Best places to stay in Natal, Brazil: tips from a local

Natal, the capital of the state of Rio Grande do Norte, is one of the most visited cities in the beautiful Northeast coast of Brazil. You’ll find a good variety of accommodation offer there, but it’s important to understand the pros and cons of each location to choose the best places to stay in Natal according to your goals, budget, and vibe.

For example, on Via Costeira Avenue there are excellent hotels, but there are no shops nearby. Ponta Negra Beach has more of a beach vibe and is a busier region. Personally, I prefer to stay in places that are alive both during the day and at night, but it all depends on your preferences.

In this article, I will explain about each of these regions and I will give some tips on hotels, inns, hostels and resorts. I will also comment on what to do in Natal and the surrounding area. Bonus tip: at the end of the article, I will tell you how to find free accommodation in Natal, Brazil.

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Best places to stay in Natal: recommended areas

Natal is a city with more than 800 thousand inhabitants and 36 neighborhoods. However, the most touristic region is concentrated between Praia da Ponta Negra, Via Costeira, Capim Macio and Praia dos Artistas. Below, I will talk about the characteristics of each of these neighborhoods and give accommodation suggestions.

Via Costeira

Via Costeira is a large coastal avenue almost 10 kilometers long, between the famous Parque das Dunas and the sea. This is where the most sophisticated resorts and hotels in Natal are located.

There is no commerce in this region: no restaurants, stores, or supermarkets. In other words, you can’t do much on foot. Most accommodations on Via Costeira have their own restaurants and bars, so many guests spend most of their time inside the hotel.

If you’re looking for the best places to stay in Natal to enjoy the hotel’s amenities, Via Costeira is a good choice. It’s good to know that the beach in front of the avenue is a little dangerous for swimming, so you’ll have to take some sort of transportation to enjoy other safest beaches.

The best places to stay in Via Costeira

As I said above, most Via Costeira accommodations are sophisticated and have large structures, so that guests don’t need to leave the hotel every day. Some of them offer all meals, so you’ll likely find higher daily rates.

Wish Natal is one of the most traditional hotels on Via Costeira. It has beautiful suites with ocean views, swimming pool, garden, bar, restaurant, private parking, spa, and a children area. It’s a nice place for those who want to rest and just enjoy the hotel’s amenities, especially for those traveling with children.

Aram Natal Mar Hotel is also on Via Costeira, however, it is located at the southern end of the avenue, relatively close to Ponta Negra beach. It has great facilities and services, such as a swimming pool with ocean view, bar, and restaurant. It is a great alternative for those who want to stay in an excellent hotel and at the same time, be close to the action of Ponta Negra.

Serhs Natal Grand Hotel & Resort is a more modern accommodation and offers an ‘all inclusive’ service. You can choose a breakfast-only rate opt for having all meals included. The complex offers 4 swimming pools, 3 bars and 5 restaurants, as well as a variety of entertainment options for adults and children.

If you prefer a more private place, there is the option of staying at SERHS Experience Suites, which is a very sophisticated accommodation on Via Costeira. In addition to suites with ocean view, the space offers a swimming pool, garden, gym and even a small water park.

Hotel Marsol Beach Resort and Aram Imirá Beach Resort are also good all-inclusive options. Hotel Marsol has several swimming pools, gym, jacuzzis, tennis court and various recreational activities, while Aram Imirá offers a games room, beauty salon and a small water park for children.

Ponta Negra Beach

Ponta Negra Beach is one of the most popular places to stay in Natal and also one of the best beaches in the city. Morro do Careca, which is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Natal, is located there.

The neighborhood is full of bars, restaurants, and all types of shops, so you can do almost everything on foot. The nightlife in Ponta Negra is lively and the neighborhood has more of a ‘beach town’ feel.

If you are looking for the best places to stay in Natal to enjoy the beach, Ponta Negra is definitely a great choice.

Where to stay in Ponta Negra

Unlike Via Costeira, in Ponta Negra there is a wider variety of hotels, inns and hostels. You can find accommodation with economical rates close to the beach and to the hustle and bustle of the city center. But if you prefer more sophisticated hotels, you’ll find some there as well.

Let’s start with the inns on the seafront, such as Pousada Manga Rosa Beira Mar, which has excellent value for money and a super modern structure. Furthermore, it is just 200 meters away from iconic Morro do Careca.

Aquaria Natal Hotel is one of the best-rated accommodations in Natal, with a score of 9 on Booking.com. It has a restaurant, bar, and swimming pool with views of the sea and Morro do Careca.

Among the best accommodations in Natal, there is also the Castelo Beach Hotel with a score of 9.2 on Booking.com. Guests mention that the inn’s service and breakfast are spectacular, in addition to being well located, just one block away from the sea.

If you’re on a tight budget, no worries: there are accommodations with great value for money and close to the beach and Morro do Careca, such as Pousada Recanto de Ponta Negra, which offers an outdoor swimming pool, free private parking, and a garden. Santorini Praia Hotel is another nice choice; it’s quite simple, but it has a swimming pool, garden, and restaurant.

Hotel Pousada Maravista also offers good value for money, just 50 meters from Ponta Negra beach. Finally, Liiv Hub is a new and modern space, with excellent reviews left by former guests: currently, its average rating on Booking.com is 9,2.

Capim Macio

Capim Macio is an upscale neighborhood in the south of Natal, with beautiful houses and sophisticated condominiums. There are many hotels and shops in the area.

