Wondering where to stay in Rio de Janeiro? This city will completely sweep you off your feet with its stunning contrasts, endless energy, and breathtaking views of green hills tumbling straight into the ocean. But choosing the right accommodation in this Brazilian metropolis isn’t just a question of your budget. It plays an absolutely crucial role in how safe you’ll feel and how much you’ll enjoy your whole holiday in good health. While in European cities it’s often enough to find a nice room close to the centre, here every street and neighborhood decides your sense of safety.
It’s absolutely key to realise that in Rio you pay for the specific side of the street your hotel sits on. If you dream of a romantic ocean view and want to stay right on the beach side of the famous Avenida Atlântica, you’ll pay a serious premium. But move just a single block away from the beach and room prices drop dramatically. And you’re still only a thirty-second walk from the soft sand. It’s a compromise that saves travelers a lot of money for other experiences.
Ahead of you are 18 carefully selected hotels — from iconic luxury palaces to affordable options near metro stations. You’ll learn why Leblon is a paradise for families and why hilly Santa Teresa attracts couples in love. Don’t forget, either, that on the ground all prices are paid in Brazilian reals (BRL), so it pays to keep an eye on the current exchange rate before you travel.
TL;DR
- Best hotel overall: The iconic Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel offers historic luxury where the staff remember your name before you’ve even reached your room in the lift — right on the most famous beach in the world.
- Best choice for families: The sprawling Sheraton Grand Rio Hotel & Resort sits safely between Leblon and Vidigal and boasts three pools.
- Best for romantic couples: The boutique gem Vila Santa Teresa stands on a hill and offers absolutely breathtaking views over the entire Guanabara Bay.
- Best value for money: The highly rated Arena Copacabana Hotel delights with a gorgeous rooftop pool and excellent service for very reasonable money.
- Best for a tight budget: The hugely popular Hostel Maresias do Leme sits at the quieter end of the beach and promises an amazing traveler atmosphere.
- Best location near the metro: The glassy Windsor Florida Hotel in the Flamengo district is ideal for those who want to explore the whole city easily and cheaply.
💡 On this map you can compare what’s available right now — you’ll also see how much cheaper accommodation is just a few stops from the centre.
Which area to choose
Choosing a specific neighborhood in Rio is at the same time a decision about your safety and your overall peace at night. The most popular tourist areas can be ranked fairly precisely by perceived safety, from the truly premium ones all the way to the slightly wilder ones. All the southern beach districts are perfectly fine for ordinary visitors, but each of them offers a completely different traveler experience and demands a slightly different approach to evening logistics.
Leblon is considered the wealthiest and best-patrolled district in the whole city. It’s noticeably quieter here than anywhere else, and the streets are lined with the best restaurants for the local elite. This is a district where you can walk the streets even at night without a hint of nervousness, and that speaks louder than any statistics. That makes Leblon an ideal refuge for families with children, but you have to reckon with it being the most expensive address, with the fewest available hotels. Right next door, Ipanema offers the best combination of calm and city life. It’s noticeably more elegant and cleaner than neighboring Copacabana and is considered a very safe part of Rio, because even in the evening there’s plenty of light and strolling people everywhere.
Copacabana is the absolutely obvious choice for a first visit to the city. It offers the most famous beach in the world with a promenade over three kilometres long, an endless row of beach kiosks, and great connections to the metro lines. You’ll find by far the most hotels in every conceivable category here, and the best value between price and location. But you have to reckon with a strong police presence, huge crowds, and the fact that after dark you simply don’t walk along the beachfront because of petty pickpockets. If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative, Botafogo and Flamengo will please all travelers who watch their budget closely. These districts sit strategically between the beaches and the historic centre, feel far more authentic, and you won’t meet as many tourists here.
Also worth a mention is Santa Teresa, a steep hill dotted with old colonial villas and art galleries. It’s undoubtedly the most romantic part of Rio, where an old bohemian atmosphere and calm wash over you. The price for those amazing views, though, is the constant need to ride an Uber down to the beaches and the centre, which simply won’t suit everyone. On the other hand, it’s better to avoid staying in Centro and the Lapa district entirely. Although you’ll find the very cheapest hotels and beautiful museums here, the whole of Centro empties out completely after working hours. At night you definitely don’t walk these streets on foot, and it really isn’t a place for peaceful sleep.
