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 individuals cross by way of town annually. 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 types have been born right here, together with bossa nova (a mode of samba).

Unsurprisingly, there isn’t any 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 vitality of town makes Rio de Janeiro particularly fashionable with backpackers and partygoers (particularly throughout Carnaval), that means that there are a ton of hostels to select from.

Under you’ll discover my record of the most effective hostels in Rio de Janeiro. However, earlier than we dive in, I need to share 4 issues it is advisable to keep in mind once you choose a hostel:

1. Location – Rio is big, so take this into consideration when searching for a hostel. Decide a neighborhood close to the belongings you need to see and do.
2. Value – As is true anyplace, you get what you pay for. When you choose a extremely 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 gives free Wi-Fi, and most have self-catering amenities so you possibly can cook dinner your personal meals. Many — however not all — embrace free breakfast, so make sure to do your analysis to search out the one which finest meets your wants.
4. Employees – All of the hostels listed right here have an incredible workers who’re tremendous pleasant and educated. Even when you don’t find yourself staying at one of many locations listed beneath, make sure to search for evaluations so you will have workers who’re useful and pleasant. They’ll make or break a hostel!

Under is my record of the most effective hostels in Rio de Janeiro. When you don’t need to learn the longer record beneath, the next are the most effective in every class:

Greatest Hostel for Price range 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 General Hostel: Aquarela do Leme

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

Value legend (per evening)

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

1. Aquarela do Leme

This newish hostel is positioned just some 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 arrange 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 at all times saved glowing clear.

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

The one draw back is that the hostel is positioned on the prime of a really steep hill, however there are at all times low cost bike taxis ready on the backside to take you to the highest when you want to not stroll.

Aquarela do Leme at a look:

• $$$
• Tremendous near Copacabana Seaside
• Free breakfast and totally geared up kitchen
• Gymnasium, coworking area, 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 positioned, 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 positively a spot to be if you wish to meet individuals and social gathering. It’s additionally straightforward to economize right here, given the in depth buffet breakfast within the mornings and the pleased 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 admittedly good. However the Wi-Fi isn’t at all times the most effective, so it’s not an awesome place to remain when you’re engaged on the highway.

Discovery Hostel at a look:

• $$
• Nice location proper subsequent to the metro makes it straightforward 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 when you’re searching for a celebration hostel. There are tons of organized occasions, from karaoke nights to boat excursions, a gregarious workers, and an at all times busy hostel bar, making it tremendous straightforward to have enjoyable and make pals right here. There’s additionally an enormous communal kitchen during which to cook dinner your personal meals, in addition to a small breakfast every day (for an additional charge).

The steel 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 nicely.

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

Pura Vida Hostel Rio de Janeiro at a look:

• $$
• Get together hostel with occasions each evening and a bar to satisfy individuals
• Kitchen amenities and BBQ space
• Breakfast accessible (small charge)

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

4. Selina Lapa Rio de Janeiro

Selina is a sequence of hostels identified for being extra like stylish boutique resorts with a coworking area. 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 places, a coworking area.

All rooms are tremendous clear, smooth, 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 at all times the most effective within the rooms.)

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

Selina Lapa Rio de Janeiro at a look:

• $$$
• Big rooftop terrace
• Coworking area
• 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 positioned on a quiet avenue within the bohemian neighborhood of Santa Teresa. The previous mansion-turned-hostel is a unusual place, with eclectic décor, artwork on the partitions, a music room crammed with devices to play, and resident cats finishing the ambiance. It’s on prime of a steep hill although, so maintain 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 understand that some dorm rooms have three-tiered bunk beds. All the pieces is saved good and clear by the pleasant hostel workers.

There are lots 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 inventive Santa Teresa neighborhood
• Totally geared up kitchen and free breakfast
• A number of frequent areas together with outside terraces and sundeck

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

6. Books Hostel

Additionally positioned in Santa Teresa, Books is a bustling social gathering hostel with an inventive bent (there are murals everywhere in the inside). It’s positively a (largely British) partying crowd that stays right here, and everyone seems to be tremendous open and pleased to satisfy different vacationers. There are lots 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 pleased hour on the bar downstairs, and within the mornings, there’s an awesome free vegetarian breakfast.

For once you do need to get some sleep, the sturdy picket bunk beds are surprisingly comfortable, with nice pillows as nicely. 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 at all times sizzling (not at all times the case in Rio). And maybe most significantly, regardless of the variety of individuals going out and in of the hostel, it’s at all times saved clear!

Books Hostel at a look:

• $
• Free breakfast
• Totally geared up kitchen
• Hostel bar with an awesome pleased hour

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

Rio is an enchanting metropolis with a lot to see and do this you might simply spend a month right here and never get bored. And by selecting an awesome hostel, you’ll be sure that you profit from your go to, permitting you to get pleasure from this vibrant, energetic vacation spot.