Choosing a neighbourhood in Rio that is right for you is the first step to having the best time in one of the most fun cities in the world! From beach views, to safe walkable areas, to great night life, it’s hard to know where to start, but this Where to Stay in Rio guide is here to help!
First things first, safety and convenience should be the most important considerations for your first time in Brazil. If you haven’t done yet, check out our Travel & Safety Tips for First Timers in Rio article here.
How is Rio laid out?
Rio has 3 main zones: South Zone (Zona Sul), North Zone (Zona Norte) and Downtown (Centro) in the middle. The South Zone is known for its upscale residential area and tourist attractions, and is where most of the hostels are. The North Zone is more industrial and residential and Downtown is the commercial & historic hub.
Most first-timers stay in the South Zone, close to the beaches. This means that getting to the beach is safe and walkable and you are close to restaurants, shops & cafes.
There is not one place where you will be able to stay and see everything in Rio within walking distance, so by picking a spot close to the beach in a safe/walkable area means you can enjoy the surroundings on foot, and take Uber’s to the main attractions.
Best areas to stay in Rio
All of the below are in South Zone:
🌅 Ipanema
Summary: Trendy, upscale, relaxed, plenty of bars/restaurants & shopping, access to beach
Pros: Beautiful beach, great sunset spot, great food & shopping, very safe even at night
Cons: More expensive than other areas
Our top accommodation picks:
💰Budget
Ipanema Club Hostel: hostel with private room and dorm options. Super close to Ipanema beach front and close to amenities.
El Misti Hostel Ipanema: Brilliant location close to the beach. The dorm rooms are a good price for the area. The private rooms are comparable to other hotels in the area. The hostel also offers a lot of activities.
Ipanema Beach House: perfect hostel with a pool and only 2 roads from the beach. Options for private rooms and dorms too.
💰💰Mid Range
Ótima localização a 2 quadras da praia!Amei: gorgeous apartment right by the Ipanema park and 2 roads down from the beach. It fits up to 4 people. Splitting the cost here makes it really reasonable per person!!
Confortavel 2 quartos no coração de Ipanema: Another great apartment in Ipanema which becomes really reasonably priced the more people share it. It can fit up to 6 people (2 beds and 1 sofa bed in the living room).
💰💰💰Luxury
OBO Casa • Modern Lux Design Loft: This is the perfect romantic getaway spot with a rooftop swimming pool & cosy terrace. The pictures are truly beautiful – check it out!
(801) 2 Suítes, Vista Panorâmica Ipanema: Right on the beach front, you can’t get any closer than this and with epic views over the beach, it’s really one of the best apartments in Ipanema. It is expensive but worth it! The suite can fit up to 4 people with 2 double beds. It also has indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a sauna & garden as well as a terrace and a restaurant inside.
🏠 Leblon
Summary: Slightly more upscale and residential than Ipanema. Popular with locals. Good for families & those who want a bit of luxury
Pros: Safe, clean, local restaurants
Cons: Less night life & higher prices
Our top accommodation picks:
💰Budget (for Leblon – not many budget options here)
Charmoso Studio Leblon: this apartment is really good value for 2 people in Leblon with a kitchenette & washing machine (amazing!). It has amazing reviews and the host Maria sounds so lovely!
💰💰Mid Range
Apart Hotel no coração do Leblon: This beautiful apartment has unreal mountain and lagoon views. On a clear day guests say you can also see Christ the Redeemer! The accommodation also includes an outdoor pool and a bar.
Leblon Dream Apartment: another great option for an apartment to share between friends with 2 double bedrooms, this place is great value for what you get and close to the beach! Reviews also say you can use their beach chairs which is a PLUS!
💰💰💰Luxury
JANEIRO Hotel: This luxury hotel is a 5 min walk from the beach and has an onsite bar & restaurant. The apartments offer incredible sea views
Promenade Palladium Leblon: The 4 star hotel has rooms and suites, access to a swimming pool & gym.
🏖️ Copacabana
Summary: This is classic Rio, with iconic views and a bustling beach front. Perfect for beach lovers.
Pros: Iconic beach, many hotels and restaurants
Cons: Can feel touristy and petty theft can be more common on the beach here
Our top accommodation picks:
💰Budget
Pura Vida Hostel Rio: this hostel is in the perfect location close to both Copacabana beach & Ipanema beach plus they have free dance classes 6 days a week. Its marketed as a bit more of a party hostel so bear that in mind if that’s not for you.
Bamboo Rio Hostel: located on a quiet safe street, this hostel is a good mix of party & chill. It also has a pool bbq area, bar & fully equipped kitchen.
💰💰Mid Range
Stylish Copacabana: this one bed apartment is just a 3 min walk from Copacabana beach front and has a fully equipped kitchen and aircon.
Bella Hospeda: this beautifully decorated apartment is the perfect location between Copacabana beach and Ipanema beach
💰💰💰Luxury
Praia de Copacabana exclusive loft: an amazing location with views straight onto the beach. Areas to relax both inside & outside including a rooftop pool and fully equipped kitchen. Just look at the pictures!!
🏞️ Botafogo/ Flamengo
Summary: Cool area between downtown and the beaches. It’s a popular spot for digital nomads and those staying for longer.
Pros: Great value, good community of digital nomads, more of a local experience of living here
Cons: No beach atmosphere
Our top accommodation picks:
💰Budget
Aurora Hostel Rio, Botafogo: a good hostel, close to supermarkets and the metro
💰💰Mid Range
Home Botafogo, Botafogo: cute studio with a great location next to the beach
💰💰💰Luxury
Scorial Rio Hotel, Flamengo: full suite with 2 bedrooms with breakfast included (with smaller room options too)
If you are looking for somewhere on a more long term basis in this area, Airbnb have some really good spaces!
Safety Tips for Rio
Make sure to read our Rio Travel Tips article for all you need to know before visiting and how to stay safe.
Places we would avoid staying
You might come across some other options in your search for accommodation and neighbourhoods. We would probably avoid the following areas if you are a first-timer in Rio de Janeiro:
Lapa – this area is popular for its nightlight and samba scene, however it can be very noisy unsafe at night
Santa Teresa – this artsy bohemian neighbourhood is nice, but again there are safety concerns at night time. As the streets are steep and narrow some taxis/ubers won’t travel up this far either
Centro – again there are safety concerns in this area after dark
Accommodation in Favelas – tourist accommodation has cropped up over the years in the favelas in Rio, and whilst this might seem like an exciting way to live in/visit Rio, we would urge visitors not to stay here for safety concerns. If you want to visit a favela, it is highly recommended to go with a guide at all times, keeping clear of unauthorised areas
The North Zone – this zone is far away from the typical tourist attractions and is primarily residential and industrial. You will have to travel for longer to access the popular beaches and things to do
Just a heads up - some of the links on this blog are affiliate links. This means we might earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the site and keep more blog posts coming your way. Thanks for your support!
Comments
If you'd like to chat directly, pop us an email at hello@lawsoftravel.com or drop a comment below and we'll reply as soon as we can!