When to go and when to book
Planning the right dates is absolutely crucial for a visit to Brazil, because the weather can be very unpredictable. The best period is April to June, followed by August to October. In these spring and autumn months you cleverly avoid the most humid summer peak, the sky is beautifully blue most days, and temperatures are very pleasant for a whole day of sightseeing. During this period you can also easily find very decent accommodation at perfectly reasonable prices that won’t ruin your travel budget.
If you’re planning the trip of a lifetime for Carnival or New Year’s Eve on Copacabana, brace yourself for the most expensive dates of the entire year. Accommodation prices in these weeks shoot up to several times the usual amounts, and the best hotels right on the beach are sold out many months in advance. For 2026 the relentless rule applies: if you want to experience these grand celebrations first-hand, you have to book accommodation practically the moment you buy your flights. Any hesitation means you’ll be left with only overpriced rooms on the edge of the city, from which you’ll be commuting with difficulty.
The period from December to March is the main Brazilian summer. That means huge tropical heat, very high humidity, and absolutely packed beaches where locals gather from all corners of the country. It’s the high season outside Carnival itself, so hotel prices and domestic flights hold at their long-term maximums. A hike up to the statue of Christ in the full summer heat and high humidity is an experience, but not necessarily the one you dream of. Weigh up whether it’s worth it to you.
When planning your daily programme, also remember that Rio is a very mountainous city split by massive cliffs. Between Copacabana, Botafogo, and the historic Centro lie steep hills and long tunnels, so distances on a map are terribly deceptive. Always check the real travel time in your navigation app according to current traffic conditions. A straight line tells you nothing at all about how long the journey takes, and in the afternoon rush hour you can easily spend a whole hour in a taxi crawling a few kilometres.
Where to stay in Rio de Janeiro: the 18 best hotels
Let’s take a detailed look at the best accommodation options that travelers from all over the world recommend most. You’ll find complete historic legends, great compromises near the beach, and secret tips for backpackers.
1. Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel
This absolutely stunning palace is the most-reviewed and best-rated hotel in all of Rio. It boasts an incredible score of 4.8 from a staggering 41,780 reviews on Google Maps. The brilliantly white art deco building from 1923 stands proudly facing Copacabana beach and represents the most luxurious accommodation Brazil has to offer. Right at the entrance you’re greeted by uncompromising yet very polite security, which carefully guards the absolute privacy and safety of all its guests.
Inside this architectural gem, perfect historic opulence awaits you, along with a huge outdoor pool with comfortable loungers and perfectly maintained tennis courts. They say the reception here knows more state secrets than Interpol, and never lets a thing slip. The service here is world-famous for its absolute discretion and completely flawless professionalism. The hotel also houses renowned Michelin restaurants, where guests enjoy the finest available ingredients prepared to perfection.
💡 Tip: Even if you won’t actually be sleeping here, since the nightly rates are truly premium, I recommend reserving a table for afternoon tea or an evening drink by the illuminated pool. The experience of this historic icon is definitely worth it even in a smaller dose, and you’ll pay for it easily in local reals.
2. Hotel Fasano Rio de Janeiro
If you’re after modern luxury rather than a historic classic, this hotel on the famous Avenida Vieira Souto in Ipanema is the best address in the city. It boasts a rating of 4.7 and more than 3,500 enthusiastic reviews. The design building of dark glass and wood attracts lovers of modern architecture and travelers who prefer a slightly calmer, more exclusive setting than busy Copacabana next door. Ipanema is also long considered one of the safest beach districts for an evening stroll.
The biggest draw of the whole complex is the iconic rooftop pool with a breathtaking view straight onto the beach and the majestic Dois Irmãos mountain. It’s precisely from here that you’ll snap the most beautiful photos of your entire holiday without having to squeeze into a crowd of tourists. The hotel also has its own private beach club with comfortable loungers and an excellent level of service that reliably satisfies even the most demanding guests from around the world. In the surroundings you’ll also find plenty of excellent Italian and Japanese restaurants for a great meat-free dinner.
