Hotels
Best hotels in Brazil: where to stay, from Copacabana to Iguaçu
At six in the morning the first runners are already out along Copacabana, the surf breaking on the sand as the city wakes behind them. Two hours away by plane the Iguaçu Falls thunder, and further north are palm-lined beaches where the only light at night comes from the fishing boats. Brazil is vast, and your choice of hotel decides which part of it you actually see.
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Brazil is bigger than the whole of Europe excluding Russia, so most visitors pick two or three areas for one trip. Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo are the cities, Iguaçu is the waterfall on the border with Argentina, and the north-east coast from Bahia to Pernambuco has the long, warm beaches. You fly between them, often with a connection.
We have chosen ten hotels across six areas, from a century-old palace on Copacabana to a pool villa on a beach in Alagoas, and we say who each one suits. All score highly with guests on Hotels.com. Our links go there, and the hotel is always chosen before the link.
Short answer: where to stay in Brazil
On a first trip, base yourself in Rio, ideally in Ipanema or on Copacabana, and add two nights at the Iguaçu Falls. With more time, Bahia is the best place for beaches, and São Paulo suits food, art and design lovers.
Best for romance: Kenoa Exclusive Beach Spa & Resort
Best for families: Nannai Muro Alto
Best for first-timers: Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel
Best for design: Rosewood São Paulo
Best for nature: Hotel das Cataratas, A Belmond Hotel
How to choose the right hotel in Brazil
Rio: Ipanema and Leblon are the safest and most popular areas for visitors. Copacabana is busier and more down to earth, and Santa Teresa is the hillside neighbourhood of artists and views.
São Paulo: the city is huge and traffic is heavy. Stay in Jardins or near Avenida Paulista so you can walk to restaurants.
Iguaçu: the falls straddle the border with Argentina. The Brazilian side gives the panorama, the Argentine side takes you closer to the water. Stay at least two nights.
The north-east coast: Bahia, Alagoas and Pernambuco have warm sea all year. The airports are Salvador, Porto Seguro, Maceió and Recife.
Safety: in the big cities, take a taxi or ride-hailing app after dark and keep jewellery and phones out of sight on the beach.
The facade
The white facade of Copacabana Palace.
Rio de Janeiro: beaches and hills
Rio is squeezed between the ocean and steep green mountains. Copacabana and Ipanema are the beaches, and Christ the Redeemer stands above the city on Corcovado.
Copacabana Palace: the beachfront classic
Copacabana Palace opened in the 1920s and has been Rio's most famous hotel ever since. Its white facade faces the beach, and the garden pool has drawn film stars and heads of state for generations.
This is our pick for a first visit, for the history, the service and the location in the middle of Copacabana. It is expensive, and the neighbourhood around it is busy and noisy. Book a table at one of its restaurants even if you stay elsewhere.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel
The rooftop pool
The rooftop pool at Fasano looking towards the mountains above Ipanema.
Hotel Fasano Rio de Janeiro: the rooftop pool in Ipanema
Fasano stands at the end of Ipanema, with interiors by Philippe Starck and a rooftop pool overlooking the beach and the Dois Irmãos mountain. The ground-floor bar is one of the city's best-known meeting places.
It suits travellers who want to stay in Ipanema with style and good food. Rooms are smaller than the price suggests, and the rooftop gets crowded at sunset. Head to the beach early, before the volleyball nets go up.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel Fasano Rio de Janeiro
The terrace
The terrace looking out over Rio from the Santa Teresa hotel.
Santa Teresa Hotel Rio MGallery: above the city
The Santa Teresa hotel occupies an old mansion on the hill of the same name, with gardens, a pool and views over the centre and the bay. The neighbourhood has cobbled streets, artists' studios and small bars.
It suits couples who want calm and character rather than beach life. It is a taxi ride down to the beaches, and the streets on the hill are steep. In the evening, the view over the city lights is reason enough to stay.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Santa Teresa Hotel Rio de Janeiro MGallery
The garden pool
The pool surrounded by plants at Rosewood São Paulo.
São Paulo: design and food
São Paulo is South America's largest city and Brazil's capital of food, art and business. Hotels here are more about design and restaurants than pools and beaches.
Rosewood São Paulo: a tower full of plants
Rosewood is part of Cidade Matarazzo, a former hospital complex that has been transformed, with a new tower clad in trees and plants. The hotel is filled with Brazilian art and design, and has several restaurants, a spa and a pool.
This is our design pick, and one of the most talked-about new hotels in South America. It is expensive, and you are in a city where you spend a lot of time in cars. Save an evening for the hotel's restaurants.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Rosewood São Paulo
The building
The curved building of Hotel Unique at dusk.
