Cheap flights from Edinburgh to Rio de Janeiro

March is the cheapest month on this route, after the southern-hemisphere summer winds down. The priced calendar runs from October through June, plus September, so you can see how fares move across the northern winter and Rio's summer. School holidays and Christmas weeks in the UK tend to push prices up, and Rio's carnival period draws demand from everywhere, so book early if you must travel then.

What differs most between these airlines is the stopover. Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Turkish Airlines and Emirates all route you through their own hubs, with a connection in Europe or the Gulf or the United States depending on the carrier. Edelweiss Air, BA CityFlyer, Brussels Airlines and KLM Cityhopper typically fly the short first leg from Edinburgh to feed a larger partner onward. On a single ticket the checked baggage usually carries through to Rio; on separate tickets you must reclaim and re-check it yourself, which changes the whole feel of the layover.

Getting into town depends on which airport you land at, since Rio has two. Rio de Janeiro International sits further out, reached by bus or taxi rides that take a while in traffic, while Santos Dumon is close to the centre by the bay and often the quicker arrival. Check which one your itinerary uses before you book, because the same fare can leave you a long way from where you are staying.

Currency

BRL (R$)

Power sockets

Type C, N · 127 V

Language

Portuguese

Emergency number

188, 190, 192

Driving side

right

Calling code

+55

Internet domain

.br

Population of Rio De Janeiro

6.2 M (2022)

Time zone

UTC-03 (America/Sao_Paulo)

Country facts: Wikidata

• Check Brazil's current entry and visa rules for UK passport holders before you book anything.
• Confirm whether your ticket names Rio de Janeiro International or Santos Dumon as the arrival airport.
• If your Edinburgh departure and the long-haul flight are on separate tickets, check the transfer time between them.
• Check what the fare includes in checked baggage, since the first short leg may be flown by a smaller operator with its own limits.
• Compare the layover city as well as the price, because a long stop can be restful or exhausting.
• Look at the month calendar before locking in a date, as fares shift between the priced months.