💡 Tip: Rooms facing the ocean have glass balconies that pull the beach atmosphere right up to your bed, and if your budget allows it, the sunset view from there is honestly unforgettable. check prices and availability
3. Emiliano Rio, an SLH Hotel
This gorgeous boutique hotel on Copacabana combines vintage elegance with modern comfort and holds a fantastic rating of 4.7 from nearly two thousand reviews. Its unique architectural facade with white opening panels gives guests perfect privacy from the eyes of passers-by, while at the same time letting in the fresh sea breeze and Brazilian sun exactly according to your mood. It’s a huge contrast to the massive hotel complexes nearby.
Besides the amazing beach views, the hotel also offers a renowned champagne bar, where you can enjoy a peaceful evening in a thoroughly refined setting. It’s a great choice for travelers looking for a more intimate atmosphere of grand luxury who don’t want to share the lobby with hundreds of other tourists. A big plus is also the walking distance to the nearest metro station, from where you can quickly and safely reach the historic centre.
💡 Tip: Definitely try the hotel’s spa services, which guests praise in their reviews. Apparently, after an hour-long massage you feel as if you’d only flown in yesterday. After a long flight to South America, a quality massage will reliably get you back on your feet. check prices and availability
4. JW Marriott Hotel Rio de Janeiro
Classic five-star luxury from this proven international chain sits right on Avenida Atlântica on Copacabana. The hotel holds a very solid rating of 4.6 from more than 5,400 reviews and offers exactly the reliable predictability you pay international chains for. Everything here runs like clockwork and the staff speak perfect English, which in Brazil is definitely not standard even in pricey places, so nothing here will catch you off guard.
The loveliest spot in the whole sprawling complex is the rooftop pool with a stunning panorama, where you can relax in complete safety with a view of the roaring ocean while sipping fresh coconut water. There are also two great restaurants that serve incredibly rich breakfasts in the morning, full of fresh tropical fruit and local cheese specialties. There’s also a top-notch fitness centre for those who want to stay in shape even on holiday.
💡 Tip: If you regularly collect points in the Marriott loyalty programme, this is one of the best places in the world to redeem them for a truly premium experience right in the front row by the famous beach.
5. Hilton Rio de Janeiro Copacabana
This huge and very popular hotel among travelers stands strategically at the very start of Copacabana, near the much quieter part called Leme. It boasts a great rating of 4.6 from more than thirteen thousand guests. It offers beautiful modern rooms with ocean views and a very high standard of accommodation that satisfies even the most demanding visitors. The location in Leme also means noticeably fewer crowds in front of the main entrance and calmer evenings.
What guests here enjoy most of all is the fantastic rooftop bar, from which you have a gorgeous view of the entire elegant curve of the famous beach all the way to the military fort on the other side of the bay. If you don’t feel like fighting through the crowds on the public beach, the hotel pool offers a perfect and, above all, safe alternative. A short walk from the hotel you’ll also find plenty of stands where they’ll gladly make you an excellent, refreshing açaí.
💡 Tip: When booking, definitely request a room on the highest available floor. Do it not just for the better photos, but mainly to be as far as possible from the constant noise of the busy beach promenade and traffic on Avenida Atlântica. check prices and availability
6. Sheraton Grand Rio Hotel & Resort
This is the absolute top choice for anyone who wants every comfort in one place during their holiday. The hotel, with an excellent rating of 4.7, sits in a very safe enclave nestled between luxurious Leblon and the Vidigal hill. According to reviews, it’s clearly the best choice for families with children who want a classic resort setting and don’t want to deal with complicated logistics of getting around a busy city every day.
As one of the very few hotels in all of Rio, this complex has direct access to its own beach section, where souvenir sellers won’t constantly disturb you. On top of that it offers three huge outdoor pools, professional tennis courts, a luxurious wellness area, and several excellent restaurants. From this sprawling resort you actually don’t have to set foot outside for your whole stay, if you just want to relax by the water.
