The 6 Best Hostels in Rio de Janeiro (Updated 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 one of the vital visited cities within the Southern Hemisphere and over 5 million folks go by the town every year. Its dramatic pure and concrete panorama — lush mountains hugging the ocean — has been a powerful supply of artistic inspiration for hundreds of years. Many inventive actions and kinds had 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 long-lasting Christ the Redeemer statue (one of many new Wonders of the World), Sugarloaf Mountain, many desirable museums, and way more.

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

Beneath you’ll discover my checklist of one of the best hostels in Rio de Janeiro. However, earlier than we dive in, I wish to share 4 issues it’s essential to keep in mind if you choose a hostel:

1. Location – Rio is big, so take this into consideration when in search of a hostel. Decide a neighborhood close to the stuff you wish to see and do.
2. Value – As is true anyplace, you get what you pay for. Should you choose a very low cost hostel, you’re most likely going to get one that’s small and cramped and doesn’t supply nice service.
3. Facilities – Each hostel on the town gives free Wi-Fi, and most have self-catering services so you may cook dinner your individual meals. Many — however not all — embody free breakfast, so make sure you do your analysis to search out the one which finest 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, make sure you search for opinions so you’ve got workers who’re useful and pleasant. They’ll make or break a hostel!

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

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

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

Value legend (per night time)

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

1. Aquarela do Leme

This newish hostel is situated just some blocks from the world-famous Copacabana Seaside and its 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) of sand and promenade. It’s excellent for vacationers in search of 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 set up frequent group actions (like excursions and hikes), in addition to a hostel WhatsApp group to make pals 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 fashionable facilities, together with privateness curtains, particular person studying lights and sockets, and enormous lockers, and each room has an hooked up balcony. There are additionally female-only dorms and all the pieces is all the time saved glowing clear.

There are numerous frequent areas, together with a coworking house and a health club. There’s additionally a rooftop terrace with gorgeous views over the ocean. Should you’re on a funds, there’s a totally geared up kitchen and complimentary buffet breakfast (even selfmade bread).

The one draw back is that the hostel is situated on the prime 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 want to not stroll.

Aquarela do Leme at a look:

• $$$
• Tremendous near Copacabana Seaside
• Free breakfast and absolutely geared up kitchen
• Fitness center, 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 highway.

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

Lots 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 strain is de facto good. However the Wi-Fi isn’t all the time one of the best, so it’s not an amazing place to remain in case you’re engaged on the highway.

Discovery Hostel at a look:

• $$
• Nice location proper subsequent to the metro makes it simple to get round
• Totally 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 excellent spot to remain in case you’re in search of 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 simple to have enjoyable and make pals right here. There’s additionally an enormous communal kitchen by which to cook 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 wouldn’t have air-con, although non-public rooms do. There are female-only dorms as properly.

It’s value noting that it’s situated proper on the entrance to certainly one of Rio’s many favelas, city slums in which there’s usually elevated crime. Situations and security range drastically from one favela to a different, however it’s nonetheless vital to take additional precautions round them. Keep alert when returning right here at night time, ideally not alone (right here’s some beneficial safety advice for Brazil basically).

Pura Vida Hostel Rio de Janeiro at a look:

• $$
• Celebration hostel with occasions each night time and a bar to fulfill folks
• Kitchen services and BBQ space
• Breakfast out there (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 stylish boutique motels with a coworking house. There are many frequent 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 areas, a coworking house.

All rooms are tremendous clear, smooth, and fashionable, and have air-con. The beds are new and the mattresses are fairly comfortable, with particular person lights, energy shops, and lockers beneath the mattress. (Be aware: there are not any privateness curtains and the Wi-Fi isn’t all the time one of the 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
• Fashionable 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 road 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 stuffed with devices to play, and resident cats finishing the ambiance. It’s on prime 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 needless to say some dorm rooms have three-tiered bunk beds. Every part is saved good and clear by the pleasant hostel workers.

There are a lot of indoor and out of doors shared areas (with hammocks!), together with an indoor TV lounge and out of doors sundeck, the place you may loosen up and meet different vacationers. It’s a social place, however not a celebration hostel.

Mambembe Hostel at a look:

• $
• Situated within the inventive Santa Teresa neighborhood
• Totally geared up kitchen and free breakfast
• Numerous frequent areas together with out of doors 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 get together hostel with an inventive bent (there are murals all around the inside). It’s undoubtedly a (largely British) partying crowd that stays right here, and everyone seems to be tremendous open and blissful to fulfill different vacationers. There are a lot of shared areas that make it simple to take action, together with a communal barbecue space, small kitchen, library, and TV room with Netflix and a PS4. The get together will get began each night time with blissful hour on the bar downstairs, and within the mornings, there’s an amazing free vegetarian breakfast.

For if you do wish to get some sleep, the sturdy wood bunk beds are surprisingly comfortable, with nice pillows as properly. 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
• Totally geared up kitchen
• Hostel bar with an amazing 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 can simply spend a month right here and never get bored. And by selecting an amazing hostel, you’ll be certain that you profit from your go to, permitting you to take pleasure in this vibrant, energetic vacation spot.