Location

If you take a close look at the map you will find that our neighborhood, Botafogo, is right in the center of the South Area (main touristic area in town), near to Christ the Redeemer Statue, the Sugar Loaf Mountain, Centro (Downtown), Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, etc ...

Central Location to all major touristic attractions:

  • 4 min. subway (one station) to Copacabana Beach.
  • 10 min. subway (4 stations) to Ipanema Beach.
  • 12 min. subway (5 stations) to all the Historical Downtown of Rio.
  • 15 min. bus to Lapa, Domestic Airport (Santos-Dumont), Lagoa, Botanical Garden and the Sugar Loaf Mountain.
  • 25 min. bus to the Statue of Christ the Redeemer.
  • 30 min. subway (12 stations) to the Maracanã Stadium.
  • 40 min. bus to the Central Bus Station (Rodoviária)
  • 50 min. bus or taxi to the International Airport (Galeão)
  • 70 min. bus to Barra da Tijuca Beach.

We can guarantee, without any question, that Botafogo is the best neighborhood for you to stay in Rio. Buses run here the whole night and Botafogo subway station runs until midnight. It is a very safe, cosmopolitan and diverse neighborhood. Trust me, you'll find none better.

If you are like 99 % of the tourists here in Rio you will like to visit all these touristic spots I've just mentioned. That is why it is better to stay central, unless you are addicted to football (in that case you should stay in Zona Norte, near Engenhão and Maracanã but far from the rest), or addicted to party (better stay in Lapa, but you won't be able to sleep), or addicted to beaches (better stay in Copacabana or Ipanema, and get ready to spend all your money 'cause it is very very expensive).

You see the dilemma ? if you stay in Lapa it will be far from the beaches and the Sugar Loaf, if you stay on the beaches it will be far from Lapa and Christ the Redeemer ... the logical answer ?? stay in Botafogo of course !! and while you are at it better choose the best hostel around (by now you should at least have a hint of which one is it haha)

Getting Here

From the International Airport Galeão (GIG)/h3>
Take the bus from the "Real" company that goes to Copacabana (it costs R$ 13.50 reals, aprox. US$ 3) and ask the driver to drop you at the bus stop of Mourisco, a big mirror-building (last stop at Botafogo Beach) ... having the Mourisco on your left you'll see a viaduct, after you go under it you will already be in Prof. Álvaro Rodrigues St., go straight and the 4th street on the left is Paulo Barreto St.

It takes about 40-50 min. on the bus + 5 min. walk.

From the Domestic Airport Santos-Dumont (SDU)

Take any of the following buses that go through “Aterro do Flamengo": 455 or 484 (they cost R$ 3.80 reals, aprox. US$ 1) and ask the driver to drop you at the bus stop of Mourisco, a big mirror-building (last stop at Botafogo Beach) ... having the Mourisco on your left you'll see a viaduct, after you go under it you will already be in Prof. Álvaro Rodrigues St., go straight and the 4th street on the left is Paulo Barreto St.

It takes about 10-15 min. on the bus + 5 min. walk .

From the Central Bus Station (Rodoviária)

Take any of the following buses that go through “Aterro do Flamengo": 136, 170, 172 or 178 (they cost R$ 3.80 reals, aprox. US$ 1) and ask the driver to drop you at the bus stop of São Clemente St. (right after "Casa de Rui Barbosa"), take 19 de Fevereiro St., cross Voluntários da Pátria St., go up half a block to get to Paulo Barreto St.

It takes about 30-40 min. on the bus + 8 min. walk.