The 6 Greatest Hostels in Rio de Janeiro (Up to date 2023)

Posted: 2/5/2023 | February fifth, 2023

Based by the Portuguese within the sixteenth century (although a number of indigenous teams have lived within the space for millennia), Rio de Janeiro is the second-largest metropolis in Brazil.

It’s additionally some of the visited cities within the Southern Hemisphere and over 5 million folks go by means of the town every year. Its dramatic pure and concrete panorama — lush mountains hugging the ocean — has been a powerful supply of inventive inspiration for hundreds of years. Many creative actions and types have been born right here, together with bossa nova (a method of samba).

Unsurprisingly, there is no such thing as a scarcity of thrilling cultural and pure websites to discover in Rio, together with the world-famous seashores of Copacabana and Ipanema, the enduring Christ the Redeemer statue (one of many new Wonders of the World), Sugarloaf Mountain, many desirable museums, and far more.

The buzzing power of the town makes Rio de Janeiro particularly fashionable with backpackers and partygoers (particularly throughout Carnaval), which means that there are a ton of hostels to select from.

Beneath you’ll discover my listing of the very best hostels in Rio de Janeiro. However, earlier than we dive in, I wish to share 4 issues you might want to bear in mind whenever you decide a hostel:

1. Location – Rio is big, so take this into consideration when searching for a hostel. Choose a neighborhood close to the stuff you wish to see and do.
2. Worth – As is true anyplace, you get what you pay for. Should you decide a very low cost hostel, you’re most likely going to get one that’s small and cramped and doesn’t provide nice service.
3. Facilities – Each hostel on the town affords free Wi-Fi, and most have self-catering services so you possibly can prepare dinner your individual meals. Many — however not all — embrace free breakfast, so you should definitely do your analysis to search out the one which greatest meets your wants.
4. Workers – All of the hostels listed right here have an incredible workers who’re tremendous pleasant and educated. Even in case you don’t find yourself staying at one of many locations listed under, you should definitely lookup critiques so you’ve workers who’re useful and pleasant. They’ll make or break a hostel!

Beneath is my listing of the very best hostels in Rio de Janeiro. Should you don’t wish to learn the longer listing under, the next are the very best in every class:

Greatest Hostel for Funds Vacationers: Mambembe or Books
Greatest Hostel for Solo Feminine Vacationers: Aquarela do Leme
Greatest Hostel for {Couples}: Selina Lapa or Aquarela do Leme
Greatest Hostel for Partying: Books or Pura Vida Hostel
Greatest Hostel for Digital Nomads: Selina Lapa
Greatest Total Hostel: Aquarela do Leme

Need the specifics of every hostel? Right here’s my breakdown of the very best hostels in Rio:

Worth legend (per evening)

• $ = Below 75 BRL
• $$ = 75-100 BRL
• $$$ = Over 100 BRL

1. Aquarela do Leme

This newish hostel is situated only a few blocks from the world-famous Copacabana Seaside and its 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) of sand and promenade. It’s good for vacationers searching for a quieter time in Rio, away from the hustle and bustle of downtown. The hostel itself remains to be fairly social although, with welcoming workers that manage frequent group actions (like excursions and hikes), in addition to a hostel WhatsApp group to make associates and plan outings. It actually feels such as you’re staying with the household right here (there’s even a hostel canine!).

The pod-style bunk beds have all the trendy facilities, together with privateness curtains, particular person studying lights and sockets, and enormous lockers, and each room has an connected balcony. There are additionally female-only dorms and the whole lot is all the time saved glowing clear.

There are numerous widespread areas, together with a coworking house and a gymnasium. There’s additionally a rooftop terrace with beautiful views over the ocean. Should you’re on a funds, there’s a totally geared up kitchen and complimentary buffet breakfast (even home made bread).

The one draw back is that the hostel is situated on the high of a really steep hill, however there are all the time low cost bike taxis ready on the backside to take you to the highest in case you desire to not stroll.

Aquarela do Leme at a look:

• $$$
• Tremendous near Copacabana Seaside
• Free breakfast and totally geared up kitchen
• Health club, coworking house, and rooftop terrace

Beds from 106 BRL, non-public rooms from 375 BRL.

2. Discovery Hostel

This award-winning hostel is in a restored colonial constructing and has been voted the highest hostel not solely in Rio however in all of Latin America 12 months after 12 months. It’s conveniently situated, with a metro station on the finish of the block and the colourful neighborhood of Lapa (identified for its nightlife) simply down the street.

The tremendous pleasant hostel workers organizes nightly occasions, so that is undoubtedly a spot to be if you wish to meet folks and social gathering. It’s additionally straightforward to save cash right here, given the in depth buffet breakfast within the mornings and the blissful hour within the evenings.

Most of the rooms have three-bed-high bunks (so attempt to keep away from these), although all have privateness curtains in addition to particular person lights and sockets. One other plus? The water stress is de facto good. However the Wi-Fi isn’t all the time the very best, so it’s not an excellent place to remain in case you’re engaged on the street.

