City · Brazil · South America
Beaches, mountains and samba: Brazil’s most famous city for backpackers
Photo: Arnaldo Silva / Pexels
Rio de Janeiro is Brazil’s iconic coastal city, set between granite mountains and Atlantic beaches and famous for Carnival and New Year’s Eve on Copacabana. Backpacker hostels cluster in Copacabana, Ipanema, Botafogo and hilltop Santa Teresa.
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Best for: First-timers and beach life
Copacabana’s famous curved beach and promenade make it Rio’s classic base, with hostels on the streets between the beach and the hills behind. Metro Line 1 has three stations here (Cardeal Arcoverde, Siqueira Campos and Cantagalo), linking it with Botafogo and the centre. It is busy and urban rather than polished, with kiosks, bars and restaurants along the seafront.
Best for: Beach days and an upmarket feel
Ipanema, west of Copacabana, has a beach divided by lifeguard posts, each with its own crowd, and the Arpoador rocks at its eastern end are a popular sunset spot. The streets behind the beach have cafés, shops and restaurants. Hostels are spread through the neighbourhood, and General Osório Metro station sits at its eastern edge.
Best for: Bars and a local neighbourhood feel
Botafogo faces Guanabara Bay with views of Sugarloaf Mountain and is known for its bar and restaurant scene, especially around Rua Voluntários da Pátria and nearby streets. It feels more residential and local than Copacabana, and its bay beach is better for views than swimming. Botafogo Metro station is on both Line 1 and Line 2, which makes getting around easy.
Best for: Bohemian charm and city views
Santa Teresa is a hilltop neighbourhood of winding streets, old mansions, artists’ studios and small bars, reached by the historic Santa Teresa tram (bondinho) as well as by road. Hostels here often have gardens or terraces with views over the city and bay. It is close to Lapa’s nightlife, but its steep, quiet streets make taxis useful at night.
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Few cities have a setting like Rio de Janeiro: forested granite peaks such as Sugarloaf Mountain and Corcovado, crowned by the Christ the Redeemer statue, rise straight out of the city, with long Atlantic beaches curving between them. Life here moves outdoors, from beach volleyball and football on the sand to sunset gatherings on the Arpoador rocks between Copacabana and Ipanema.
Rio is also one of the world’s great party cities. Its Carnival fills the Sambadrome with samba-school parades and the streets with hundreds of neighbourhood bloco parties, and the city’s tourism company, Riotur, says its New Year’s Eve on Copacabana has been recognised by Guinness as the largest in the world. Year-round, Lapa’s samba bars and Botafogo’s bar scene keep nights busy.
Backpackers usually stay in the South Zone (Zona Sul), close to the beaches and the Metro. Copacabana and Ipanema put the sand on your doorstep, Botafogo has a more local, neighbourhood feel, and Santa Teresa, on a hill above Lapa, is a bohemian district reached by its historic tram. Lapa, at the foot of the hill, is known for its arches and nightlife, while the Centro, with its museums and old squares, is easy to reach by Metro.
Riotur promotes Carnival and its New Year’s Eve on Copacabana as world-famous events, and Lapa’s samba bars are busy all year.
Beach culture, street parties and bar-hopping in Botafogo and Lapa make it easy to meet people.
Days on Copacabana and Ipanema beaches and sunsets at Arpoador are central to Rio life.
Hikes such as Dois Irmãos and trails in Tijuca National Park, plus hang-gliding flights over São Conrado, offer outdoor thrills.
Most international flights land at RIOgaleão – Tom Jobim International Airport (GIG) on Ilha do Governador, north of the centre. The transfer to Copacabana or Ipanema usually takes around 45 minutes to well over an hour by taxi, ride-hailing app or airport bus, depending on traffic. Santos Dumont Airport (SDU), beside the city centre, handles mainly domestic flights, including frequent services to São Paulo. Long-distance buses arrive at the Rodoviária Novo Rio terminal. Within the city, the MetrôRio network links the centre, Botafogo, Copacabana and Ipanema.
Rio is warm all year. Summer, from about December to March, is hot and humid, with the most rain, often in short tropical storms, and the busiest beaches. Winter, from about June to August, is milder and generally drier, which suits hiking. Carnival falls in February or early March, and New Year’s Eve on Copacabana is one of the busiest dates of the year; both bring very high demand for accommodation.
Most backpackers stay in Rio’s South Zone. Copacabana is the classic first base, with the beach and three Metro stations nearby. Ipanema has a more upmarket beach scene, Botafogo offers bars and a local neighbourhood feel with good Metro links, and Santa Teresa is a bohemian hilltop district close to Lapa’s nightlife. Choose by whether you want the beach, nightlife or a quieter, artistic atmosphere.
Copacabana has more hostels, three Metro Line 1 stations and a busy, urban seafront, which makes it a practical first base. Ipanema is smaller and more upmarket, with a lively beach culture and the Arpoador sunset spot at its eastern end. The two are next to each other, so it is easy to walk or take the Metro between them whichever you choose.
Most international flights arrive at RIOgaleão – Tom Jobim International Airport (GIG), north of the centre. Taxis, ride-hailing apps and airport buses run to the South Zone, and the trip to Copacabana usually takes around 45 minutes to well over an hour, depending on traffic. Domestic flights may use Santos Dumont Airport (SDU), which is next to the city centre and much closer.
Rio is warm all year. December to March is summer: hot, humid, the rainiest period and the busiest on the beaches, including Carnival in February or early March. June to August is milder and generally drier, which is good for hiking and sightseeing. Accommodation demand is highest around Carnival and New Year’s Eve, so book well in advance for those dates.
Book as early as you can, ideally several months ahead. Carnival is Rio’s biggest event, with samba-school parades in the Sambadrome and street parties across the city, and accommodation fills quickly. Many hostels set minimum stays over the Carnival period, so check the booking conditions. The same applies to New Year’s Eve on Copacabana.
Four to five days lets most backpackers see Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain, spend time on Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, take a hike such as Dois Irmãos and enjoy a night of samba in Lapa. Travellers visiting for Carnival or wanting to explore beyond the city, for example to Ilha Grande or Paraty, often stay longer.
Reviewed by the HostelConnect editorial team on 8 November 2026. Check entry rules, transport and conditions with official sources before you travel.
