Rio de Janeiro sits in a beautiful spot surrounded by abundant nature and incredible beaches. It also boasts the iconic ‘Christ the Redeemer’ statue, as well as the cable car that takes travelers to Sugarloaf Mountain and its amazing views; this is a city that is truly bursting with the vibrancy of life.

Home to the world famous sandy beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, where days on the sand can be spent rubbing shoulders with the city’s bold and beautiful, parading along the shore and enjoying all the good things that life has to offer. Fun and festivities can always be had, especially during carnival time! Great food and high-class dining are on offer in upmarket Leblon, and trendy Botafogo’s youthful mindset is steering Rio in a new, fashionable direction.
Map of Rio’s Top Neighborhoods
Rio is a playground for people to get stuck into and enjoy what they love the most, from fantastic hiking opportunities in the surrounding hills to dancing until the sun comes up in the many nightclubs. With accommodation that ranges from very affordable to luxury, there’s a spot for everyone to enjoy this colorful, frenetic, and forever alive city.
Copacabana
The famous area of Copacabana is well known the world over for its equally renowned beach – Copacabana beach. A perfect arc of white sand meeting azure seas, it’s edged by a palm-lined promenade on a backdrop of white, high-rise buildings, with monolithic rocks jutting out of the jagged coast – of which the famous Sugarloaf Mountain is just one.
Two and a half miles long, the beach here is vibrant and full of life. It’s a great place to play sports, swim, sunbathe – and be seen. It’s famous for its New Year’s Eve parties, where millions of people attend and local hotels sponsor a vast array of fireworks for the festivities. Elsewhere, Copacabana is dotted with trendy rooftop bars and upscale restaurants, plus interesting areas like Barrio Peixoto, filled with Art Deco architecture.
Located in the heart of Rio’s South Zone, this lively and wealthy barrio has thrived on rich Brazilians as much as tourism, part of this area ever since the 1923 opening of the Copacabana Palace Hotel (still open – and still luxurious). Today, it’s crawling with places to stay, from cheap backpacker hostels all the way to luxury hotels. Plus, with three metro stations, it’s easy to get to other areas of Rio.
Where to Stay in Copacabana
- Belmond Copacabana Palace – This luxury hotel boasts a tennis court, a number of chic restaurants, as well as an outdoor pool to sip a few cocktails. What’s more, it is located mere steps away from the famous Copacabana Beach itself.
- Hotel Atlântico Rio – A gleaming, modern hotel set in a glass fronted multi-storey building that overlooks Copacabana Beach, features a rooftop terrace where guests can enjoy splashing around in the outdoor pool against the backdrop of city views
- Américas Copacabana Hotel – This 4-star hotel boasts views of the famous mountains of Rio de Janeiro from its rooftop sun terrace, making it a great place to relax after a day of exploring the city.
Ipanema
Famous for its incredible beach and of course the iconic song about the ‘Girl from Ipanema’, this area truly entices visitors with majestic sunsets, natural mountainous landscapes, and rolling waves. A new crowd has moved into Ipanema, and whilst Copacabana is known for its glitz and glam, the young crowd has taken to hanging out in the relaxed atmospheres of the many bars and restaurants in this area of Rio.
Ipanema beach is backed by Dois Irmãos (two brothers peak) and is a well-known spot to watch the sunrise. Locals arrive early and spend all day on the sand, soaking up the sun and cooling off in the sea. Along the beach, anything you might need is on sale from the vendors who call out to get sunbathers attention – from cold drinks to bikinis. And there’s always a spot of surfing or a beach game to try out.
Ipanema is one of the most sought-after neighborhoods in Rio and, whilst there are luxury hotels that boast rooftop infinity pools, there are also some good mid-range, self-catering options, along with affordable budget hostels just a few streets away from the sand.
Where to Stay in Ipanema
- Hotel Fasano Rio de Janeiro – A sumptuous and chic place to stay, guests can positively lap up the views of the surrounding mountain from the lavish rooftop infinity pool.
- Arena Ipanema Hotel – This place isn’t just close to one beach, but two: Arpoador Beach is within just a few minutes’ walking distance from here.
Barra da Tijuca
Known simply as ‘Barra’, this western neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro is the wealthiest in town. In fact, it’s one of the most developed places in Brazil, having been built to more recent Modernist standards, and features wide, leafy boulevards and high-rise buildings.
One of the safest high-class barrios in Rio (possibly down to its lack of favelas), here is where you’ll find the city’s wealthy citizens and celebrities living in luxury condos complete with lakes, groves, spas, and gyms. The mini-neighborhood Peninsula is one of these; it’s the newest development in Rio and the first environmentally-friendly one.
Also home to many administrative, government and financial buildings, Barra de Tijuca is surprisingly affordable when it comes to hotels; you’ll find a few very nice mid-range options dotted all around the barrio, but there’s a large concentration in its most easterly area – closer to Rio’s center.
Where to Stay in Barra da Tijuca
- Windsor Marapendi – Set on Barra da Tijuca itself, this is a large, luxury hotel that’s the perfect place to soak up views of the beach and ocean.
- Tropical Barra Hotel – The rooftop terrace at this 4-star offering features a pool and a hot tub, boasting views of Barra da Tijuca beach – which is just a stone’s throw from the hotel.
- Hotel Praia Linda – Amenities at this hotel include a street side terrace, as well as a stylish, contemporary restaurant which has been decorated by local artists, where you can enjoy meals complete with sea views.
