Travelling from Johannesburg to Rio De Janeiro: what you need to know
Planning your holiday starts with figuring out where you'll leave from in Johannesburg. O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) is the city's main base, so check out your options for reserving a flight from Johannesburg to Rio De Janeiro departing from here.
Hop off the plane at Rio De Janeiro's primary gateway, Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG).
Rio De Janeiro is five hours behind Johannesburg and follows the UTC-3 timezone.
Allow plenty of time to catch your Johannesburg to Rio De Janeiro flight. Generally, it's best to arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
Flying during a popular month such as July? School holidays and other high seasons can lead to longer queues at check-in and security. Be extra cautious and arrive up to four hours before an international flight and two hours before a domestic departure.
How to find the cheapest flights from Johannesburg to Rio De Janeiro
To pick up cheap Johannesburg to Rio De Janeiro flights, book early. Airlines usually offer their most competitively priced fares when flights are first released.
If you're flexible with your trip dates, try using the 'Whole month' tool. It'll give you the cheapest price in every month when searching for your plane ticket from Johannesburg to Rio De Janeiro.
Stay on top of deals for cheap flights from Johannesburg to Rio De Janeiro by setting up a Price Alert. We'll send you an email or push notification on the app when a lower fare pops up.
Select your preferred departure and arrival times, number of stops and airlines by using the filters. Or sort your Johannesburg to Rio De Janeiro flight results by 'Fastest,' 'Cheapest' or 'Best.'
Flying from Johannesburg
O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB)
We make it a cinch to book a Johannesburg to Rio De Janeiro flight with a stopover. To see your options leaving from O.R. Tambo International Airport, uncheck 'Direct flights only.' Next, choose a flight with a stop long enough to tour your chosen city. Major stopovers include:
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
Dubai Airport (DXB)
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Located around 23 kilometres from central Johannesburg, JNB can be reached in about 30 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The journey on public transport will take roughly 1 hour 10 minutes.
Catching an early flight from Johannesburg to Rio De Janeiro? Avoid rushing to the terminal (and enjoy a little extra shut-eye) by choosing one of these hotels near O.R. Tambo International Airport:
77.1% of flights departing from O.R. Tambo International Airport land at their destination on schedule.
Arriving in Rio De Janeiro
Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG)
The distance from Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG) to central Rio De Janeiro is approximately 13 kilometres. It'll take you around 20 minutes to reach the centre driving.
It typically takes 1 hour 5 minutes to get there when travelling by public transport.
If you're arriving on a late flight from Johannesburg to Rio De Janeiro, few things beat the convenience of staying near the terminal. Pick up your bags from the carousel and then be showered and relaxing soon after at one of these hotels near GIG:
Pick up a Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport rental car and explore Rio De Janeiro and beyond with your own wheels. Foco, Localiza and Movida are well-known companies you can book with here.
Lock in the best rate by booking your vehicle from Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport about four weeks ahead of your trip.
Santos Dumont Airport (SDU)
Santos Dumont Airport (SDU) is around 2 kilometres from the centre of Rio De Janeiro. Once you've disembarked your flight from Johannesburg to Rio De Janeiro, it takes approximately 5 minutes to get to the heart of the city in a ride-share or cab.
You can expect the trip to take about 15 minutes on public transport.
Foco, Localiza and Movida make collecting a Santos Dumont Airport rental car easy and quick. These reliable suppliers are located around or in the terminal and will have you behind the wheel before you know it.
Lock in the lowest price by reserving your ride from SDU three weeks ahead of time. You can also expect to have a greater range of vehicles.
Jacarepagua-Roberto Marinho Airport (RRJ)
Jacarepagua-Roberto Marinho Airport (RRJ) is about 23 kilometres from central Rio De Janeiro. It'll take you about 40 minutes to get to the city centre by cab or ride-share after your flight from Johannesburg to Rio De Janeiro.
The journey will take you roughly 1 hour 25 minutes if you use public transport.
Pick up a Jacarepagua-Roberto Marinho Airport rental car and focus on the journey ahead, not on how to get there. Whether you're after a compact or an SUV, Localiza will help you find your ideal set of wheels.
Booking a couple of weeks in advance of your flight from Johannesburg to Rio De Janeiro is always a good idea. Along with more affordable prices, you'll get a better selection of vehicle makes and models at RRJ.
Best time to go to Rio De Janeiro
July is the busiest month for flights from Johannesburg to Rio De Janeiro. To avoid the crowds, visit Rio De Janeiro in May.
The warmest month in Rio De Janeiro is February, with temperatures ranging between 22ºC and 33ºC. Book your Johannesburg to Rio De Janeiro ticket then if that's your definition of good weather.
July sees average temperatures of between 17ºC and 27ºC. Search for cheap flights from Johannesburg to Rio De Janeiro around that time if you'd rather travel in cooler conditions.
More about Rio De Janeiro
Once you've booked your flight from Johannesburg to Rio De Janeiro, choose a hotel that puts you where you want to be. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Rio De Janeiro:
All great journeys should include a little sightseeing. Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain and Copacabana Beach are attractions you won't want to skip in Rio De Janeiro.
Explore more of Brazil
Rio De Janeiro has its own special appeal, but there are so many other corners of Brazil waiting to be discovered. Around 354 kilometres west of Rio De Janeiro, a visit to Sao Paulo will keep your itinerary packed. Start with leading sights like Sao Paulo Museum of Art, Ibirapuera Park and Paulista Avenue.
Around 338 kilometres north of Rio De Janeiro, Belo Horizonte is another essential stop in Brazil. Get a taste of what this destination has to offer at Abilio Barreto Historical Museum, Matiz Arte Objeto and Deck Vertedouro.
