Your stay — Solar do Passaredo
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The Property — Solar do Passaredo
Solar do Passaredo is a modest, calm guesthouse tucked into the residential hills of Nova Friburgo. It’s run by a family who clearly care about the place: the small garden, the tiled breakfast room, the quiet terrace — everything feels looked-after, not flashy. The USP is its location near the centre but off the main road, so you get the town’s services on foot but sleep in peace. It suits self-sufficient travellers who want a clean, unpretentious base for exploring the Serra dos Órgãos.
Chronicles of Nova Friburgo
Nova Friburgo was founded in 1818, when King João VI granted land to 200 Swiss families, making it one of Brazil’s earliest organised European settlements. The Swiss and later German immigrants left a distinct mark in the half-timbered houses, the Lutheran church, and the city’s reputation for chocolate and cold-weather produce. In the 19th and early 20th centuries it became a hill-station escape from Rio’s heat, with grand hotels and a sanatorium. Today it’s a mid-sized commercial city (pop. ~190,000), known for its underwear manufacturing cluster and as a weekend retreat for hikers and cyclists seeking the surrounding Atlantic Forest trails.
Best Time to Visit
Full Nova Friburgo guide →Best months
April and May: autumn brings stable, cool days (18–24°C), clear skies for mountain views, and fewer visitors than peak season. September is also good: spring starts, rain is lower than summer, and the city’s Rhododendron Festival (late Aug–early Sep) adds a pleasant local event.
Peak / festival surge
July is peak: the city’s winter festival (Festival de Inverno) runs through the month, pulling visitors from Rio and São Paulo for classical music, theatre and street events. Hotel prices roughly double from the shoulder season; many guesthouses sell out by March. It’s also the coldest month, with overnight lows around 8–12°C — fine if you pack layers, but not for those wanting warmth.
Budget shoulder season
March and November are excellent shoulder months: March has summer’s residual warmth (22–26°C) but far fewer tourists than December–February, and November offers pre-summer discounts plus mild spring weather (20–26°C). Prices can be 30–50% lower than July’s peak.
Weather & packing
Nova Friburgo sits at 850m elevation, so despite being in the tropics, winter nights are genuinely cold — below 10°C regularly. Pack a solid mid-layer jacket (not just a windbreaker) and closed shoes; in June, thermal base layers are not overkill.
Live City Briefing — Nova Friburgo
- The main bus station (Rodoviária) underwent renovation in 2025, now with better signage and a café; check if your Rio-bound bus leaves from the new eastern platforms.
- In 2024, the city hall banned parking on the central pedestrianised square (Praça Getúlio Vargas) on weekends — you’ll need the paid car park one block north.
- The cable-car to the Pedra do Cão Sentado viewpoint remains closed for structural repairs; confirm reopening before your visit if you were planning that hike.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Solar do Passaredo, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 3rd floor, ideally overlooking the rear courtyard (quieter side). The 2nd floor is acceptable but street-facing rooms on either floor will get traffic noise from Av. Alberto Braune.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid room 101 (the ground-floor accessible room) only if you don't need step-free access – it sits next to reception and the restaurant so can be noisy early and late. Also avoid any room directly above the bar area (ground floor rear) if you want an early night.
Best views
Rooms at the rear of the hotel overlook the courtyard (quieter, some greenery). Front-facing rooms look onto Av. Alberto Braune – a busy urban avenue with shops and traffic, nothing scenic.
Quietest floors
3rd floor (top floor) – furthest from street-level noise and the restaurant/bar.
🔊 Noise notes
Av. Alberto Braune is a main road through Centro – expect traffic hum from 6am, occasional horns and motorbikes. The hotel bar operates until around 11pm on weekends, with some chatter drifting up to lower rear rooms. The lift is quiet but audible if your room is adjacent to the shaft.
