Rio de Janeiro is the second largest city in Brazil and the world’s premier nightlife resort. Rio has the most dramatic setting in the world, dominated by Sugar Loaf Mountain and the monumental statue of Christ the Redeemer.

Rio is more than just a beach resort; it’s a city of more than six million people. No matter what time of the year, there will always be lots to do. True, the peak season of the gay Rio vacation is New Year’s and Carnival but that’s not to say the rest of year is dead.

The Rio gay scene is centred in Ipanema, with its huge gay beach, trendy restaurants, and quite unique gay bars. The gay spot at Ipanema Beach is a little to the East of Rua Farme de Amoedo. This is the best place to make friends with locals in a relaxed atmosphere, away from the bars and club scene. Forget about Rua Visconde da Silva in Botafogo, as you often find it on some rather out-of-date online guides; it’s long died out. Ipanema, that’s where it is at. Going to the beach is a cult for both gay and straight Cariocas. Rio has one of the strongest beach cultures ever seen in any coastal city around the world. That probably explains the fact there aren’t more gay nightclubs and bars on the Rio gay scene – Cariocas enjoy the day too much. And the gay beach itself is like a huge gay bar/club where you can chat and cruise for hours and go swimming to boot.

Gay and lesbian guests are welcome at basically all hotels in Rio. They have long ago discovered the power of pink dollars. As there isn’t a single gay-owned-and-operated hotel or bed and breakfast in town, we have picked out 6 hotels in a gay-friendly area.