Neighborhood 48H guide
Ipanema & Arpoador: Where to Stay & What to Do in 48 Hours
Posto 9, the Sunday hippie fair and the Arpoador sunset.
Ipanema is Rio’s most stylish beach neighbourhood, with Posto 9, leafy streets of cafés and boutiques, and the Sunday Feira Hippie; at its eastern end the rock of Arpoador draws crowds to applaud the sunset.
Photo gallery
Photo: Wilfredor · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Deniltonlima · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Why stay here
Beach, dining and safety, with the metro at General Osório.
Who it's for: Style-conscious travellers and sunset seekers.
Pros
- Beach
- Dining
- Sunsets
Cons
- Pricey
- Busy weekends
- Beach theft
48H in Ipanema & Arpoador
Posto 9, the Sunday hippie fair and the Arpoador sunset.
09:00 – Ipanema beach
Settle in near Posto 9.
11:00 – Feira Hippie
Sundays at Praça General Osório.
17:00 – Pedra do Arpoador
Applaud the sunset.
Named recommendations
Real places with links to their official site or a Maps place page. We do not invent hours, prices, or ratings.
Shop
Shop
Feira Hippie de Ipanema
Praça General Osório
Sunday crafts and art market in Praça General Osório.
Official site / map →
Sunrise / sunset
Sunrise / sunset
Pedra do Arpoador
Arpoador
Rocky point between Ipanema and Copacabana, famous for sunsets.
Photo: Deniltonlima · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons Official site / map →
Where to stay
Specific named properties—not vague city-wide searches. Expedia stays use tracked Creator links; others open the hotel's official site.
Roam48 may earn a commission when you book a stay through Expedia or Vrbo links on this page, at no extra cost to you. All commercial stay links use rel="sponsored nofollow".
Hotel · Expedia
Hotel Fasano Rio de Janeiro
Avenida Vieira Souto
Philippe Starck-designed hotel with a rooftop infinity pool.
Check rates on Expedia →Hotel · Expedia
Hotel Arpoador
Arpoador
Beachfront hotel on the Arpoador boardwalk.
Check rates on Expedia →
Vacation rentals
Prefer an apartment or whole home in this neighborhood? Browse Vrbo listings for Ipanema & Arpoador.
Brazil’s tenancy law allows furnished holiday lets of up to 90 days, and Rio has no city rental permit yet (a registration bill was filed in 2026). In May 2026 Brazil’s Superior Court of Justice ruled that apartments in residential-only condominium buildings need the condominium’s approval before being offered on short-stay platforms. Before booking on Vrbo, check that the building allows short stays.
Browse vacation rentals in Ipanema & Arpoador on Vrbo →Other ways to spend 48 hours in Rio de Janeiro
- Copacabana — The famous beach, the promenade and the fort.
- Leblon & the Lagoa — Upscale beach life, the Botanical Garden and Parque Lage.
- Botafogo & Urca — Sugarloaf and views of the bay.
- Centro — The Museu do Amanhã, Confeitaria Colombo and the old city.
- Lapa & Santa Teresa — The Selarón steps, the arches and the tram.
- Barra da Tijuca — Long beaches, surf and the Cidade das Artes.
- São Conrado — Hang-gliders over the beach and Niemeyer’s Hotel Nacional.