountryBrazil
- Population6,747,815
- Latitude-22.9064°
- Longitude-43.1822°
- Time zoneAmerica/Sao_Paulo
- Current UTC offsetUTC-3:00
- Daylight Saving TimeNot observed
Sunrise & Sunset in Rio de Janeiro Today
For Sunday, October 11, 2026, calculated from Rio de Janeiro's own coordinates.
Sunrise
Sunset
Daylight
Seasons in Rio de Janeiro
Approximate dates — the exact moment a season begins shifts by about a day from year to year.
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter
Top Places to Visit in Rio de Janeiro
Christ the Redeemer
Christ the Redeemer, completed in 1931 atop the 700-meter Corcovado peak, is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and Brazil's most recognizable symbol, its outstretched arms visible from much of central Rio on a clear day. Built from reinforced concrete and soapstone by a team including French sculptor Paul Landowski, the 38-meter statue was an engineering achievement for its era, particularly given the challenges of construction on such a remote, exposed summit. The Corcovado Rack Railway, one of the oldest cog trains in the country, remains the most popular way up, though minibuses and, for the more adventurous, hiking trails also reach the summit. From the base of the statue, views stretch across Guanabara Bay, Sugarloaf Mountain and the city's beaches, weather and cloud cover permitting, since the peak's height means it's sometimes shrouded in mist even on otherwise clear days below.
From Galeão International Airport, take a taxi or ride-hailing app to Cosme Velho station for the Corcovado Rack Railway, or to Largo do Machado metro station and connect to the 580 Express Bus, as the metro doesn't run to the airport.
Rio doesn't have a single central intercity railway station in the traditional sense; from Central do Brasil (the main commuter rail terminal), take the metro to Largo do Machado station and connect to the 580 Express Bus, or a taxi to Cosme Velho for the Corcovado Rack Railway.
From Rio's long-distance bus terminal (Rodoviária Novo Rio), take the metro toward Largo do Machado station and connect to the 580 Express Bus, or a taxi to Cosme Velho for the Corcovado Rack Railway.
Sugarloaf Mountain
Sugarloaf Mountain, or Pão de Açúcar, is a granite peak rising 396 meters directly from Guanabara Bay, its cable car system, opened in 1912, among the oldest in the world and the primary way to reach the summit. The two-stage ride first stops at Morro da Urca, a smaller hill with its own observation areas and facilities, before continuing to the main Sugarloaf summit, where panoramic views take in Copacabana Beach, Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado, and the Rio-Niterói Bridge spanning the bay. The mountain's smooth, rounded granite form, distinct from the more angular peaks nearby, gave rise to its name, said to resemble the traditional conical loaves in which refined sugar was once sold. Sunset is a particularly popular time to visit, when the cable car ride and summit views coincide with the city's changing light, though this also means significant crowds and correspondingly longer queues.
From Galeão International Airport, take a taxi or ride-hailing app to Praia Vermelha, the cable car's base station, as the metro doesn't run to the airport and Urca isn't directly on the metro line.
From Central do Brasil, take the metro to Botafogo station, then a taxi or bus to Praia Vermelha for the cable car base station.
From Rio's long-distance bus terminal (Rodoviária Novo Rio), take the metro toward Botafogo station, then a taxi or bus to Praia Vermelha.
Copacabana Beach
Copacabana Beach has been one of the world's most famous stretches of sand since the 1920s, when the opening of the grand Copacabana Palace Hotel drew international celebrities and helped cement the neighborhood's glamorous reputation. Its roughly 4-kilometer crescent of sand, backed by the wave-patterned black-and-white mosaic promenade designed by Brazilian landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx, remains a genuine cross-section of Rio life, from morning exercisers and beach volleyball games to the informal beachside vendors selling coconut water and grilled cheese. New Year's Eve draws millions to the beach for one of the world's largest fireworks celebrations, and the neighborhood's restaurants and bars along Avenida Atlântica offer an easy way to extend a beach day into the evening. Strong currents and undertow can make the water rougher than expected for casual swimmers, so paying attention to flag warnings and local guidance is worthwhile.
From Galeão International Airport, take a taxi or ride-hailing app directly to Copacabana, as the metro doesn't run to the airport, typically 30-45 minutes depending on traffic.
From Central do Brasil, take the metro directly to Cardeal Arcoverde, Siqueira Campos, Cantagalo or General Osório station, all serving different points along Copacabana.
From Rio's long-distance bus terminal (Rodoviária Novo Rio), take the metro toward Cardeal Arcoverde or Siqueira Campos station, both serving Copacabana.
Selarón Steps
The Selarón Steps, in the bohemian Lapa district, were the personal, decades-long project of Chilean-born artist Jorge Selarón, who began tiling the staircase outside his home in 1990 and continued adding to it until his death in 2013. More than 2,000 tiles, many donated by visitors from over 60 countries and some bearing personal messages or images from donors' home countries, cover the 215-step staircase in a dense, colorful mosaic dominated by yellow, green and blue, echoing the Brazilian flag. Selarón described the ever-changing work as a tribute to the Brazilian people, and it has become one of Rio's most photographed spots, drawing a steady stream of visitors regardless of time of day. The surrounding Lapa and Santa Teresa neighborhoods, known for nightlife, samba clubs and colonial-era architecture, make natural extensions to a visit here.
From Galeão International Airport, take a taxi or ride-hailing app directly to the Lapa district, as the metro doesn't run to the airport, typically 30-45 minutes depending on traffic.
From Central do Brasil, take the metro to Cinelândia station, then a short walk into Lapa to the steps.
