Your stay — Mercure
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The Property — Mercure
The Mercure Niterói is a reliable business‑class hotel perched on the edge of São Francisco Bay, offering clean, chain‑standard rooms and a rooftop pool with a direct view of Rio’s Sugarloaf Mountain. Its lobby is bright and functional—white marble floors, a small bar, and the quiet hum of corporate guests checking in. The USP is location: you’re a short walk from the bayfront promenade and ferries to Rio, but far enough away from the Carnival crush. Best for travellers who want the Rio skyline without the Rio prices and who value practicality over character.
Chronicles of Niteroi
Niterói was founded in 1573 by the Temiminó tribe and later colonised by the Portuguese; it became the state capital of Rio de Janeiro in 1834, a status it held until 1975. Architecturally, the city is defined by Oscar Niemeyer’s flying‑saucer Contemporary Art Museum (MAC), completed in 1996 and now a symbol of Niterói’s modern identity. After the 2016 Olympics, the city underwent a surge in waterfront redevelopment, including the new Caminho Niemeyer cultural corridor. Today it retains a quieter, more residential feel than Rio, with a strong middle‑class and student population drawn by its beaches and cheaper housing.
Best Time to Visit
Full Niteroi guide →Best months
April–June: post‑summer sun with lower humidity, fewer tourists, and water temperatures still warm enough for swimming at Icarahy Beach.
Peak / festival surge
December–February is high season, driven by Rio’s New Year’s Eve (Réveillon) and Carnival. Hotel prices in Niterói can double as visitors spill over from Rio; book months ahead. The city itself hosts blocos (street parties) but feels less chaotic than Rio’s centre.
Budget shoulder season
March and November offer mild weather and the lowest rates; the Carnival hangover in March empties hotels, while November’s spring rains keep crowds thin but days mostly sunny.
Weather & packing
Niterói sits on Guanabara Bay, which traps warm, humid air year‑round, so even in July you’ll get 25°C afternoons. Pack light layers—a thin cardigan for air‑conditioned spaces and a compact rain jacket for sudden evening showers.
Live City Briefing — Niteroi
- The ferry terminal to Rio’s Praça XV has resumed full service after a brief strike in May 2025; check for reduced schedules on weekends.
- Niterói’s new bike‑share system, Bike Niterói, has expanded to 30 stations, with a dedicated lane along the São Francisco waterfront—an easy way to reach MAC.
- In July 2026, the city hosts the annual Festival de Inverno (Winter Festival) at the MAC, with free outdoor concerts on weekends—expect some road closures around the museum from 16:00.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Mercure, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 4th or 5th floor facing away from the main street (Rua da Conceição or similar). These upper floors reduce street noise and offer a calmer stay.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on floors 1-3, especially those facing the street. The lift lobby on the ground and first floors can be noisy, and lower rooms pick up traffic and foot traffic from the coastal road.
Best views
Ask for a room with a Guanabara Bay view (southwest-facing). These rooms overlook the water and Sugarloaf Mountain, with less traffic noise than the city-facing side.
Quietest floors
Floors 4 and 5 are the quietest at Mercure Niteroi, farther from the street and lift activity.
🔊 Noise notes
Niteroi's main road along the coast carries heavy traffic, including buses, during peak hours (7-9am, 5-7pm). The hotel's location near the ferry terminal adds pedestrian and taxi noise at ground level.
Insider tips
1. Mercure Niteroi has paid parking (approx. R$25/day) in a secure garage; book a space at check-in to avoid street parking. 2. Request a room on the bay-facing side when booking—it's worth the upgrade for the view and quieter nights.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Mercure
Free unlimited Wi-Fi for all guests, speeds around 25 Mbps down/10 Mbps up. No login required – just accept terms on the landing page.
One lift serves all 8 floors, including the ground-floor lobby and rooftop pool area. No stairs-only sections.
Complimentary digital access to PressReader via hotel iPads at the lobby. No physical newspapers. The hotel is a modern tower, but the lobby incorporates a small exhibition of Niterói’s colonial heritage.