💡 Tip: A regular shuttle bus runs from the hotel straight into central Leblon, so you can get into the city for an evening stroll very easily and safely without constantly calling a driver via the Uber app. check prices and availability
7. Miramar Hotel by Windsor
This beautiful hotel represents the very best value-for-money category right on the famous Copacabana. It sits proudly on Avenida Atlântica and takes home a great score of 4.6 from nearly three thousand reviews. It offers very elegant and tasteful interiors full of marble and quality wood, for which you’d pay much higher amounts in other five-star hotels nearby. The staff are also famous for their unfailing willingness to help with any problem.
Guests from all over the world love above all the beautiful rooftop pool and the very modern spa, where you can drop in after a demanding day full of sightseeing. It’s an absolutely excellent choice for those who want to stay right on the front line of the beach promenade but at the same time don’t want to spend needlessly high sums on the priciest historic icons. Within walking distance you’ll also find great bakeries offering local tapioca crêpes.
💡 Tip: The hotel is famous far and wide for its incredibly rich breakfasts, served in a restaurant with a direct view of the beach. Definitely add them to your booking — it’ll save you the confused morning hunt for an open café. check prices and availability
8. Arena Copacabana Hotel
One of the best-rated hotels in its price bracket, holding an amazing rating of 4.6 from more than four and a half thousand guests. You’ll find it right in the middle, very lively part of Copacabana. It offers a very modern, clean, and maximally functional room design that suits today’s travelers perfectly. Everything here is designed with maximum comfort and practicality in mind after a long day spent on the beach.
The real gem of the whole place is its spacious rooftop pool with loungers, a modern sauna, and a beautifully glassed fitness centre with a direct view of the ocean. Running on the treadmill while watching the waves is simply an experience. The staff at reception are very helpful and the hotel’s security standards are set at a truly high level, so you’ll feel completely at ease here.
💡 Tip: Around the hotel there’s a huge number of restaurants and small bistros, so in the evening you won’t have to go far. Ask the local receptionists about their favourite spots — they’ll gladly recommend great bakeries with fresh cheesy pão de queijo. check prices and availability
9. Mar Palace Copacabana Hotel
This is an absolutely perfect example of how you can save significantly by not staying right on Avenida Atlântica. The hotel sits just a single block from the beach, yet still holds a fantastic rating of 4.6 from nearly four thousand reviews. It offers truly excellent service, clean rooms, and very pleasant staff for a mere fraction of the price of its front-row beach neighbors. It’s simply the smart choice for sensible travelers.
Despite the significantly lower nightly rate, you’ll find a very pleasant rooftop pool here, and a very good, hearty breakfast is usually included in the room price as standard. You can reach the roaring ocean in your flip-flops in a minute of slow walking, so you definitely won’t miss out on the true beach experience. In the immediate surroundings of the hotel you’ll also find far more authentic places with local prices than on the main tourist promenade.
💡 Tip: If your holiday budget is a little tight, this is clearly the smartest choice. You can happily invest the saved Brazilian reals into pricier trips to Sugarloaf Mountain or into great food at local spots. check prices and availability
10. PortoBay Rio Internacional
Another absolutely reliable choice right on busy Copacabana, holding a very good rating of 4.6 from more than two thousand reviews among travelers. At first glance the hotel impresses because it offers beautifully spacious rooms with really large windows that let in plenty of natural daylight and offer great views over the whole bay. Especially when you wake up in the morning, the view of the ocean is absolutely priceless.
You can rest after a whole day of exploring the city at the rooftop pool or in two different saunas fully available to guests. The overall service here is very strongly focused on demanding international clientele, so unlike smaller guesthouses you’ll have absolutely no trouble communicating in English, and the staff will gladly help you book any tickets or find your way around the local transport.
💡 Tip: The hotel restaurant offers excellent themed evenings with live music, which are an absolutely great save on days when you simply don’t feel like heading out into the busy city after dark and would rather stay in the safety of the hotel. check prices and availability
11. Windsor Excelsior Copacabana
A traditional and long-popular hotel standing proudly right on the beachfront Avenida Atlântica. From nearly four thousand reviews it takes home a very nice score of 4.5. It belongs to the reliable Brazilian hotel chain Windsor, which is well known among both locals and tourists for its absolutely consistent service and meticulous cleanliness. Here you simply know exactly what you’ll get for your money, and there are no unpleasant surprises waiting for you on arrival.
