Copacabana
First visits, beach, valueThe famous beach, with the most hostels and easy metro links. Busy and lively, take care at night.
9 hostels · from €7
City guide
Things to do in Rio de Janeiro
Granite peaks rising out of the sea, beaches inside the city, samba in the streets of Lapa and Christ the Redeemer watching over it all. Few cities on earth look like this.
77
Hostels in the city
8.6
Average, from 30,787 reviews
5
Days to do it properly
A city squeezed between mountains and sea
Rio de Janeiro is built into the gaps between forested mountains and the Atlantic. The Zona Sul, the south zone, is where most travellers stay: Copacabana and Ipanema with their famous beaches, Leblon at the far end, and Botafogo on the bay below Sugarloaf. The historic Centro and the bohemian hills of Santa Teresa sit to the north, with Lapa's arches and samba bars in between.
Life here happens outdoors. Cariocas, as locals are called, spend weekends on the beach, run and cycle along the seafront, hike the peaks before work and drink cold beer in botecos on the pavement. On Sundays, the beachfront road along Copacabana and Ipanema closes to cars and becomes a giant promenade.
Give Rio five days at least. That is enough for Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf, a beach day, a hike, a night of samba and a football match at the Maracanã. Go with street smarts: Rio rewards visitors who carry little, keep phones out of sight and use apps for taxis at night.
Where to base yourself
Most travellers stay in the Zona Sul, near the beaches and the metro. Santa Teresa and Lapa suit those who want nightlife and character over sand.
Ipanema
Beach, cafés, nightlifeRio's best-known beach and a stylish neighbourhood behind it, close to Arpoador for sunset.
7 hostels · from €8
Botafogo
Bars, food, local feelOn the bay below Sugarloaf, with the city's best bar scene and good metro links.
2 hostels · from €0
Santa Teresa
Character, views, artistsA hilltop neighbourhood of old mansions, studios and bars. Atmospheric, but hilly and quiet late.
6 hostels · from €2
Leme
Quieter beach staysThe calmer end of Copacabana beach, with a small fort and a fishing community.
3 hostels · from €7
Glória and Lapa
Nightlife, budgetClose to Lapa's samba clubs and the Centro. Great for going out, less so for the beach.
2 hostels · from €9
Centro
Sightseeing, short staysThe historic centre and port area, busy by day and empty at night.
2 hostels · from €8
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 12 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Rio de Janeiro
Christ the Redeemer stands on Corcovado, 700 metres above the city, and the rack railway through the Tijuca forest or the official vans take you to the top. Go early or late in the day for fewer crowds and better light, and check the weather: cloud can hide everything. Sugarloaf, reached by two cable cars from Urca, is at its best at sunset, when the city lights come on below.
Then do as the cariocas do. Spend a day on Ipanema or Copacabana, watch the sunset applauded from the rocks at Arpoador, and hike Dois Irmãos through Vidigal or Pedra Bonita for views over the coastline. The Selarón Steps, the colourful tiled stairway between Lapa and Santa Teresa, and the Museum of Tomorrow in the regenerated port area show two very different sides of the city.
Football at the Maracanã is an experience even if you do not follow it, and the Botanical Garden and Tijuca National Park, one of the largest urban forests in the world, are calm escapes from the heat.
More on things to do in Rio de Janeiro
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
The beaches are free, and in Rio they are a whole social world: footvolley, vendors selling everything from grilled cheese to caipirinhas, and each stretch of sand with its own crowd. On Sundays and holidays, the seafront road closes to cars for walking, running and cycling.
The Selarón Steps, the Lapa arches and the colonial streets of the Centro are free to explore, and free walking tours run from the Centro and Copacabana. The Pedra do Sal, birthplace of samba, hosts free outdoor samba nights.
Many hikes cost nothing, including the trail up Morro da Urca, the first stop on the Sugarloaf cable car, which you can walk up and then pay only for the second car if you want to.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
Feijoada, a rich black bean and pork stew served with rice, farofa, greens and orange, is Rio's Saturday ritual, eaten slowly over a long lunch. Churrascarias serve grilled meat carved at your table until you give up, and por quilo restaurants, where you pay for your plate by weight, are the everyday budget option.
