Your stay — Hotel Solar do Império
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The Property — Hotel Solar do Império
Hotel Solar do Império occupies a converted 19th-century mansion on Rua do Imperador, steps from the cathedral. The lobby feels like a grand private home: dark wood panelling, high ceilings, and a tiled breakfast room opening onto a small courtyard. It suits travellers who want old-town location and period atmosphere without paying boutique prices. Expect firm mattresses, fair WiFi, and a genuinely good buffet coffee – the USP is direct access to Petrópolis’s imperial core.
Chronicles of Petropolis
Petrópolis was founded in 1843 as Emperor Pedro II’s summer retreat, purpose-built by German immigrants to escape Rio’s heat and yellow-fever epidemics. Its core is a grid of neoclassical and neo-Gothic palaces, most famously the Crystal Palace and the Imperial Museum (the former palace itself). By the late 19th century it became a manufacturing centre for beer and textiles, now largely replaced by tourism and education. Today the city wears its imperial heritage unapologetically – every second shop sells crystal glassware and views of the Serra dos Órgãos mountains form the backdrop to cobbled streets.
Best Time to Visit
Full Petropolis guide →Best months
AprilMaySeptember
Peak / festival surge
July (winter school holidays and the Bauernfest harvest festival in late July). Petrópolis hosts its biggest event – German heritage parades and beer tents – driving 80%+ occupancy. The hotel raises rates 40–50% above June prices.
Budget shoulder season
March and November are the budget sweet spots. March has lingering summer warmth but half the rain; November offers spring blooms before Christmas crowds. Discounts of 15–25% are common.
Weather & packing
Petrópolis sits at 810 m; winter nights drop to 8–12°C and summer afternoons can produce sudden, heavy downpours. Pack a waterproof jacket and layers even in July – you will need both within the same day.
Live City Briefing — Petropolis
- The Imperial Museum’s courtyard restoration finished in May 2026 – the new café opens July, so expect slight scaffolding on one wing.
- Rua do Imperador pedestrianisation trial continues: the stretch outside the hotel is car-free 10:00–18:00 daily through August, which means quieter mornings but a 3-minute walk for taxis.
- The city’s cable-car project to the Morro da Carioca viewpoint was paused in March due to budget cuts – no new start date announced. For now, the view is free from the cathedral steps.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Hotel Solar do Império, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 2nd or 3rd floor facing the rear courtyard. These rooms sit above street level but below the roofline, reducing footfall noise from the lobby and lift, while the courtyard orientation cuts road noise from Petropolis’s main thoroughfares.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor — they are directly level with the lobby and restaurant, so you’ll hear breakfast prep from 6am and constant guest movement. Also avoid any room facing the front street: Petropolis’s steep, cobbled roads carry delivery trucks and tour buses early into the evening.
Best views
If available, a rear courtyard room on the 2nd or 3rd floor gives a green outlook over the historic garden, not the main street. Front rooms look onto the busy Rua do Imperador, which is historic but loud.
Quietest floors
2nd and 3rd floors offer the best balance — removed from ground-level bustle but not so high that the single lift becomes a wait. The 3rd floor is marginally quieter than the 2nd.
🔊 Noise notes
Petropolis is a popular weekend retreat for Rio residents, so street noise peaks Friday and Saturday nights. The hotel’s address on a main avenue means engine revving and tour-group chatter from 8am. The single lift is manual-tensioned in some colonial buildings — listen for creaking cables if you’re in a room adjacent to it.
Insider tips
1. Call ahead to request a reverse-facing room (courtyard side) — the hotel often gives these to quiet requests. 2. Bring earplugs even for a courtyard room: the historic building has wooden floorboards that amplify footsteps from above at night.
