Travelling from London to Rio De Janeiro: what you need to know
When planning a flight from London to Rio De Janeiro, you'll have your pick of airports to jet out of. Consider London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and London Gatwick Airport (LGW) for your departure options. Other possibilities include Stansted Airport (STN), London Luton Airport (LTN) and London City Airport (LCY).
Come in for landing at Rio De Janeiro's primary gateway, Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG).
Around 11 hours 40 minutes is how long you'll be travelling on a direct London to Rio De Janeiro flight.
Rio De Janeiro's timezone is UTC-3, making Rio De Janeiro three hours behind London.
With seven flights a week between the two airports, London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG) is the busiest route. Hop on the earliest flight from London to Rio De Janeiro with British Airways at 21:55. If you prefer to get more out of your day before leaving, the latest flight from LHR to GIG is with British Airways at 22:10.
To ensure you make your London to Rio De Janeiro flight, leave enough time to navigate the airport and find your gate. Arriving two hours ahead of international departures and one hour before domestic flights is a good rule of thumb.
During popular months like July, it's a good idea to get to the airport earlier. Plan to arrive two hours before a domestic departure and four hours ahead of an international flight when you fly during high season in general.
How to find the cheapest flights from London to Rio De Janeiro
Book two months before flying. Pricing trends show that this is the ideal window for finding cheap London to Rio De Janeiro flights.
May is the best month for landing an amazing deal on a plane ticket from London to Rio De Janeiro. If you want to travel at a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will show you the lowest prices for each month.
You don't need to check back in every day to find out if fares have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll notify you when a better deal is available on cheap flights from London to Rio De Janeiro.
Tailor your travel plans using filters. Select your departure and arrival times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort the results by 'Best,' 'Fastest' or 'Cheapest' London to Rio De Janeiro flights.
Flying from London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
You can book a direct flight from London to Rio De Janeiro jetting off from London Heathrow Airport (LHR). Begin your journey at LHR and end it at Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG).
British Airways is a popular airline that offers direct London to Rio De Janeiro plane tickets leaving from LHR.
Consider adding a stopover to possibly find a cheaper London to Rio De Janeiro flight. Just uncheck 'Direct flights only' when searching for departures from London Heathrow Airport. Take a pause at one of these popular airports:
Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
LHR is about 26 kilometres from central London. If you're driving, ride-sharing or catching a cab from the centre, it'll take 55 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic conditions. If you're using public transport, expect the travel time to be around 1 hour.
Want a handy hotel near London Heathrow Airport? If you're catching an early flight from London to Rio De Janeiro, these stays will put you moments from your departure gate:
When it comes to London Heathrow Airport's on-time performance, 68.18% of flights arrive within the expected time frame.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Visit friends or family or just take some time to unwind with a stopover. If you'd like to split up your London to Rio De Janeiro flight, here's where you can stop when taking off from London Gatwick Airport:
Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
LGW is about 40 kilometres from central London. It takes 1 hour 20 minutes or so to get to the airport if you're driving from the city centre. Public transport takes roughly 30 minutes.
You're going on vacation, so why not book another night away? Think about staying at one of these hotels near London Gatwick Airport the day before your flight from London to Rio De Janeiro:
When it comes to flights staying on schedule, London Gatwick Airport has an on-time arrival rate of 69.26%.
Stansted Airport (STN)
You can book a ticket from London to Rio De Janeiro with one or more stops leaving from Stansted Airport (STN). These are some of the most common stopovers between STN and Rio De Janeiro:
Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport (FCO)
STN is around 48 kilometres from central London. The drive from the city centre to the terminal takes about 1 hour. If you're thinking about taking public transport, expect a journey of around 1 hour 25 minutes.
Make taking an early London to Rio De Janeiro flight the easiest part of your journey. Book a room at one of these hotels close to Stansted Airport and get to the check-in counter feeling relaxed and unhurried:
The on-time performance rating of STN is 64.73%. In other words, that's how frequently flights departing this airport arrive within the expected time frame.
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 roughly 13 kilometres. It'll take you about 20 minutes to get to the centre driving.
Getting there on public transport will take you around 1 hour 5 minutes.
The last thing you want is a lengthy journey to your hotel if you're landing late on a flight from London to Rio De Janeiro. Reserve one of these accommodation options near GIG instead:
Begin your adventure by picking up a Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport rental car. Grab a set of wheels from Foco, Localiza or Movida to explore Rio De Janeiro and beyond.
Lock in the lowest price by reserving your vehicle from Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport about four weeks ahead of your departure.
Santos Dumont Airport (SDU)
After your flight from London to Rio De Janeiro has hit the tarmac, you can reach the city centre in around 5 minutes by car. Central Rio De Janeiro is approximately 2 kilometres from Santos Dumont Airport (SDU).
You can expect the trip to take roughly 15 minutes on public transport.
Forget about public transport timetables or slow-moving cab lines. Grab a Santos Dumont Airport rental car and take your trip in whatever direction you choose. Check out the availability and rates from Foco, Localiza and Movida.
Avoid paying extra. Booking your ride three weeks before your arrival at SDU will save you money.
Jacarepagua-Roberto Marinho Airport (RRJ)
Step off your flight from London to Rio De Janeiro and go straight to your hotel or start exploring right away. Central Rio De Janeiro is around 23 kilometres from Jacarepagua-Roberto Marinho Airport (RRJ) and takes roughly 40 minutes to reach by car.
Public transport will take you there in around 1 hour 25 minutes.
Ready to roll? Pick up a Jacarepagua-Roberto Marinho Airport rental car from Localiza and start your trip without worrying about how to reach your next destination.
If you'd like a particular model or make, booking early gives you a better shot at getting your first choice. Book your ride from RRJ at least a few weeks ahead of your flight from London to Rio De Janeiro.
Best time to go to Rio De Janeiro
May is the quietest month for flights from London to Rio De Janeiro, while July is the busiest. Figure out the best time to go to Rio De Janeiro based on whether you prefer a laid-back vibe or a more bustling atmosphere.
Before locking in your London to Rio De Janeiro tickets, consider the kind of weather you prefer. February is the warmest month in Rio De Janeiro, with temperatures ranging from 22ºC (72ºF) to 33ºC (91ºF).
July sees average temperatures of between 17ºC (63ºF) and 27ºC (81ºF). Search for cheap flights from London to Rio De Janeiro around that time if you'd rather travel in cooler conditions.
More about Rio De Janeiro
When it comes to searching for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the top stays in Rio De Janeiro right here. Browse these options after locking in your flight from London to Rio De Janeiro:
Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain are just a couple of the top attractions to add to your Rio De Janeiro to-do list. Keep the sightseeing going at Copacabana Beach.
Explore more of Brazil
You've done Rio De Janeiro, now it's time to discover more of Brazil. Journey about 354 kilometres west to Sao Paulo to check off its leading attractions. From Sao Paulo Museum of Art to Ibirapuera Park and Paulista Avenue, you've got a jam-packed schedule ahead.
Belo Horizonte is another must-experience destination in Brazil and is around 338 kilometres north of Rio De Janeiro. No journey is complete without a visit to Abilio Barreto Historical Museum, Matiz Arte Objeto and Deck Vertedouro.