In this guide · 4 sections
Rio de Janeiro's hotel market mainly sits along the Zona Sul beachfront. Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon are where most tourists stay, and for good reason. These areas have the best transport, the best restaurants and bars, and are generally the safest for visitors. Most hotels in these neighborhoods welcome same-sex couples without issue.
Where to stay
Ipanema is the top pick if you want to be close to the gay scene. Farme de Amoedo, Posto 9, and the best gay venues are all walkable. Hotels here tend to cost more than in Copacabana, but the neighborhood is quieter, and the beach a little less frantic.
Copacabana has the most hotels, from budget to luxury, all along its famous beachfront. It's noisier, busier, and has more petty crime than Ipanema, but its transport connections are excellent, and you'll find options at every price point.
Botafogo has become a more interesting neighborhood lately. It has a growing restaurant and bar scene and generally lower hotel prices. It's a Metro stop from the Zona Sul and a reasonable base if you want to avoid the heaviest tourist crowds.
Carnival accommodation
Book Carnival accommodation months ahead. This isn't an exaggeration—hotels fill up in the autumn for Carnival the following February or March. Prices during Carnival week are dramatically higher than normal. If you're planning a Carnival visit, make accommodation your first and most urgent booking.
The hotels
- 021 Hostel — 021 Hostel is gay-friendly, welcoming LGBTQ+ travelers with good access to the local scene.
- Altos de Santa Teresa Guest House — This hilltop hotel overlooks Guanabara Bay. It's 11 km from Sugarloaf Mountain and 12 km from Christ the Redeemer. The rooms are sophisticated, with free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, desks, minibars, and balconies. Suites add city and mountain views; one suite has floor-to-ceiling windows and a whirlpool tub in the en suite. Children 5 and under stay free. Parking and a Brazilian breakfast buffet are free.
- Atlantis Copacabana Hotel — This modest hotel in Rio's Zona Sul is a 5-minute walk from Copacabana Beach, an 8-minute walk from Forte de Copacabana, and a 9-minute walk from General Osório metro station. Simple, traditional rooms have free Wi-Fi and cable TV, plus desks and minifridges. Upgraded rooms have ocean views. Room service is available. There's a free breakfast buffet and a casual restaurant. You'll also find a sea-view rooftop terrace with a hot tub and a pool.
- Beach Backpackers Hostel — A 7-minute walk from the nearest metro station, this relaxed hostel is 15 minutes from Botafogo beach and 12 km from Christ the Redeemer. Bright dorms sleep up to 15 people, with bunk beds and free Wi-Fi; linens and towels are provided. Private rooms are also available. Some units have air-conditioning and/or en suite bathrooms. A breakfast buffet is free. Other amenities include a modern TV lounge, a DVD player, video games, and a shared kitchen.
- Belmond Copacabana Palace — Dating from 1923, this art deco hotel overlooks Copacabana Beach. It's 10 km from Santos Dumont airport and 13 km from Christ the Redeemer. The refined rooms and suites have period furniture and original artwork. They include flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and minibars. Suites add sitting rooms; some offer private pool access, a wet bar, and butler service. Room service is available. Breakfast and parking are included. There's a restaurant serving pan-Asian fare, as well as two other restaurants and three bars.
- Best Western Sol Ipanema Hotel — This breezy oceanside hotel is across from Ipanema Beach, a 9-minute walk from a metro stop, and 4.5 km from Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro. The warm, airy rooms have free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, minibars, and desks. Room service is available 24/7. A free breakfast buffet is served in an upscale restaurant with international cuisine and ocean views. There's a relaxed lobby bar, a beauty salon, a 24/7 fitness room, and sun loungers on a terrace.
- Casa Cool Beans — This quirky B&B is in a bright purple home with a tile roof in the Santa Teresa arts district. It's a 4-minute walk from a bus stop, 8 km from Christ the Redeemer, and 9 km from Copacabana beach. Airy, individually decorated rooms have en suite bathrooms (with showers and/or tubs), free Wi-Fi, and minifridges; no TVs. Some rooms add hardwood floors, beamed ceilings, and/or local artwork. There are also two duplex rooms with sleeping lofts. A breakfast buffet is served.
- El Misti Hostel Rio - Copacabana — This laid-back, colorful hostel is across from a metro stop, an 8-minute walk from Copacabana Beach, and 3.5 km from Sugarloaf Cable Car. Bright, colorful single- or mixed-gender dorms have free Wi-Fi, bunk beds, and shared bathrooms. Private rooms come with en suite or shared bathrooms. Linens are provided (towels can be rented). Minimum stay rules may apply. A free breakfast buffet is offered. You'll also find a communal kitchen, a TV lounge, and a bar.
- — This posh hotel overlooks the ocean, across from Ipanema beach. It's a 7-minute walk from General Osório metro and 12 minutes from Copacabana beach. Refined rooms have Wi-Fi (paid), flat-screens, and minibars. Some have ocean views or balconies; suites add living areas, free-standing tubs, espresso machines, and wet bars. Upgraded suites include iPod docks. Breakfast is free. There's a chic Mediterranean restaurant, a lobby bar, and a British-style bar.
- Hotel Arpoador Inn — This casual hotel in the Arpoador neighborhood is across the road from the beach. It's a 2-minute walk from Parque Garota de Ipanema and an 11-minute walk from a metro station. The simple rooms have free Wi-Fi, minibars, and flat-screen TVs with cable channels. Upgraded rooms have sea views. Room service is available. The hotel provides a free buffet breakfast in an airy, modern restaurant that has sea views and sidewalk dining.
Practical notes
Hotel security in the Zona Sul is generally good. Use the safe for passports and excess cash. Don't leave valuables visible in the room. Most reputable hotels offer left-luggage on check-out day.
For the full Rio picture, see the Gay Rio de Janeiro Guide.
