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 vital visited cities within the Southern Hemisphere and over 5 million folks cross by way of town annually. Its dramatic pure and concrete panorama — lush mountains hugging the ocean — has been a robust 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 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 long-lasting 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 common with backpackers and partygoers (particularly throughout Carnaval), that means that there are a ton of hostels to select from.

Below you’ll discover my record of the most effective hostels in Rio de Janeiro. But, earlier than we dive in, I need to share 4 issues you’ll want to bear in mind if 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 stuff you need to see and do.
2. Price – As is true anyplace, you get what you pay for. If you decide a extremely low-cost hostel, you’re in all probability going to get one that’s small and cramped and doesn’t supply nice service.
3. Amenities – Every hostel on the town affords free Wi-Fi, and most have self-catering amenities so you’ll be able to prepare dinner your personal meals. Many — however not all — embrace free breakfast, so be sure you do your analysis to seek out the one which finest meets your wants.
4. Staff – All the hostels listed right here have a tremendous employees who’re tremendous pleasant and educated. Even in case you don’t find yourself staying at one of many locations listed beneath, be sure you search for critiques so you’ve got employees who’re useful and pleasant. They could make or break a hostel!

Below is my record of the most effective hostels in Rio de Janeiro. If you don’t need to learn the longer record beneath, the next are the most effective 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 most effective 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 positioned only a few 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 continues to be fairly social although, with welcoming employees that set up frequent group actions (like excursions and hikes), in addition to a hostel WhatsApp group to make buddies 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 every part is all the time saved glowing clear.

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

The solely draw back is that the hostel is positioned on the prime 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 in case you want to not stroll.

Aquarela do Leme at a look:

• $$$
• Super near Copacabana Beach
• Free breakfast and absolutely geared up kitchen
• Gym, 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 yr after yr. 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 employees 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 save cash right here, given the intensive buffet breakfast within the mornings and the glad 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 stress is actually good. But the Wi-Fi isn’t all the time the most effective, so it’s not an excellent place to remain in case you’re engaged on the highway.

Discovery Hostel at a look:

• $$
• Great location proper subsequent to the metro makes it simple 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 great spot to remain in case you’re on the lookout for a celebration hostel. There are tons of organized occasions, from karaoke nights to boat excursions, a gregarious employees, and an all the time busy hostel bar, making it tremendous simple to have enjoyable and make buddies right here. There’s additionally an enormous communal kitchen by which to prepare dinner your personal meals, in addition to a small breakfast every day (for an additional payment).

The steel 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 should not have air-con, although non-public rooms do. There are female-only dorms as effectively.

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 usually elevated crime. Conditions and security fluctuate 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 beneficial security recommendation for Brazil normally).

Pura Vida Hostel Rio de Janeiro at a look:

• $$
• Party hostel with occasions each night time and a bar to satisfy folks
• Kitchen amenities and BBQ space
• Breakfast obtainable (small payment)

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 fashionable boutique motels with a coworking house. There are loads of 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 beneath the mattress. (Note: there are not any privateness curtains and the Wi-Fi isn’t all the time the most effective within the rooms.)

There can also 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, non-public rooms from 515 BRL.

5. Mambembe Hostel

Mambembe is a homey and artsy hostel positioned on a quiet road 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 stuffed with devices to play, and resident cats finishing the ambiance. It is on prime 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 take into account that some dorm rooms have three-tiered bunk beds. Everything is saved good and clear by the pleasant hostel employees.

There are many indoor and out of doors shared areas (with hammocks!), together with an indoor TV lounge and out of doors sundeck, the place you’ll be able to calm down and meet different vacationers. It’s a social place, however not a celebration hostel.

Mambembe Hostel at a look:

• $
• Located within the inventive Santa Teresa neighborhood
• Fully geared up kitchen and free breakfast
• Lots of widespread areas together with out of doors terraces and sundeck

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

6. Books Hostel

Also positioned 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 glad to satisfy different vacationers. There are many 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 glad hour on the bar downstairs, and within the mornings, there’s an excellent free vegetarian breakfast.

For if you do need to get some sleep, the sturdy wood bunk beds are surprisingly comfortable, 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 scorching (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
• Fully geared up kitchen
• Hostel bar with an excellent glad hour

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

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