Rio de Janeiro Hotels

One thing Rio de Janeiro is not short of is accommodation. Most hotels in Rio are located on the Copacabana and Ipanema beachfronts where the big luxury hotel chains dominate the coastal strip. But just a few blocks inland are more affordable options. Santa Teresa is a quiet hillside neighbourhood, with deluxe boutique hotels, simple hostels and B&Bs, while Catete (between Downtown and Botafogo) has excellent budget hotels. There is also a rising number of places to stay in the western suburbs such as Barra, which is popular for surfers and will have close access to the new Olympic Village area. Tourists planning to visit Rio during Carnival or New Year should book well in advance and bear in mind that many hotels raise prices during these periods.

The Rio de Janeiro hotels below have been hand-picked by our guide author and are grouped into three pricing categories:
Luxury (over R$500)
Moderate(R$250 to R$500)
Cheap (up to R$250)
These Rio de Janeiro hotel prices are the starting prices for a double room and include breakfast, unless otherwise specified. Room rates in Rio incur a sales tax of 5% and a service charge of 10%, which are usually added to the bill at the end of a stay.



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Luxury Moderate Cheap

Copacabana Palace

(21) 2548 7070.

This elegant establishment is almost as famous as its beachfront location. Since it was built in 1923, famous guests have included Robert De Niro, Marlene Dietrich, Orson Welles and Princess Diana. The Copacabana Palace is one of the grandest classical buildings in Rio de Janeiro; its creamy pillared façade dominates Avenida Atlântica, and is protected by a preservation order. The plush interior is even more impressive with marble floors, chandeliers, grand ballroom and elegantly decorated rooms. Facilities include a rooftop tennis court, a majestic swimming pool, a well-equipped fitness suite and a business centre. The two restaurants, Cipriani and Pergula, offer fine dining.

Hotel Mama Ruisa

(21) 2242 1281.

This tasteful boutique hotel lies in the heart of Santa Teresa in a converted late 19th-century mansion. Laidback French proprietor Jean Michel Ruiz has had each of the seven rooms individually decorated in tribute to icons of stage and screen, including Josephine Baker, Marlene Dietrich, Carmen Miranda and Maria Callas. The spacious lounge is filled with modern designer furniture and its walls are hung with original works of art and ethnic artefacts. The private walled garden has a small pool, with a terrace and veranda where meals and cocktails are served.

Rua Santa Cristina 132, Santa Teresa, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Fasano Rio

(21) 3202 4000.

Still the coolest luxury hotel in Rio de Janeiro, Fasano Rio is a place where both Brazilian and global celebrities come to see and to be seen. Overlooking Ipanema Beach, this stylish designer hotel brings a modern concept of hospitality, elegance and sophistication. The interiors are a joint venture of renowned architect Philippe Stark and the restaurateur and hotelier Rogério Fasano. The décor combines dark tropical woods with light and airy drapes and furnishings. All 79 rooms and 10 suites have a balcony and most with a sea view. Its rooftop terrace and pool gives a superb view over the beach to the Dois Irmãos mountains, stunning at sunset. The restaurant, Fasano Al Mare, is under the capable hands of three-Michelin-star chef Luca Gozzani.

Ritz Plaza Hotel Leblon

(21) 2540 4940.

Located in the heart of Leblon, Rio’s most expensive square metre, Ritz Plaza Hotel Leblon offers quality services at affordable prices. Its rooms are well furnished if not huge, with modern décor. A generous buffet breakfast is included and the hotel has up-to-date facilities, including spa and a small pool. It’s a couple of blocks in from the beach and close to cinemas, theatres, shops, restaurants and the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon.

Rio Design Hotel

(21) 3222 8800.

Rio de Janeiro's first design hotel is a modern establishment one block from Copacabana Beach. Its 66 rooms, suites and apartments have been individually styled by top Brazilian artists, giving the hotel an exclusive and contemporary feel. This Rio hotel is a popular choice with visitors who are looking for something a bit chic but not prohibitively expensive. All rooms are comfortable, with flat-screen TVs and broadband internet access. Other hotel facilities include a business centre, fitness studio with spa and sauna, and a rooftop restaurant, but no pool.

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Rua Francisco Sa 17- Posto 6

Windsor Barra Hotel

(21) 2195 000.

Windsor Barr Hotel is a good choice for exploring Rio’s western suburbs and beaches, particularly for surfers and for those planning to attend the 2016 Olympics. This modern, high-rise hotel facing Barra da Tijuca beach has 338 comfortable if not luxurious rooms with all mod-cons. It also has a restaurant, bar, two swimming pools, fitness centre, sauna, and airport shuttle bus.

Rio Hostel

(21) 3852 0827.

This hostel in an old colonial building in Santa Teresa has basic dorms as well as three- and four-bed rooms, which are ideal for families. With its hillside location, Rio Hostel offers great city views and it also has a tiny swimming pool. Facilities include laundry service, tour information, Wi-Fi connectivity and air conditioning in some rooms. The staff are friendly, some are multilingual, and they serve a decent buffet breakfast.

Regina

(21) 3289 9999.

This no-frills but clean and well-run hotel is highly rated among regular visitors to Rio. It’s in a handy location between downtown and the Zona Sul, in an historic, up-and-coming district. The rooms are clean and comfortable, the buffet breakfast is excellent, and facilities include a spa, gym and small roof terrace. In all, the Regina is one of the best budget hotels in the city.

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Rua Ferreira Viana, 29 - Flamengo

San Marco Hotel

(21) 2540 5032.

Located right in the heart of Ipanema, San Marco Hotel is the perfect choice for holidaymakers on a budget who want to take full advantage of the nearby beach – two blocks away - without missing out on Rio’s exciting nightlife. The small modern hotel has 56 tidy and functional rooms, all en-suite with TVs and air conditioning, and is in the thick of Ipanema’s trendy bars, shops, restaurants and clubs (ask for a room on an upper floor if on the street side). Its friendly bilingual staff, wireless internet connection, and competitive rates make this one of the few good-value budget hotels in Ipanema.

Avenida Visconde de Pirajá 524, Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

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Luxury Moderate Cheap
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