Rio de Janeiro's hotel market is dominated by the Zona Sul beachfront — Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon are where most tourists stay, and with good reason. These areas have the best transport links, the best restaurants and bars, and the safest overall environment for visitors. Most hotels in these neighborhoods are welcoming to same-sex couples without issue.

Where to stay

Ipanema is the first choice for proximity to the gay scene — Farme de Amoedo, Posto 9, and the best gay venues are all walkable. Hotels here tend to be more expensive than Copacabana but the neighborhood is quieter and the beach slightly less hectic.

Copacabana is the most developed hotel market, with the widest range from budget to luxury along the famous beachfront. The area is noisier, busier, and has more petty crime than Ipanema, but it has excellent transport connections and a large number of options at all price points.

Botafogo has become a more interesting neighborhood for visitors in recent years, with a growing restaurant and bar scene and generally lower hotel prices. It is a Metro stop from the Zona Sul and a reasonable base for people who want to be away from the heavy tourist concentration.

Carnival accommodation

Carnival accommodation requires booking months in advance. This is not an exaggeration — hotels fill up in the autumn for Carnival the following February or March. Prices during Carnival week are dramatically higher than normal rates. If you are planning a Carnival visit, treat accommodation as the first and most urgent booking to make.

The hotels

    • 021 Hostel — 021 Hostel is a gay-friendly hotel in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — welcoming to LGBTQ+ travelers with good access to the local scene.
    • Altos de Santa Teresa Guest House — Overlooking Guanabara Bay, this hilltop hotel is 11 km from Sugarloaf Mountain and 12 km from the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue. The sophisticated rooms come with complimentary Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, desks and minibars, plus balconies. Suites add balconies with city and mountain views, while 1 suite features floor-to-ceiling windows and an en suite bathroom with a whirlpool tub. Children age 5 and under stay free. Freebies include parking and a Brazilian breakfast buffet. Other ameni
    • Atlantis Copacabana Hotel — A 5-minute walk from the iconic Copacabana Beach, this modest hotel in Rio de Janeiro's Zona Sul is also an 8-minute walk from Forte de Copacabana fortress and a 9-minute walk from General Osório metro station. Simple, traditional rooms come with free Wi-Fi and cable TV, in addition to desks and minifridges. Upgraded rooms add ocean views. Room service is available. Along with a complimentary breakfast buffet and a casual restaurant, there's a sea-view rooftop terrace with a hot tub, a poo
    • Beach Backpackers Hostel — A 7-minute walk from the nearest metro station, this contemporary, relaxed hostel is a 15-minute walk from Botafogo beach and 12 km from the Christ the Redeemer statue. Featuring bunk beds and free Wi-Fi, the bright dorms sleep up to 15 people; linens and towels are provided. Private rooms are also available. Some units have air-conditioning and/or en suite bathrooms. A breakfast buffet is complimentary. Other amenities include a modern TV lounge, a DVD player and video games, as well as a share
    • Belmond Copacabana Palace — Dating from 1923, this art deco style hotel overlooking Copacabana Beach is 10 km from Santos Dumont airport and 13 km from Christ the Redeemer statue. Featuring period furniture and original artwork, the cozy, refined rooms and suites include flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi and minibars. Suites add sitting rooms; some offer private pool access and a wet bar, plus butler service. Room service is available. Breakfast and parking are included. There’s a restaurant serving pan-Asian fare, as wel
    • Best Western Sol Ipanema Hotel — Opposite Ipanema Beach, this breezy oceanside hotel is a 9-minute walk from a metro stop and 4.5 km from Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro. The warm airy rooms feature free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, minibars and desks. Room service is on offer 24/7. A complimentary breakfast buffet is served in an upscale, cool restaurant offering international cuisine and ocean views. There's a relaxed bar in the lobby. Other amenities include a beauty salon, a 24/7 fitness room, sunloungers on a terrace,
    • Casa Cool Beans — Set in a bright purple home with a tile roof, this quirky B&B in the Santa Teresa arts district is a 4-minute walk from a bus stop, 8 km from the Christ the Redeemer statue and 9 km from Copacabana beach. Airy, individually decorated rooms feature en suite bathrooms with showers and/or tubs, plus free Wi-Fi and minifridges; there are no TVs. Some rooms add hardwood floors, beamed ceilings and/or local artwork. There are also 2 duplex rooms with sleeping lofts. A breakfast buffet is served
    • El Misti Hostel Rio - Copacabana — Set across the street from a metro stop, this laid-back, colorful hostel is an 8-minute walk from iconic Copacababa Beach and 3.5 km from Sugarloaf Cable Car. Bright, colorful single- or mixed-gender dorms feature free Wi-Fi, bunk beds and shared bathrooms. There are also private rooms with en suite or shared bathrooms. Linens (except towels, which can be rented) are provided. Minimum stay rules may apply. A free breakfast buffet is offered. Additional amenities include a communal kitchen, se
    • Fasano — Overlooking the ocean, across the street from Ipanema beach, this posh hotel is also a 7-minute walk from General Osório metro and 12 minutes from Copacabana beach. Refined rooms come with Wi-Fi (paid), flat-screens and minibars. Some have ocean views or balconies, while suites add living areas, free-standing tubs, espresso machines and wet bars. Upgraded suites include iPod docks. In addition to free breakfast, there's a chic Mediterranean restaurant, a lobby bar, and a British-style bar
    • Hotel Arpoador Inn — Set in the Arpoador neighborhood, this casual hotel is across the road from the beach. It's also a 2-minute walk away from Parque Garota de Ipanema and an 11-minute walk from a metro station. The simple rooms provide free Wi-Fi, minibars and flat-screen TVs with cable channels. Upgraded rooms feature sea views. Room service is available. The hotel provides a free buffet breakfast served in an airy, modern restaurant that offers sea views and sidewalk dining. Additional amenities include a

Practical notes

Hotel security in the Zona Sul is generally good. Use the safe for passports and excess cash. Do not leave valuables visible in the room. Most reputable hotels offer left-luggage on check-out day.

For the full Rio picture, see the Gay Rio de Janeiro Guide.