How to get to Rio de Janeiro: Best flights and routes

Rio de Janeiro might not be Brazil's main aviation hub — that title belongs to São Paulo. However, the city has two airports of its own and a route network that's solid and consistent for anyone visiting as a tourist, so getting to Rio de Janeiro directly is rarely a problem, whether you're traveling from North America, Europe, or the Middle East.

International flights land at Galeão International Airport (GIG), officially Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport, about 20km north of the city center.

There's a second airport, Santos Dumont (SDU). It handles domestic flights only, and it's useful to know about if you're connecting from São Paulo or another Brazilian city.

Here's what you need to know about how to get to Rio de Janeiro: where the direct routes are, when to book, and how to fit Rio into a longer trip through Brazil or South America.

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Flight taking off from SDU airport, Rio de Janeiro. Photo: Marcos Sanchez

Direct flights to Rio de Janeiro: straight to the sand

The main European and North American airlines fly to Rio de Janeiro, whether seasonally or year-round.

Direct flights to Rio de Janeiro from North America

If you're flying from the US or Canada, here's where the direct routes start, as of 2026:

From the US:

• Miami — American Airlines operates two daily flights.

• New York (JFK) — The one with more options: American Airlines runs daily flights between November and March.
  Delta runs seasonally between December and March, with daily departures.
  In July, GOL, Brazil's airline, launched a direct flight with 3 departures per week, with operations confirmed through 2027.

• Dallas — American Airlines runs a seasonal direct flight between mid-December and mid-February.

• Atlanta — Delta flies direct to Rio, with daily departures between December and February and a weekly flight from March onwards.

• Houston — United Airlines operates one daily flight, year-round.

From Canada:

• Toronto — Air Canada operates seasonal service, recently moved up to start in October due to rising demand. Air Transat runs the same route with two weekly flights between December and May.

• Montreal — Air Transat operates weekly direct flights between December and May.

Direct flights from Europe to Rio de Janeiro

Every major European capital has a direct route to Rio, operated by local and Brazilian airlines.

• London — British Airways operates daily flights, year-round.

• Lisbon — TAP Portugal runs 2 daily flights, year-round. GOL, Brazil's airline, launched 4 weekly flights on the same route.

• Porto — TAP Portugal offers 3 weekly flights, year-round.

• Paris — Air France operates daily flights year-round, adding a second daily flight three times a week between December and February.

• Amsterdam — KLM operates daily flights, year-round.

• Frankfurt — Lufthansa runs daily flights, year-round.

• Rome — ITA Airways operates daily flights, year-round.

• Madrid — Iberia runs 4 weekly direct flights, year-round.

Direct flights to Rio de Janeiro from other parts

For travelers from the Middle East, South Asia, or parts of Africa, Emirates offers a nonstop daily flight from Dubai, making it a practical gateway for long-haul connections from Asia.

Rio de Janeiro is also well connected within South America, with direct flights from major capitals like Buenos Aires, Santiago, and Lima — useful if you're combining Rio with a wider trip across the continent.

Rio's international connections keep expanding: Royal Air Maroc has confirmed the resumption of its Casablanca route, and negotiations are reportedly underway with Turkish Airlines, Aeromexico, and Ethiopian Airlines, which would open new one-stop options from Turkey, Mexico, and East Africa.

Ready to check prices? Search flights to Rio de Janeiro below:

How far in advance to book flights to Rio de Janeiro

Notice a pattern in the routes above? Nearly every airline that adds seasonal capacity does it for the same window, roughly December through March, summer in Rio de Janeiro, that’s exactly when demand peaks.

That's Carnival and New Year's Eve season, Rio's two biggest draws, so fares can climb months in advance. For either one, book 6 to 8 months out if you can. For the rest of the year, 4 to 6 months ahead is a safer bet.

That said, those aren't the only dates that move the city. Rio's calendar is full of events that draw crowds and push up hotel and flight demand, Rock in Rio and the Copacabana Beach Concerts among them. For the full year-round calendar, check our guide to Rio de Janeiro in 2027.

Combining Rio de Janeiro with other Brazilian destinations

If you're planning to explore more of Brazil, GOL, LATAM, and Azul are the main domestic carriers with the widest route networks.

Rio de Janeiro has direct flights to the most popular destinations in the country, including Manaus (for the Amazon), Foz do Iguaçu, Salvador and other beach destinations of the Northeastern, São Luís (the gateway to the Lençóis Maranhenses), and Cuiabá, (the base for the Pantanal).

Brazil is diverse and knowing when to visit each region plays a role. On my month-by-month guides to Rio de Janeiro, I break down the best destinations to pair with each time of year.

If you're coming from São Paulo or another nearby city, buses are a solid alternative to flying. Long-distance buses arrive at Novo Rio Rodoviária, close to downtown, and it's a comfortable, affordable option for short-to-medium distances within Brazil.

Check flights from Rio de Janeiro to the next destination:

Multi-city itineraries to Rio de Janeiro

Here's a tip most travelers don't know: some European carriers, including Iberia and Air France, also fly into the Northeast of Brazil. That opens up open-jaw tickets, where you fly into Rio and out of Salvador or Recife (or vice versa), with the domestic leg between them added separately. It's often a smarter to visit more of Brazil without backtracking.

I have plenty of experience putting together itineraries like this, both for myself and for clients. If you'd like help planning yours, our Rio de Janeiro and Beyond session maps out the flights and route order for you.

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Planning the rest of your trip to Rio de Janeiro

Once your flights are sorted, there are still a few things worth figuring out before you go:

Rio de Janeiro travel guide
Covers visas, vaccines, and everything else you need to know before arriving.

How to get from the airport to your hotel.
The best and safest ways for every budget.

Where to stay in Rio de Janeiro
This guide breaks down the main areas and links to detailed guides by neighborhood.

Rio de Janeiro weather
Rio is sunny year-round, but its tropical climate means it's not as simple as "always hot."

Written by Karina

Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Karina spent over a decade working in the tourism industry, with experience in some of the world's leading travel destinations. She created Going to Rio to bring that same standard of practical, traveler-first guidance to visitors exploring Rio de Janeiro. Learn more about Karina