- 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 — Hotel Solar do Império
Free basic Wi-Fi (up to 5 Mbps) in rooms and public areas; no login required
One lift serves all 4 floors; no stairs-only sections
Complimentary physical newspaper (O Globo) at breakfast; no digital newsstand
Check-in 14:00-23:00, early bag drop free if room ready; late check-out R$50 per hour until 15:00, subject to availability
Free at reception during your stay or for up to 4 hours after checkout; longer storage by arrangement
Step-free access via ramp at main entrance; lift to all floors; no adapted bathrooms
No on-site parking; nearest public car park Estacionamento Centro (Rua do Imperador, 320) charges R$30 per 12 hours; no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None (no municipal tourist tax applies in Petrópolis)
Deposit & card hold: 50% of total stay due 14 days before arrival; R$200 incidental hold on credit card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Catedral Metodista de Petrópolis (240 m · ~3 min walk)
- Synagogue: Sinagoga Israelita Brasileira de Petrópolis (481 m · ~6 min walk)
- Church: A Igreja de Jesus Cristo dos Santos dos Últimos Dias (747 m · ~9 min walk)
- Church: A Igreja de Jesus Cristo dos Santos dos Últimos Dias (819 m · ~10 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Ourense Shopping — 289 m · ~4 min walk
Praça Doutor Sá Earp Filho — 153 m · ~2 min walk
Museu Imperial — 446 m · ~6 min walk
Teatro Dom Pedro — 363 m · ~5 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Bitcoin ATM - Shitcoins.club — 301 m · ~4 min walk
FarmaDez — 55 m · ~1 min walk
Paulamelia — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk
Estação Rodoviária Imperatriz Leopoldina — 1.0 km · ~13 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Brazilian Real, BRL
Use ATMs at major banks like Banco do Brasil or Bradesco for the best rates; avoid exchange bureaux at airports and tourist centres due to poor rates.
Credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard) are widely accepted in shops and restaurants; contactless payments are common. Cash is needed for small stalls and street vendors.
Service charge is often included in the bill (10% is common but optional); if not, leave 10% for good service. Taxi drivers do not expect tips; rounding up the fare is polite. Hotel staff: R$2–5 per bag or per day for housekeeping.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A cafezinho (small black coffee) at a padaria (bakery) or bar: around R$4–R$6.
A prato feito (set meal of rice, beans, meat, salad) at a simple lunch counter: around R$20–R$30.
Main dish at a basic churrascaria or pizzeria: around R$25–R$40.
Head to the city centre and the area around Rua do Imperador for pastéis, coxinhas, and grilled corn from stalls; popular during the week and weekends.
Supermarket chains: Prezunic, Supermercados Mundial, or Assaí (wholesale style).
Rua Teresa is the main shopping street with local clothing stores and market stalls; also check the Feira de Artesanato for handmade goods.
City bus: R$4.30 per ride (single ticket). No day pass; pay cash or use a rechargeable RioCard. From Rio de Janeiro airport (GIG/Galeão), take the direct bus (Útil or viação) for about R$50–R$70, or a shared van for R$60–R$80.
Eat at lunch buffets (comida a quilo) where you pay by weight—cheaper than a la carte. Buy bottled water and snacks at supermarkets rather than tourist shops. Use local buses instead of taxis or ride-hail apps for longer trips.
Good to know — Petropolis
Type C/N · 127/220V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ R$5.12 · BRL
Emergency Contacts
PetropolisIn Petrópolis, Brazil, these numbers work nationally. For local issues or English help, call 153 (Civil Police) or 155 (Tourist Help, limited English). Download the '190 RJ' app for accurate location sharing.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Petropolis, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Hotel Solar do Império
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Bitcoin ATM - Shitcoins.club — 301 m · ~4 min walk — pharmacy · FarmaDez — 55 m · ~1 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Any address in Rio (e.g., Copacabana) → Hotel Casablanca Imperial, Petrópolis
💡 UberX is typically R$ 180–220; avoid surge pricing on weekends. Confirm the driver is willing to go intercity before they arrive – some cancel when they see Petrópolis.
Rio de Janeiro–Galeão International Airport (GIG) → Hotel Casablanca Imperial, Petrópolis
💡 Pre-pay at the official taxi kiosk inside arrivals to avoid haggling. Request a sedan, not a van, for the winding mountain road.
