Discover 10 historic hotels in Brazil that are worth a visit – 01/10/2024 – Tourism

Among the hundreds of hotels spread across our territory, some are special because they help tell the story of Brazilian tourism or even the country itself.

In the fifth chapter of the series about 100 incredible hotels in Brazil, Sheet rescues ten emblematic accommodations that marked the trajectory of our hotel industry—some with not-so-prohibitive daily rates.

Fera Palace Hotel
Since 1934 on the first street in Brazil, this mansion was synonymous with the height of luxury in Bahia, but was abandoned for a long time. In 2017, after a restoration, it returned with elegance worthy of its golden era — including the Dona Flor salon, formerly a casino where Vadinho, from “Dona Flor and her Two Husbands”, played his games. In addition to its art deco charm, today Fera stands out for its gastronomy and rooftop, with a swimming pool, lounge bar and a view of Todos os Santos Bay.
Rua Chile, 20, historic center, Salvador (BA). Daily rates from R$ 1,414 at ferahoteis.com

Brasilia Palace Hotel
Next to Catetinho and Alvorada, this hotel, also designed by Niemeyer, was one of the first built in the Central Plateau. Opened in 1958, almost two years before Brasília, it welcomed architects and engineers who worked on the construction of the new capital. At the end of the 1970s, a fire destroyed the hotel, which remained closed until 2005, when it was completely restored with its original features, such as modernist furniture and works by Athos Bulcão.
North Hotels and Tourism Sector, Section 01, Cj. 01, Brasília (DF). Daily rates from R$409 at plazabrasilia.com.br/brasiliapalace

Grande Hotel Araxa
In the late 1930s, President Getúlio Vargas wanted to establish the government’s presence in the Triângulo Mineiro. He then decided to build a monumental hotel in Araxá, already famous for its naturally hot and radioactive waters. With landscaping by Burle Marx, it opened in 1944, closed a few decades later and reopened in 2001. But it was only in 2022 that the hotel returned to its golden age, reclaiming its vocation for relaxation and therapies for guests — with some suites still fully preserved.
R. Águas do Araxá, s/n, Araxá (MG). Daily rates from R$ 1,267 at grandehotelaraxa.com

Hotel Solar do Rosário
The beautiful mansion in front of one of the most original baroque churches in the country — Nossa Senhora do Rosário dos Pretos — opened its doors in 1840, shortly after Vila Rica became Ouro Preto. When the capital moved to BH in 1897, the building became a warehouse, only resuming hotel activities in the 1980s, when Unesco recognized the city as a world heritage site. In 2007, the hotel was completely restored, giving your stay a taste of time travel.
R. Getúlio Vargas, 27, Ouro Preto (MG). Daily rates from R$577 at hotelsolardorosario.com

Hotel Caxambu
Still in Brazil Empire, the waters of Caxambu, today considered one of the purest in the world, already attracted many tourists to the region — whose main attraction is Parque das Águas, with fountains that pay homage to Princess Isabel and other names of the time. No wonder, it is in this small city of 20 thousand inhabitants that the oldest hotel in the country is located, opened in 1884 and in continuous operation in the same preserved colonial building from 140 years ago.
R. Major Penha, 145, Caxambu (MG). Daily rates from R$ 177 on Whatsapp (35)98871-3680. @hotelcaxambuoficial

Empire Manor
Joaquim Antonio Passos would have earned the title of commander of Princess Isabel thanks to the fact that she was enchanted by this neoclassical palace built in 1875, when Petrópolis was the summer capital of the empire. First renovated in 2005 and again in 2019, the building is listed and preserves the foundation of its original features, so guests truly feel like they are sleeping like a king or queen.
Av. Koeler, 376, Petrópolis (RJ). Daily rates from R$817 at solardoimperio.com.br

National Hotel
Those arriving in São Conrado, in Rio de Janeiro, via Av. Niemeyer comes face to face with a 34-story cylindrical tower — designed precisely by the architect who gives the avenue its name, with gardens created by his friend Burle Marx. It was there that, two years after the inauguration, in 1974, Elis Regina and Tom Jobim released a joint LP, one of the most emblematic of Brazilian music, in a theater that has also hosted Liza Minnelli and BB King. In 1995, the hotel closed and welcomed guests again in 2016, with an asset that only it has: one of the best views of the city, whether of the sea or the mountains.
Av. Niemeyer, 769, Rio de Janeiro (RJ). Daily rates from R$588 at hotelnacionalriodejaneiro.com

Copacabana Palace
Perhaps the most famous Brazilian hotel was opened in 1923, when Copacabana was still practically deserted. In a hundred years, the neighborhood became one of the busiest in Rio and, during all that time, Copa remained there, hosting illustrious names such as Princess Diana, Santos Dumont, Walt Disney, Madonna, Nelson Mandela, Brigitte Bardot and others — making it not only a hotspot for the rich and famous, but a character in Rio’s history. Read more about Copacabana Palace here.
Av. Atlântica, 1,702, Rio de Janeiro (RJ). Daily rates from R$2,200 at belmond.com

Tangará Palace
In the 1950s, Baby Pignatari, heir to the Matarazzo family, invited Niemeyer and Burle Marx to design the largest mansion in Morumbi, with an immense garden in honor of his girlfriend. The novel ended long before the work, only the gardens went as planned, and everything was abandoned for a long time. In the 1990s, the idea of ​​building a hotel there emerged, opening in 2017 as one of the most luxurious in the country — a title still held today.
R. Dep. Laércio Corte, 1,501, São Paulo (SP). Daily rates from R$3,500 at oetkercollection.com

Hotel das Cataratas
Opened in October 1958, the hotel was even part of the Varig hotel chain, but today it is managed by the luxury empire of LVMH, owner of Louis Vuitton. In addition to a comfortable, sophisticated stay that values ​​service, it offers guests exclusive activities and access, such as walks through Iguaçu Park at sunrise, before visitors begin to arrive. At full moon, when everyone is gone, you can still observe the lunar rainbow, a phenomenon that only exists in places like the falls.
Rod. BR 469, Km 32, Foz do Iguaçu (PR). Daily rates from R$3,900 at belmond.com