Best Areas to Stay in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Copacabana is located south of the city and is a famous moon-shaped beach.

The so-called “Princesinha do Mar” (princess of the sea) is considered the heart of Brazil, ideal for beach lovers.

This area is home to a large number of restaurants, cinemas, theaters and other leisure options, many aimed at a Bohemian audience.

Among the architectural relics to see in Copacabana are the Fort, with its Army Museum and the Imperial Palace of the 18th century.

Copacabana is very family-friendly during the day, as there are children running and playing on the beach. While, at night, the clubs that are in its surroundings are filled with young people looking to have fun.

In addition, Copacabana connects with the rest of Rio by metro and bus, making it easy to move to other areas.

Definitely, Copacabana is the best area to stay in Rio de Janeiro to enjoy the sea and resort-type hotels.

Ipanema is located south of Rio de Janeiro and is an elegant and modern area, with beaches where you can practice water sports.

Ipanema is also one of the best areas to stay in Rio de Janeiro for shopping, thanks to its many shops and boutiques.

Posto 9, in the Rua Farme de Amoedo, is an important spot in this area due to the bars and restaurants it houses.

Ipanema also has several spaces for art and history such as the Imperial Palace and the National Historical Museum, with collections of historical pieces.

The Posto 10 area includes beaches with very little waves, safe for children, and ideal for family trips.

Similarly, Ipanema is one of the most LGBT-friendly areas of Rio, especially in Posto 8 and Rua Farme de Amoedo, which is considered the gayest street in Brazil.

Botafogo is close to both the City Center and the southern part of Rio de Janeiro.

It is considered the most beautiful neighborhood in Rio, with a mixture of bohemian and coastal atmospheres.

This neighborhood stars in many of Rio’s postcards that include Guanabara Bay and the image of the Sugarloaf Mountain in the background. Therefore, this is where the best views of Rio de Janeiro are found.

Among its streets, full of art and history are buildings, palaces, and museums, such as Casa Daros and Palacio Sao Clemente, among others.

Botafogo is well-connected by metro and has different bars, clubs, restaurants, and shops that make this one of the best areas to stay in Rio de Janeiro for young travelers.

The Shopping Center Do Rio Sul, Botafogo Praia Shopping and Rio Plaza Shopping are some of the shopping centers that are in this district, which makes it a good option for shopping lovers.

Botafogo has many types of hotels, at different costs and close to the beach, bars, restaurants and with a metro station nearby.

Next to Ipanema is Leblon, an elegant neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro that houses, in addition to a beach, attractions such as bars, restaurants, shopping centers, and squares.

In Leblon, it is essential to climb the Mirante Do Leblon, a wooden gazebo on rocks from which you get beautiful views of the sea.

It is also a good idea to visit the Plaza Antero de Quental, with many trees, flowers, and playgrounds, as well as the Cliff Brothers park, from which you can see the beaches of Ipanema and Leblon.

From other points of Leblon, it is possible to see the iconic statue of Christ the Redeemer, the lagoon, and even São Conrado.

As in the main beaches of Rio de Janeiro, on the sand of Leblon, there are spaces to play volleyball, futevoley (a type of volleyball that uses the feet instead of the hands) and beach tennis.

Leblon is one of the best areas to stay in Rio de Janeiro for having hotels a few meters from one of the most famous and beautiful beaches of Rio.

Rio de Janeiro City Center or Downtown Rio is where several of the city’s most prominent buildings are concentrated, in spaces with tall, modern buildings, offices and many of the largest companies in Brazil.

Thus, the center houses most of Rio’s historical monuments, such as the Imperial Palace, the Municipal Theater, the Carioca Aqueduct, and the Candelaria Church.

Also, in the City Center are the main museums and cultural centers, such as the National Museum of Fine Arts, the National Historical and the Cultural Center Bank of Brazil.

In its surroundings, colonial houses, restaurants, and bars are preserved, but caution should be taken at night, as it is not the safest area to stay in Rio de Janeiro.

It is an ideal neighborhood to eat, have a drink in the middle of the afternoon, go shopping or just wander through its picturesque streets.

A visit to the City Center is essential to understand the history of Rio de Janeiro and really appreciate the multicultural nature of Cariocas.

In addition, it is among the best areas to stay in Rio de Janeiro for its varied hotels and proximity to Santos Dumont Airport.

Recreio dos Bandeirantes is located in the western part of Rio and stands out for hosting large companies, shopping centers, countless bars, cafes, and restaurants.

It is a very visited place for having the Canto do Recreio beach, with about 2 kilometers long white sands and high waves, ideal for water sports such as surfing and bodysurfing.

Recreio dos Bandeirantes also has parks and environmental reserves such as Chico Mendes Park, Marapendi Park, and Prainha Municipal Park, as well as forests and squares, including Tim Maia Square.

Its tree-lined streets have bike paths for cycling and it is also one of the safest neighborhoods to stay in Rio de Janeiro, with a residential environment that, mixed with skyscrapers and other buildings, makes it stand out from other suburbs.

Recreio dos Bandeirantes has several food stalls on the seafront where you can have refreshing drinks and snacks.

This is one of the best areas to stay in Rio de Janeiro if you are looking for tranquility during your stay.

Santa Teresa is a charming neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, considered the epicenter of intellectuality and art.

It is located on the top of a hill with many old buildings and is a tourist attraction for its views of the city, its many cultural spaces, restaurants, and bars.

One of the most popular spots in the neighborhood is the Largo de Guimarães square, surrounded by restaurants and craft shops, where some of the carnival celebrations are held.

Other icons in the area are the Convent of Santa Teresa with its Escadaria de Seleron, the main reference point of the neighborhood, as well as the Chácara do Céu Museum and the Parque das Ruinas Cultural Center.

In the Santa Teresa neighborhood, there are many accommodations for all types of budgets, from hostels and bed & breakfast to wonderful boutique hotels, all with stunning views of the city.