Sugarloaf Mountain, samba echoing out of Lapa and a caipirinha that costs less than a round in Temple Bar. Air Transat is flying Dublin to Rio de Janeiro return from €556, one stop. Seats are open through May 2027.
✈️ The Deal
- From: Dublin, Ireland
- To: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Airline: Air Transat
- Stops: 1 stop
- Price: €556-€599 return
- When: May 2027
Example dates:
05/05/2027 - 16/05/2027
05/05/2027 - 23/05/2027
05/05/2027 - 30/05/2027
Check dates on Trip.com
💰 How far does your money go?
A local beer at a beach kiosk in Rio runs about €1.70, a fraction of the €6-7 you'd pay for a pint in Dublin. A full plate at a neighbourhood restaurant in Copacabana or Ipanema costs €10-14 with a drink included, roughly what a takeaway costs at home. Even a proper caipirinha on the sand rarely tops €4.
☀️ The Weather
Rio in May sits in its own version of winter, and it still beats an Irish summer. Daytime highs hover around 25-26°C, dropping to a mild 18-19°C overnight, with the sea holding at 23-24°C. Pack for sun, not layers.
🏨 Where to Stay
From simple beachside stays to full Copacabana glamour.
Atlantis Copacabana Hotel — 9.0/10 · From €55/night A short walk from the beach, good breakfast, no frills.
Orla Copacabana Hotel — 8.5/10 · From €110/night Right on Copacabana beach with a rooftop pool and easy access to Ipanema.
Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel — 9.3/10 · From €450/night Rio's most famous address, beachfront, for anyone treating this as the trip of the year.
🎯 What to Do
Rio moves between mountain, beach and street party without ever slowing down.
Sugarloaf Mountain — Two cable car legs up granite peaks for a full view over the bay and the city. Christ the Redeemer — The statue on Corcovado, best reached early before the crowds and the clouds roll in. Lapa at night — Samba spilling out of bars under the Arcos da Lapa, live music most nights of the week. Sunset at Arpoador — Locals gather on the rocks between Copacabana and Ipanema to watch the sun drop, applause included.
🗺️ Where to Go From Here
Rio works as a base for the rest of the coast, not just a final stop.
Búzios — A former fishing village turned beach town, about 2.5 hours by bus with over 20 beaches to pick from. Paraty — Colonial cobbled streets and waterfalls in the hills, roughly 4 hours south by road. Ilha Grande — Car-free island with clear water and jungle trails, reached by ferry from Angra dos Reis. Petrópolis — The old imperial mountain town, under 2 hours away and noticeably cooler.
From €556 return, this is one of the more affordable ways into Brazil from Ireland right now. Seats at this price tend to move fast once the school holidays get closer.
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