On the roof of this tall building you’ll find a pleasant outdoor pool and a very well-equipped fitness centre, from which there’s again an amazing view of the entire length of the beach. The hotel’s location guarantees that you have all the beach action on Copacabana at your fingertips the moment you step out of the safety of the air-conditioned lobby. In the surroundings you can easily grab excellent vegetarian pastel with cheese for a quick snack.
💡 Tip: The experienced staff at reception will gladly arrange a safe taxi or happily advise you on using the Uber app, which you’ll definitely appreciate on late-evening returns from the city to the hotel.
12. Hotel Rio Othon Palace
You simply can’t miss this huge hotel classic on Avenida Atlântica along the promenade, as it’s the second most-reviewed hotel in the whole city. It holds a score of 4.5 from more than seventeen thousand reviews. It offers an absolutely enormous accommodation capacity, so you can quite often find a free room here even during busier holiday dates, when smaller boutique hotels are already hopelessly sold out. The building is a little older, but the owners keep it in very good condition.
Besides the fantastic beach view, this giant boasts an indoor as well as an outdoor pool, which comes in enormously handy in case of worse weather or strong winds off the ocean. Overall, the hotel offers a huge range of services nicely under one roof, from massages to several bars, so if you prefer to have everything at hand, you’ll be more than happy here.
💡 Tip: Given the enormous size of the hotel, morning breakfasts tend to be busy and noisy. Get up half an hour earlier and you’ll save yourself the queues at the buffet and the coffee machines. check prices and availability
13. Hotel Arpoador
If you long for the more relaxed atmosphere of clean Ipanema but definitely don’t want to pay astronomical sums for the five-star icons, this is the best available price for a prestigious Ipanema address. The hotel has a lovely rating of 4.5 and sits strategically right on the border of Ipanema by the famous Arpoador rock formation. It’s a place where the best beach culture meets affordable luxury and great design.
The hotel offers a gorgeous wooden terrace with an amazing ocean view, where a rich breakfast is served every morning and is pleasantly included right in the room price. The overall atmosphere here is far more relaxed, youthful, and intimate than in the huge hotel complexes on Copacabana. Right next door you’ll also find stands with ice-cold agua de coco, which locals love to buy.
💡 Tip: According to locals, the Arpoador rock right next to the hotel is absolutely the best spot in Rio for watching the sunset. People gather here in huge numbers every early evening and regularly, loudly applaud the setting sun.
14. Windsor Florida Hotel
This modern glassy building in the Flamengo district is an absolutely ideal choice for travelers who watch their overall budget closely and want the reliable metro very close by. From seven thousand reviews the hotel holds a rating of 4.5 and offers a huge advantage in its strategic location. You’re here exactly halfway between the famous beaches to the south and the historic city centre to the north, which you can reach by metro in a few minutes.
For a truly excellent and affordable price you get access to a rooftop pool and a great penthouse bar, from which there’s a lovely view over the calmer waters of the bay. The metro station is right under your nose, so you’ll move around the whole enormous city very cheaply, quickly, and above all safely even during the rush hour, when the streets are stuck in endless traffic jams.
💡 Tip: Make the most of the proximity to the beautiful Flamengo park, which is ideal for a peaceful morning run or an afternoon stroll in the shade of the trees, completely without the ever-present crowds of tourists typical of busy Copacabana. check prices and availability
15. Vila Santa Teresa
This carefully hidden gem is the very best-rated hotel from our whole extensive selection, boasting an incredible score of 4.8 from more than twelve hundred reviews. You’ll find it high on a hill in the beautiful bohemian district of Santa Teresa, and it offers an absolutely exclusive, private atmosphere that you simply won’t experience by the beach. This place feels more like a luxurious private residence than a classic city hotel.
