The rush hour time in Rio de Janeiro is from 8 to 10 a.m. and from 4 to 8 p.m on weekdays. In general, there is hardly any heavy traffic on Saturday, Sundays and holidays, except the traffic that may form on the beach avenues (especially in Copacabana) or on the roads and tunnels that connect the beach districts (Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon and Barra da Tijuca) to the suburbs of Rio.
However, due to the booming economy of Rio de Janeiro, and consequently more vehicles on the streets (of Rio and Brazil), the rush hour is progressively starting one hour earlier and ending one hour later. It is not unusual to see traffic jam around 7 am, or even earlier, which can extend until 11 am, or later.
The same happens in the afternoon in some sections in Rio de Janeiro: traffic jam can be detected as early as 3-3:30 p.m., and can be bad until 9 p.m. or later.
The month that there is less traffic is July, which is the national winter vacation month.
If you are visiting Rio de Janeiro on a weekday, you may face a lot of traffic in and out of the international airport (GIG), or if you are going to destinations outside Rio such as Buzios, Paraty or Ilha Grande. Then again, it is perfectly possible not to face traffic if you are going on the opposite direction of the rush hour.
As a general rule, cars get into Rio in the morning and leave Rio in the end of the afternoon. So, not to face traffic you may need to leave Rio in the morning and come back to Rio in the afternoon. Between 12 noon and 3 pm are the hours with less traffic.
Planning to visit Rio de Janeiro in the near future? Access the tips, advice, and travel information that will make a whole lot of difference during your stay: read My Rio Travel Guide – The Essential How-To Visitor’s Guide to Rio de Janeiro.
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