Where to Stay in Rio de Janeiro: From the Beaches of Ipanema to the Hills of Santa Teresa

There's no city quite like Rio. Its gorgeous urban beaches aren't just places to get a tan; they're destinations. Filled with bronzed Brazilians deftly playing beach soccer, vendors selling everything from açaí to grilled cheese, and surfers weaving in and out of waves, the famous beaches are enough of a reason to visit. But the city's nightlife is also legendary: Parties go all night, while Samba bands play until the morning hours. Few venues are contained by four walls; Instead, people overflow onto the streets to the thrum of live music. That's not to mention the non-stop revelry of Carnaval, which is its own bucket list item.

If you're going to Rio, you'll want to be close to the action. But the truth is, the action is everywhere in this city, and every neighborhood has its own personality and charm. The beach neighborhoods of Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon are obvious choices for first-time visitors and those who want to take full advantage of the coast. Botafogo is a burgeoning neighborhood, full of hip bars and restaurants, and the perfect pick for staying close to nightlife. If you're looking for a more bohemian experience, the artsy enclave of Santa Teresa is your best bet. One thing that's guaranteed anywhere you choose to stay: Rio's captivating views.

Here's a rundown of the best neighborhoods and hotels in Rio de Janeiro for any budget. To really get a feel for this vibrant locale, stay in more than one neighborhood and return to the city as often as you can to experience them all.

The Best Rio Hotels on the Beach

If you want to be able to cruise straight from your hotel room to Rio's golden sands just across the street, stay in Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon. Classic Copacabana has a bit of an older-school crowd, while Ipanema and Leblon are full of stylish restaurants and boutiques, and the beaches will be crowded with young, hip locals gathered with friends.

Subway and bus access is convenient and plentiful in these neighborhoods, and you can walk along the famous Orla Copacabana beachside walkway to check out the scene in them all. A bonus to staying on the beach: Complimentary beach service at each of the following hotels provides chairs, umbrellas, and towels for guests, so you won't have to worry about renting or packing your own.

Copacabana Palace

Rio's iconic grand dame opened in 1923 and remains one of the city's best and most luxurious places to stay, having hosted the likes of Princess Diana, Madonna, and the Rolling Stones. The white Art Deco palace was modeled after French Riviera coastal resorts and exudes old-world glamour: 239 rooms are styled with French fabrics, mahogany furniture, and Brazilian paintings. Enjoy a cocktail by the half-Olympic-sized pool, and make reservations for the on-site restaurants: Michelin-starred Mee and Ristorante Cipriani are two of the best in Rio.

If you're in town for New Year's Eve, the beach in front of Copacabana Palace hosts one of the most lively reveillon celebrations in the city, with big-name musical acts and fireworks.

Avenida Atlântica 1702 - Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, belmond.com

Emiliano Rio

This swish luxury brand from São Paulo opened its Rio outpost in early 2017 in Copacabana, a neighborhood that was in need of a fresh new hotel. Sophisticated and stylish, Emiliano Rio appeals to contemporary design lovers: The building's honeycombed façade opens and folds to alternately allow for more privacy or more sunlight into rooms, and the interiors (think white marble, wood, and gold accents) blend mid-century modern with breezy beach resort. Though rooftop pools aren't uncommon in Rio, the glass-edged pool here scores points as it gets sunlight all day long, making it a great place for sunset drinks.

Avenida Atlântica 3804 - Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, https://emiliano.com.br/en/

Miramar Hotel by Windsor

For an affordable hotel just steps from the beach, the Miramar Hotel by Windsor in Copacabana is a great choice. Rooms are clean, spacious, and bright, and service is attentive. The rooftop pool, though compact, is sizable by Rio's standards, and affords beautiful views of the entire arc of Copacabana beach, as well as the colorful stacked houses of the Cantagalo favela on the backside of the hotel. For those interested in experiencing live Samba, Bip Bip, one of the city's classic venues, is also located just around the block.

Avenida Atlântica, 3668 - Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, windsorhoteis.com/hotel/miramar-hotel-by-windsor/

Fasano Rio de Janeiro

Designed by Philippe Starck, the ultra-trendy Fasano has 89 sleek rooms furnished with mid-century pieces in sensuous leathers and hardwoods, each with private balconies (make sure to book an ocean-facing one). Set in one of the liveliest parts of Ipanema, the hotel does have a bit of a reputation for its social scene, but the staff will go above and beyond to make your stay as comfortable as possible.

The rooftop infinity pool, arguably the hottest place in Rio to see and be seen, boasts unbeatable panoramas of the entire length of Ipanema beach, from the rocky output of Arpoador on one end to the Dois Irmãos peaks on the other.

Avenida Vieira Souto, 80 - Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, fasano.com

Hotel Arpoador

Sharing the same enviable location as the Fasano, but at not nearly the same price point, Hotel Arpoador is the only hotel in Ipanema that sits directly on the beach without a busy street separating it from the sand. The ground-floor restaurant opens straight onto the sidewalk, accentuating the ocean views and breezes. Modern, minimalist rooms evoke beach chic, the largest of which have private balconies with hammocks, while the small rooftop plunge pool provides a very scenic place for a refreshing dip after a long day of sun.

Want to get moving? Take out one of the complimentary bikes for a pedal along the boardwalk or around the scenic Lagoa neighborhood — which lines a lovely lagoon — or participate in a morning yoga class on the roof with unparalleled views of the beach (spotting a trend here?).

