What is the weather like in Rio de Janeiro in May?

Expect temperatures between 19°C and 26°C with 18% average rain probability and about 8 hours of sunshine daily.

What is the weather like in Rio de Janeiro in May?

Rio de Janeiro in May scores 63/100 based on 30 years of climate data. Decent conditions for most activities.

Who should visit Rio de Janeiro in May?

May in Rio de Janeiro is ideal for: Beach lovers, Outdoor enthusiasts, Photographers, Cultural tourists, Honeymoon couples.

Rio de Janeiro Weather in May | 30-Year Forecast

Avg High

26°C

Hottest around day 2

Avg Low

19°C

Coolest around day 24

Rainy Days

0days

18% avg rain chance

Sunshine

8hrs/day

Spring season

Sea Temperature in May

Atlantic Ocean(Oceano Atlântico)

24.2°C

Monthly Average

Water Feel

☀️Warm

Perfect for swimming and water sports

Swim Rating

✅Excellent for swimming

Based on average sea surface temperature

Body of Water

Atlantic Ocean

Oceano Atlântico

Rio de Janeiro coastline

Essential Travel Info for Rio de Janeiro

🗓️ Best Time to Visit 📖 Travel Guide 🍴 Food Guide

Currency

BRL

R$ Brazilian real

Language

Portuguese

Driving

Right side

Safety

Moderate Safety

GPI: 2.465

Travel Intelligence

Exclusive flight analytics & health data for Rio de Janeiro

Smart Flight Estimator

Airport-to-Airport Logistics

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Flight Connectivity Analysis

Airport traffic data & seasonal patterns

Moderate

55/ 100

Traffic Index

Balanced traffic

Peak Daily Arrivals

slots per day

Peak

May

Low

Nov

Monthly Traffic Distribution

195

Jan

170

Feb

171

Mar

246

Apr

250

May

Jun

164

Jul

157

Aug

168

Sep

163

Oct

Nov

180

Dec

Traffic Level

Low Season

Key Connections

São Paulo Guarulhos - Governador André Franco Montoro (GRU)

Porto Alegre Salgado Filho (POA)

Buenos Aires Jorge Newbery Airpark (AEP)

Campinas Viracopos (VCP)

Curitiba Afonso Pena (CWB)

Health & Safety Advisory

CDC travel health recommendations

9 Recommendations

COVID-19

All eligible travelers should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines. Please seeYour COVID-19 Vaccinationfor more information.

Chikungunya

There iselevated chikungunya riskin Brazil.Chikungunya vaccinationmay be considered for people traveling or moving to this location if they are planning to stay for an extended period of time (for example, 6 months or more).

Hepatitis A

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers one year old or older going to Brazil.Infants 6 to 11 months old should also be vaccinated against Hepatitis A. The dose does not count toward the routine 2-dose series.Travelers allergic to a vaccine component should receive a single dose of immune globulin, which provides effective protection for up to 2 months depending on dosage given.Unvaccinated travelers who are over 40 years old, are immunocompromised, or have chronic medical conditions planning to depart to a risk area in less than 2 weeks should get the initial dose of vaccine and at the same appointment receive immune globulin.

Hepatitis B

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers younger than 60 years old traveling to Brazil. Unvaccinated travelers 60 years and older may get vaccinated before traveling to Brazil.

Malaria

CDC recommends that travelers going to certain areas of Brazil take prescription medicine to prevent malaria. Depending on the medicine you take, you will need to start taking this medicine multiple days before your trip, as well as during and after your trip. Talk to your doctor about which malaria medication you should take.Transmission areasAll areas in the states of Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Rondônia, and RoraimaPresent in the states of Maranhão, Mato Grosso, and Pará, but rare cases in their capital cities (São Luis [capital of Maranhão], Cuiabá [capital of Mato Grosso], Belém [capital of Pará])Rare cases and sporadic foci of transmission in rural and forested areas in the states of Espírito Santo, Goiás, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul, Piauí, Rio de Janeiro, São Paolo, and TocantinsNo malaria transmission in the cities of Brasília (the capital), Rio de Janeiro, or São PaoloNo malaria transmission at Iguaçu FallsDrug resistanceChloroquineSpeciesP. vivax(90%)P. falciparum(10%)Recommended chemoprophylaxisAtovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine2Areas with rare cases: No chemoprophylaxis recommended (insect bite precautions and mosquito avoidance only)4Updated April 23, 2025See footnotes

Measles

Cases of measles are on the rise worldwide. Travelers are at risk of measles if they have not been fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior to departure, or have not had measles in the past, and travel internationally to areas where measles is spreading.All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, including an early dose for infants 6–11 months, according toCDC’s measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.

+3 more

Source: CDC Travelers' Health

View Complete Health Guide

Is May a Good Time to Visit Rio de Janeiro?

👌Decent conditions for most activities(63/100)

Short Answer

Ideal beach conditions in Rio de Janeiro during May: 24.2°C turquoise waters, 26°C air, 18% rain. 1m calm waves suit families and swimmers alike.

Decision Factors

Vaccinations required

Yellow Fever

Very high humidity

80% average humidity

Peak tourist season

100% of annual peak - expect crowds and peak prices

Pleasant swimming conditions

24.2°C sea temperature

Health precautions needed

Be aware of: Leptospirosis, Melioidosis, Schistosomiasis

Plenty of sunshine

8.9h of sunshine daily

Good For

🏖️
Beach lovers
24.2°C warm seas and 18% rain probability
🥾
Outdoor enthusiasts
Ideal hiking conditions: 26.1°C, 18% rain chance
📸
Photographers
8.9h sunshine, 51% clear skies for golden hour shots
🏛️
Cultural tourists
Comfortable conditions for exploring museums and sites
💑
Honeymoon couples
Wedding score 97/100 with romantic weather conditions

Who Should Avoid

💰
Budget travelers
Peak season means premium prices everywhere
👴
Elderly travelers
80% humidity creates difficult conditions

"According to 30YearWeather's analysis of 30 years of NASA POWER satellite data,Rio de Janeiro in May averages 26°C with 18% precipitation probability."

📊 Source: 30YearWeather.com🛰️ Data: NASA POWER (1991-2021)View Methodology →

Frequently Asked Questions: Rio de Janeiro in May

What are the temperatures in Rio de Janeiro in May?

Daytime highs average 26°C, nights drop to 19°C. Temperatures remain fairly consistent.

How many rainy days in Rio de Janeiro in May?

Expect around 0 days with measurable rainfall. Rain is unlikely to disrupt plans.

What to wear in Rio de Janeiro in May?

Comfortable casual wear with a light jacket for evenings.

Is May peak season in Rio de Janeiro?

This is typically peak season with higher prices. Book 2-3 months ahead.

Rio de Janeiro Weather in May