The historic downtown and, beneath its white arches, Lapa — the throbbing heart of Rio's nightlife, where samba and forró spill from the bars every weekend. Gritty and thrilling after dark, with the old centre's sights by day; a base for night owls and culture, but stay street-smart and use taxis at night.
A look around
What you’ll be living next to. Swipe through.
€80–170
typical per night in Brazil
The sensible middle
Typical prices for Rio de Janeiro — neither steal nor splurge.
Where it sits
The circle is Lapa & Centro and roughly a 10-minute walk around it.
How far is everything?
From the middle of this area to the city's headline sights — pick your own on the city page and these become your list.
- Santa Teresa & the tram14 min walk1.1 km
- Sugarloaf Mountain14 min taxi4.8 km
- Christ the Redeemer17 min taxi5.6 km
- Copacabana (beach)20 min taxi6.6 km
- Feijoada20 min taxi6.6 km
- Copacabana Beach20 min taxi6.7 km
- Ipanema Beach26 min taxi8.5 km
- Sunset at Arpoador26 min taxi8.7 km
- Tijuca Forest34 min taxi11.2 km
On your doorstep
What you’re living next to if you stay here.
- 5.The Selarón Steps — The Escadaria Selarón — a long staircase between Lapa and Santa Teresa covered top to bottom in a riot of colourful tiles from all over the world, the life's work of the artist Jorge Selarón. Vivid, joyful and one of Rio's most photographed spots; go early to beat the crowds and the heat.
- 8.A night out in Lapa — Under the great white Lapa arches, Rio lets loose — a raucous weekend of samba clubs, open-air bars, street parties and live music that goes till dawn, the beating heart of the city's nightlife. Thrilling and gritty; go with a group, keep valuables at home, and dance to a live roda de samba.
- 9.The Maracanã — One of the great temples of world football — the vast stadium that hosted two World Cup finals, and still shakes when Flamengo or the rivals play. Take a tour of the pitch and dressing rooms, or, far better, get a ticket to a match and experience the drums, flares and roar of a Brazilian crowd.
- 15.Historic Centro — The old downtown holds Rio's history — the grand Municipal Theatre and National Library, the gilded Confeitaria Colombo tea rooms, the futuristic Museum of Tomorrow on the revitalised port, and cobbled colonial lanes. Explore it by day (it empties at night); a cultured counterpoint to the beaches.
When are you staying?
Booking.com & Airbnb open searched to Lapa & Centro; flights via Google Flights.