On the beach, try biscoito Globo, the airy crackers sold from bags, and mate gelado, iced tea poured from tanks on vendors' backs. Açaí is eaten as a frozen bowl with granola, and juice bars on every corner blend fresh fruit to order.
Botecos, simple neighbourhood bars, are the soul of Rio's food scene: ice-cold chopp (draught beer), pastéis, coxinhas and bolinhos de bacalhau. A caipirinha made with cachaça and lime is the classic drink.
Nightlife
Going out
Lapa is Rio's nightlife district, with samba clubs, street parties under the arches and crowds spilling across the streets from Thursday to Saturday. Venues with live samba and choro run late, and the Friday street party is enormous.
In the Zona Sul, Botafogo has the best bar scene, with craft beer and botecos on every block, while Ipanema and Leblon are more upmarket. Santa Teresa's bars are smaller and bohemian, and the Pedra do Sal in the port hosts free samba on Monday and Friday nights.
In the months before Carnival, samba schools hold open rehearsals, a chance to see the spectacle up close. Use apps to get home at night and carry only what you need.
Getting around
Getting around
The metro is fast, clean and covers the Zona Sul, Centro and the Maracanã. Buy a rechargeable card at stations, or pay with a contactless bank card on many lines. City buses go everywhere but are confusing at first; the VLT light rail links the Centro, port area and the domestic airport.
Uber and 99 are cheap, widely used and the safest way to get around at night. Yellow taxis are metered. Bike-share stations line the seafront.
From Galeão international airport, around 20km north, take an app car or the airport bus to the Zona Sul, around an hour depending on traffic. Santos Dumont, the domestic airport, is right in the centre. The Rodoviária Novo Rio bus terminal has buses to Paraty, Ilha Grande, São Paulo and beyond.
More on getting around in Rio de Janeiro
Costs
What Rio costs
Rio is one of the more expensive cities in Brazil, but still reasonable by European standards. Dorm beds start around €10, with well-rated hostels in Copacabana, Ipanema and Botafogo around €12 to €25. Prices rise sharply at New Year and Carnival, when beds can triple and sell out months ahead.
A por quilo lunch costs €5 to €10, a chopp in a boteco €2 to €3, and a metro ride around €1. The big sights are the main extras: Christ the Redeemer and the Sugarloaf cable car each cost more than a night in a dorm.
Cards are accepted almost everywhere, and Pix, Brazil's instant payment system, is everywhere too. Carry a little cash for beach vendors and small bars.
More on costs in Rio de Janeiro
Safety
Safety and scams
Rio needs more street awareness than most cities. Phone snatching and robbery are the main risks, especially on the beach, in crowds and on quiet streets at night. Carry as little as possible, keep your phone out of sight on the street, take only what you need to the beach and never leave things unattended on the sand.
Use Uber or 99 at night rather than walking, especially in the Centro, Lapa and on empty beachfront stretches. If you are robbed, hand everything over and do not resist. Visit favelas only with a reputable, community-based tour.
The sea is the other risk: Rio's beaches have strong currents and heavy waves, so swim near lifeguard posts and follow the flags. In an emergency, call 190 for police or 192 for an ambulance.
Worth leaving the city for
Islands, colonial towns and mountain hideaways, all within a few hours.
Ilha Grande
A car-free island of jungle trails and beaches. Stay a few nights.
Paraty
A colonial port with waterfalls and boat trips.
Petrópolis
The imperial summer city in the mountains, with a palace museum.
Arraial do Cabo
White sand and clear turquoise water east of the city.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Carnival and New Year are the big two, but something is always happening in Rio.