Standard check-in from 14:00. Early bag drop is complimentary from 10:00 if room not ready. Late check-out until 12:00 is free; after 12:00 a fee of 50% of the night rate applies, subject to availability.
Complimentary storage at reception for early arrival or post-check-out, not locked but supervised.
Step-free access via a ramp at the main entrance. One accessible guest room with wider doors and grab rails in the bathroom. No lift to the basement parking – ground-level access only from the street.
On-site paid parking: R$ 25,00 per night (unsupervised, 30 spaces). Nearest public car park: 'Estacionamento Rua da Conceição' at Rua da Conceição, 200, R$ 15,00 per night (open 24h, 50m walk). No EV charging available.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: R$ 5,00 per room per night (mandatory municipal tax, collected at check-in)
Deposit & card hold: A credit card pre-authorisation of R$ 200,00 is taken at check-in for incidentals; no advance deposit is required for standard bookings.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Sociedade Espírita Fraternidade (524 m · ~7 min walk)
- Church: Igreja de São Domingos de Gusmão (680 m · ~9 min walk)
- Place of worship: Igreja De Nossa Senhora de Fátima (698 m · ~9 min walk)
- Church: Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem (1.2 km · ~15 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Plaza Shopping — 1.7 km · ~21 min walk
Praça Duque de Caxias — 197 m · ~2 min walk
Museu Janete Costa de Arte Popular — 922 m · ~12 min walk
Sala Nelson Pereira dos Santos — 822 m · ~10 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Diretorio Academico de Engenharia de Telecomunicações — 504 m · ~6 min walk
Drogarias Mirafarma — 989 m · ~12 min walk
Praça Arariboia — 1.8 km · ~23 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Brazilian Real, BRL
Use ATMs from major banks like Itaú or Bradesco for the best rates; avoid exchange at airports or tourist bureaux due to poor rates and high fees.
Credit and debit cards widely accepted in supermarkets, restaurants, and shops, especially Visa and Mastercard; contactless payments common; cash needed for small vendors and street food.
10% service charge often added to restaurant bills (if not, rounding up is fine); no tip expected for taxis; hotel staff: 2-5 BRL per bag for porters, small amount for housekeeping.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A strong espresso or 'pingado' (coffee with milk) from a bakery or juice bar costs about 4-7 BRL.
A prato feito (set meal of rice, beans, meat and salad) at a budget restaurant costs around 18-25 BRL.
A main dish like a simple pizza or grilled fish at a casual local eatery runs 25-35 BRL.
Cheap eats are common around the city centre (Centro) and along Avenida Amaral Peixoto, with pastéis, coxinhas, and tapioca stands.
Supermarket chains like Supermarket Guanabara, Atacadão, and Extra are common in the area.
Shopping for affordable clothes is typical at the Centro market stalls and Rua São João for budget streetwear.
The cheapest way to get around is by local bus (4.25 BRL per ride) or by using the municipal bike-share system; from the airport (Rio de Janeiro-Galeão), take the bus to Niterói via the Rio-Niterói bridge for about 15 BRL.
Avoid taxis; use frequent buses and the barca ferry to Rio (6.50 BRL one-way). Eat at lunchtime for set meal deals (prato feito) which are cheaper than dinner. Buy groceries from local supermarkets and cook if you have a kitchen.
Good to know — Niteroi
Type C/N · 127/220V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ R$5.12 · BRL
Emergency Contacts
NiteroiIf you are in Niterói, call 190 for police, 192 for ambulance, 193 for fire. For non-urgent civil police, dial 197; for tourist help, try the state tourist police at (21) 2332-9900. Save these numbers on your phone before you arrive.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Niteroi, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Mercure
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Diretorio Academico de Engenharia de Telecomunicações — 504 m · ~6 min walk — pharmacy · Drogarias Mirafarma — 989 m · ~12 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Aeroporto Santos Dumont (SDU) + taxi to Praça XV → Praça XV (Rio centro) → Praça Arariboia (Niterói)
💡 Only worth it if you're arriving at Santos Dumont. The ferry crossing is stunning — aim for sunset around 17:00. From Praça Arariboia, it's a 5-min taxi to Hotel Fagundes Varela.
