Where to Stay in Rio de Janeiro: My Selection of the Best Accommodations

Wondering where to stay in Rio de Janeiro? Looking for the best areas and districts?

You’re at the right place!

As I know Rio de Janeiro very well, I have created this guide of:

• Rio de Janeiro’s best areas for your stay (with details about the best places to visit and nearby attractions)
• For each area and district, the best hotels depending on your budget

Let’s find your dream hotel now!

My favorite hotels in Rio de Janeiro

Here’s a quick summary of my favorite hotels in Rio de Janeiro, in case you don’t have time to read my detailed article.

Simply click on the hotel names in orange to access details and rates:

• Where to stay in Rio de Janeiro near the beach: Rio Othon Palace, for its location in Copacabana and extraordinary views!
• The best 5-star hotel in Rio de Janeiro: Copacabana Palace, the iconic palace of Rio, or the excellent Fairmont Rio de Janeiro Copacabana
• Where to stay in Rio de Janeiro on a budget: Royal Rio Palace Hotel
• Best family-friendly hotel in Rio de Janeiro: Mirador Rio Copacabana Hotel
• My favorite hotel in Rio de Janeiro for a romantic stay: Fairmont Rio de Janeiro Copacabana

In Copacabana District

Copacabana is for sure the most famous neighborhood in Rio. With its iconic 4 km long beach, it’s the main tourist district of the city.

The area is lively at any time of the day and night and is home to numerous hotels. It’s also an excellent starting point to explore Rio!

You will for sure love the typical Carioca atmosphere with its beach kiosks, street vendors, and bustling café terraces.

I recommend this neighborhood for staying in Rio:

• For your first visit to Rio
• To be in the heart of the action
• To easily access the city’s must-see attractions on foot or by public transport
• To enjoy Rio’s most famous beach!

The neighborhood is the perfect place to discover:

• The iconic Copacabana beach and its sports activities
• Copacabana Fort, with its military history museum
• The Copacabana Palace, a symbol of Rio’s golden age
• The traditional kiosks along the beach
• Copacabana night market, on Avenida Atlântica
• Local chopp bars (draft beer), typical to the area
• Seafood restaurants facing the ocean.

Where to Stay in Copacabana District, Rio de Janeiro?

• Rio Othon Palace: A 5-star hotel located right on the beach. Spacious double rooms with a balcony, some with sea views, starting at 105$, breakfast included. Strong points: the infinity pool with a spectacular view, the extraordinary location.
• PortoBay Rio de Janeiro: Set on Copacabana beach. Comfortable double rooms with a balcony and sea view starting at 130$. Strong points: the ideal location, the quality of service, the rooftop pool, and the stunning view of Sugarloaf Mountain and the Corcovado. A great choice for is excellent value for money in Copacabana!
• Hilton Copacabana Rio de Janeiro: This 5-star hotel is just across from the beach. It offers bright rooms beginning at 170$, breakfast included. Strong points: the rooftop, the private beach, the comfortable beds.
• Fairmont Rio de Janeiro Copacabana: A luxury hotel located at the end of Copacabana, next to Ipanema. You’ll stay in nice rooms decorated in natural tones, starting from 350$, with breakfast at an additional 36$. Strong points: the perfect location between Rio’s two iconic beaches, the breathtaking view of the bay, the excellent breakfast with fresh products. This is my recommendation for a romantic stay near Cobacabana beach!
• Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel, Rio de Janeiro: This is Rio’s most iconic hotel. The palace, located on the beach, offers luxurious rooms with marble bathrooms starting at 550$, breakfast included. Strong points: the three gourmet restaurants, the exquisite breakfast, the attentive staff, the pool, and the spa. Known to be Rio’s finest luxury hotel!

In Ipanema District

Ipanema neighborhood is one of the most exclusive and safe areas in Rio de Janeiro.

Located between Copacabana and Leblon, it’s an excellent choice for your first stay in Rio!

Here, you’ll find a sophisticated yet relaxed atmosphere, with numerous restaurants, bars, and luxury shops.

And as Ipanema beach is less touristy than Copacabana, you will be more at peace to enjoy the sun!

You should stay in Ipanema:

• To enjoy a quieter beach than Copacabana’s
• If you love shopping at luxury stores
• To stay in one of the safest neighborhoods in Rio

In this district, you shouldn’t miss:

• Ipanema Beach
• Pedra do Arpoador, a rock formation on the side of the beach, the perfect location to watch the sunset
• Garota de Ipanema Park with a view of the Two Brothers mountains
• Hippie Fair, a weekly craft market
• Gourmet restaurants on Rua Garcia d’Ávila
• Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon and its biking paths
• The Jazz and bossa nova bars

Here are my favorite hotels in Ipanema district

• Arena Ipanema Hotel: Located just 100 meters from the beach. Double rooms with a view of the Garota de Ipanema Park starting at $140, breakfast included. Strong points: friendly staff, seafront location, and rooftop with bay views. An excellent choice for beachside accommodation in Rio!
• Ipanema Inn Hotel: Centrally located on Ipanema beach. Comfortable double rooms starting at $140, breakfast included. Strong points: great breakfast, free sun loungers and umbrellas on the beach, bicycle loans.
• Sol Ipanema Hotel: Situated on the seafront. Spacious and welcoming rooms starting from $170, breakfast included. Strong points: friendly staff, views from the rooftop terrace, complimentary beach chairs, umbrellas, and towels.
• Hotel Arpoador: Located 100 meters from the sea. Stylish rooms starting from $200, breakfast included. Strong points: delicious restaurant, very friendly staff, direct beach access. My recommendation for a high-end stay in Ipanema!
• Hotel Fasano Rio de Janeiro: A 5-star hotel located at one end of Ipanema Beach. Stay in elegantly decorated rooms starting at $530, with breakfast available for $30. Strong points: the stunning rooftop, the swimming pool, the service quality, the private beach, the design. Simply the best luxury hotel in Ipanema!