From the huge windows of the luxurious rooms opens a completely breathtaking view over the entire Guanabara Bay and the mountains in the background. There’s a gorgeous, calm outdoor pool surrounded by lush tropical greenery and a first-class spa for maximum relaxation. It’s an absolute oasis of calm in the middle of a constantly pulsing and noisy metropolis, one you’ll be enormously happy to return to in the evening.
💡 Tip: This hotel is an absolutely ideal destination for couples in love and peaceful honeymoons. If you’re looking for a place where absolutely no one will disturb you and where you’ll enjoy maximum romance, you simply won’t find a better address in all of Rio. You just have to reckon with always having to ride an Uber down to the beach.
16. MGallery Santa Teresa Hotel
Another absolutely gorgeous choice on a steep hill with amazing panoramic views over the bay holds a great rating of 4.7. This luxury hotel is housed in a sensitively renovated historic building of an old coffee farm and perfectly combines fresh tropical design with traditional colonial elegance. Every detail of the interior is carefully thought through, and in the corridors you’ll find plenty of interesting artworks by local creators.
Besides the perfect calm, guests here have fallen in love above all with the beautiful outdoor pool and the very lively hotel bar, where even the local artistic crème de la crème come to have fun in the evenings. The overall relaxed atmosphere of the district, with its countless small galleries and studios, is very naturally reflected in the hotel’s interiors and in the informal yet highly professional approach of all the staff.
💡 Tip: When planning your daily programme, remember that from the hotel you always have to take an Uber down to the beach and to the historic centre. So factor in this small extra expense and a slight time delay in your itinerary before the car makes its way up the winding streets to you. check prices and availability
17. Hostel Maresias do Leme
Even on a really tight budget you can stay in Rio brilliantly and safely. According to reviews, this is the very best-rated hostel in the city, boasting a score of 4.7 and nearly two thousand reviews. It’s located in the very calm district of Leme, which is the significantly safer, cleaner, and quieter northern end of the otherwise very long Copacabana beach. It’s an ideal balance between price and an excellent location for young travelers.
The place offers a fantastic and very open traveler atmosphere, its own lively bar, and a beautiful outdoor terrace with an amazing ocean view, where you can quietly enjoy your morning coffee. You can flexibly choose here between cheaper shared dorms and smaller private rooms at very friendly prices, which will save you plenty of money for further travels around South America.
💡 Tip: The hostel is famous among backpackers for its very friendly and inclusive community. If you’re traveling to Brazil solo and want to quickly meet other cool people for joint trips to the statue of Christ or evening drinks, you’re in absolutely the right place here.
18. Hotel Nacional
This architectural gem stands a little away from all the main action in the modern western district of São Conrado. I include it here on purpose as an example of what amazing things you get when you give up walking distance to the busy centre. It’s a gorgeous building designed by the famous architect Oscar Niemeyer himself, which today entices visitors with a huge and very luxurious resort experience full of fantastic design.
The resort offers guests a much calmer beach without the crush of tourists and plenty of living space, which suits everyone looking mainly for relaxation by the water with a book in hand. Copacabana, though, is really very far from here — in the afternoon rush hour easily an hour in an Uber. Weigh up whether the calm and space are worth it to you.
💡 Tip: The hotel is a great choice for really long stays by the water, or if you have your own rental car. But be extremely careful of other hotels that just have the word “Rio” in their name. Always carefully check their actual address on a map, so you don’t end up somewhere far away near Santos Dumont airport. check prices and availability
How to choose the right hotel
When making your final decision, you need to clarify what type of holiday you actually prefer. If you’re traveling as a family with younger children, safety and calm should come first. In that case I warmly recommend choosing Leblon or a gated resort like the Sheraton. That way you’ll avoid the evening stress of busy streets, and the children will have space for safe swimming in the pools.
For romantic couples who don’t plan to spend every day on the beach, Santa Teresa is absolutely magical. Its colonial villas and views of the city at night have no competition. On the other hand, if you’re going with a group of friends and want to experience the real beach buzz, the bars, and the energy of a big city, Copacabana or Ipanema are the obvious choice, where you’ll be at the centre of everything.
