Which side of Rio is sheltered from today's wind? 22 beaches ranked by the forecast, updated every 2 hours.
From us
Tavernas, cafés, sunbed rentals and shops: a basic listing on these pages is free.
At a glance
Most beaches face south-east (6). Wind from that side reaches them first; wind from the opposite side leaves them sheltered.
Shelter by wind direction
Wind direction decides everything. These are the Rio beaches that stay most sheltered, and the ones that get roughest, in a strong wind (6 Bft) from each direction. It is computed from how much open sea lies upwind of each beach.
Sea temperature
The average temperature of the sea near the beaches of Rio, from 30 years of satellite measurements (NOAA, 1991–2020).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14° | 14° | 14° | 15° | 18° | 22° | 24° | 25° | 23° | 21° | 18° | 16° |
The sea is 22 °C or warmer from July to September, and warmest in August, at about 25 °C.
Sea temperature: NOAA OISST v2.1, average of 1991–2020 (public domain). Close to the shore the water can be a degree or two warmer or cooler.
Best time to go
Every beach
22 beaches mapped. The most sheltered first, then every other beach with a name; each one opens its own page.
In a north wind (tramontana or mistral) the beaches of Rio facing south-east and east stay the flattest: Cavo beach, Spiaggia Cala del Pisciatoio, and Spiaggia Cala Seregola. Beaches facing north are exposed to it.
For every beach we measured how much open sea lies in each of 16 compass directions, using OpenStreetMap coastlines. Waves build over open water, so a beach with land close by in the direction the wind comes from is sheltered. Today's wind forecast from MET Norway is then applied, and the result is refreshed every 2 hours.
They are estimates. The model does not include swell from distant storms, and local gusts can be stronger than forecast. Always follow lifeguard flags and local warnings.
Italian waters are shaped by several named winds: the tramontana from the north, the mistral from the north-west, the grecale from the north-east, the levante from the east, the scirocco from the south-east, the ostro from the south, the libeccio from the south-west and the ponente from the west. A beach is rough when the wind blows from the sea towards it and flat when land lies upwind, which is why this page lists the sheltered and rough beaches for each direction.
The sea is 22 °C or warmer from July to September, and warmest in August, at about 25 °C.
Keep exploring