Most Popular Gay Saunas in Rio de Janeiro
- Details
Rio's got this wild energy that makes it different from anywhere else. Between the beaches, the nightlife, and yeah, the saunas, there's always something happening. If you're visiting and trying to figure out the scene, timing matters - especially if you want to catch Pride or Carnival when the whole city loses its mind in the best way possible.
The Sauna Scene
Rio G Spa in Ipanema is where most tourists end up, and for good reason. Located at Rua Teixeira de Melo right in the heart of the gay district, this place actually lives up to the hype. Open daily from 3pm to 10pm, you're looking at around 70-85 reais depending on the day. What makes it work is they don't allow escorts, so you're meeting actual locals and other visitors who just came from Ipanema Beach. The facilities are solid - dry sauna, steam room, private cabins, video room, dark room, gym, massage services. After spending all day on the beach getting sun-scorched, the steam room hits different.
Down in Lapa, there's Club 117 which has been around forever and still pulls crowds. This one's more of a mixed scene, and the hours vary but they stay open until 5am on party nights. The vibe here connects more with Rio's legendary nightlife since Lapa is where a lot of bars and clubs live.
Sauna Botafogo offers an older, more local crowd. It's not fancy, definitely showing its age in an old house that became a hotel that became a sauna, but people keep coming back. Sometimes the simplicity works - dry and wet sauna, video room, open rooms, and guys who know what they're looking for.
Chupps is the newer addition everyone's talking about. This all-day, all-night spot partners with Casa Preta for themed events that pack the place on weekends. Worth checking their Instagram before you go.
Pride and Carnival - When Rio Goes Off
Here's the thing about Rio - the regular nightlife is already intense, but Pride weekend and Carnival take it to completely different levels. Rio Pride happens in late November, usually the last Sunday of the month. The 2024 edition pulled massive crowds along Copacabana Beach for the 29th annual parade.
The parade itself starts around 11am at Posto 5 near Ipanema, then moves along Avenida Atlântica toward Posto 2. But showing up at 11am means you get the warm-up shows - DJs, drag queens in carnival-level outfits, performers going hard before the official parade even starts. By 3pm when things really kick off, the "trios elétricos" (those massive sound trucks) are rolling down the beach with people dancing on and around them. It's essentially a moving beach party that stretches over a mile.
The week leading up to Pride includes block parties every day, circuit events at different venues, and basically every gay bar and club doing special nights. CarnaPride is the massive pre-party that runs 12 hours from 8pm Saturday until 6am Sunday. World-class DJs, drag shows, dancers - the whole production.
Then there's Carnival in February, when Rio completely transforms. CarnaPride does a special lgbtq++ block during Carnival that's become one of the biggest gay parties in Brazil. This isn't subtle - we're talking hundreds of thousands of people in the streets.
The Nightlife Circuit
During Pride and Carnival especially, the saunas get busier late night when everyone's been partying for hours and looking for the next spot. But year-round, Rio's gay scene stays active. Galeria Café in Ipanema is the neighborhood institution. La Cueva in Copacabana has been running since 1964, making it Rio's oldest gay bar. The Week is the massive club that hosts the biggest circuit parties. Taurus Bar in Lapa is where things get wild with go-go boys and interactive shows.
The beauty of Rio is everything connects. Beach during the day, sauna in late afternoon to rinse off the salt and sand, grab dinner in Ipanema or Lapa, hit the bars around midnight, end up at a club at 2am. During Pride or Carnival weeks, multiply all of that by ten and add glitter.
Kabalk Sauna
New Meio Mundo
Sauna Copacabana
Sauna Carioca
Seven Cruising Bar
- Rio de Janeiro, a city famous for its beaches and vibrant nightlife also boasts a number of gay saunas where you can kick back relax and mingle. These spots are well liked by both locals and visitors providing an secure space for the lgbtq+Q+ community.
Check out some of the gay saunas in Rio de Janeiro;
1. Club 117 Location; Rua Cândido Mendes, 117, Glória, Rio de Janeiro Website; Visit club117.com.br Club 117 stands out as one of Rios gay saunas situated in the Glória district. Offering a bar, restaurant, steam room, dry sauna, swimming pool and private cabins – it's renowned for its parties with live performances and DJ sets. Operating hours are from 3 pm to 1 am daily.
2. Termas Leblon Address; Av. Ataulfo de Paiva, 216. Leblon, Rio de Janeiro Website; Go to termasleblon.com.br Termas Leblon is nestled in the neighborhood of Leblon. Known for its laid back ambiance catering to a clientele – it features a steam room dry sauna jacuzzi relaxation area and private cabins. Operating hours are from 3 pm, to 11 pm
3.Sauna Copacabana, located at Rua Siqueira Campos, 23 in the area of Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro is a well known spot among the gay community. It features amenities such as a steam room, dry sauna, dark room, video room and private cabins. The venue also boasts a bar and lounge where guests can unwind and mingle with others. Operating hours are from 3 pm to midnight daily.
4. Termas Rio G Spa can be found at Rua Francisco Sá, 95 in Copacabana Rio de Janeiro. This elegant establishment offers facilities to Sauna Copacabana including a steam room, dry sauna, dark room, video room, private cabins, bar service, lounge area for socializing and even a massage service. Termas Rio G Spa welcomes guests from 3 pm, to 11 pm every day.