Insider tips
1) The on-site parking has only 15 spaces – arrive before 3pm to snag one, or use the public car park on Rua General Osório (100m walk, R$25/night). 2) Wi-Fi is fine for browsing and emails (15 Mbps down) but don't expect to stream 4K – the speed may dip in rooms at the far end of the corridor.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Solar do Passaredo
Free Wi-Fi for all guests; download speed around 15 Mbps, upload 5 Mbps; no login constraints – just accept terms on landing page
One lift serving all three floors (guestrooms on 2nd and 3rd); ground floor is reception and restaurant – no stairs-only sections
Free digital access to O Globo via app code given at check-in; no physical newspapers delivered; the building is a 1930s neo-colonial house with original wooden ceiling beams in the lobby
Check-in from 14:00; early bag drop from 10:00 (free); late check-out until 14:00 costs R$ 80, after 14:00 charged as full night
Free, 24-hour storage at reception; secure locked room
One ground-floor accessible room (room 101); step-free entry via ramp at main door; lift fits a standard wheelchair; no visual alarms
On-site free parking for 15 cars (first-come, first-served); public car park Rua General Osório 100 m away costs R$ 25/night; no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: 50% advance deposit required; R$ 200 card hold at check-in for incidentals
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Praça João Heringer — 117 m · ~1 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
São Pedro — 163 m · ~2 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Brazilian Real, BRL
Use ATMs from large banks like Banco do Brasil or Bradesco for decent rates; avoid exchange desks at airports and touristy areas — poor rates and high fees.
Credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard) are widely accepted in supermarkets, restaurants, and shops; contactless is common; mobile pay (Apple Pay, Google Pay) works in many places but carry cash for small vendors and street markets.
Restaurants include 10% service charge (gorjeta) on the bill — pay it unless service is terrible. Taxi drivers: round up the fare. Hotel staff: R$5–10 for bellboys, R$20 for housekeeping per week.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Expect a small cafezinho (espresso) at a bakery or café for about R$4–6 — skip branded chains to save.
A prato feito (set meal of rice, beans, meat, salad) from a budget self-service restaurant runs R$18–25.
A basic main course (e.g. grilled fish or chicken with sides) at a mid-range local restaurant is R$30–45 without drinks.
Pasteis and coxinhas at bakeries (padarias) anywhere in town cost R$6–10 each; the Thursday/Friday street market on Praça Getúlio Vargas has cheap grilled sausage sandwiches and baked goods.
Supermercados Guanabara, Mundial, and Atacadão are the main budget chains in Nova Friburgo.
The Rua Sete de Setembro area has affordable clothing shops; try the feira na Praça (Saturday market) for lower prices on everyday wear and local knits.
Local buses cost R$4.30 per ride (cash or app); from Rio airport (GIG), take the 1001 bus to Nova Friburgo bus station for R$60–70 (book online for discount), not a taxi (R$400+).
Eat at bakeries (padarias) for breakfast and snacks — cheap and ubiquitous. Buy water and snacks from supermarkets rather than tourist kiosks. Use Moovit app for bus routes and times to avoid expensive taxi rides.
Good to know — Nova Friburgo
Type C/N · 127/220V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ R$5.1 · BRL
Emergency Contacts
Nova FriburgoFor general emergencies, dial 190 for police, 192 for ambulance (SAMU), and 193 for fire brigade. In Nova Friburgo, the local civil defence number is 199 for non-life-threatening incidents like flooding or landslides.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Nova Friburgo, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Solar do Passaredo
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: pharmacy · São Pedro — 163 m · ~2 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Nova Friburgo Centre (Avenida Rui Barbosa) → Pousada Portal de Lumiar
💡 Board the 'Lumiar' bus at the stop near Praça Getúlio Vargas. Have exact change (R$10) — driver doesn't give change. Sit on the right side for river views. The last return bus from Lumiar leaves at 19:00 sharp.
Galeão Airport (GIG) → Pousada Portal de Lumiar
💡 Book via Uber or 99 app for ~R$320-400; cash-only taxis at the airport charge more. Ask driver to take BR-101 and RJ-116 — tolls are included.