Hotel Unique: the ship in Jardins
Hotel Unique was designed by the architect Ruy Ohtake and looks like a curved hull standing on end, with round windows in its facade. On the roof are a red pool and a bar looking out over the city.
It suits travellers who want architecture and city life in Jardins, one of the best areas for shops and restaurants. Rooms have curved walls and slightly unusual layouts. The rooftop bar is popular, so go early.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel Unique
From the air
Hotel das Cataratas in the rainforest by the falls, seen from the air.
Iguaçu: the hotel by the falls
The Iguaçu Falls are a chain of more than 250 cascades along the border between Brazil and Argentina, surrounded by rainforest and national park.
Hotel das Cataratas: inside the national park
Das Cataratas is the only hotel inside the national park on the Brazilian side, a pink colonial-style building right by the trails to the falls. Guests can walk out to the falls before the park opens and after it closes.
This is our nature pick, and the reason many people add an extra night at Iguaçu. It is expensive, and its restaurants are the only ones nearby in the evening. Go out at sunrise, when you have the view almost to yourself.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel das Cataratas, A Belmond Hotel
The coast from above
The beach and palms at Txai Itacaré, seen from the air.
Bahia: Itacaré and Trancoso
Bahia has some of Brazil's finest beaches, with rainforest running down to the sea at Itacaré and the old village of Trancoso further south.
Txai Resort Itacaré: palms and rainforest
Txai sits in a former coconut plantation by a long beach south of Itacaré, with bungalows on the slope and rainforest right behind. There is a spa, and the resort runs trips to waterfalls and remote beaches.
It suits couples and nature lovers who want a beach with green all around. Getting here is a journey, with a flight to Ilhéus and a drive on. The sea can have strong currents, so swim where the staff suggest.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Txai Resort Itacaré
The pool
The pool in the garden at UXUA in Trancoso.
UXUA Casa Hotel & Spa: houses on the square in Trancoso
UXUA is made up of old fishermen's houses around the Quadrado, the grassy square in Trancoso with a white church at one end. The houses have been rebuilt with reclaimed wood and local craftsmanship, and the hotel has its own beach lounge by the sea.
It suits travellers who want a small village, good food and a slow pace. There are few rooms and prices are high. In the evening the lanterns come on around the Quadrado and the restaurants set their tables on the grass.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at UXUA Casa Hotel & Spa
The pool by the sea
A pool facing the sea at Kenoa.
Alagoas and Pernambuco: villas on the north-east coast
Further north are the beaches of Alagoas and Pernambuco, with warm sea, natural pools in the reef and long sandy stretches lined with palms.
Kenoa Exclusive Beach Spa & Resort: a villa with a pool
Kenoa lies on a quiet beach at Barra de São Miguel south of Maceió, with villas and suites, many with their own pool. The architecture uses timber and natural stone, and there is a spa and a small restaurant.
This is our romantic pick, for couples who want to be left alone. There is little to do beyond the hotel, and prices are high. In the afternoon you can walk the beach for hours and meet hardly anyone.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Kenoa Exclusive Beach Spa & Resort
The bungalows
The bungalows and pools at Nannai Muro Alto, seen from above.
Nannai Muro Alto: bungalows by calm water
Nannai is on Muro Alto beach in Pernambuco, where a reef just offshore keeps the water calm and shallow. Many bungalows have a private pool, and there is a kids' club and several restaurants.
This is our family pick, with calm water and space for everyone. It is around an hour from Recife airport. Porto de Galinhas, famous for the natural pools in its reef, is a short trip away.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Nannai Muro Alto
When to book
December to March: summer in Rio and high season. Christmas, New Year and Carnival in February or March are the most expensive, so book early.
April to June and August to November: good prices and good weather, especially on the north-east coast.
Iguaçu: the falls carry the most water in the rainy season from December to February, but are worth seeing all year.
Frequently asked questions about hotels in Brazil
Where should I stay in Rio de Janeiro?
Ipanema and Leblon suit most visitors, with beach, restaurants and good safety. Copacabana is cheaper and livelier, and Santa Teresa is for those who want views and quiet.
How many days do I need at the Iguaçu Falls?
Two nights is enough to see both the Brazilian and Argentine sides.
Where are the best beaches in Brazil?
The north-east coast from Bahia to Pernambuco has the warmest water and the longest season. In Bahia, Trancoso and Itacaré are among the most popular.
Is it safe to stay in hotels in Brazil?
The hotels on our list are in safe areas. In the cities, take a taxi or app after dark and keep valuables out of sight.
Do I need a visa for Brazil?
Visa rules can change. Check the current entry requirements before you book.