Discovery Hostel at a look:

• $$
• Nice location proper subsequent to the metro makes it straightforward to get round
• Absolutely geared up kitchen
• Social hostel with a bar and arranged occasions all through the week

Beds from 100 BRL.

3. Pura Vida Hostel Rio de Janeiro

Located in between Ipanema and Copacabana Seashores, Pura Vida is one other great spot to remain in case you’re searching for a celebration hostel. There are tons of organized occasions, from karaoke nights to boat excursions, a gregarious workers, and an all the time busy hostel bar, making it tremendous straightforward to have enjoyable and make associates right here. There’s additionally an enormous communal kitchen by which to prepare dinner your individual meals, in addition to a small breakfast every day (for an additional charge).

The metallic bunks are fundamental, with no privateness curtains, studying lights, or particular person shops. However, then once more, this isn’t actually a spot you keep if you wish to sleep. Dorm rooms additionally don’t have air-con, although non-public rooms do. There are female-only dorms as effectively.

It’s price noting that it’s situated proper on the entrance to one in every of Rio’s many favelas, city slums in which there’s typically elevated crime. Circumstances and security differ drastically from one favela to a different, nevertheless it’s nonetheless essential to take further precautions round them. Keep alert when returning right here at evening, ideally not alone (right here’s some advisable security recommendation for Brazil basically).

Pura Vida Hostel Rio de Janeiro at a look:

• $$
• Get together hostel with occasions each evening and a bar to satisfy folks
• Kitchen services and BBQ space
• Breakfast obtainable (small charge)

Beds from 95 BRL, non-public rooms from 235 BRL.

4. Selina Lapa Rio de Janeiro

Selina is a series of hostels identified for being extra like fashionable boutique motels with a coworking house. There are many widespread areas: an enormous rooftop terrace, restaurant, cocktail bar (the place you’ll get a free welcome drink), a kitchen, a cinema room, and, like all Selina places, a coworking house.

All rooms are tremendous clear, glossy, and trendy, and have air-con. The beds are new and the mattresses are fairly comfortable, with particular person lights, energy shops, and lockers below the mattress. (Word: there are not any privateness curtains and the Wi-Fi isn’t all the time the very best within the rooms.)

There’s additionally a Selina in Copacabana with just about the identical facilities.

Selina Lapa Rio de Janeiro at a look:

• $$$
• Enormous rooftop terrace
• Coworking house
• Stylish hostel with hotel-like ambiance

Beds from 115 BRL, non-public rooms from 515 BRL.

5. Mambembe Hostel

Mambembe is a homey and artsy hostel situated on a quiet avenue within the bohemian neighborhood of Santa Teresa. The outdated mansion-turned-hostel is a unusual place, with eclectic décor, artwork on the partitions, a music room full of devices to play, and resident cats finishing the ambiance. It’s on high of a steep hill although, so preserve that in thoughts if uphill walks aren’t your factor.

All bunk beds have lockers, privateness curtains, particular person energy shops, and studying lamps, although take into account that some dorm rooms have three-tiered bunk beds. All the pieces is saved good and clear by the pleasant hostel workers.

There are a lot of indoor and outside shared areas (with hammocks!), together with an indoor TV lounge and outside sundeck, the place you possibly can calm down and meet different vacationers. It’s a social place, however not a celebration hostel.

Mambembe Hostel at a look:

• $
• Situated within the creative Santa Teresa neighborhood
• Absolutely geared up kitchen and free breakfast
• Plenty of widespread areas together with outside terraces and sundeck

Beds from 72 BRL, non-public rooms from 200 BRL.

6. Books Hostel

Additionally situated in Santa Teresa, Books is a bustling social gathering hostel with a creative bent (there are murals everywhere in the inside). It’s undoubtedly a (largely British) partying crowd that stays right here, and everyone seems to be tremendous open and blissful to satisfy different vacationers. There are a lot of shared areas that make it straightforward to take action, together with a communal barbecue space, small kitchen, library, and TV room with Netflix and a PS4. The social gathering will get began each evening with blissful hour on the bar downstairs, and within the mornings, there’s an excellent free vegetarian breakfast.

For whenever you do wish to get some sleep, the sturdy picket bunk beds are surprisingly comfortable, with nice pillows as effectively. In any other case, they’re fairly fundamental, with no privateness curtains, particular person lights, or sockets. There’s air-con in most rooms, and the water within the showers is all the time sizzling (not all the time the case in Rio). And maybe most significantly, regardless of the variety of folks going out and in of the hostel, it’s all the time saved clear!

Books Hostel at a look:

• $
• Free breakfast
• Absolutely geared up kitchen
• Hostel bar with an excellent blissful hour

Beds from 65 BRL, non-public rooms from 180 BRL.

Rio is a captivating metropolis with a lot to see and try this you could possibly simply spend a month right here and never get bored. And by choosing an excellent hostel, you’ll make sure that you profit from your go to, permitting you to get pleasure from this vibrant, energetic vacation spot.