Hotels In Rio De Janeiro You'll Be Talking About Forever

Rio de Janeiro is an exceptional city in its own right; a huge urban jungle surrounds and invades a multicultural metropolis fringed by an idyllic coastline. What can make a trip to Rio even more out of this world, though, is a stay in any one of these hotels that we’ve rounded up.

1. Belmond Copacabana Palace

Boutique Hotel, Hotel

The seafront palace remains synonymous with the rich elite and glamour, even if the surrounding neighborhood is losing its past shine to the more upcoming and contemporary Ipanema. Yet this only serves to show the continued success of this enormous classic-style hotel that boasts extravagant chandeliers, marble covering almost every surface and gleaming wood finishes. The walls in Copacabana Palace are mounted with photos of past guests that graced the Hollywood and music scene. With a beautiful swimming pool and a Michelin-starred restaurant inside, it’s not hard to see why this incredible hotel is a hit with the rich and famous. There is even a reserved section on the beach in front of the hotel for guests with complimentary loungers and fruit.

2. Santa Teresa Hotel

Hotel

Santa Teresa Hotel

Taking its name from the bohemian-feel neighborhood where it’s located, the Santa Teresa Hotel offers a unique experience away from Rio’s sandy shores. The hotel has the air of a tropical paradise yet provides all of the five star facilities that any guest could ever dream of. Once a coffee plantation, Santa Teresa Hotel was renovated into a luxurious retreat with one of the best spas in the city, gorgeous green gardens and rustically decorated with a helping of contemporary style. Inside the hotel is a wonderfully intimate bar so dimly lit that the waiters use torches to read the menu. The food there is delicious and the cocktails are dangerously smooth.

R. Alm. Alexandrino, 660 – Santa Teresa,+ 55 21 3380 0200

Santa Teresa Hotel |© Santa Teresa Hotel

3. Casa Mosquito

Hotel

This restored mansion lies on the border of Ipanema on the hillside next to Cantagalo favela, its elegance and extravagance contrasting sharply with the slum next to it. Casa Mosquito’s minimalist design manages to combine glamour with an edgy twist, with hotel rooms named after unlikely Rio icons from the last few decades such as Madone Sata, a drag performer from the mid 1900s. The hotel itself oozes European glamour, largely thanks to the influence from the two French owners. The dazzling star of the hotel though is the jaw-dropping rooftop swimming pool and terrace that overlooks Ipanema beach, a spot that has become the location of various fashion shoots.

5. La Suite

Hotel

La Suite’s location is a blessing for those looking for total seclusion. Tucked away in the Joatinga hills, the hotel provides a private retreat. This in turn means that everything is a planned taxi trip away, though. However, the secluded getaway feel is irresistible and it’s little wonder that La Suite is popular among the A-listers. With helicopter pads, antiques and chandeliers a dead giveaway of the exclusivity of the place, the hotel does try to maintain a homely feel with friendly yet distant staff. The huge windows throughout the hotel take advantage of the stunning views and provide a tranquil haven to escape from it all.

6. Tuakaza

Hotel

If La Suite could be considered a hillside retreat away from the tourist spots, then Tuakaza just came along and trumped it. Located in the hillsides in Sao Conrado, it is only accessible by car, a drive that includes snaking up a long, winding road. The secluded nature of the hotel is the main part of the attraction and provides painfully beautiful settings to escape into. The hotel was designed from the work of Zanine Caldas, a famous master in wood craft. The rustic settings and gorgeous scenery is exclusive, catering for only a handful of guests at a time – the hotel has just six bedrooms with names such as Kiwi and Amora.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.