Travelling from London to Rio De Janeiro: what you need to know
Take your pick of a number of airports when organising your flight from London to Rio De Janeiro. Explore your options for flying out of London from London Heathrow Airport (LHR), London Gatwick Airport (LGW) or Stansted Airport (STN). London Luton Airport (LTN) and London City Airport (LCY) also service London.
Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG) is the major hub where you can disembark in Rio De Janeiro.
The average length of a direct flight from London to Rio De Janeiro is 11 hours 46 minutes. Rio De Janeiro's timezone is UTC-3, which makes Rio De Janeiro 3 hours behind London.
With 10 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 first flight from London to Rio De Janeiro with British Airways at 21:55. If you're keen to make the most of your day before taking off, the latest flight from LHR to GIG is with British Airways at 22:10.
Leave enough time to catch your flight from London to Rio De Janeiro. Generally, it's best to arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
During popular months such as 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 for an international flight whenever you're travelling during high season in general.
You can travel to Brazil for tourism purposes without a visa if you have a passport from United Kingdom. But before booking your cheap flight from London to Rio De Janeiro, make sure you have the latest information. Visa rules are subject to change, and you may need some travel documentation if your trip is for business or another reason.
Flying from London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Jet off from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) on a nonstop flight from London to Rio De Janeiro. From LHR, you can travel directly to Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG).
You can book a direct flight from London to Rio De Janeiro with British Airways. This popular carrier offers services from LHR.
We make it a cinch to find a flight from London to Rio De Janeiro that includes a stopover. To see all the options departing from London Heathrow Airport, deselect 'Direct flights only.' Then, choose a flight that has a stop long enough to tour the city of your choice. Some popular stopovers include:
Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol Airport (AMS)
Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
LHR is around 31 kilometres from central London. If you're catching a cab, ride-sharing or driving from the centre, it'll take 57 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic conditions. If you're planning to take public transport, expect the travel time to be around 1 hour and 1 minute.
Booked an early flight from London to Rio De Janeiro? Avoid the last-minute rush to the airport (and sneak in some extra snooze time) by choosing one of these hotels close to London Heathrow Airport:
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Split up your flight from London to Rio De Janeiro with a stop so you can recharge or tick a new place off your list. Top stopovers between London Heathrow Airport and Rio De Janeiro include:
Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol Airport (AMS)
Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
With public transport, you can travel from central London to LGW in around 1 hour and 26 minutes. The airport is roughly 80 kilometres away, and getting there by car takes approximately 1 hour and 19 minutes.
You're off on holiday, so why not enjoy an extra night away from home? Consider staying at one of these accommodation options near London Gatwick Airport the day before your flight from London to Rio De Janeiro:
Arriving in Rio De Janeiro
Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG)
Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG) is around 18 kilometres from the centre of Rio De Janeiro. With your own car rental or in a cab, the drive is about 21 minutes.
Travelling by public transport will take you roughly 1 hour and 3 minutes.
If you have a late flight from London to Rio De Janeiro, few things beat the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Collect your bags from the carousel and then be showered and relaxing soon after at one of these hotels near GIG:
Santos Dumont Airport (SDU)
Santos Dumont Airport (SDU) is roughly 2 kilometres from central Rio De Janeiro. Following your flight from London to Rio De Janeiro, allow for a drive time of approximately 3 minutes to get to the heart of the city.
If you're travelling on public transport, it'll take approximately 16 minutes.
After your flight from London to Rio De Janeiro, unwind at a hotel near SDU. These are some great accommodation options that'll help you get into relaxation mode:
How to find the cheapest flights from London to Rio De Janeiro
Currently, $618 is the lowest price we've found for a one-way ticket from London to Rio De Janeiro. The cheapest price for a return flight is $1,141. Keep in mind fares can change due to availability at the time of booking.
Get cheap tickets from London to Rio De Janeiro by booking at least 9 months ahead. Based on our research, that's the sweet spot for landing a bargain.
May is the cheapest month for flight tickets from London to Rio De Janeiro. If you need to travel at a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will give you the lowest prices for each month.
Sign into your online account or use the app to set up a Price Alert. You'll get notified straight away if there's a better deal on this route. It's easy to do, and it'll save you the hassle of searching for cheap tickets from London to Rio De Janeiro every day.
Take advantage of filters to find your ideal trip. To see the 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest' flights from London to Rio De Janeiro, use the 'Sort by' tool. You can also filter results by arrival and departure times, airline, and number of stops.
Best time to go to Rio De Janeiro
It's time to plan your trip dates for your flight from London to Rio De Janeiro. July is the most popular month to visit Rio De Janeiro. If you prefer a more peaceful vibe, go in May.
Lock in your flight from London to Rio De Janeiro for February if you'd like to explore the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures in Rio De Janeiro to range from 22ºC to 33ºC.
If you want to travel in cooler conditions, lock in a cheap ticket from London to Rio De Janeiro in July when temperatures average between 17ºC and 27ºC.
More about Rio De Janeiro
After booking your flight from London to Rio De Janeiro, think about where you want to stay in this city. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Rio De Janeiro:
All great holidays should include a little sightseeing. Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain and Copacabana Beach are must-visits when exploring Rio De Janeiro.
Complete your Rio De Janeiro trip with a car rental
We use the same magic that helped you find your cheap flight from London to Rio De Janeiro to track down awesome deals on car rentals. Search for your ride in seconds and easily compare your options. Plus you'll find all the info you need to drive in Rio De Janeiro, from the most popular rental company to the best time to book.