The 6 Best Hostels in Rio de Janeiro (Updated 2023)

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

Founded 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 crucial visited cities within the Southern Hemisphere and over 5 million individuals go by the 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 creative actions and kinds had 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 way more.

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

Below you’ll discover my checklist of the very best hostels in Rio de Janeiro. But, earlier than we dive in, I wish to share 4 issues it’s essential to bear in mind whenever you decide a hostel:

1. Location – Rio is big, so take this into consideration when on the lookout for a hostel. Pick a neighborhood close to the belongings you wish to see and do.
2. Price – As is true wherever, you get what you pay for. If you decide a very low cost hostel, you’re in all probability going to get one that’s small and cramped and doesn’t provide nice service.
3. Amenities – Every hostel on the town gives free Wi-Fi, and most have self-catering services so you possibly can cook dinner your individual meals. Many — however not all — embody free breakfast, so make sure to do your analysis to seek out the one which greatest meets your wants.
4. Staff – All the hostels listed right here have a tremendous workers who’re tremendous pleasant and educated. Even if you happen to don’t find yourself staying at one of many locations listed beneath, make sure to search for opinions so you might have workers who’re useful and pleasant. They could make or break a hostel!

Below is my checklist of the very best hostels in Rio de Janeiro. If you don’t wish to learn the longer checklist beneath, the next are the very best in every class:

Best Hostel for Budget Travelers: Mambembe or Books
Best Hostel for Solo Female Travelers: Aquarela do Leme
Best Hostel for Couples: Selina Lapa or Aquarela do Leme
Best Hostel for Partying: Books or Pura Vida Hostel
Best Hostel for Digital Nomads: Selina Lapa
Best Overall Hostel: Aquarela do Leme

Want the specifics of every hostel? Here’s my breakdown of the very best hostels in Rio:

Price legend (per night time)

• $ = Under 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 Beach and its 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) of sand and promenade. It’s good for vacationers on the lookout 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 mates 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 huge lockers, and each room has an connected balcony. There are additionally female-only dorms and every part is all the time stored glowing clear.

There are varied frequent areas, together with a coworking house and a gymnasium. There’s additionally a rooftop terrace with gorgeous views over the ocean. If you’re on a finances, there’s a completely geared up kitchen and complimentary buffet breakfast (even home made bread).

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

Aquarela do Leme at a look:

• $$$
• Super near Copacabana Beach
• Free breakfast and totally geared up kitchen
• Gym, coworking house, and rooftop terrace

Beds from 106 BRL, personal 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 (recognized 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 individuals and celebration. 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.

Many 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. Another plus? The water strain is absolutely good. But the Wi-Fi isn’t all the time the very best, so it’s not an excellent place to remain if you happen to’re engaged on the street.

Discovery Hostel at a look:

• $$
• Great location proper subsequent to the metro makes it straightforward to get round
• Fully 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

Situated in between Ipanema and Copacabana Beaches, Pura Vida is one other good spot to remain if you happen to’re on the lookout 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 mates right here. There’s additionally an enormous communal kitchen during 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. But, 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 personal rooms do. There are female-only dorms as effectively.

It’s value noting that it’s situated proper on the entrance to considered one of Rio’s many favelas, city slums in which there’s usually elevated crime. Conditions and security differ drastically from one favela to a different, however it’s nonetheless necessary to take additional precautions round them. Stay alert when returning right here at night time, ideally not alone (right here’s some advisable security recommendation for Brazil generally).

Pura Vida Hostel Rio de Janeiro at a look:

• $$
• Party hostel with occasions each night time and a bar to satisfy individuals
• Kitchen services and BBQ space
• Breakfast accessible (small charge)

Beds from 95 BRL, personal rooms from 235 BRL.

4. Selina Lapa Rio de Janeiro

Selina is a series of hostels recognized for being extra like fashionable boutique lodges with a coworking house. There are loads of 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, glossy, and fashionable, and have air con. The beds are new and the mattresses are fairly cozy, with particular person lights, energy shops, and lockers below the mattress. (Note: there aren’t any privateness curtains and the Wi-Fi isn’t all the time the very best within the rooms.)

There can be a Selina in Copacabana with just about the identical facilities.

Selina Lapa Rio de Janeiro at a look:

• $$$
• Huge rooftop terrace
• Coworking house
• Trendy hostel with hotel-like ambiance

Beds from 115 BRL, personal 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 full of devices to play, and resident cats finishing the ambiance. It is on high of a steep hill although, so hold 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 remember that some dorm rooms have three-tiered bunk beds. Everything is stored good and clear by the pleasant hostel workers.

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

Mambembe Hostel at a look:

• $
• Located within the creative Santa Teresa neighborhood
• Fully geared up kitchen and free breakfast
• Lots of frequent areas together with outside terraces and sundeck

Beds from 72 BRL, personal rooms from 200 BRL.

6. Books Hostel

Also situated in Santa Teresa, Books is a bustling celebration hostel with a creative bent (there are murals all around the inside). It’s undoubtedly a (principally British) partying crowd that stays right here, and everyone seems to be tremendous open and blissful to satisfy different vacationers. There are many 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 celebration will get began each night time 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 cozy, with nice pillows as effectively. Otherwise, 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 individuals going out and in of the hostel, it’s all the time stored clear!

Books Hostel at a look:

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

Beds from 65 BRL, personal rooms from 180 BRL.

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