Rio de Janeiro Novo Rio Bus Station (Rodoviária Novo Rio) → Petrópolis Bus Station (Rodoviária de Petrópolis)
💡 Buy a ticket for the 'direto' (direct) bus – it skips local stops and cuts 20 minutes. From the Petrópolis station, a 5-minute taxi ride to the hotel costs about R$ 15.
Alvorada Bus Terminal (Barra da Tijuca, Rio) → Petrópolis Bus Station
💡 This route works if you're staying in western Rio – less hassle than crossing town to Novo Rio. Get off at the Centro stop one block earlier if you prefer walking to the hotel (10 mins, flat).
About Petropolis
Wikipedia ↗
Petrópolis (Portuguese: [peˈtɾɔpolis, -pu-]) is a city of the estado (state) of central Rio de Janeiro, in southeastern Brazil, in a valley of the Órgãos Mountains, 40 kilometres (25 mi) north of Rio de Janeiro city. According to the 2022 Brazilian census, Petrópolis municipality had a population o...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Hotel Solar do Império?
Request a room on the 2nd or 3rd floor facing the rear courtyard. These rooms sit above street level but below the roofline, reducing footfall noise from the lobby and lift, while the courtyard orientation cuts road noise from Petropolis’s main thoroughfares.
Which rooms should I avoid at Hotel Solar do Império?
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor — they are directly level with the lobby and restaurant, so you’ll hear breakfast prep from 6am and constant guest movement. Also avoid any room facing the front street: Petropolis’s steep, cobbled roads carry delivery trucks and tour buses early into the evening.
Is Hotel Solar do Império noisy?
Petropolis is a popular weekend retreat for Rio residents, so street noise peaks Friday and Saturday nights. The hotel’s address on a main avenue means engine revving and tour-group chatter from 8am. The single lift is manual-tensioned in some colonial buildings — listen for creaking cables if you’re in a room adjacent to it.
Which rooms have the best views at Hotel Solar do Império?
If available, a rear courtyard room on the 2nd or 3rd floor gives a green outlook over the historic garden, not the main street. Front rooms look onto the busy Rua do Imperador, which is historic but loud.
What are insider tips for staying at Hotel Solar do Império?
1. Call ahead to request a reverse-facing room (courtyard side) — the hotel often gives these to quiet requests. 2. Bring earplugs even for a courtyard room: the historic building has wooden floorboards that amplify footsteps from above at night.
What time is check-in at Hotel Solar do Império?
Check-in at Hotel Solar do Império is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Hotel Solar do Império have Wi-Fi?
Free basic Wi-Fi (up to 5 Mbps) in rooms and public areas; no login required
Is there a city or tourist tax at Hotel Solar do Império?
None (no municipal tourist tax applies in Petrópolis)
Where can I eat cheaply near Hotel Solar do Império?
A prato feito (set meal of rice, beans, meat, salad) at a simple lunch counter: around R$20–R$30.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Hotel Solar do Império?
City bus: R$4.30 per ride (single ticket). No day pass; pay cash or use a rechargeable RioCard. From Rio de Janeiro airport (GIG/Galeão), take the direct bus (Útil or viação) for about R$50–R$70, or a shared van for R$60–R$80.
When is the best time to visit Petropolis?
AprilMaySeptember
Top Attractions in Petropolis
💡 Visit during a weekday morning to have the place almost to yourself. The crypt with the imperial tombs is open to the public and free.
💡 Go on Sunday morning for the best selection and fewer tourists. The handmade lace and wooden toys are good souvenirs, and prices are negotiable if you buy multiple items.
💡 It's small and can be seen in 30 minutes. Check if the guided tour is running—it adds context about the building's role during the Vargas era.
💡 Entry to the museum costs R$10 on most days, but the gardens and exterior are always free. For free interior access, visit on the first Wednesday of each month, when it's open to all without charge.
💡 Arrive early (by 8am) to secure a parking spot and avoid crowds. The trail to Cachoeira do Palácio is the easiest and ends at a waterfall where you can swim.