In Botafogo/Flamengo district

Botafogo and Flamengo are more authentic and less touristy neighborhoods compared to Copacabana or Ipanema.

These areas offer an excellent alternative for travelers looking to experience a more local vibe.

Nested at the foot of Sugarloaf Mountain, these neighborhoods are very lively at night, with many bars frequented by locals. Perfect if you’re after a truly typical atmosphere!

I recommend these areas for:

• An authentic experience alongside the inhabitants of Rio
• Exploring the local nightlife in the district’s bars
• A stay with friends.

In Botafogo and Flamengo districts, you can discover:

• Flamengo Park, the world’s largest urban green space
• Sugarloaf Mountain and its cable cars
• The Museum of Modern Art
• Botafogo Beach, offering nice views over Sugarloaf Mountain
• Banco do Brasil Cultural Center and its exhibitions
• The trendy bars and restaurants on Rua Nelson Mandela
• Gloria Marina

Here are the best hotels in Botafogo/Flamengo (Rio)

• Windsor Florida Hotel: Located opposite Flamengo Park. Spacious double rooms from $80, breakfast included. Strong points: swimming pool, near the beach and a metro station, very kind staff. The best budget-friendly hotel in Flamengo!
• Ibis Rio de Janeiro Botafogo: Approximately 1km from the Sugarloaf Mountain cable cars. Typical double room of this worldwide hotel chain from $90, breakfast included. Strong points: comfortable bedding, effective blackout curtains, easy access to various tourist spots.
• Yoo2 Rio de Janeiro, Tapestry Collection by Hilton: This 5-star hotel is just across the small Botafogo beach. It offers modern rooms with large windows granting stunning views of the Sugarloaf. Prices starting from $180, breakfast included. Strong points: beautiful rooftop terrace with pool, tastefully decorated, generous breakfast. A beautiful hotel for a romantic getaway in Rio!

Neighborhoods to Avoid – Centro and Santa Teresa

You shouldn’t stay in the neighborhoods of Centro and Santa Teresa.

You can visit them during the day on weekdays. Centro, the historical center, is home to several museums, the cathedral, and the municipal theater.

However, you should avoid visiting on weekends (as everything is closed and the streets are empty) or at night, as the risk of getting robbed is quite high!

Where to Stay in Rio de Janeiro on a Budget

If you’re on a tighter budget, here is a selection of affordable hotels in Rio de Janeiro:

• Hotel Bandeirantes: Located in Copacabana. Double rooms starting from 40$, breakfast included. Strong points: the swimming pool, cleanliness, friendly staff.
• Hotel Astoria Copacabana: Situated 300 meters from the beach. Double rooms starting from 50$, breakfast included. Strong points: the central location in Copacabana, good breakfast, parking. Perfect for a stay in Rio without breaking the bank!
  
• Royal Rio Palace Hotel: Also located in Copacabana. Double rooms starting from 70$, breakfast included. Strong points: rooftop pool, close to the beach, very clean.
• Hotel Astoria Palace: Beachfront location. Double rooms starting from 70$, breakfast included. Strong points: rooftop pool, lots of restaurants nearby, free beach lounger, sea view. Another excellent budget-friendly hotel in Rio!

Staying in Rio de Janeiro with Family

Most of the hotels I’ve just mentioned also offer family rooms, usually with two double beds.

Among those, I especially recommend:

• Rio Othon Palace
• Sol Ipanema Hotel

There’s also the Mirador Rio Copacabana Hotel, which offers triple or quadruple rooms starting from 135$ with breakfast included.

What is the best hotel in Rio de Janeiro?

If you are looking for the best hotel in Rio de Janeiro, I recommend you the Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel, Rio de Janeiro.

And if you’re looking for something a little more affordable but still luxurious, you should book a night or more at Fairmont Rio de Janeiro Copacabana.

Where to stay in Rio de Janeiro: The best hotels

To give you a better overview of the best hotels in Rio de Janeiro, whether in the city center or elsewhere, I’ve prepared a table summarizing all the ones I talk about in this article.

You can sort them by price or by district!

Hotel	District	Price (from)
Rio Othon Palace	Copacabana	105$
PortoBay Rio de Janeiro	Copacabana	130$
Hilton Copacabana Rio	Copacabana	170$
Fairmont Rio de Janeiro Copacabana	Copacabana	350$
Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel	Copacabana	550$
Arena Ipanema Hotel	Ipanema	140$
Ipanema Inn Hotel	Ipanema	140$
Sol Ipanema Hotel	Ipanema	170$
Hotel Arpoador	Ipanema	200$
Hotel Fasano Rio de Janeiro	Ipanema	530$
Windsor Florida Hotel	Botafogo / Flamengo	80$
Ibis Rio de Janeiro Botafogo	Botafogo / Flamengo	90$
Yoo2 Rio de Janeiro, Tapestry Collection by Hilton	Botafogo / Flamengo	180$
Hotel Bandeirantes	Cheap Hotel	40$
Hotel Astoria Copacabana	Cheap Hotel	50$
Royal Rio Palace Hotel	Cheap Hotel	70$
Hotel Astoria Palace	Cheap Hotel	70$
Rio Othon Palace	Hotel for families	210$
Sol Ipanema Hotel	Hotel for families	310$
Mirador Rio Copacabana Hotel	Hotel for families	135$

You’re using Pinterest? Here is the picture to pin!