Rio de Janeiro · Month comparison
December vs June
June ranks #1 overall vs December at #10. Southern Hemisphere winter: ideal conditions, almost no rain, and the city is yours.
December
#10 of 12 months
Worth considering
Festival season begins — spectacular city energy, 246mm of rain, and prices approaching Carnival level.
- ↑New Year's Eve is approaching: the city building toward the Copacabana celebration
- ↑Summer beach culture at full capacity: the best Ipanema nights begin in December
June
#1 of 12 months
Best match
Southern Hemisphere winter: ideal conditions, almost no rain, and the city is yours.
- ↑Only 51mm of rain and reliable sunshine: the most predictable weather of the year
- ↑25°C: warm enough for everything — beaches, hiking Tijuca, Sugarloaf, and Christ the Redeemer — without oppressive humidity
| Factor | December | June |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 4 | 9 |
| Value score | 4 | 8 |
| Crowd score | 3 | 9 |
| Events score | 8 | 5 |
| Atmosphere | 9 | 8 |
| Avg high temp | 29.5°C | 25.3°C |
| Monthly rain | 246mm | 51mm |
| Daily sunshine | 5.2hrs | 7hrs |
December trade-offs
- ↓246mm: very heavy summer rain — afternoon plans must be flexible
- ↓Prices rising steeply toward New Year and Carnival: book early or pay significantly more
- ↓30°C+ with 77% humidity: outdoor sightseeing best confined to morning hours
June trade-offs
- ↓Most visitors don't know this is Rio's best weather: you may be explaining to friends why you chose June
- ↓Beach crowd much thinner — if you want the Ipanema energy, July or August is better
- ↓Some cultural events and outdoor performances are concentrated in summer
Scores compare months within Rio de Janeiro. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →