Discover the best housing options, read reviews from those who've already done this exchange, and connect with peers from universities worldwide!
Discover the best housing options, read reviews from those who've already done this exchange, and connect with peers from universities worldwide!
Robin
From: IESEG
To: PUC Rio
2024 • Fall
best night clubs were .... best events ...
What kind of place was it?
Coliving / Shared House
How much was the rent per month?
500
Where was it located?
Ipanema
How can someone find this place?
Airbnb
Would you recommend it?
Yes because ... No because ...
What are some top bars, clubs, or events you recommend?
best night clubs were .... best events ...
Which classes do you recommend… or not?
Market Research was the best
Do you have some tips?
Don't take Finance!!!!!
Best trips to do?
Not great. Rio is far from everything
What do you absolutely need to know to live your best life in Rio de Janeiro?
You need to use Moto Uberrrr!!
Yes do this ...
Hilary
From: Université Paris Nanterre
To: Universidade Federal Fluminense
2025 • Fall
The best and fastest way to move in Rio de Janeiro was definitely the bus or the Ubers, which were cheap and safe. I wouldn't recommend the subway because…..
What kind of place was it?
Coliving / Shared House
How much was the rent per month?
550
Where was it located?
Copacabana posto 2, 5 min from the beach
How can someone find this place?
Webquarto or coliving rio's Instagram
Would you recommend it?
Yes, I would definitely recommend it. Easy procedures, safe, present and comprehensive landlord
What are some top bars, clubs, or events you recommend?
There's so many places to party in Rio. Botteco Treme Treme in Botafogo to grab a drink on the week-ends, Pedra do Sal on Monday to see a Roda de Samba and then party to funk songs all night, Lapa to experience the night clubs and Baile funks in Rocinha to experience the real Brazilian party
Which classes do you recommend… or not?
They were very understanding, a lot was organised to welcome and link the exchange students together. All of the courses were in Portuguese which was good to learn the language but some teachers would let you take tests in English or French.
Do you have some tips?
The campuses were amazing, ocean view with a lot of nature. Each building was assigned to a course which makes it easy to find your classes.
Best trips to do?
There were already so many places to visit in the State of Rio de Janeiro, such as Ilha Grande, Cabo Frio, Paraty or Buzios. Of course you can visit São Paulo which is not that far from Rio considering the size of Brasil. Outside of Brasil, I had the chance to visit Chile and Argentina, from Iguazu Falls to the Desert of Atacama. I rate it a 10 out a 10
What do you absolutely need to know to live your best life in Rio de Janeiro?
The best and fastest way to move in Rio de Janeiro was definitely the bus or the Ubers, which were cheap and safe. I wouldn't recommend the subway because there not enough stops (Approximatively 1 stop per neighbourhood outside of Ipanema and Copacabana). Concerning safety, you obviously need to be careful but it is not as dangerous as people make it seem to be. Once you understand when and where you should be more alert, I think you'll be great.
Lisa
From: Neoma
To: COPPEAD
2025 • Fall
Everywhere in Latin Amrica (Cuzco is Amazing) Near Rio : teresopolis/petropolis, Buzios, Cabo Fria, Ilha Grande, Angra dos reis, Noteroi..
What kind of place was it?
Coliving / Shared House
How much was the rent per month?
300€/mois
Where was it located?
Flamengo
How can someone find this place?
Phone
Would you recommend it?
Yes, cheap place, good, and very good location if you study at UFRJ or COPPEAD Very close to the beach Clise to the metro
What are some top bars, clubs, or events you recommend?
Bar bukowski Pagode de garagem Samba class at Rocinha Praia da Joatinga, Sao Conrado, Flamengo Lapa to have fun
Which classes do you recommend… or not?
Transportation was very interesting !
Do you have some tips?
It was ok Very chill
Best trips to do?
Everywhere in Latin Amrica (Cuzco is Amazing) Near Rio : teresopolis/petropolis, Buzios, Cabo Fria, Ilha Grande, Angra dos reis, Noteroi
What do you absolutely need to know to live your best life in Rio de Janeiro?
Learn the « codes » to stay safe and everything is AMZING
Do your CPF in your home country (you can ask it same time as your VISA) so you will be able to have PIX (to pay here without any fees it is the BEST) and a SIM card
Calypso
From: PUC
To: PUC
2025 • Spring
Portuguese class it’s very interesting and I love my professor The professors are very comprehensive..
What kind of place was it?
Coliving / Shared House
How much was the rent per month?
330€
Where was it located?
Un Flamengo
How can someone find this place?
Instagram et Whatsapp
Would you recommend it?
Hdhd
What are some top bars, clubs, or events you recommend?
Pedra do sal, Garagem, UFRJ, les Baile, treme treme, praca XV, Ninteroi
Which classes do you recommend… or not?
Portuguese class it’s very interesting and I love my professor The professors are very comprehensive
Do you have some tips?
Take the Bus or Uber it’s very ship
Best trips to do?
Amazonia Pérou Travel in Brazil
What do you absolutely need to know to live your best life in Rio de Janeiro?
But the night it’s dangerous and I have a lot of friends that still their phone
GO GO GO
Robin
From: IESEG
To: PUC Rio
2025 • Fall
Rio is def the best city I’ve been to in the world for social life. Just completely insane. There are more things to do on a Monday night in Rio than on a…..
What kind of place was it?
Student Residence
How much was the rent per month?
Around 650€
Where was it located?
In Flamengo, near the beach!
How can someone find this place?
It's call Uliving Rio
Would you recommend it?
What's Great: Location: The location is absolutely fantastic. You can easily walk to the beach and I actually prefer Flamengo Beach over Copacabana. You're surrounded by great restaurants, shops, and a beautiful park. Nightlife Access: Getting around is easy. Rio's main nightlife spots in Botafogo and Centro are only about an 8-minute Uber Moto ride away. Even getting to Ipanema or Copacabana is quick, usually just 15-20 minutes. Super Social : Uliving is a hub of activity. The ratio is roughly 70% cool Brazilians and 30% exchange students. You'll start conversations in the elevator with people from France, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands. Plus, the Brazilian residents are super friendly and speak great English. What's Not So Great: Price : The price is expensive for student accommodation and for Rio. Student Residence Lifestyle: Shared living isn't for everyone. It involves cooking and eating in a large, communal kitchen. Personally, I bought a hot plate and cook alone in my room to be more chill. As you prefer. Noise and Light Issues: While noise is common across Rio, be aware that some street-side rooms at Uliving can be quite noisy. Conclusion: Great Low-Effort, High-Return Option If I had to do it all over, Uliving is a fantastic option for those who don't want the headache of searching for a cool apartment. You book, you get a nice room, a great location, and a cool social life. However, if I could easily secure a cool, private apartment in Leblon or Flamengo (my two favorite neighborhoods), I would definitely go for that.
What are some top bars, clubs, or events you recommend?
Rio is def the best city I’ve been to in the world for social life. Just completely insane. There are more things to do on a Monday night in Rio than on a Saturday in most European capitals. Short guide of where to go: Lapa in Centro Cheap and a bit ghetto. You can go to Pedra do Sal on Monday, or just hit some random bar on the street any other day. Best place to have some random side-quest adventure with 2–3 friends. Botafogo (around TREME TREME bar) Where tons of students hang out. This area has cool bars. More student, chill vibe than Lapa. Gávea – Lagoa (basically around the hippodrome) Completely the opposite of Lapa. This is where the rich people of Rio hang out. There’s of course Bosque Bar (best nightclub in Rio in my opinion), but also tons of bars, restaurants, and other clubs near the lake. It’s expensive and more chic. Nightclubs in Rio are very expensive, you usually pay between 20 and 40€ to enter depending on when you buy your ticket. What’s more local is just big dancing bars. Typical week for big-party people: Monday – Pedra do Sal: Tons and tons of people. Cool to do once or twice. It’s basically a street full of people, bars, music… Tuesday – Garage M: Cool event in a bar with musicians playing instruments. Always tons of people. Wednesday: Go grab a drink in Botafogo (Treme Treme) and then explore some cool bars in the area once you start getting drunk. Thursday: Dress well, go eat out in Gávea, and then head to Bosque Bar before 22:00 so you pay half price. Or go do the UFRJ party. It's a party inside the university it's crazy! Friday: If it’s sunny, go to a beach club in Ipanema and do the sunset with an Aperol Spritz in hand. Then go out at night in Lapa with a few friends. The street is full of bars and random adventures. Don’t dress too well, btw. Saturday: Watch out — there might be some cool favela events in Vidigal. There are always one-off events; check stories from other internationals, word spreads fast. Sunday: Chill, bro.
Which classes do you recommend… or not?
So I’m studying business, and choosing courses online at PUC is a terrible experience. There aren’t a lot of business courses in English, and there’s a lot of competition to get in. Basically I got none :( (It's first come, first served! Be prepared and connect 5 minutes before don’t do like me.) So I chose other courses like Brazilian History, History of Thought, Marketing, and Race & Culture. Basically it’s very chill. Half of the teachers didn’t check attendance, so I only went a few times for the exams.
Do you have some tips?
PUC Rio is very cool. It’s kind of the rich private school of Rio. I didn’t go to campus a lot, but eating there is actually great tons of choices.
Best trips to do?
Rio is far from everything, I won’t lie. The best trips to do are: Ilha Grande, Paraty, Florianópolis, Salvador de Bahia, and even Buenos Aires. But everything is far, guys. Rio is not the best location for quick travel. That said, the city is so crazy that you really don’t need to escape it. Just explore some nearby Brazilian towns over the weekend and you’ll be good.
What do you absolutely need to know to live your best life in Rio de Janeiro?
SECURITY point. Guys, it’s actually so chill. I don’t know a single international student who had a serious problem. During the day, anywhere between Centro and Ipanema is super safe. You can have your phone out, be a big gringo nobody cares. At night you just need to be more street-smart. Don’t walk from point A to point B if it’s not a street full of people. If you’re partying in Centro (Lapa), stay aware of your surroundings. But nothing crazy. Everyone arrives in Rio touching their pockets every two seconds, super paranoid about their stuff. But after a week? Nobody cares anymore. You’ll end up FaceTiming in the middle of the street, walking around normally… WEATHER. It’s always between 22–30 degrees, which is amazing. But Rio is always cloudy. Sometimes you see the sun only 1 day out of 7 yep, that’s painful. But remember: in Europe it’s raining and winter, so it’s still fine. FOOD. The food is kind of bad. You can eat pastel for cheap, get açaí, but it’s not very diverse and not always great. Don’t expect culinary heaven. I'm looking forward to eat some French foooood. SUN SCHEDULE. The sun rises at 5:00 and goes down at 18:00. Do whatever you want with this info, but waking up at 14:00 might not be the smartest move. SPORTS & LIFESTYLE. Brazilians are super fit and sporty. If you live near the beach, I really recommend joining a futevôlei club or something like that.
I don’t know any international dude who doesn’t find the city crazy. I'll def come back
Orane
From: ESPOL Lille
To: PUC Rio
2025 • Fall
the campus is amazing, so beautiful, lots of vegetation and places to eat! many things are organized on campus as well..
What kind of place was it?
Coliving / Shared House
How much was the rent per month?
around 500€/month
Where was it located?
in Copacabana
How can someone find this place?
+55 21 99954-6900
Would you recommend it?
I would definitely pick the same place! It's so well located, big and I'm lucky to appreciate my roommates!!
What are some top bars, clubs, or events you recommend?
pedra do sal, pagode da garagem, UFRJ parties on thursdays:)
Which classes do you recommend… or not?
I definitely recommend the Brazilian Culture class!
Do you have some tips?
the campus is amazing, so beautiful, lots of vegetation and places to eat! many things are organized on campus as well
Best trips to do?
Ilha Grande, a must see!!!!!
What do you absolutely need to know to live your best life in Rio de Janeiro?
you NEED to take the moto taxis (uber), so cheap and fun!!!