Novotel RJ Santos Dumont is built for efficient travel. It stands at Rua Marechal Camara 300 in Centro, a three-minute drive from Santos Dumont, the domestic airport on Guanabara Bay, and within walking distance of the old centre. The hotel lists 149 rooms, an on-site restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner, a bar and lounge, and a twenty-four-hour gym, along with a billiards table. It has no swimming pool. Free wifi is listed at more than 100 Mbps in the rooms, there is valet parking for a daily fee, and breakfast is a paid buffet. The property holds Green Key certification and is non-smoking, and it describes itself as welcoming to LGBTQ+ travellers. The location is the point. The booking page places Flamengo Park five minutes on foot, the Municipal Theatre eight, the Museum of Modern Art eleven and the Arcos da Lapa sixteen, with the Antonio Carlos and Santos Dumont tram stops close by. The booking page also names the National Library and the Selaron Steps as being nearby, within a short ride. Guests rate it 8.6 from about a thousand reviews, praising the staff, cleanliness and airport proximity, while complaining of weak wifi in some rooms, noise from the nearby airport and the surrounding streets after dark. Check-in begins at three, check-out is before noon, and the booking page notes that cards only are accepted.
Choosing it
This is a convenience hotel, for early flights, short stopovers, business stays in Centro and trips that centre on the historic core, the theatre district and Lapa. If you are arriving from Sao Paulo or another domestic city, you can be in your room within minutes of landing. For beach time, plan a ride-hailing journey to Copacabana or Ipanema, as this part of Centro is quiet at night and on Sundays.
What the stay is like
Modern, tidy and efficient, with a restaurant that guests rate unevenly and a lobby bar that is handy for a nightcap. Some reviewers mention noise from planes and from the roads, so ask for a higher floor or a room facing away from the airport, and some report towel and iron requests taking time.
Children up to sixteen can stay free in existing beds, though cribs and rollaway beds are not available, and one pet up to thirty-three pounds is accepted in limited rooms for a nightly fee. The museums, theatres and old streets are a pleasant walk in daytime, and ride-hailing is the sensible choice after dark.
Who it suits
Business travellers, early-flight passengers, culture seekers who want to walk to the Municipal Theatre and the museums, and budget-conscious visitors who prefer a reliable chain to a beachfront premium. Compared with the beach hotels on this site, it trades sea views and a pool for convenience and price. Pair it with the Museum of Tomorrow and the Theatro Municipal tour, both a short ride away, and consider adding a night on the beach before you fly home.
Why stay here
- ✓Three-minute drive to Santos Dumont airport
- ✓24-hour gym
- ✓On-site restaurant and bar-lounge
- ✓Free wifi over 100 Mbps in rooms
- ✓Buffet breakfast available
- ✓Valet parking
- ✓Green Key certified
- ✓Meeting rooms and 24-hour front desk
Good questions
How close is Novotel RJ Santos Dumont to the airport?+
The hotel lists Santos Dumont airport as a three-minute drive. It also lists Flamengo Park as five minutes on foot and the Municipal Theatre as eight.
Does it have a pool?+
No. The hotel lists a 24-hour gym, a restaurant and a bar and lounge but no swimming pool.
Is breakfast included?+
No. A buffet breakfast is available for a fee, listed at BRL 72 for adults and BRL 36 for children.
