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Which is better: Angra dos Reis or Petrópolis?

Short answer

Angra dos Reis and Petrópolis are in the same region (Rio de Janeiro and Surroundings). Angra dos Reis: gateway to more than 360 islands in Ilha Grande Bay; Petrópolis: the Imperial City in the mountains of Rio de Janeiro state. For this month's weather, Petrópolis has the edge. Driving from São Paulo, Angra dos Reis costs less.

Sources: INMET (updated 2026) · ANP · OpenStreetMap
Most reviewed activity in Angra dos ReisIlhas Botinas Boat Trip + Angra dos Reis Beaches★ 10 · 6 reviews · from US$ 35 · via CivitatisSee dates and price →
Angra dos Reis Petrópolis
Best time to visit May → Aug Apr → Oct
Weather this month 28° · 13 days of rain 25° · 9 days of rain
By car R$ 293 · from São Paulo R$ 359 · from São Paulo
Ideal stay 3–4 days 2–3 days
Best for Adventure, Relax, Family, Romantic Romantic, Food, Family, Relax
Choose Angra dos Reis if

you want a trip for adventure seekers and relaxation: a schooner in the morning, green sea in the afternoon and Ilha Grande a boat trip away.

See guide
Choose Petrópolis if

you want a trip for couples and food lovers: palaces, mountain weather and craft beer an hour from Rio.

See guide
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Where to stay

Where to stay: Angra dos Reis or Petrópolis

The average nightly rate is around R$ 242 in Angra dos Reis and R$ 303 in Petrópolis; what changes in practice is each place's season. Check current prices for your dates before deciding.

Compare hotels and places to stay in Angra dos Reis on Booking.com, with up-to-date prices and availability, before you book.

See all hotels in Angra dos Reis

Compare hotels and places to stay in Petrópolis on Booking.com, with up-to-date prices and availability, before you book.

Hotel Vila Bavaria Petropolis in Petrópolis 8.6 ★★★ · 102 reviews Hotel Vila Bavaria Petropolis See on Booking → Hotel Solar do Imperio in Petrópolis 9.3 ★★★ · 10 reviews Hotel Solar do Imperio See on Booking →
See all hotels in Petrópolis

Rates change with the dates: confirm the price on Booking.com.

Frequently asked questions

Angra dos Reis or Petrópolis: which is better?
Angra dos Reis and Petrópolis are in the same region (Rio de Janeiro and Surroundings). Angra dos Reis: gateway to more than 360 islands in Ilha Grande Bay; Petrópolis: the Imperial City in the mountains of Rio de Janeiro state. For this month's weather, Petrópolis has the edge. Driving from São Paulo, Angra dos Reis costs less.
What is the best time to visit Angra dos Reis and Petrópolis?
The best time to visit Angra dos Reis is from May to August; for Petrópolis, it is from April to October, based on INMET's climate normals (temperature and rainfall for each month). If your trip already has a date, check each destination's page for your month.
Which of the two is cheaper to get to?
By car, leaving from São Paulo, Angra dos Reis is 384 km (239 mi) and costs about R$ 293 each way (fuel plus tolls); leaving from São Paulo, Petrópolis is 450 km (280 mi) and costs about R$ 359 each way (fuel plus tolls). The calculation assumes a car that gets 11 km/L. Lodging and activities vary with each place's season.
Where does it rain less, Angra dos Reis or Petrópolis?
Averaged over the year, Angra dos Reis has 12 rainy days a month and Petrópolis has 10. Petrópolis is the drier of the two over the year as a whole, but what decides the trip is the month: the rainiest month in Angra dos Reis is January and in Petrópolis, January. For temperature, Angra dos Reis is the warmer one (average high of 29° versus 25°).
How many days should you spend in Angra dos Reis and in Petrópolis?
To see the main sights without rushing, Angra dos Reis calls for 3–4 days and Petrópolis, 2–3 days. These are distant regions: with a week or less, it is usually better to pick one of the two and make the most of it.
Angra dos Reis or Petrópolis with kids?
Both work with kids: Angra dos Reis (365 islands in the bay; schooner trip; green sea and Atlantic Forest) and Petrópolis (imperial legacy, mountain climate, and craft beer). The choice usually comes down to getting there, not to infrastructure. With small children, weather matters: Petrópolis has fewer rainy days over the year.
What should you not miss in each?
In Angra dos Reis: Schooner trip around the islands, Ilha Grande (day trip), Lopes Mendes Beach. In Petrópolis: Imperial Museum, Crystal Palace, Santos Dumont House. These are the sights that show up most in first-trip itineraries for each destination; the full guide to each has the whole list.