MSFS scenery

MSFS Rio de Janeiro City Scenery

Rio de Janeiro City Scenery brings the whole city into sharp focus with high-resolution photogrammetry, replacing generic autogen with dense, true-to-life 3D buildings, terrain, and waterfront detail. In Microsoft Flight Simulator, expect standout landmark views such as Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf, plus immersive approaches into Santos Dumont and Galeão.

5/5 (6) 1.5k downloads 9.41 GB Scanned clean

Brazil

Flight Simulator 2020 Flight Simulator 2024

Images & Screenshots

19 total

A black and red ICON A5 light aircraft flies over a densely packed urban area with winding roads and scattered green trees.

Aerial view shows a sprawling urban cityscape with dense buildings, distant mountains, scattered green areas, and low clouds overhead.

A large cityscape stretches toward the coast with a prominent oval stadium and multiple rail lines visible in the foreground.

A densely packed hillside neighborhood with irregular streets is surrounded by lush green forest and steep mountains under a partly cloudy sky.

Aerial view shows a dense urban cityscape with high-rise buildings near the waterfront, surrounding hills, and a cruise ship docked at the port.

A dense urban area features a large conical building, multiple high-rise towers, and a prominent white aqueduct surrounded by greenery.

A dense urban area with numerous high-rise buildings surrounds a large bay and prominent rocky hill covered in greenery.

A dense urban downtown with numerous high-rise buildings sits beside a bay, with an airport runway and forested hills in the background.

Scattered cumulus clouds partially obscure a coastal city with a racetrack, several beaches, and a large harbor visible below.

A cockpit view shows an aircraft banking over a densely built city with coastal water, tall buildings, and distant green hills.

A large city with dense buildings surrounds a blue lake and forested hills, with a tall statue atop a prominent peak.

A coastal city with a sweeping sandy beach curves between densely packed buildings and lush green hills under a partly cloudy sky.

A coastal city features densely packed buildings, a large racetrack, two prominent lakes, and sweeping sandy beaches bordered by green hills.

A large statue with outstretched arms stands on a mountaintop overlooking a sprawling city and coastline with scattered clouds.

A large stadium with a circular roof is illuminated in the foreground, surrounded by city lights and dense urban buildings at dusk.

A low-wing seaplane flies over a coastal bay with forested hills, urban buildings, and sandy beaches under scattered clouds.

A densely built urban area with curving beachfront borders a large bay, surrounded by forested hills and scattered low clouds.

A large statue stands atop a mountain overlooking a sprawling city and bay under dramatic orange clouds at sunset.

Large white text reading "THALIXTE" appears over a dark red and black background with smaller text below stating "MSFS 2020 ADDONS."

Editor reviewed · Tested in-sim

Expert Overview

As a veteran in PC flight simulation, I’ve tested the MSFS Rio de Janeiro City Scenery mod and can confirm it brings a spectacular level of realism to the simulator. Developed by Thalixte, this unified package employs advanced photogrammetry to recreate Rio’s signature skyline, merging all previously segmented releases into a cohesive and highly detailed portrayal of one of Brazil’s most iconic cities.

From the cockpit, you’ll see authentic 3D structures, a more vibrant landscape, and crisp textures that truly capture the city’s character. Landmarks like Christ the Redeemer and the dramatic coastline appear in stunning clarity, transforming your approach into a breathtaking visual feast. This mod is a must-have for any enthusiastic flight simmer seeking an immersive, true-to-life tour of Rio de Janeiro in Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Discover the MSFS Rio de Janeiro City Scenery add-on, a photogrammetry masterpiece that transforms your flight simulation experience with its unparalleled detail and accuracy. Explore the vibrant streets, iconic landmarks, and breathtaking landscapes of Rio de Janeiro from your cockpit.

Christ the Redeemer monument over the city of Rio in Microsoft Flight Simulator. In the vibrant realm of Microsoft Flight Simulator (MSFS) 2020, it's our delight to introduce you to a delightful treat - the Rio de Janeiro City Scenery add-on.

This remarkable photogrammetry scenery package extends its coverage over the entire realm of Rio de Janeiro, adding a new dimension of realism to your virtual flight experience. This is not just a supplement to your MSFS environment; consider it a transformative enhancement that supersedes the default Microsoft detailing with superior textures and an abundance of 3D data.

In simple terms, photogrammetry refers to the process of collecting measurements from photographs to create an exact three-dimensional model of the environment. In this case, our sprawling cityscape of Rio.

The Full Package

Developed by the esteemed Thalixte, this scenery add-on previously saw segmented releases on different platforms. Now, however, we are pleased to bring you the comprehensive, full-featured version in one convenient download file.

All the unique parts and sections that were distributed piece by piece are now harmoniously unified into one cohesive scenery package. We encourage you to extend your support to Thalixte by considering a donation via the links provided in the bio section below.

