The laid-back birthplace of samba, Rio de Janeiro is an enticing location, famous for its stunning natural surroundings and 90km of beaches.
At Opodo, we've made it easy to find cheap flights to Rio Janeiro. It's a great place to visit all year round, so use the search box on the right to find cheap flights.
Rio de Janeiro owes its name to misadventure. The Portuguese explorer Gaspar de Lemos came upon the great bay of Guanabara in January 1502, and, mistaking it for a river, named the place "January's River".
Rio once housed the Portuguese Imperial Family, and its panorama of European influenced architecture, rimmed with spectacular beaches and escalating mountains is nothing if not regal.
Cariocas are the product of a 500-year-old melting pot of immigrants, tolerant of many religions and backgrounds. The people of Rio are incredibly cosmopolitan embracing a variety of cultures. Their easy-going openness is reflected by the stance of the great CristoRedentor statue that oversees the city, arms outstretched in welcome.
Rio is renowned for its energetic carnival season, its romantic night-spots and glamorous inhabitants. During the day there is much to see and do amongst the markets and boutiques, before returning to the famous Copacabana or Ipanema beaches. Expect to dine on generous helpings of Feijoada (pork with black beans) or Churrasco (barbequed meat).
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