Staying there, especially around Engenheiro Roberto Freire Avenue, is a great option for those who like more urban and modern neighborhoods. There, you will find large hotels, shopping malls, restaurants, bars, markets, pharmacies, and all types of commerce.

The neighborhood is approximately 6 kilometers from Ponta Negra beach and 7 kilometers from Morro do Careca. Furthermore, it has easy access to other beaches in the state. It is one of the best places to stay in Natal for those who want to explore the beaches on the south coast of Rio Grande do Norte state.

Best hotels in Natal in Capim Macio

If you choose to stay in Capim Macio neighborhood, try to book accommodation close to Engenheiro Roberto Freire Avenue. This way it will be easier to get around the city and you’ll also be closer to the large shopping centers in the area.

Água Marinha Hotel is an excellent option in Capim Macio, next to Engenheiro Roberto Freire Avenue. You’ll find a market, pharmacy, restaurant, and all types of shops nearby. The hotel has a rooftop pool and private parking.

Daho Hotel is another nice accommodation choice in the neighborhood, three blocks from the main avenue and with a great structure. The space has a swimming pool, parking, and gym.

Pousada da Terra is pretty great too: it has a great location, between Capim Macio and Ponta Negra neighborhoods, and you can go to several places on foot. The space is super cozy, with a swimming pool, garden, and private parking.

Praia dos Artistas

Praia dos Artistas (Artists’ Beach) was once one of the most touristy places in Natal. However, with the growth of Ponta Negra beach, the neighborhood is no longer as popular. Therefore, you can usually find good accommodation at lower rates there.

Praia dos Artistas beach is frequented by city residents and is the closest beach to the center of Natal. There you’ll find several beach stalls and vendors food and drinks.

In this region you’ll find the largest craft fair in Natal, and the nearby streets are full of art galleries. Praia dos Artistas represents some of the best that Natal has to offer: a mix of culture, art, history, and natural beauty.

Where to stay in Natal at Praia dos Artistas

Did you choose to stay at Praia dos Artistas? La Belle Beach Hotel is an excellent choice with ocean view, swimming pool, terrace, and suites with balconies. The Golden Tower is also on the seafront and has a swimming pool, gym, and parking.

If you prefer more private accommodation, you can rent entire apartments. At Praia dos Artistas, this Apartment with Sea View has a terrace, parking, swimming pool, sauna and 24-hour reception. It’s also worth checking out Solar Areia Preta, another apartment one block from the beach.

Another recommendation which is among the best places to stay in Natal is Hotel Senac Barreira Roxa. It’s not exactly on Praia dos Artistas, but it’s in a privileged location, on a practically private beach. It has a great common area with swimming pool, games room, restaurant, bar, parking, and gym.

Best hostels in Natal

If you are a solo traveler and want to meet people, or if you’re traveling on a budget and looking for cheap accommodation in Natal, good news: there are several hostels spread across Ponta Negra.

Get Up Hostel is one of the most economical hostels in the city and is located just 800 meters from Ponta Negra Beach. The space has a swimming pool with an outdoor terrace amidst a garden, as well as a barbecue area and bar. Hostel Republika is also among the cheapest, just over 1 kilometer from the beach.

Other good options are Happy Paradise Hostel and Blue Hostel, which are located in a more central area of Ponta Negra, and Soul Hostel Natal, which is very popular among backpackers. Hostel Flor do Caribe also functions as a guesthouse, so it is ideal for those traveling as a family and looking for a cheap place to stay in Natal.

Hostel Pininha is very simple, but it’s highly rated on Booking.com with an average of 9.2. In the same style, another option is Conceitual Hostel Natal. In both of them, guests compliment staff’s service and location.

Free accommodation in Natal, Brazil

Did you know that there are several places to stay in Natal without paying for accommodation? Through the work exchange platform Worldpackers, you’ll find more than 10 opportunities to exchange your time and skills for accommodation and other benefits, such as meals and tours.

In addition to not spending on accommodation, you have the chance to learn new things, enjoy the destination like a local and meet interesting people from different parts of Brazil and the world.

In Natal, you can help with household chores in a hostel, welcome guests at a family inn or help prepare meals and drinks in a guest house, for instance. If you have a knack for social media content, you can stay for free in a great hostel a few meters from Praia da Ponta Negra.

These are just a few examples of work exchange positions in Natal. There are many great opportunities spread across the city and almost 60 across the state of Rio Grande do Norte.

You can view all opportunities for free, but if you want to apply you need to become a member. When registering, click here or use the coupon JANELASABERTAS and get a 20% discount (10 USD). To find out more, check out our complete guide on how to do a work exchange.

Best things to do in and around Natal

Now that you know which are the best places to stay in Natal, how about starting to plan what you’re going to do there? Here are some suggestions of the best things to do in Natal and its surroundings:

• Walk through the Historic Center of Natal
• Spend a day at Ponta Negra Beach and climb Morro do Careca
• Discover Praia dos Artistas and the Local crafts center
• Take a walk around Parque das Dunas

If you have time, visit Praia de Genipabu and Praia da Redinha, on the north coast. On the south coast, a highlight is Pipa, a beautiful beach town with lively nightlife.

Do you have any questions about the best places to stay in Natal, Brazil? Ask us in the comments section!

Article written by Bárbara Nicoli, experienced traveler and contributor to the Janelas Abertas blog.

Photos: Bárbara Nicoli/Provided for publication in Janelas Abertas; Luísa Ferreira/Janelas Abertas and Depositphotos.

By booking your accommodation through the links in the post, the blog earns a small commission that allows me to bring you more free content and you don’t pay anything extra for it. Transparency is a fundamental value here.