Leblon
Leblon shares the same four-kilometer stretch of crescent-shaped coast with Ipanema and is home to some of Rio’s wealthiest inhabitants. The beach, and sea, here is calmer so it’s more popular with families. Prices in Leblon are not cheap and are often in line with major cities like London or New York. That doesn’t mean that Leblon isn’t worth taking a look at though; the area oozes glamour and is the place where the gorgeous people go to be seen.
For high dining and extravagance, Rua Dias Ferreira in Leblon is not to be missed. Dress to impress and head out to one of the many restaurants along this leafy boulevard, then finish up with cocktails at a bar or two. Prices here are high, however.
Hotels are suitably deluxe in this district and if you’re traveling on a budget, it’s probably best to look elsewhere. But if you’ve got the money to spare and want to luxuriate in a Leblon hotel, the accommodation ranges from apart-hotels to design boutique hotels.
Where to Stay in Leblon
- Sheraton Grand Rio Hotel – This Rio-based Sheraton offering serves up a hefty portion of high-end style and luxury. There’s a wide choice of rooms available here, from classic rooms all the way spacious suites.
Centro
Old and new fuse in Rio de Janeiro’s downtown for an exciting and fascinating mix. Nestled between the shiny new skyscrapers and high-rise tower blocks are centuries-old historical monuments; there’s the 17th-century São Bento Monastery with beautiful Baroque details, and the exquisite former palace, Paço Imperial, dating from the 18th century, to name just a couple.
Today, aside from all the history and culture, Centro is Rio’s financial and business heart, thronged with the headquarters of some of Brazil’s biggest companies. Most of Rio’s tallest buildings are located here, too. As such, this place is busy with office workers from Monday to Friday. When that all gets too much for you, head to the 18th century public gardens of Passeio Público for a stroll.
Hotels here are mostly mid-range with a few budget options. They have less charm than others in Rio, but Centro has its perks: it contains Brazil Central Station, so if you’re planning to move on within Brazil by train, it’s a good place to base yourself. Plus, it’s got good links to the airport from here.
And if you’re stuck for nightlife – though there are some old-timey bars here – you should head south to the neighboring enclave of Lapa!
Where to Stay in Centro
- Américas Granada Hotel – There’s a chic rooftop swimming pool – complete with skyline backdrop – and a fitness center here, plus a restaurant and bar that serves up dinner and drinks until late.
Lapa
Locals and foreign visitors combine in the lanes of Lapa to soak up its bohemian atmosphere and party hard in Rio’s flamboyant Downtown district. Home to a symbol of the city, the Carioca Aqueduct – known as Lapa Arches – its romantic colonial mansions have become the backdrop for Rio’s free-spirited party atmosphere.
Colorful and bold, Lapa is all about the good times. Away from the beach bods and fine dining, Lapa’s crumbling facades have been transformed into trendy bars and busy nightclubs, where all the electric energy of the city can be felt. As the area has become more gentrified, it’s become a safer place for all different types of people to join together and enjoy the nightlife.
You can never have an early night in this dramatic and wild neighborhood. Grab some tasty tidbits from one of the tents in the Lapa Arches and then see where the night takes you – just make sure to leave your valuables back at the hotel.
Accommodation in Lapa is affordable and you can find yourself bagging a really nice hotel room for not too much money, meaning more cash to spend on going out and having a good time.
Where to Stay in Lapa
- Casa Nova Hotel – Equipped with a fun rooftop pool area and terrace bar, this budget friendly hotel is a great option for those who are looking for an affordable yet design-conscious stay in Rio.
Santa Teresa
Charming Santa Teresa is a hilly district that’s all historic buildings, colorful trams, winding streets and an atmosphere that’s decidedly village-like. Feeling a world away from the beachside barrios of the city or the bustle of Rio’s downtown, this district also is home to the most famous icon of the city – Christ the Redeemer.
Away from that statue – and world wonder, don’t forget – you’ll find a lot to like about Santa Teresa. Hip cocktail bars and boutique hotels are now housed in old villas and mansions that give this place an effortlessly cool vibe; elsewhere, those old edifices have been repurposed into museums and art galleries. There’s even the interesting Ruins Park, located in the crumbled, tumbledown ruins of an Old Republic mansion.
Attracting intellectuals, artists and generally wealthy bohemian characters from Rio de Janeiro, this place is known for its political thought as much as it is for its great cafes and sophisticated gastronomic scene.
Where to Stay in Santa Teresa
- Mama Shelter Rio De Janeiro – A funky hotel to match the bohemian area itself, this is a fresh and fashionable place to stay just ripe for your Instagram feed. Live music is on offer at the onsite bar, and there are Brazilian dishes and pizzas up served up at the hotel restaurant.
Botafogo
Hot, hip and on trend, Botafogo is having a moment right now. Overflowing with funky coffee houses and hipster hangouts, Botafogo isn’t well known with tourists, who usually head for Rio’s famous beaches. But with an alternative scene and lots of young people relocating here for cheaper rent prices, the area is well on the up.
There’s a low key, welcoming atmosphere in the neighborhood, which makes it a great place to stay if you want to learn more about local life and be among the entrepreneurial and edgy young people of the city.
The area also has great transportation and you can zip around to many of the Rio’s main neighborhoods fairly easily from here. Cool creatives have made the residential area their home, and with a host of co-working spaces, bakeries, and bars, there’s a growing range of budget accommodation on offer that reflects the same fun, forward-thinking style of the district.
Where to Stay in Botafogo
- Yoo2 Rio de Janeiro – This luxury hotel comes complete with views of the famous Sugar Loaf Mountain from its varied rooms – from minimalist chic to contemporary and eclectic offerings.
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