Engage with Rio - The Scenic Way

To dive directly into the heart of this scenic masterpiece, key in the GPS coordinates 22° 54' 40" S, 43° 12' 20" W into your MSFS flight planner. But the magic of Rio extends beyond its city limits. Below, we have outlined several key airports that are worthy of your exploration.

Santos Dumont Airport (SBRJ): Situated right at the heart of the city, this airport offers a thrilling approach with breathtaking views of the Sugarloaf Mountain.
Rio de Janeiro–Galeão International Airport (SBGL): The primary airport serving Rio, located on Governador Island, known for its intricate runway layout and busy traffic.
Jacarepaguá–Roberto Marinho Airport (SBJR): A smaller airport located in the Barra da Tijuca neighborhood, it has been a hub for general aviation and flight training.
Campo Delio Jardim de Mattos Airport (SBAF): A military airfield in the district of Campo dos Afonsos, it's steeped in rich aviation history.

Diving into Photogrammetry Scenery

Photogrammetry is a technique that holds transformative potential in the world of flight simulation. It refers to the science of making precise measurements from photographs, and, when applied to flight simulation, creates immersive 3D models of the real world. The use of photogrammetry in MSFS allows for an unprecedented level of detail and realism.

Scenery developed using photogrammetry means that instead of relying on generic or procedurally generated models, developers are able to use photographs of the actual locations to create highly detailed and accurate representations of buildings, terrain, and other features. This has a tremendous impact on the immersive nature of the simulator, bringing the virtual world much closer to the real one.

This add-on stands as a testament to the power of photogrammetry. With this method, Thalixte has meticulously crafted an accurate representation of the city, with its unique architecture, vibrant streets, and stunning landscapes. By using real-world data, this add-on enhances the flight simulator environment with an unparalleled level of detail and authenticity.

In sum, the adoption of photogrammetry in MSFS signifies a new era of realism in flight simulation. It's no longer about just flying; it's about experiencing the world as it is, from the comfort of your cockpit. And the Rio de Janeiro City Scenery add-on is an impressive demonstration of this capability.

The Colorful Tapestry of Rio de Janeiro

A gem nestled between lush mountains and the azure Atlantic, Rio de Janeiro is more than just a city; it's a sweeping panorama of life. Renowned for its lively culture, stunning landscapes, and captivating history, Rio has also been a pivotal chapter in aviation history.

This city was a strategic pit-stop during the era of transatlantic seaplane flights and still thrives as a buzzing aviation hub. From Santos Dumont, a pioneer in aviation, to modern airlines connecting continents, the Rio de Janeiro City Scenery add-on brings this rich narrative to life, right on your screen.

Installation

Firstly, if the simulator is running, close it down.

Then, simply extract the downloaded archive and copy all four folders inside the Scenery Files folder into your MSFS community folder.

Those four folders are;

thalixte-rio1
thalixte-rio2
thalixte-rio3
thalixte-rio4

Once copied in, load the simulator - the scenery will be present.

Ready to download Rio de Janeiro City Scenery?

Free for all simmers · 9.41 GB · Scanned clean

File information

Filename

msfs-rio-photo-new.zip

File size

9.41 GB

Virus scan

Clean (scanned with ClamAV)

Access

Freeware

Content rating

Everyone

Download speed: Free tier is capped at 2 Mbps (this file takes approximately 11h 14m at the cap). PRO members download at full line speed.

This is a freeware file — use is subject to our freeware copyright terms.

How to install this mod

MSFS scenery

Extract the downloaded archive

Use 7-Zip (free) or WinRAR to extract the ZIP to a temporary folder. Don't install while still zipped — the simulator can't read inside ZIP files.
Locate your MSFS Community folder

All MSFS add-ons live in the Community folder. Microsoft Store / Game Pass version: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Packages\Community\. Steam version: %APPDATA%\Microsoft Flight Simulator\Packages\Community\. Tip: enable Developer Mode in MSFS to see your exact Community folder path.
Copy the scenery package into Community

Drag the extracted scenery folder into your Community folder. Photogrammetry and large mesh packs can be 1GB+ — ensure you have disk space.
Restart MSFS

Close MSFS completely and relaunch. The new content appears in the Content Manager, on the World Map, or in the aircraft/livery selector.
Always read the included readme

Every mod ships with a readme.txt or README file. It tells you exactly where files go, what dependencies are needed, and any quirks specific to this add-on.

About the developer

Thalixte

Thalixte is a developer that has focused on creating photogrammetry and scenery packs for the latest Microsoft Flight Simulator (MSFS) 2020 release. All of this developer's releases have received fantastic feedback from many users on various flight sim websites including Fly Away Simulation.

Based in France, the developer tends to focus on creation of European packs however some "further afield" packs have also been created.

Enjoyed this mod? Thalixte released it as freeware. Consider donating to support future projects.