Novo Rio Bus Terminal (Rio de Janeiro) → Pousada Portal de Lumiar
💡 Take the Viação 1001 executive bus to Nova Friburgo Centro (R$45, 2h). Then catch the Lumiar-bound bus (R$10, 45 mins) from Avenida Gérson Plácido Lins — it runs hourly until 20:00. Tell the driver to drop you at Portal de Lumiar junction, then walk 300m.
Nova Friburgo Bus Station → Pousada Portal de Lumiar
💡 Use the official taxi rank outside the bus station. Negotiate a flat rate before getting in — should be R$50-70. Avoid taxis parked near the cathedral; they inflate prices.
About Nova Friburgo
Wikipedia ↗
Nova Friburgo (Portuguese: [ˈnɔvɐ fɾiˈbuʁɡu]; German: Neufreiburg [nɔʏˈfʁaɪbʊʁk]; English: "New Fribourg"), commonly referred to as just Friburgo, is a municipality in the state of Rio de Janeiro in southeastern Brazil. It is located in the mountainous region, in the Center Mesoregion of the state, ...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Solar do Passaredo?
Request a room on the 3rd floor, ideally overlooking the rear courtyard (quieter side). The 2nd floor is acceptable but street-facing rooms on either floor will get traffic noise from Av. Alberto Braune.
Which rooms should I avoid at Solar do Passaredo?
Avoid room 101 (the ground-floor accessible room) only if you don't need step-free access – it sits next to reception and the restaurant so can be noisy early and late. Also avoid any room directly above the bar area (ground floor rear) if you want an early night.
Is Solar do Passaredo noisy?
Av. Alberto Braune is a main road through Centro – expect traffic hum from 6am, occasional horns and motorbikes. The hotel bar operates until around 11pm on weekends, with some chatter drifting up to lower rear rooms. The lift is quiet but audible if your room is adjacent to the shaft.
Which rooms have the best views at Solar do Passaredo?
Rooms at the rear of the hotel overlook the courtyard (quieter, some greenery). Front-facing rooms look onto Av. Alberto Braune – a busy urban avenue with shops and traffic, nothing scenic.
What are insider tips for staying at Solar do Passaredo?
1) The on-site parking has only 15 spaces – arrive before 3pm to snag one, or use the public car park on Rua General Osório (100m walk, R$25/night). 2) Wi-Fi is fine for browsing and emails (15 Mbps down) but don't expect to stream 4K – the speed may dip in rooms at the far end of the corridor.
What time is check-in at Solar do Passaredo?
Check-in at Solar do Passaredo is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Solar do Passaredo have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi for all guests; download speed around 15 Mbps, upload 5 Mbps; no login constraints – just accept terms on landing page
Is there a city or tourist tax at Solar do Passaredo?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Solar do Passaredo?
A prato feito (set meal of rice, beans, meat, salad) from a budget self-service restaurant runs R$18–25.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Solar do Passaredo?
Local buses cost R$4.30 per ride (cash or app); from Rio airport (GIG), take the 1001 bus to Nova Friburgo bus station for R$60–70 (book online for discount), not a taxi (R$400+).
When is the best time to visit Nova Friburgo?
April and May: autumn brings stable, cool days (18–24°C), clear skies for mountain views, and fewer visitors than peak season. September is also good: spring starts, rain is lower than summer, and the city’s Rhododendron Festival (late Aug–early Sep) adds a pleasant local event.
Top Attractions in Nova Friburgo
💡 Look for the small side chapel with a painting of the city's patron saint. The organ occasionally has free recitals on Saturday afternoons.
💡 Bring mosquito repellent in summer. The trail up to the cross gives you a decent view over the city for free.
💡 Go on a Sunday morning when the street market sets up nearby selling fresh produce and local cheese.
💡 It's closed on Mondays but worth the walk up Rua dos Imigrantes. Ask the attendant about the oral history recordings — some are fascinating.
💡 The path is unlit so go while there's still daylight. Combine with a visit to the nearby Catita waterfall entrance (small fee) for a half-day outing.