Rua Francisco Otaviano 177 - Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, hotelarpoador.com

Janeiro Hotel

This adult-centric hotel by Oskar Metsavaht, owner and founder of Brazilian fashion label Osklen, fronts the poshest stretch of sand in Rio. With an emphasis on sustainability, the hotel's contemporary, hip aesthetic incorporates locally sourced furnishings using Brazilian upcycled materials and local artwork selected by the hotelier himself. The highly Instagrammable rooftop pool boasts gorgeous panoramas of the Atlantic, with a cutout that perfectly frames the Dois Irmãos twin peaks. Book the spacious oceanfront suites, with soaking tubs and double showers that look straight onto the beach below. Janeiro Hotel also makes it easy for guests to get active with bikes for rent, rooftop yoga classes, and access to a nearby gym.

Avenida Delfim Moreira, 696 - Leblon, Rio de Janeiro, janeirohotel.rio

The Best Rio Hotels for Staying Close to Nightlife

The neighborhoods of Botafogo, Catete, and Lapa are Rio's most happening areas for nightlife, and where you'll find many of the city's best Samba clubs and bars. These neighborhoods, all quite small and bordering each other, are close to some of the city's most popular attractions as well, such as the Escadaria Selarón, Teatro Municipal, Catedral Metropolitana, and the Museum of Modern Art. From Wednesday to Saturday nights, many of the streets and squares in these neighborhoods teem with young people, who gather at the open-air bars and restaurants. If you're in town to party, consider staying in one of these neighborhoods as you'll be able to set out for the night on foot, or in a very cheap Uber or taxi.

Yoo2 Rio de Janeiro

The Yoo2 has a trendy, youthful vibe, with rooms decorated in bright geometric patterns, abundant greenery filling the common spaces, and hallways painted in sultry purple and dark green hues. Most guestrooms also have expansive windows looking out at Guanabara Bay or Christ the Redeemer, which make beautiful views to wake up to. Be sure to relax with a cocktail at the rooftop bar, which stays busy with couples and friends enjoying drinks late into the night.

Praia de Botafogo, 242 - Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro, yoo2.com/riodejaneiro

Vila Galé Rio de Janeiro

This boutique hotel on Rua Riachuelo, Lapa's main drag and the epicenter of nightlife in Rio's center, places you right in the heart of the action. Though this location might not appeal to everyone, the rooms are large and clean, and the highlight is the lovely pool area, perfect for recovering from those late nights. For music enthusiasts, Rio's most famous venues to see live Samba are just down the street: Bar Carioca da Gema, Rio Scenarium, and Clube dos Democraticos.

Rua Riachuelo, 124 - Lapa, Rio de Janeiro, vilagale.com

The Best Rio Hotels for Getting Away From It All

Santa Teresa is a world apart from the beaches of Zona Sul, offering a more intimate look into authentic Rio. An artsy enclave built on the hills of the city center, the only way to get up and down the neighborhood is by car, bus, or tram, as there are no subway stations. Exploring the hilly streets on foot will bring wonderful discoveries: Eclectic shops, artists' galleries, quaint cafes, and traditional bars with live Samba and Feijoada, a traditional meat and bean stew served on weekends. While Santa Teresa does see a bit of tourist traffic because of those coming to the area to see the Escadaria Selarón (Selaron Steps) and street art, for the most part it's a quiet retreat from the rush of Centro below. Your taxi ride up the winding cobblestone streets will be bumpy, but once you've arrived, the seclusion and views will be worth it.

Santa Teresa Hotel RJ – MGallery

In this neighborhood filled with 19th–century Portuguese architecture, there's no shortage of boutique hotels in renovated villas, but the most established of them all is the Santa Teresa Hotel RJ – Gallery. Dating back to the mid-1800s, the luxurious mansion features rooms outfitted with four-poster beds, wood floors, and shutters, recalling the days when it was once part of a coffee plantation.

You'll also have everything else you could possibly want during your stay: one of the city's best spas, a spacious pool with loungers and daybeds, the acclaimed Térèze restaurant serving Franco-Brazilian fare, and buzzy Bar dos Descasados mixing craft cocktails with seasonal fruit. Although the villa's palm-filled gardens offer the perfect place to get away from the bustle of the city, plenty of authentic Brazilian restaurants and botecos (traditional pubs) are also a short walk away.

Rua Almirante Alexandrino, 660 - Santa Teresa, Rio de Janeiro, santateresahotelrio.com

Chez Georges

Designed by celebrated Brazilian architect Wladimir Alves de Souza in 1974, this modernist residence is a breathtaking contrast of soaring concrete beams, glass walls, marble entryways, and lustrous wooden floors and accents. A design lover's dream, every corner of the home is filled with art and antiques carefully handpicked from markets around the globe, and modern furniture that may as well be works of art themselves. The seven airy rooms all face out of the hillside, offering incredible vistas of the city and coast spread out below. As you laze on the deck of the 50-foot pool surrounded by the lush greenery of the Mata Atlântica rainforest and the singing of tropical birds, you'll feel less like a hotel guest and more like the very lucky owner of an absolutely stunning villa.

Ladeira do Meireles, 90 - Santa Teresa, Rio de Janeiro, georges.life

Vila Santa Teresa

If you enjoy jaw-dropping views, lounging by a pool, and feeling like a guest at an exclusive five-star mansion, look no further than Vila Santa Teresa. There are only seven elegantly appointed suites, and you can't go wrong with any of them. Though the location doesn't offer very much in the way of activities nearby, once you arrive you'll likely never want to leave anyway. Plus, with breakfast served until 11 a.m. (which you can take poolside or anywhere else on the gorgeous property), and an on-site restaurant and spa, you'll easily spend the days in relaxed bliss.

Rua Almirante Alexandrino, 2305 - Santa Teresa, Rio de Janeiro, vilasantateresa.com