For travelers with disabilities visiting Brazil, there are a number of wheelchair accessible hotel rooms in Rio de Janeiro.
I have personally stayed in six different Rio de Janeiro hotels, with some being much more accessible than others. I have included information and pictures of each of these hotels here, and encourage you to share details of others that you have stayed at in the comments below. Please note that this is not a complete list of accessible hotels in the city, only those which I have stayed in and verified.
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Grand Hyatt Rio de Janeiro
The Grand Hyatt Rio de Janeiro is a luxury resort located along the coastline west of the primary touristic areas of Rio. Depending on traffic conditions, a drive between the Grand Hyatt and Copacabana Beach will take 30 to 45 minutes or longer. The hotel is a great choice for those that want to experience luxury accommodation while remaining on the resort property — its comfortable rooms, award-winning restaurants and full spa provide everything necessary for a relaxing luxury stay.
I stayed in room 466, which featured a king size bed, plus a bonus single/twin size bed (for a child or carer), as well as a large balcony overlooking the swimming pool and beach. I enjoyed the room, had fantastic meals (including at the amazing Japanese restaurant, Shisho), and felt it was a great place to stay at the end of my trip.
Here are some measurements of the room’s accessibility features:
- Bed height to top of mattress — 20 inches
- Clear space under bed — 5.5 inches
- Sink height; free space under sink — 31.5 inches; 28.75 inches
- Toilet seat height — 18 inches
- Toilet grab bar height — 30 inches
- Shower seat height — 18 inches
- Shower grab bar height — 30.5 inches
An expanded review of the Grand Hyatt Rio will be published in the future.
Ibis Rio de Janeiro Centro
The Ibis Rio de Janeiro Centro hotel is located within walking/rolling distance of popular attractions including the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Sebastian, Carioca Aqueduct, the iconic Escadaria Selarón stairs, the Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro and so much more.
Sidewalks around the hotel are mostly accessible, but are easier to maneuver using a power wheelchair. Public transportation is available nearby, with many city buses, the on-street tramway and several metro stations within one kilometer.
Accessible guest rooms are located on each floor (mine was #967). My room had a double bed measuring 25 inches from the floor to the top of the mattress, with 10 inches of clearance underneath. It was pushed against a wall and accessible only on the left side.
It also featured a roll-in shower with grab bars, as well as a sturdy wall-mounted shower seat.
The bathroom sink was small, but accessible. The mirror was angled for better visibility. A toilet with grab bars on the adjacent walls was provided.
My stay at Hotel Ibis Rio de Janeiro Centro was a positive one, and I would definitely stay there again. The hotel is accessible, affordable and very well located.
To research room rates or to make a booking at the Ibis Rio de Janeiro Centro, visit the Accor Hotels website.
JW Marriott Hotel Rio de Janeiro
The JW Marriott Hotel Rio de Janeiro is located on Copacabana Beach between lifeguard posts 3 and 4. It is right at the center of the action.
The sidewalks along the beach and in front of the hotel are wheelchair accessible. Numerous city bus routes operate along nearby streets, and the wheelchair accessible Siqueira Campos metro station is less than one kilometer away.
The king size bed measured 26 inches from the floor to the top of the mattress, with 5 inches of clearance underneath. The space between the bed and the wall on either side was 20 inches, insufficient to accommodate my wheelchair. Wheelchair access is possible only to the foot of the bed.
The bathroom was even less accessible. There was very little space and the sink countertop prevented my wheelchair from rolling underneath.guest room was spacious, but the bathroom was cramped.
The roll-in shower had no built-in seat or handheld showerhead, but did have grab bars. The hotel’s only shower chair was on wheels with fixed armrests, and its seating area was a toilet seat. Due to the chair’s instability and fixed armrests, I was unable to transfer into it and could not use the shower.
The toilet was more accessible, with a grab bar that could be raised or lowered.
Without significant accessibility improvements, I would not personally be able to stay at the JW Marriott again. I hope this luxury property carrying a U.S. brand name will make the necessary investment to serve all guests equally.
Novotel Rio de Janeiro Leme
To research room rates or to make a booking at the Novotel Rio de Janeiro Lime, visit the Accor Hotels website.
Novotel Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont
The Novotel RJ Santos Dumont hotel is located near the city’s Santos Dumont Airport. A short walk away from the Santos Dumont tram station, the hotel is well connected to the center of the city — it’s easy to reach many of the top attractions in Rio, including the Municipal Theater, the Museum of Art and the Museum of the Future. The hotel is affordable, comfortable and accessible, and it’s a place I’ll consider staying on future trips to Rio de Janeiro.
Here are some measurements of the room features:
- Bed height to top of mattress — 22 inches
- Clear space under bed — 5 inches
- Sink height; free space under sink — 31 inches; 26 inches
- Toilet seat height — 16 inches
- Toilet grab bar height — 35.5 inches
- Shower seat height — 17.5 inches
- Shower grab bar height — 30.5 inches
To research room rates or to make a booking at the Novotel RJ Santos Dumont, visit the Accor Hotels website.
Sheraton Grand Rio de Janeiro Hotel & Resort
The Sheraton Grand Rio Hotel & Resort is located just beyond Ipanema Beach. The hotel is a mid-tier property, with accessible guest rooms and a swimming pool with a portable lift for disabled people. Featuring a number of delicious restaurants, the Sheraton Grand is a great choice if you’d like enjoy a relaxing resort atmosphere while still having access to the beach and the city.
Here are some measurements of the room features:
- Bed height to top of mattress — 26 inches
- Clear space under bed — 5 inches
- Sink height; free space under sink — 34 inches; 27 inches
- Toilet seat height — 18 inches
- Toilet grab bar height — 32 inches
- Shower seat height — Portable chair with several height settings
- Shower grab bar height — 30.5 inches
To research room rates or to make a booking at the Sheraton Grand Rio de Janeiro, visit the hotel website.
If you decide to stay at a hotel not listed here, be sure to ask questions about everything—door width, thresholds, shower/tub set-up, bed height, grab bars, shower chairs—to avoid a surprise when you arrive.