Staff pick
1–11 October
Festival do Rio: Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival
The Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival is a cinematic extravaganza that attracts film enthusiasts from around the world. With a diverse selection of…
Staff pick
16–18 October
Festival Moto Brasil
Festival Moto Brasil in Rio de Janeiro is a major gathering for motorcycle enthusiasts, bringing together fans, riders, and industry leaders from across Brazil.…
Staff pick
11–19 December
'90s Festival
The 90’s Festival in Rio de Janeiro invites guests to relive the unforgettable sounds and styles of the 1990s with a lively mix of…
16–18 October
Moto Brasil Festival
Festival Moto Brasil 2026 is a major motorcycle festival held at Riocentro in Rio de Janeiro. The event spans three days in October, offering…
31 Oct – 2 Nov
Carioca Matsuri
Japanese culture takes over Riocentro for three days of taiko drumming, martial arts demonstrations, traditional dances, and authentic cuisine. The festival blends ancient Japanese…
21 November
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey will be performing at Jeunesse Arena on November 21, 2026. The event gates open at 4 PM, with the exact start time…
25 Jul – 12 Dec
Candlelight: A Tribute to Outlander
Experience a live tribute to the beloved Outlander series with a talented string quartet performing its hauntingly beautiful melodies. The concert takes place in…
1–11 October
Rio Film Festival
Latin America's largest film festival brings together thousands of national and international features, including acclaimed works fresh from Cannes, Berlin, Venice, and Toronto. You'll…
Hostels
Where to stay
The highest-rated hostels in Rio, straight from Hostelworld. Prices and availability are live on each property page.
Castelo dos Tucanos
Dorms from €20 a night
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Opa! Hostel
Dorms from €18 a night
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El Misti Hostel Ipanema
Dorms from €28 a night
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Pura Vida Hostel Rio de Janeiro
Dorms from €23 a night
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Leblon Beach Hostel
Dorms from €32 a night
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Longboard Paradise Surf Club
Dorms from €14 a night
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Bamboo Rio Hostel
Dorms from €27 a night
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Aquarela do Leme
Dorms from €16 a night
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Books Hostel
Dorms from €21 a night
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More Ipanema Hostel
Dorms from €14 a night
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Discovery Hostel
Dorms from €17 a night
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Ipanema Beach Hostel
Dorms from €38 a night
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When to go
Rio is warm all year. December to March is hot, humid and busy, with Carnival; May to October is drier and milder, the most comfortable time to visit.
Jan
Hot, humid, busy summer holidays
Feb
Carnival. Book everything months ahead
Mar
Hot, crowds thinning
Apr
Warm, fewer people
May
Pleasant and drier
Jun
Mild, great for hiking
Jul
Winter holidays, still sunny
Aug
Dry and comfortable
Sep
Spring, good beach days
Oct
Warming up
Nov
Hot, more rain
Dec
Summer and New Year. Book early
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs, rounded. Summer brings heavy afternoon storms.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on Rio prices outside Carnival.
Treat these as a guide. Carnival and New Year cost far more, and the big sights are extra.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Rio de Janeiro questions
The ones we get asked most.
How many days do you need in Rio de Janeiro?
Five is a good start: Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf, a beach day, a hike and a night in Lapa. A week lets you add Ilha Grande or Paraty.
Where should I stay in Rio?
Copacabana or Ipanema for beaches and easy metro links, Botafogo for bars and a local feel, and Santa Teresa or Lapa for nightlife and character.
Is Rio de Janeiro safe?
With care. Robbery and phone snatching are the main risks. Carry little, keep your phone hidden, use Uber or 99 at night and take almost nothing to the beach. If robbed, hand it over.
When is the best time to visit Rio?
May to October for milder, drier weather. December to March is hot and lively, with Carnival and New Year, but prices rise sharply.
How do I get to Christ the Redeemer?
By the rack railway from Cosme Velho or the official vans, which include transport in the ticket. Go early or late, and check for cloud before you go.
Is Rio expensive?
More than most of Brazil. Dorms start around €10 and a por quilo lunch costs €5 to €10. Carnival and New Year can triple accommodation prices.
Can I swim at Rio's beaches?
Yes, but currents are strong and waves heavier than they look. Swim near lifeguard posts and follow the flags.
Do I need a visa for Brazil?
EU and UK citizens get 90 days visa-free. US, Canadian and Australian citizens have needed an e-visa since April 2025.
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