From Rio's long-distance bus terminal (Rodoviária Novo Rio), take the metro toward Cinelândia station, then a short walk into Lapa.
Metropolitan Cathedral
Rio's Metropolitan Cathedral, dedicated to Saint Sebastian, the city's patron saint, was built between 1964 and 1979 in a strikingly modern conical form, its architecture bearing little resemblance to the ornate colonial-era churches found elsewhere in the city. Designed by architect Edgar de Oliveira da Fonseca, the cone-shaped structure rises 75 meters and is dominated inside by four massive stained-glass windows running from floor to ceiling, flooding the vast, largely unadorned interior with colored light. The cathedral can hold up to 20,000 people standing, making it one of the largest church interiors in the world by capacity, though its stark, unornamented concrete walls give it a very different atmosphere from a typical grand cathedral. A small museum in the crypt displays religious artifacts and artwork, offering additional context for visitors beyond the main worship space itself.
From Galeão International Airport, take a taxi or ride-hailing app directly to the cathedral in central Rio, as the metro doesn't run to the airport, typically 30-45 minutes depending on traffic.
From Central do Brasil, take the metro to Uruguaiana station, a short walk from the cathedral.
From Rio's long-distance bus terminal (Rodoviária Novo Rio), take the metro toward Uruguaiana station, a short walk from the cathedral.
Brazil National Holidays
2026
| Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thu, Jan 1 |
| Carnival | Mon, Feb 16 |
| Good Friday | Fri, Apr 3 |
| Tiradentes Day | Tue, Apr 21 |
| Labor Day | Fri, May 1 |
| Corpus Christi | Thu, Jun 4 |
| Independence Day | Mon, Sep 7 |
| Our Lady of Aparecida | Mon, Oct 12 |
| All Souls' Day | Mon, Nov 2 |
| Proclamation of the Republic | Sun, Nov 15 |
| Black Awareness Day | Fri, Nov 20 |
| Christmas Day | Fri, Dec 25 |
2027
| Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Fri, Jan 1 |
| Carnival | Mon, Feb 8 |
| Good Friday | Fri, Mar 26 |
| Tiradentes Day | Wed, Apr 21 |
| Labor Day | Sat, May 1 |
| Corpus Christi | Thu, May 27 |
| Independence Day | Tue, Sep 7 |
| Our Lady of Aparecida | Tue, Oct 12 |
| All Souls' Day | Tue, Nov 2 |
| Proclamation of the Republic | Mon, Nov 15 |
| Black Awareness Day | Sat, Nov 20 |
| Christmas Day | Sat, Dec 25 |
2028
| Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Sat, Jan 1 |
| Carnival | Mon, Feb 28 |
| Good Friday | Fri, Apr 14 |
| Tiradentes Day | Fri, Apr 21 |
| Labor Day | Mon, May 1 |
| Corpus Christi | Thu, Jun 15 |
| Independence Day | Thu, Sep 7 |
| Our Lady of Aparecida | Thu, Oct 12 |
| All Souls' Day | Thu, Nov 2 |
| Proclamation of the Republic | Wed, Nov 15 |
| Black Awareness Day | Mon, Nov 20 |
| Christmas Day | Mon, Dec 25 |
2029
| Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Mon, Jan 1 |
| Carnival | Mon, Feb 12 |
| Good Friday | Fri, Mar 30 |
| Tiradentes Day | Sat, Apr 21 |
| Labor Day | Tue, May 1 |
| Corpus Christi | Thu, May 31 |
| Independence Day | Fri, Sep 7 |
| Our Lady of Aparecida | Fri, Oct 12 |
| All Souls' Day | Fri, Nov 2 |
| Proclamation of the Republic | Thu, Nov 15 |
| Black Awareness Day | Tue, Nov 20 |
| Christmas Day | Tue, Dec 25 |
2030
| Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Tue, Jan 1 |
| Carnival | Mon, Mar 4 |
| Good Friday | Fri, Apr 19 |
| Tiradentes Day | Sun, Apr 21 |
| Labor Day | Wed, May 1 |
| Corpus Christi | Thu, Jun 20 |
| Independence Day | Sat, Sep 7 |
| Our Lady of Aparecida | Sat, Oct 12 |
| All Souls' Day | Sat, Nov 2 |
| Proclamation of the Republic | Fri, Nov 15 |
| Black Awareness Day | Wed, Nov 20 |
| Christmas Day | Wed, Dec 25 |
Daylight Saving Time
Rio de Janeiro does not observe Daylight Saving Time. The UTC offset stays fixed at UTC-3:00 year-round.
Time Difference from Top 10 US Cities
Time Difference from Top 10 Cities Worldwide
Frequently Asked Questions About Time in Rio de Janeiro
What time zone is Rio de Janeiro in?
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil uses the America/Sao_Paulo time zone. It is currently on UTC-3:00. The live local time is shown at the top of this page.
Does Rio de Janeiro observe Daylight Saving Time?
No. Rio de Janeiro does not observe Daylight Saving Time, so it stays on UTC-3:00 all year round and never changes its clocks.
What time is sunrise and sunset in Rio de Janeiro today?
The sun rises at 5:23 AM and sets at 5:55 PM in Rio de Janeiro today, giving 12h 31m of daylight.
What is the time difference between Rio de Janeiro and New York City?
New York City is 1 hour behind Rio de Janeiro right now. The full comparison against other major cities is in the tables above.
What is the UTC offset for Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro is currently UTC-3:00. This offset is fixed and does not change during the year.