Neighborhood 48H guide

São Conrado: Where to Stay & What to Do in 48 Hours

Hang-gliders over the beach and Niemeyer’s Hotel Nacional.

Pedra Bonita launch ramp
Photo: Filipo tardim · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Between Leblon and Barra, São Conrado is a small beach district under Pedra Bonita and Pedra da Gávea, where hang-gliders land on Praia do Pepino; Oscar Niemeyer’s round Hotel Nacional tower stands by the sea.

Photo gallery

Why stay here

Hang-gliding and hiking with a beach on the doorstep.

Who it's for: Adventure seekers and those wanting a quiet resort base.

Pros

  • Hang-gliding
  • Hiking
  • Quiet beach

Cons

  • Far from sights
  • Few restaurants
  • Traffic

48H in São Conrado

Hang-gliders over the beach and Niemeyer’s Hotel Nacional.

  1. 08:00 – Pedra Bonita

    Hike or fly tandem.

  2. 12:00 – Praia do Pepino

    Watch the landings.

Named recommendations

Real places with links to their official site or a Maps place page. We do not invent hours, prices, or ratings.

Outdoors

  • Pedra Bonita launch ramp

    Outdoors

    Pedra Bonita

    Tijuca National Park

    Short trail in Tijuca National Park to the hang-gliding ramp with views over São Conrado; flights depend on weather.

    Photo: Filipo tardim · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
    Official site / map →

  • Outdoors

    Praia do Pepino

    Avenida Prefeito Mendes de Morais

    Beach where hang-gliders and paragliders land; go before 9 am for calm.

    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".

Vacation rentals

Prefer an apartment or whole home in this neighborhood? Browse Vrbo listings for São Conrado.

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 São Conrado on Vrbo →

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