Travelling from Seoul to Rio de Janeiro: what you need to know
Seoul has two main airports where you can kick off your travels. Check out your options for booking a flight from Seoul to Rio de Janeiro flying out of Incheon International Airport (ICN) or Gimpo International Airport (GMP).
Disembark at Rio de Janeiro's major arrival point, Rio de Janeiro Internacional Airport (GIG).
Rio de Janeiro's timezone is UTC-3, which makes Rio de Janeiro 12 hours behind Seoul.
For a stress-free start to your trip, arrive at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and an hour before domestic departures. This leaves you with plenty of time to board your Seoul to Rio de Janeiro flight.
You'll likely experience bigger queues in popular months like August. Arriving up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours for domestic departures will help ensure a smooth travel experience.
How to find the cheapest flights from Seoul to Rio de Janeiro
Booking early is often the key to locking in a cheap Seoul to Rio de Janeiro flight. Airlines adjust prices based on demand, so the closer you get to departure, the more you'll likely spend on your ticket.
If you're willing to be flexible with your travel plans, use the 'Whole month' search tool. It'll show you the lowest price across every month when looking for your plane ticket from Seoul to Rio de Janeiro.
Spend less time searching for cheap flights from Seoul to Rio de Janeiro by setting up a Price Alert. You'll get an email or push notification on the app when a special offer becomes available.
Select your preferred arrival and departure times, airlines and number of stops with the filters. Alternatively, sort your Seoul to Rio de Janeiro flight results by 'Best,' 'Fastest' or 'Cheapest.'
Flying from Seoul
Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Consider adding a stopover to potentially save money on your Seoul to Rio de Janeiro flight. Just uncheck 'Direct flights only' when browsing departures from Incheon International Airport. Take a pause at one of these popular options:
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport (ATL)
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
New York John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK)
The journey from central Seoul to ICN takes about 50 minutes on public transport. If you drive, ride-share or take a taxi, you'll cover the 48 kilometres in 1 hour 5 minutes or so, depending on traffic conditions.
Searching for a convenient hotel near Incheon International Airport? If you've booked an early flight from Seoul to Rio de Janeiro, these accommodation options will have you sleeping nice and close to your departure gate:
Of all flights departing from Incheon International Airport, 74% touch down on time at their destination.
Gimpo International Airport (GMP)
GMP is around 18 kilometres from central Seoul. It takes 30 minutes or so to get to the airport by car from the city centre. Public transport takes roughly 35 minutes.
You're off on holiday, so why not enjoy an additional night away? Think about kicking back in one of these accommodation options near Gimpo International Airport the day before your flight from Seoul to Rio de Janeiro:
Gimpo International Airport has earned its reputation for punctuality. 81% of flights leaving here keep to their planned arrival schedule.
Arriving in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro Internacional Airport (GIG)
Rio de Janeiro Internacional Airport (GIG) to central Rio de Janeiro takes about 30 minutes by car. The centre is roughly 13 kilometres away.
It typically takes 1 hour to get there when travelling by public transport.
If you have a late flight from Seoul to Rio de Janeiro, few things beat the convenience of staying near the terminal. Pick up your bags from the carousel and then be showered and snoozing not long after at one of these hotels near GIG:
Grab a Rio de Janeiro Internacional Airport rental car and explore Rio de Janeiro and beyond with your own wheels. Foco, Localiza and Movida are top outlets to choose from here.
Lock in the best possible rate by reserving your vehicle from Rio de Janeiro Internacional Airport around four weeks before your trip.
Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport (SDU)
Once your flight from Seoul to Rio de Janeiro has landed, you can make your way to the city centre in about 10 minutes by car. Central Rio de Janeiro is roughly 2 kilometres from Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport (SDU).
If you choose to travel on public transport, you'll get to the city centre in 20 minutes or so.
You'll find some comfortable places to call home for the night near SDU. Kick back after your Seoul to Rio de Janeiro flight at one of these well-located options:
Forget about inconvenient public transport schedules or waiting forever for a taxi. Pick up a Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport rental car and let the journey unfold your way. Compare availability and rates from Foco, Localiza and Movida.
Don't pay more than you need to. Booking your ride three weeks ahead of your arrival at SDU will help you stay within budget.
Best time to go to Rio de Janeiro
It's time to pick your dates for your flight from Seoul to Rio de Janeiro. December is the busiest month for a trip to Rio de Janeiro. If you want a more relaxed atmosphere, go in March.
The warmest month in Rio de Janeiro is February, with temperatures ranging between 20ºC (68ºF) and 36ºC (97ºF). Lock in your Seoul to Rio de Janeiro ticket then if that's your definition of good weather.
July has average temperatures of between 14ºC (57ºF) and 29ºC (84ºF). Search for cheap flights from Seoul to Rio de Janeiro around that time if you want to travel in cooler conditions.
More about Rio de Janeiro
Start your Rio de Janeiro trip off on the right foot by choosing the ideal place to stay. Once you've booked your flight from Seoul to Rio de Janeiro, check out our range of accommodation options including:
There are so many things to see and do in this city it can be hard to know where to start. Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro Carnival and Ipanema Beach are highlights which should feature on any good Rio de Janeiro itinerary.
Explore more of Brazil
You've done Rio de Janeiro, now it's time to discover other corners of Brazil. Travel about 354 kilometres west to Sao Paulo to tick off its leading sights. From Ibirapuera Park to Av. Paulista and Pinacoteca Do Estado De Sao Paulo, you'll have a packed itinerary 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 experiencing Pampulha Modern Ensemble, Casa do Baile and Igreja São Francisco de Assis.