Hotel Fagundes Varela, Niterói (Rua da Conceição stop) → Centro do Rio (Castelo stop near Avenida Rio Branco)
💡 Sit on the left-hand side for views of Guanabara Bay over the bridge. This bus is a lifeline for commuters — avoid 07:00-09:00 and 17:00-19:00 when it's packed.
Aeroporto Internacional do Galeão (GIG) → Hotel Fagundes Varela, Niterói (near Rua da Conceição)
💡 Catch the bus to Terminal Rodoviário de Niterói, then it's a 10-min walk. Avoid this route if you have heavy luggage — the walk from the terminal to the hotel is uphill.
Aeroporto Internacional do Galeão (GIG) → Hotel Fagundes Varela, Niterói
💡 Uber is cheaper than regular taxi, but surge pricing spikes after 22:00. If you land late, negotiate a fixed price with a taxi driver at the GIG arrivals hall.
About Niteroi
Wikipedia ↗
Niterói (English: NEE-tə-ROY, NIT-ə-ROY, Brazilian Portuguese: [niteˈɾɔj]) is a municipality in the state of Rio de Janeiro, in the southeast region of Brazil. It lies across Guanabara Bay, facing the city of Rio de Janeiro and forming part of the Rio de Janeiro Metropolitan Area. It was the capita...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Mercure?
Request a room on the 4th or 5th floor facing away from the main street (Rua da Conceição or similar). These upper floors reduce street noise and offer a calmer stay.
Which rooms should I avoid at Mercure?
Avoid rooms on floors 1-3, especially those facing the street. The lift lobby on the ground and first floors can be noisy, and lower rooms pick up traffic and foot traffic from the coastal road.
Is Mercure noisy?
Niteroi's main road along the coast carries heavy traffic, including buses, during peak hours (7-9am, 5-7pm). The hotel's location near the ferry terminal adds pedestrian and taxi noise at ground level.
Which rooms have the best views at Mercure?
Ask for a room with a Guanabara Bay view (southwest-facing). These rooms overlook the water and Sugarloaf Mountain, with less traffic noise than the city-facing side.
What are insider tips for staying at Mercure?
1. Mercure Niteroi has paid parking (approx. R$25/day) in a secure garage; book a space at check-in to avoid street parking. 2. Request a room on the bay-facing side when booking—it's worth the upgrade for the view and quieter nights.
What time is check-in at Mercure?
Check-in at Mercure is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Mercure have Wi-Fi?
Free unlimited Wi-Fi for all guests, speeds around 25 Mbps down/10 Mbps up. No login required – just accept terms on the landing page.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Mercure?
R$ 5,00 per room per night (mandatory municipal tax, collected at check-in)
Where can I eat cheaply near Mercure?
A prato feito (set meal of rice, beans, meat and salad) at a budget restaurant costs around 18-25 BRL.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Mercure?
The cheapest way to get around is by local bus (4.25 BRL per ride) or by using the municipal bike-share system; from the airport (Rio de Janeiro-Galeão), take the bus to Niterói via the Rio-Niterói bridge for about 15 BRL.
When is the best time to visit Niteroi?
April–June: post‑summer sun with lower humidity, fewer tourists, and water temperatures still warm enough for swimming at Icarahy Beach.
Top Attractions in Niteroi
💡 Best visited on weekdays to dodge the weekend crush. Grab a coconut water from a kiosk (about 5 BRL) and watch the sun set over the Sugarloaf.
💡 Start at the Teatro Popular around 16:00 and walk west—you’ll catch the buildings in golden light and end at the MAC for sunset. No entry fees at any of the outdoor spaces.
💡 Free entry on Wednesdays. Go mid-afternoon for the best light and fewer crowds; the sun hits the bay perfectly for photos.
💡 Wear decent trainers for the steep climb; you can drive up if you have a car. Best at late afternoon for the sunset—bring water, as there are no drink stalls near the top.
💡 Entry costs about 2 BRL. Arrive before 11:00 to avoid heat; the shade is scant. Check the schedule—sometimes it’s closed for military drills on weekends.