A big trap for inexperienced travelers is the promised view. Remember that “vista mar” doesn’t necessarily mean a front-row beach view. Often it’s just a side view from a hotel standing a block away. Weigh up whether that gap between the buildings is really worth the surcharge to you, or whether you’d rather save with accommodation in the second line, from where you reach the water just as quickly.
Evening logistics also play a crucial role. After dark you don’t move around on foot, not even between nearby districts, and you certainly don’t go to the beaches at night. Wherever you stay, an evening Uber in Rio isn’t a luxury — it’s simply part of life in the city. Add it straight into your daily budget and you’ll save yourself needless stress.
Where to go next
Frequently asked questions
Is Rio de Janeiro safe for tourists?
Yes, as long as you follow basic rules and use common sense. Safety depends heavily on your choice of neighbourhood, with Leblon and Ipanema consistently ranking among the safest. It’s absolutely crucial never to walk on the beaches after dark, not to wear visibly expensive jewellery, and never to hold your phone in your hand while walking on public promenades. Besides pickpockets on the beaches, be careful in crowds around tourist attractions. Always keep valuables hidden and don’t carry unnecessarily large amounts of cash.
Can you drink tap water in Rio?
I absolutely do not recommend drinking tap water in Brazil. For direct consumption, brushing your teeth, and making tea, always buy bottled water from a shop. Tap water contains a different composition of bacteria and can cause very unpleasant digestive problems that could unnecessarily ruin a substantial part of your dream holiday. If you’re having drinks at a bar or on the beach, ask if the ice is made from filtered water. In better establishments it’s standard, but with smaller stalls, caution is warranted.
Where can I eat well if I don’t eat meat?
While Brazilian cuisine is heavily meat-based, there are plenty of delicious meatless options everywhere. Beach kiosks offering refreshing açaí and fresh agua de coco are excellent. At bakeries, definitely try the warm cheese balls pão de queijo or fried pastel with cheese, and the local tapioca pancakes both sweet and savoury are also excellent. Many restaurants also commonly offer excellent salads or vegetarian versions of the national dish feijoada, so you definitely won’t miss out on culinary experiences.
How does transport between neighbourhoods work?
During the day, you can move around the beach areas and historic centre excellently and very cheaply on the clean metro. Once it gets a bit dark, however, the safest option is always reliable Uber, which works absolutely brilliantly here at very reasonable prices. Alternatively, have an official taxi called directly by the staff at your hotel reception. When using apps like Uber, always make sure you’re getting into the correct car. Drivers are generally reliable, but traffic jams can sometimes stretch out the journey considerably.
Why is accommodation in Centro not recommended?
Centro and the neighbouring district of Lapa offer the cheapest hotels for a very good reason. These are purely office and historic areas that completely empty out immediately after working hours. At night, you definitely don’t walk these deserted streets on foot, so it’s really not even remotely suitable for peaceful and safe sleeping. On weekends the situation is absolutely similar, so if you want to soak up the real Brazilian atmosphere and be close to entertainment, it’s better to choose neighbourhoods closer to the beaches.
How much does accommodation cost during carnival?
Carnival and New Year’s Eve celebrations are extremely expensive and hectic in Rio. Hotel prices rise to several times their normal rates and the best hotels in Copacabana and Ipanema are hopelessly sold out many months in advance. If you’re planning a trip for these major holidays in 2026, book accommodation immediately. Also keep in mind that the normal rhythm of the city changes during these dates. Some streets are closed to traffic and all the logistics require more careful planning.
What does it mean when a hotel has Rio in its name?
Be very careful, because hotels with “Rio” in their name may be located very far from the centre, for example in the modern western district of Barra da Tijuca or right next to the noisy Santos Dumont airport. Always thoroughly check the exact location of the hotel on a map, so you don’t spend half your holiday in endless traffic jams. Always carefully verify in advance how long the actual journey to the main attractions takes. An extra hour spent in a taxi can unnecessarily inflate the cost of your dream holiday.
Tips and Tricks for Your Vacation
Don’t Overpay for Flights
Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.
Book Your Accommodation Smartly
The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.
Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).
Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.
Find the Best Experiences
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can book guided walks, trips, skip-the-line tickets, tours, and much more. We always find some extra fun there!
